15 BEST Things to Do in Ribadesella, Asturias – Complete Guide
Ribadesella is one of the most charming coastal towns in Asturias.
It’s a great place to recover from all the adventures, but there’s much to explore in town.
Oh and it also has one of the most beautiful beaches in Asturias!
Let’s see what to expect in Ribadesella, Asturias:
Where to Stay in Ribadesella, Spain
Ready to explore Ribadesella? You’ll find below my selection of the best places to stay in the city:
- Best Hotel in Ribadesella – Hotel Villa Rosario: a charming boutique hotel, located right on the beach. Oh and free private parking too!
- Best for Families – Saradavid: a comfy flat for 4, perfect for parents with kids to avoid having to book 2 separate rooms. 10 minutes walk from the beach, and private parking.
- Best Value Hotel – Pension Arbidel: hard to find a best option for that price in Ribadesella; a private room in the center of the town for around $25 per person.
Where is Ribadesella?
Ribadesella is located in Asturias, on the north coast of Spain known as the Costa Verde. It’s around 2h west of Bilbao, and 3h north of Valladolid.
In Asturias, Ribadesella is right above the Picos de Europa National Park (35mn), and close to Llanes, another famous coastal town.
Full List of the 15 Best Things to See in Ribadesella, Asturias
In a hurry to see the full list? Here it is:
- Ermita de la Virgen de Guia
- Playa de Santa Marina
- Surf with the Locals
- Cueva de Tito Bustillo
- Torre de la Atalaya
- Playa de la Atalaya
- Iglesia Santa Maria Magdalena
- Mirador de Ribadesella
- Mirador de Ardines
- Canoe in the Sella River
- Paneles de Mingote
- Mirador Punta del Pozu
- Cuevona de Cuevas del Agua
- Bufones de Pria
- Playa de Guadamia
Now let’s see each of these 15 items in more details, with photos to help you get a feel of what to expect. Alright, let’s dive right in!
1. Ermita de la Virgen de Guia
The first on the list is the Ermita de la Virgen de Guia, my favorite spot in Ribadesella.
You can see the little church on top of the cliff
It’s a little church high up on the cliff, but most importantly it’s the highest point in the area. From the top, you’ll get the best view of the city, with the golden sand beach in the foreground, the layers of houses and the epic mountains in the background.
The walk to the top is easy, and only takes 15 minutes from the center of the town.
2. Playa de Santa Marina
Probably the most famous beach in Ribadesella, the Playa de Santa Marina. It’s the one you’ll see in front of you from the Ermita de la Virgen de Guia.
It’s a very wide beach, so you’ll be sure to find a spot to chill. The beach has a parking on the left side, showers on the beach and public bathrooms.
All along the beach you’ll also find beautiful ancient homes, and it makes for a nice afternoon stroll.
3. Surf with the Locals
While you’re on the Playa de Santa Marina, you can go surf with the locals! Due to the unique position of the bay, the waves are pretty nice on this part of the coast, so much that you’ll always see surfers near the shore.
If you already know how to surf you can rent a board & a wetsuit at a local shop, there are several in the center, just like this one (board for 15€/4 hours and wetsuit 10€/4 hours). Otherwise you can get surfing lessons, which is around 35€ for 2 hours.
4. Cueva de Tito Bustillo
The Tito Bustillo Cave is a cave from the prehistoric era; it was used by humans well before our time, in 10,000 BCE.
The cave is filled with rock art from prehistoric humans, together with ancient tools and even bones. It’s one of the 16 prehistoric caves in Spain, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You’ll need to book your ticket in advance to visit the cave, as it can get booked pretty far in advance.
Opening times: Wednesdays to Sundays, 11am to 5pm
Price: 2.12€
Book online: Tito Bustillo Cave Tickets
You can also visit the Cave Art Centre, with interesting exhibitions, complementary to the cave.
5. Torre de la Atalaya
This next one is a quick thing to see, but definitely an interesting part of the city. The Torre de la Atalaya, or “watchtower tower”, is a medieval tower built on the height of the city.
While it looks medieval, it’s actually pretty recent and was built in the 19th century. Now it’s all covered in ivy, and it looks pretty cool.
After seeing the tower, if you keep climbing on the narrow street you’ll get all the way to the Ermita de la Virgen de Guia.
6. Playa de la Atalaya
Right behind the Torre de la Atalaya is a nice quiet beach: the playa de la Atalaya.
This small beach is way less crowded than the main playa de Santa Marina, and thus the perfect place if you want to be away from the crowds to relax.
There’s also a nice viewpoint on the cliff over the beach, that you can access by climbing the steps to your right when coming from the Atalaya street.
7. Iglesia Santa Maria Magdalena
If you walk around the city, you will undoubtedly notice this building: the Iglesia Santa Maria Magdalena. With its 2 bell towers and massive statue, it peaks above the buildings of Ribadesella.
You can step inside freely, it’s definitely worth a visit. The area around the church has plenty of restaurants and bars, perfect to stop for a bit and enjoy the laid-back vibe.
8. Mirador de Ribadesella
Right next to the church is a great viewpoint: the mirador de Ribadesella.
Not only does it offer a nice view over the beach, it also gives you a view on the colorful houses on the side of the hill.
Don’t miss the Escalera de Colores right under it: colorful staircase, the Instagram spot in town.
9. Mirador de Ardines
This should actually be called the Miradores de Ardines, because there are 3 nice viewpoints in the same area.
You can get to the first one by car, and there’s a dedicated parking spot right in front.
From the first viewpoint, take the trail to your right, it will lead you to the second and third viewpoints. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the 3rd viewpoint, then you can come back via the same trail.
The path along the cliff and the three viewpoints offer nice views over Ribadesella, and it makes for a nice stroll with several benches along the way to sit down and relax.
10. Canoe in the Sella River
Back to the adventure stuff! The Sella river that splits Ribadesella in 2 is home to a popular race, the Descent of the Sella.
Each year, more than a thousand participants from all around the world join to race down the Sella river, from Arriondas in Picos de Europa down to Ribadesella, the finish line 20km down stream.
Obviously you won’t row for that long (unless you want to), but you can rent a canoe to enjoy the final part of the descent. The company drives you in van t othe starting point, gives you a waterproof drum to store your gear, gives you a lunch, and picks you up again at the end of your descent.
Average prices: 20€/person
Book online: Montanas del Norte
11. Paneles de Mingote
If you have any interest in history, you’ll love the Paneles de Mingote. Mingote is a local artist, and he’s created 6 huge ceramic panels representing Ribadesella through history.
The panels are laid out on the Paseo de la Grua, a nice pathway along the river, that you’ll probably take if you’re heading to the Ermita de la Virgen de Guia, the best view in town.
12. Mirador Punta del Pozu
Another mirador?! Ok last one I promise.
The Mirador Punta del Pozu is on the left side of the main beach, straight across the Ermita de la Virgen de Guia which you can see from there.
From the mirador, you can also get down on the rocks when it’s low-tide, to go explore the coast and play on the rocks.
13. Cuevona de Cuevas del Agua
For the last 3 items on our list, we’ll go outside the city itself, but no further than a 10-minute drive away.
The Cuevona de Cuevas del Agua is a natural cave, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The crazy thing is that this cave is part of the road, and locals drive through the cave daily.
I’d advise against driving through though, but rather park your car nearby and walk through the cave to discover it. It’s dark in the cave, so make sure to wear bright clothes and turn on your phone flashlight so that cars can see you.
14. Bufones de Pria
The Bufones de Pria are massive geysers, right next to Ribadesella.
Over the years, the waves have created holes in the cliffs; now when the waves crash, the water gets in the holes and blows high up in the air, creating absolutely epic scenes.
Read the full guide: Bufones de Pria [Complete Guide]
15. Playa de Guadamia
And finally, the last item on our list of things to do in Ribadesella: the playa de Guadamia.
This beach is right next to the Bufones de Pria, and you can combine the 2 in the same trip.
It’s a special beach that goes inland, in between the cliffs: at low-tide you can walk on the beach for a while all the way to the sea, and at high-tide you can enjoy the natural pool when the water floods the area!
Visit Spain
Planning a trip to Ribadesella, Asturias and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip.
Asturias Guides:
More cliffs & sea views? Check out Cabo Vidio & Playa de Silencio
Ready for hikes? Check out the Ruta del Cares, the Poncebos to Bulnes hike, or this massive guide of the best hikes in Picos de Europa.
If you want to escape the crowds & get in the wild, discover the Somiedo Natural Park
And finally, if you need inspiration, see all my Spain travel guides
I hope you enjoy your trip to Asturias and to Spain; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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