Ribadeo
Ribadeo is a Galician port town on the Eo estuary, facing the Cantabrian Sea, with the As Catedrais rock arches to the west.
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Ribadeo is a town in northeastern Galicia, in the province of Lugo, on the border with Asturias. It is the capital of the A Mariña Oriental comarca. The Eo estuary separates it from Castropol on the Asturian side, and the Ponte dos Santos bridge, finished in 1987, and the A-8 link the two banks. The official population is about 10,000, but the summer population can reach about 25,000, so expect busier streets in midsummer.
The old town started on the river docks at Porcillán and Cabanela, then climbed the hill, where the medieval town grew. Sections of its wall, built more for customs control than defense, still stand. Look for indiano houses built by emigrants who came back from Cuba in the early 20th century, and the 1915 Torre de los Moreno. The Santa Clara convent on Praza do Campo is known for its cakes, and the weekly Wednesday market dates to the medieval charter. As Catedrais, the arch-shaped rocks carved by the sea, lies west of town.
Ribadeo in five
- Plan As Catedrais around low tideThe rock arches are on a beach that you can only walk at low tide. Check tide tables for your dates and give yourself a margin to leave before the water returns.
- Check the authorization rules for As CatedraisIn peak periods a free online authorization is required for the beach. Check the Xunta de Galicia's official page before you travel; rules vary by season.
- Cross to Asturias along the estuaryRibadeo sits on the border, and the Eo estuary leads into Asturian fishing villages. A short drive covers both sides.Asturias
- Hire a car for the coastBeaches, viewpoints and small harbors are spread along the coast. Public transport between them is thin, so a car is the easiest option.
- Stay in the old town for harbor eveningsThe center has cafés and seafood near the port. Quieter villa stays are nearby, but they need a car and lack evening options.
Things to do in Ribadeo
See all attractions in RibadeoNeed to know
- Airport
- Asturias (OVD) or Santiago (SCQ), then a car
- Getting there
- Car or bus along the coast; limited trains
- Getting around
- Walk in town; a car for beaches and villages
- Best base
- Ribadeo's harbor area
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, wetFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Spring, greenAprilRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°WarmJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, dryJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm seaSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, showersOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°WetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 159 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cold, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
Average daily high and low in Ribadeo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ribadeo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Ribadeo
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°4°0%Monday: Fog. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue13°6°3%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed12°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu13°4°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri14°5°14%Friday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sat13°8°34%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sun17°10°71%Sunday: Rain. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 06:39 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JulInterceltic Festival of AvilésAsturias, a day trip
Day trips by train
- As Catedrais beachabout 15 min by carRock arches that can be walked only at low tide.
- Asturias coastabout 15–45 min by carFishing villages and beaches on the far side of the estuary.Read the guide
- Lugoabout 1–1.5 hours by carA Roman wall that you can walk around the old town.
Before you go to Ribadeo
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Rules for Ribadeo, checked
- Ribadeo is in Spain, which is part of the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es).
- Non-EU visitors entering Spain are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Check the European Commission's EES pages for the current process.
- For any emergency in Spain, call 112 from any phone. The same number connects you to police, ambulance and fire services.
Plan around Ribadeo
Regions, trains, entry rules and money for the whole country
Read the guideGaliciaRías, Romanesque churches and the Camino routes
Read the guideAsturiasThe coast and mountains just across the estuary
Read the guideA CoruñaThe Atlantic city for a longer Galicia loop
Read the guideGetting around SpainCar or bus: how to cover the north coast
Read the guideRibadeo FAQ
Is Ribadeo worth visiting?
Yes, mainly as a base for As Catedrais and the Galician-Asturian coast. The town is small and pleasant, with a calm harbor and good seafood.
When is the best time to see As Catedrais?
At low tide, preferably in the morning on a clear day. Check the official tide table and the authorization rules for your dates before you arrive.
Do you need to book for As Catedrais?
In peak periods you need a free online authorization. Check the Xunta de Galicia's official page for the current rules, since requirements and dates change.
Can you visit As Catedrais as a day trip?
Yes, from the Asturias or Galicia coast, but plan around the tide and rules. A night in Ribadeo gives you a margin for weather and a better chance of the right tide.
What is the best time to visit Ribadeo?
June and September combine warm days with fewer crowds. July and August are busiest. Spring is green and wet, and winter is rainy.