50 Best Hotels in Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria, Spain

Occupying an 18th-century hospice emblazoned with a huge stone coat of arms, the luxurious Reconquista is by far the most distinguished hotel in Oviedo. The wide lobby, encircled by Doric pillars and an oak balcony, is decked out with velvet upholstery and 18th-century paintings. One wing's guest rooms are large and modern, with comfortable beds and large armchairs, while the other wing has rooms decorated in traditional opulence. It's a good idea to ask for a room facing the interior patio, as rooms on the road can be a little noisy. Film buffs may recognize the hotel, which was featured in Vicky Christina Barcelona.

This cozy hilltop B&B offers exquisite views of the valley below and the snowcapped Picos de Europa in the distance. Situated 25 minutes from Gijón and 20 minutes from Oviedo, the family-run establishment is a perfect base for hiking and exploring nature. Marina, the proprietor, makes excellent dinners upon request, with fresh vegetables picked from her garden, and can arrange guided tours including visits to cheesemakers and cider factories. Hiking day packs—which include a backpack, bag lunch, water, and rain gear—are available for around €10.

Just 19 km (12 miles) from town, this intimate 17th-century palace turned boutique hotel is a treasure trove of curated antiques and immaculate design. Each room and common space has its own character and color palette, and some rooms offer large clawfoot tubs. The terrace is especially impressive and offers dramatic views of the sweeping valley below. If you need to sweat off the drive and abundant Cantabrian cuisine, the workout facilities are state of the art. 

Tastefully converted from a 14th-century printing factory, this restored stone building is set among manicured gardens and beside the burbling Río Sar. Rooms drip with French crystal chandeliers and opulent antique furniture---handpicked by the owner---a level of attention to detail that's mirrored by the above-and-beyond service. Choose from more than 20 gins in the polished-wood bar, spend an afternoon luxuriating in the on-site spa, or settle in for a meal in the excellent adjoining restaurant, Restaurante Filigrana.

A restored historic building with an additional two-story suite in the adjacent ancient tower, this intimate B&B is just a walk away from jutting beachside cliffs. It's ideal for misty-green seaside hikes in the early fall and cove-hunting in the summer sun. Common spaces are cozy and convivial, with a familiar touch, and many rooms offer beyond-idyllic views of the countryside. 

This baronial parador, positioned on a hill within the perimeter walls of a medieval castle, has plush rooms, some with balconies and ocean views toward the Islas Cíes. The restaurant serves a generous breakfast buffet (even if the dinner is lackluster). The historical architecture and stunning views are the major draws.

On the banks of the Río Sella just west of Cangas, this friendly parador is made up of an 18th-century Benedictine monastery and a modern wing. The older building has 11 period-style rooms. Elevated local dishes, such as stewed verdina beans, Asturian beefsteaks, and grilled venison, are served in the dining room.

Built in the 16th century, this imposing stone palace has baronial rooms with heavy wooden beams and splendid antique furnishings. The spacious dining hall has a medieval feel and specializes in local cuisine as well as roasts, stews, and soups borrowed from the Castilian tradition.

Clinging to the edge of the Canón do Sil, this parador, carefully built into the colossal 12th-century Benedictine Monasterio de Santo Estevo, stands out for its atmospheric setting and spectacular vistas. It's worth the extra cost for a superior room overlooking the canyon and forested hillside. Designer furniture and intriguing artwork by well-known Spanish artists pepper the common spaces and lounge areas, and a spa with an outdoor whirlpool encourages reconnection with nature. The cavernous restaurant is a safe if unremarkable bet. 

One of the finest paradores in the country, this 15th-century building was once a royal hostel and hospital for sick pilgrims. It has a mammoth baroque doorway that gives way to austere courtyards of box hedge and simple fountains and to rooms furnished with antiques, some with canopy beds. Dos Reis Especia—in the grand, vaulted dining room—serves top-notch regional fare including grilled octopus, braised lamb shank, and Galician stews. The tapas bar, Enxebre, is lively and less formal.

This quirky rural hotel is a great base for wine tourism, thanks to the gorgeous vineyard views and complimentary visit to a local winery. The owner's passion shines through in the immaculately clean spaces and in-the-know activity recommendations. Upgraded rooms add balconies and scenic views, and some public areas are in repurposed hórreos (granaries on stilts). Amenities include an outdoor pool, west-facing restaurant (ideal for sunset dining), and Galician cooking classes (€65). 

Abba Santander is a chain hotel with welcoming staff and modern conveniences. Rooms are outfitted in calming whites and grays, and many have glassed-in galerías (atria) facing the port. A few charming vestiges of the building's past as a grande dame hotel remain: the pillars and stained-glass windows in the lobby are from the original 1913 construction, which barely escaped a fire in 1941.

This eight-floor, four-star Marriott property couldn't be more convenient, especially if you're coming into town by train; the main entrance shares a plaza with the city's inconspicuous train station access point. If you're flying in, the hotel is also just a quick jaunt to the central bus station with routes to and from the airport every half hour. Ask for a room with a view for sweeping panoramas of the city and a mountain backdrop.  

A playful revamp of this town house in the city center added a neo-Moorish portico to the original latticed facade and indulgent amenities like entertainment systems in some of the bathrooms. Public areas are inspired by 1970s design, with oversize velveteen chairs, shag carpets, and crystal curtains. Delicious seafood from the Bay of Biscay is served in the restaurant.

From the crests emblazoned on the facade to the wood floors, antique furniture, plants, and oil paintings, this late-17th-century mansion in the heart of the old town is a local classic, and a bargain as well. Guest rooms are well maintained and comparatively large, and there's a cozy, tile-floored bar-cafeteria that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Surrounded by green hills and pine forests and a five-minute drive from the beaches of Costa da Morte, this bed-and-breakfast has simple yet tasteful rooms with wooden furniture and red-tile floors. A full-length window in the common area looks out over a sunlit meadow. Delicious home-cooked lunches and dinners, lovingly made by the patronne, are available upon request. The neighboring property, Casa das Fiadeiras, is run by the same owners. 

Though this rustic, well-kept inn is a mere 20-minute drive from the city center, its natural surroundings and open-armed hospitality make you feel like you're much farther afield. The stone building's story begins in the 15th century, when it was part of the city walls; later, it would become a tannery and an aristocratic estate. Rooms are minimally decorated with white curtains and linens, bare stone walls, and shiny red headboards, and two are individual, ideal for solo travelers.  

This centuries-old manor house situated 14 km (8 miles) south of Lugo is tucked away in a forest by the Río Miño. The beamed ceilings, exposed stone, chestnut floors, and hand-painted sinks set the rural Galician mood, as does the antique water mill on-site. There's also an outdoor pool in the summer and a roaring fireplace for the winter months. Hikers love staying here, thanks to the accessibility of nearby trails.

A short walk from the harbor, this boutique hotel has a glitzy early-aughts aesthetic in public spaces—think colorful plastic swivel chairs and gold brocade curtains—though guest rooms are more neutral, with white linens and sparse wall art; upgrades add in-room jacuzzis. The two-floor spa has sensory deprivation tanks, saunas, a solarium, and body and facial treatments that draw on Asian traditions. There's also a rooftop pool with superb views and a cocktail bar that fills up at night. 

Steps from the harbor and Plaza Mayor, this tiny guesthouse offers rooms with large windows affording plenty of natural light, plus simple, modern decor and comfortable beds. The proprietor, although not on-site full-time, gives great tips about his beloved hometown. There are no facilities (just rooms with private bathrooms), but it’s all about the location and price at this residence.

One of Santander's best-rated hotels is this plush, traditional standby overlooking the water and the cathedral. While the exterior feels corporate and cold, rooms are spacious and newly refurbished with wood floors. Elegant built-in, bunk-style beds make ideal stays for families. Many rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the water or cathedral.

This ultramodern eco-hotel in the woods is an architectural marvel with its grass-topped roof, sinuous walls, full-length windows, and polished-cement ceiling. The five guest rooms, which look out onto the adjoining gardens, are austere and airy, and each is adorned with a unique art piece painted by the proprietor.  

Steps from restaurants, shops, and lively tapas bars is this city-center hotel with smartly decorated rooms that exude an urban sensibility—think crisp white bedding and polished wooden floors. The lobby extends into a bustling café-bar, and there is a small restaurant serving regional cuisine.

At this classically Galician inn, there's an idyllic little garden and views of red-tile rooftops, the baroque convent of San Francisco, and the green hills beyond (ask for a garden view). The cheerful interior is awash with smooth blond wood and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows—the better to behold the vistas, particularly from the airy breakfast room and reading area.

This homey and economical lodge is the perfect base for exploring the Picos de Europa. With dark polished wood accents, a sitting area warmed by a wood-burning fire, public lounges stocked with games, an outdoor swimming pool, and tennis courts, the lodge is well suited to all travelers. Family rooms that include extra beds are available upon request. The restaurant serves generous portions of home-cooked Cantabrian fare, and the bar makes excellent drinks.

The view of the ría from this hilltop hotel outside Viveiro is unbeatable, and every room has one. The glassed-in breakfast area also faces the estuary as well as a cascade of trees; on a rainy day, you'd much rather be cooped up here than in town. Adjoining is the hotel's elegant (and pricey) Nito restaurant, which serves refined Galician cuisine such as percebes (gooseneck barnacles), spider crab, and lobster. The menu changes seasonally.

Steps from the tapas bars of Calle Estrella, Hotel Lois is an excellent choice for its location alone, and its clean, contemporary style and excellent value for the price make it all the more appealing. Friendly staff happily explain A Coruña’s highlights, and there’s a bar-restaurant attached. The soundproofed rooms are smart, luminous, and minimalist, with gray floors and big windows. The hotel offers a discount at a nearby parking lot.

With the rolling green hills of Sella Valley and the Picos de Europa forever in the background, the views alone are worth a stay at this hillside hotel overlooking Cangas de Onís.

Contemporary stained-glass windows add pizzazz to the solemn interior of this converted 13th-century convent that adjoins the church of the same name. Guest rooms are sedate and businesslike with Franciscan dark browns, wooden beams, and stone walls, but they're lightened by cathedral or garden views.