natural wonder
Bufones de Pria
Sea blowholes that roar and spout columns of spray dozens of metres into the air through a meadowland of clifftop limestone vents.
6 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeSpainAsturias
Ribadesella
Asturias, Spain · Europe
About Ribadesella
Ribadesella works well as a base: 25 minutes from Cangas de Onís, 6km from Bufones de Pria.
Ribadesella is in Asturias, Spain, with about 5,700 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Cangas de Onís, about 13 km away.
Ribadesella (Asturian: Ribeseya) is a small 84-square-kilometre (32 mi2) municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Known for its location on the Cantabrian Sea, at the outlet of the River Sella, Ribadesella is located near the Picos de Europa and serves as a gateway to theRead more
region. It is bordered on the east by Llanes, on the south by Cangas de Onís and Parres, and on the west by Caravia. Queen Letizia of Spain has family ties to Ribadesella, although she was born in Oviedo.
On the first weekend of August, the International Sella River Descent takes place; kayakers from all over the world gather here to attempt the final 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of the Sella River in record time. The town is also known for its prehistoric cave, known as the Cave of Tito Bustillo, which is open to visitors during scheduled seasons and with limited access. Ribadesella is often visited for its history, sport activities, scenery, natural amenities, and food.
Where to Stay in Ribadesella
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Ribadesella.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Ribadesella.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ribadesella?
Within an hour or so of Ribadesella: Bufones de Pria (6 km), Mirador del Fitu (11 km), Playa de Gulpiyuri (14 km), Santuario de Covadonga (17 km).
Are there any good drives near Ribadesella?
The nearest famous roads are Lagos de Covadonga Road, Garganta del Cares Road (Poncebos) and Desfiladero de los Beyos (N-625).
Where is Ribadesella?
Ribadesella is in Asturias, Spain, about 13 km from Cangas de Onís.
Road trip
Drive to Ribadesella
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Ribadesella. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 5,730
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Asturias
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 43.4614, -5.0595
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Ribadesella
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Mirador del Fitu
A 1927 concrete viewing platform perched on the AS-260 mountain road, offering a single sweeping panorama of both the Picos de Europa and the Asturian coast.
11 km · about 20 min drive
beach
Playa de Gulpiyuri
A surreal inland beach where the sea seeps through caves to form a tiny landlocked cove of sand in the middle of green meadows.
14 km · about 25 min drive
cathedral
Santuario de Covadonga
A pink-stone basilica and the Holy Cave shrine wedged into a cliff mark the birthplace of the Reconquista in a misty mountain gorge.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Lakes of Covadonga
Two ethereal glacial lakes set in a dramatic alpine amphitheater within the Picos de Europa, a sacred site in Spanish history.
22 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Lagos de Covadonga Road
A steep, narrow climb from Covadonga to two glacial lakes at 1,100 m, restricted to shuttle buses at peak times.
22 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Lagos de Covadonga road (CO-4)
A steep, narrow Vuelta climb to twin glacial lakes at 1,100m in the Picos de Europa; access is bus-only in peak season.
22 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Ruta del Cares
The 'Divine Gorge' trail clings to cliffs hundreds of metres above the Cares river, one of Spain's most spectacular and popular hikes.
29 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Ribadesella
- Right hereMirador del FituA 1927 concrete viewing platform perched on the AS-260 mountain road, offering a single sweeping panorama of both the Picos de Europa and the Asturian coast.
- 22 kmLagos de Covadonga RoadA steep, narrow climb from Covadonga to two glacial lakes at 1,100 m, restricted to shuttle buses at peak times.
- 22 kmLagos de Covadonga road (CO-4)A steep, narrow Vuelta climb to twin glacial lakes at 1,100m in the Picos de Europa; access is bus-only in peak season.
- 29 kmGarganta del Cares Road (Poncebos)The narrow road up to Poncebos through the Cares gorge, where the walls close to a slot and the Ruta del Cares path begins.
- 31 kmDesfiladero de los Beyos (N-625)The N-625 threads one of Europe's narrowest road gorges, squeezed between towering limestone walls along the Sella river on the western edge of the Picos de Europa.
- 36 kmRuta de la Costa CantabricaSpain's spectacular northern coastal route winding along green cliffs, hidden beaches, and fishing villages from Bilbao to A Coruna.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Ribadesella.
Plan a trip around Ribadesella
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Ribadesella.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.