Potes: the gateway to the Picos
The gateway to Picos de Europa, that’s how the picturesque town of Potes is also called. It is not the perfect starting point to explore the mountains of northern Spain, the town itself is just a lot of fun. From trendy hot spots to stunning hiking trails. You’ll find it iher all.
If you visit the Picos, there’s a good chance you’ll drive through charming medieval Potes. Upon entering, you want to stop immediately! In fact, the coziness of the town oozes from it. From magnificent historic buildings to the babbling brook that runs right through town, Potes is just right. So if you are planning a road trip through northern Spain, be sure to stop in the village of Potes.
What to do in Potes
If you are in Potes then you probably come for the imposing of the mountains of Picos de Europa. It is one of the most beautiful parks in Spain and is suitable for all levels. That’s what makes this place so incredibly fun. From Potes you can walk straight into the first green landscapes.
Popular hiking trails in Potes are:
- Potes-Santo Toribio de Liébana (6 km)
- Potes – Tudes – Potes (16 km)
- Circular POTES- SOTRES (45 km, 2 days)
Fuente Dé
At 23 km from Potes you will find the town of Fuente Dé and is one of the most popular attractions in the region, because here you will find the cable car Fuente de. This cable car will take you to 753 meters in 3 minutes. The view is beautiful.
Enjoy the town itself
The very best thing about Potes is the atmosphere. Everywhere you will find cozy terraces where you can plop down. Definitely our favorite sight of the city. Stroll through the charming streets and enjoy all the fun hotspots you’ll find here.
Hotspots & food in
Best time to travel to Potes
The best travel time to visit the Picos de Europa is from June to September. Then you have the least chance of rain and the park is nice and green. We found June perfect for visiting the Picos. It was still wonderfully quiet and everything was in beautiful bloom. The valleys then look beautiful, and if you look closely, some mountain peaks are still covered with snow.
Transportation in Potes
It is best to visit this place with your own transportation. It is also possible to visit Picos de Europa from Santander or from Oviedo. Through both cities there is public transportation to the Picos, but surely the best way to explore this area is by private transportation. This allows you to stop at beautiful viewpoints and discover unique places along the way.
Which budget do i need in Potes?
- Camping in Picos de Europa:
- 10 euros per night for a camper place
- 20 euros per night at a campsite
- Wild camping is actually prohibited in the national park but there are plenty of parking lots and places where you can possibly camp for free
- Hotel: 50 euros per night
- Dining out: 20 – 40 euro’s
- Sightseeing: hiking costs nothing
Day budget to visit Potes:
- Camping: 20 euros per person per day
- With accommodation: 40 euros per person
Practical information about Potes
- Before entering the area, check the car carefully for oil and coolant. The roads are good, but sometimes ask a lot of your car, camper or bus.
- Bring plenty of cash. Pinning is very difficult in the middle of the area.
- Do good shopping in Potes. This is one of the last places where this can still be done properly.
- Hiking boots and hiking poles are definitely not a luxury. Especially if you want to do a multi-day hike.
- Download a translate app. During our trip, there were few people who could speak English. Google Translate was really a lifesaver then. Or download duolingo and start learning Spanish. Even better, of course.
- Use the app park4night or camper contact to find the nicest RV sites and campgrounds
- Looking for a free overnight stay? Through TrustedHousesitters, you can babysit other people’s homes and pets for free.
- We have already had 2x per breakdown on the road and then were very I with the ANWB. This year we even opted for the complete package, since last year we got stuck in Germany for 8 days and only spent 80 euros per day on accommodation
- Download the foreign affairs app and stay up to date with the latest travel advice
- Attention Orange Travel Advisory. Also, if you travel through an orange area, your insurance can deny charges. If there is an orange travel advisory regarding Corona, the insurance will only not cover costs related to Corona (please check, because this is not the case everywhere).
- Refueling is cheaper in villages. So never fill up your tank on the highway
- If you want to withdraw money in Europe, you often have to pay a small fee to your bank. We recently switched to Knab, which does not charge additional fees. We are very happy with it + you now receive €50 gift when you use Knab’s Switch Service!
- A credit card is really handy to have with you. For example, purchases are extra insured and in some places you can only pay by credit card.
What are nice places to stay in Potes?
Officially, you are not allowed to wik camp in the national park, but there are some places where you can.
A super charming campsite within walking distance of the town of Potes is Camping La Viorna. The campground has nice green spaces and even a little pool to cool off in.
You won’t be short of accommodations in Potes either.
Plus we always like a booking through We Wander Why. You pay nothing extra and we get a very small fee for each booking. So if you are happy with this article and would like to receive more We Wander Why content in the future, please make us very happy with a click to our friends at Booking.com.
