The Oscar Niemeyer Centre on the waterfront is the city's signature attraction — a remarkable building by the 104-year-old Brazilian architect, opened in 2011. The old town palaces — Balsera, Camposagrado, and several others — make for a concentrated historic walking route unlike anything in the larger, more-visited Asturian cities. The Palacio Valdés Theatre has regular performances worth checking.
The Plaza de España and the arcaded streets around it are the social heart of the city, lined with cafes and sidrerías (cider bars) following Asturian tradition. The nearby Asturian coast, with the beaches at Salinas a short bus or bike ride away, rounds out the offer for visitors spending more than a day.