Jurassic Museum of Asturias

The Jurassic Museum of Asturias (MUJA) in Colunga is a paleontology museum perched on the Rasa de San Telmo hill near the parish of Llastres, right at the heart of what locals call the Dinosaur Coast. It's one of the most-visited stops along Asturias's northern shoreline, pairing genuine scientific content with a striking clifftop setting above the Bay of Biscay.

How do you get there?

MUJA sits within the municipality of Colunga, even though Ribadesella was the site originally proposed back in the late 1990s before planners settled on the Rasa de San Telmo hill instead. The choice wasn't arbitrary: the site's viewpoint looks out over the Bay of Biscay, the Sierra del Sueve range, and, on clear days, the peaks of the Picos de Europa. The easiest approach is by car from Gijón or Oviedo along the coastal road, a drive of roughly 40 to 60 minutes depending on your starting point. The museum sits right along the main route connecting Asturias's seaside towns, so it's simple to combine a visit with a stop in Llastres, the fishing village visible from the museum grounds.

What will you see inside?

The building itself is part of the appeal — its silhouette is designed to evoke a three-toed dinosaur footprint, making it one of the most recognizable structures on this stretch of coast. Inside, the exhibits walk visitors through the Jurassic period: full-scale dinosaur skeleton reconstructions, life-size models, and displays dedicated to the region's famous icnitas — fossilized footprints tens of millions of years old, found along the Asturian coastline and the very reason this area earned the nickname Costa de los Dinosaurios (Dinosaur Coast). The museum also explains how fossils form and why this particular corner of Asturias turned out to hold such a rich record of prehistoric life. For families, it's one of the few attractions in the region that blends entertainment with solid science — kids get to see full-scale models up close, while adults get the geological context behind them.

When should you visit?

Late spring through early autumn is the best window, since mild coastal weather also makes it easy to walk the beaches near Llastres or take in the view from the museum's terrace. Plan on at least an hour and a half to two hours inside the museum itself; if you also want to walk the clifftop path or head down into the fishing village, budget half a day. Thanks to its open, viewpoint-driven layout, a dry day is worth prioritizing so you can make the most of the outdoor terrace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the museum suitable for children? Yes. The full-scale skeleton and model displays are built with younger visitors in mind, and the sections on fossilized footprints explain prehistory in an accessible way.

How long does a visit take? A standard visit runs about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your pace and interest in the geological details.

Why is the museum in Colunga rather than Ribadesella? Ribadesella was the site originally considered, but in the late 1990s planners chose the Rasa de San Telmo hill in Colunga instead, thanks to its strategic position at the center of the Jurassic region.

What can you see from the museum's viewpoint? The terrace offers views over the Bay of Biscay, the Sierra del Sueve mountain range, and the Picos de Europa.