This route has not been in existence for many years, but with the improvements made in recent years to the Charmartín station in Madrid and the tunnel to avoid Atocha, it is now possible to travel by AVE from Valencia to Asturias in less than 6 hours.
Gone are the days of traveling by car or bus for more than 8 hours to reach the Asturian capital, Oviedo. Today, with one train a day, it is possible to have lunch in Valencia and dinner in Oviedo, just outside the city, overlooking the Cantabrian Sea.
Timetables and prices for the direct train between Valencia and Oviedo
One of the gateways to the Picos de Europa can be reached in 5 hours and 38 minutes, with an AVE train departing at 12:35 p.m. from Joaquín Sorolla and arriving in Oviedo at 6:13 p.m.
The return journey, which can be made almost any day of the week without changing trains, leaves Oviedo at 11:40 a.m. and arrives in the Valencian capital at around 5:30 p.m.
The price? Between €45 and €70 per journey, depending on availability and whether there are any special offers. In return, you save around 2 to 3 hours compared to a car journey with short stops.