Ribadesella Voyage Tips and guide

Ribadesella is a beach resort in Asturias on the north coast of Spain. It's known as Ribeseya in Asturian, and in 2024 had a population of 5500.

43°27′36″N 5°3′54″W

Map of Ribadesella

Ribadesella is 68 km east of Gijón and 167 km west of Santander. A-8 is the fast coastal highway, branch off onto N-632.

Alsa buses run every hour from Oviedo taking 70 min, and every hour or two from Gijón taking 1 hr 45 min. Both run via Villaviciosa.

From Santander you usually change at Llanes, but one bus daily is direct taking 2 hr 15 min.

43.4593-5.06231 Estación de Autobuses is on the east riverbank.

Ribadesella is on the Feve metre-gauge coastal railway, now part of Renfe who wish it would disappear. Four trains a day run from Oviedo, taking 2 hr 30 min, and continue to Llanes; two of them go on to Santander.

43.4595-5.05472 Ribadesella railway station is a simple platform halt 500 m southeast of town centre.

The cave is within walking distance.

Taxis wait by the main roundabout.

• 43.4622-5.05761 Santa María Magdalena is the parish church. It was built in 1924, wrecked in the Civil War but re-built. The most striking feature is the trompe l'oeil array of saints within its square dome. It's open daily 11:00-13:00.
• Torre de la Atalaya is northeast end of town at the start of the walk to the headland. It's a 19th century tower but the owner thought it would be cool to make it look medieval.
• 43.4683-5.06472 Ermita de La Guía is a little chapel on the headland north of town. It's seldom open, you come for the sea view.
• 43.4583-5.06753 Tito Bustillo Cave, Centro de Arte Rupestre, ☏ +34 902 306600. Feb Nov Dec W Th 10:00-14:30, Sa Su 10:30-17:30, Mar-Oct W-Su 10:00-18:00. This cave was inhabited from 33,000 to 10,000 years ago by cro-magnon humans of the Magdalenian culture. Then a rockfall blocked the entrance, so its paintings and artefacts were sealed within. There are limited access slots to the cave so buy online in advance and come first to the Centre to have your ticket validated. The Centre also exhibits the cave contents. By the time it was sealed off, Europe had warmed up from the Ice Ages, big game animals such as mammoth were extinct, and cro-magnons merged into other Paleolithic cultures. Adult €5.45, conc or child €3.29.  (updated Jan 2026)

• Playa de Santa Marina is the main beach, a 1-km sandy stretch west of the river bridge, but covered at high tide. Surf shacks here are La Surferita, Surf Camp Ribadesella and Santa Marina Surf Camp.
• Playa de la Atalaya is northeast of town centre, and more exposed.
• Municipal Sports Centre is 200 m south of the cave visitor centre.
• El Descenso del Sella is a canoe race in August down 20 km of the River Sella, from Arriondas bridge to the bridge at Ribadesella.
• El Prado de San Juan is a park on a river island, accessed by bridge from the west bank near the sports centre. It's a good spot to watch El Descenso.
• Golf: La Rasa de Berbes is 10 km west off A-8.
• Camino del Norte is one of the leash of pilgrimage trails of El Camino converging on Santiago de Compostella. This branch hugs the coast through Bilbao, Santander, Llanes, Ribadesella, Villaviciosa and Gijón. It's more rugged than the main trail coursing inland, but less touristy; medieval pilgrims preferred it to avoid territory held by the Moors. At Villaviciosa a side trail heads to Oviedo, where you can switch onto another route, Camino Primitivo.

Carrefour Express is by the roundabout at Palacio Valdés 1, open daily 09:00-21:00.

• Town centre has El Volante, El Labrador, El Puerto, La Trapiella, El Campenu, El Tarteru, El Cantil, Casa Basilio and El Muelle.
• The beach strip has Quince Nudos, and Ayalga within Hotel Villa Rosario.

Over a dozen bars in town centre.

Cider is the chief drink in Asturias, though the region produces some wine.

• Hotel Marina, Gran Vía de Agustín Argüelles 36 (at bridge), ☏ +34 684 625134. Old but comfy, in town centre. (updated Jan 2026)
• Hotel El Jardín de Eugenia, Palacio Valdés 22 (by bus station), ☏ +34 985 860805. Simple convenient hotel. (updated Jan 2026)
• Hotel Covadonga is 100 m north of Santa María Magdalena, at Manuel Caso de la Villa 6.
• Hotel Brisas del Sella is north edge of town at Corbero Guía 11.
• 43.4661-5.06391 Gran Hotel de Sella, Ricardo Cangas 17, ☏ +34 985 860150. Beautiful old hotel on the beach promontory. Double (room only) €100.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 43.4649-5.06932 Hotel Don Pepe, Dionisio Ruisánchez 12, ☏ +34 985 857881. Welcoming hotel by the beach.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Hotel Villa Rosario is in two buildings, an old and a new, by Hotel Don Pepe on Dionisio Ruisánchez.

As of Jan 2026, Ribadesella and its approach roads have 5G from all Spanish carriers.

• Llastres west is a charming old whaling village.
• Covadonga inland was where the Moors were first repulsed, and the reconquest of Spain began. A complex of religious buildings commemorates the victory.