A Quick Guide on How to Visit Cathedrals Beach, A Natural Beauty on Spain’s North Coast
One of the most popular places to see in Galicia, Spain, is the stunning Cathedrals Beach. This idyllic beach is renowned for its stone archways, which are visible at low tide. While walking the beach during low tide, some of the arches are almost 100 feet tall (30 m). They are said to be mimicking the arches of the Cathedral, hence its name.
This is a more natural paradise, so you won’t find lounge chairs or umbrellas. This is a special site for those looking to appreciate the primitive beauty of Spain’s north coast.
During the high season, it’s required to obtain a permit to visit Playa de Las Catedrals. This guide includes what to know before visiting, how to visit, highlights of the beach, tips on visiting, and more.
Table of Contents
- What to Know About Cathedrals Beach Before Your Visit
- How to Get to Cathedrals Beach
- Highlights of Visiting Cathedrals Beach
- What to Bring on a Day Trip to Cathedrals Beach
- Is Praia das Catedrais Worth Visiting?
- Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Visiting Playa de las Catedrals
What to Know About Cathedrals Beach Before Visiting
One of the most important things to know is that during high season, permits are required to access Cathedrals Beach. The daily allotted permits are capped at around 5,000 visitors.
Permits are issued by the Xunta of Galicia and are free. This is a common practice in Galicia for popular destinations during the summer, like the Cíes Islands and Ons Island near Vigo.
Cathedrals Beach is known as As Catedrais, or Praia das Catedrais in Galician or Playa de las Catedrals in Castilian Spanish. This is a stunning natural monument. Please respect it, don’t litter, and do not take anything from the beach. Appreciate the beauty and leave it untouched for the following visitors.
Authorization Permits for the Cathedrals Beach, Spain
➜ Permits are required during Semana Santa (Easter Week) and every day from July 1st – September 30th.
➜ Permits can be reserved up to 30 days in advance and issued for up to 25 people per request. During the high season, it’s best to look at least a week before you want to visit, especially if your desired date is on a weekend.
➜ There are guided tours available with permit requests. Simply choose your date (open spaces in green) and then click the guided tour options. Available tour times will be shown.
➜ Dogs, besides service dogs, ARE NOT allowed on the beach during Semana Santa and from May 15th – September 15th. Dogs can walk along the beach anytime outside this time frame if on a proper leash.
Praia das Catedrais Authorization (High Season) | Cost: Free | Request a Permit from the Xunta de Galicia
Tide Tables for Cathedrals Beach, Spain
The time to visit Praia das Catedrais is around low tide. This allows visitors to walk along the beach and see the fabulous stone archways.
To make the most of your visit, plan on arriving around two hours before low tide and staying until around two hours after. This is a nice window when planning a visit to the beach.
➜ Those visitors who are requesting permits will see on the website the low and high tide information chart.
➜ Always check the tide charts. This is the official Galician tide chart. Another place to check is Tideschart, which, for me, is a little easier to read and understand.
How to Get to Cathedrals Beach
Cathedrals Beach is located on Spain’s Marina Lucense Coast. This is a coastal section of the Cantabrian Sea in the Lugo Province that runs between the villages of Ribadeo and Viveiro. Cathedrals Beach is found between the beaches of Augasantas and Carricelas.
There are numerous ways to reach Cathedral Beach, but the easiest is by car. There are also tours available. Adventurous souls can walk along the coast to visit Playa de Las Catedrals.
Remember if visiting during high season, to have your permit ready to show at the control access point.
If you want to day trip to Cathedrals Beach, it’s best to base and stay in Lugo, Ribadeo, or Foz. There are plenty of accommodation options in each location. Alternatively, day tours are frequent from Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, and sometimes offered from Oviedo and A Coruña.
Playa de Las Catedrals by Car
We visited Cathedral Beach by car from Lugo. We turned it into a fun day with a stroll along Cathedral Beach, a visit to the beautiful pueblo of Mondoñedo, and made it back to Lugo in time to enjoy the bustling nightly tapas scene.
We visited Praia de Catedrais in February and had fabulous weather. It also meant that my dog Donaji got to enjoy the beach! I loved visiting in the off-season as it was fairly quiet and we could easily find a parking spot.
We were able to park in the main parking lot here. This is close to the public bathrooms and cafe. It’s worth noting that the public restrooms were closed, but we were able to purchase a beverage from the cafe to use the bathrooms.
There are two more parking lots, one across from the cafe, which we saw quite a few motorhomes parked in. The farthest parking lot is here and is less than a half a mile to the cafe.
Public Transportation
There is a train stop nearby, Esteiro. This is found on the Renfe train line between Oviedo and Ferrol. Make sure to check the tide charts to see if the train lines up with the correct tides. The train station is around 1 Km from the entrance to the beach.
During the high season, there is a frequent bus that connects Ribadeo to the access point of the beach. The most current bus timetables can be viewed at the Galician Bus Transit Website. Be mindful that you will have to connect the Ribadeo Bus Station (Ribadeo E.A) to Campamento (Ribadeo). The bus drops off at Campamento Bus Stop on the N634 carretera, which is about a 20-minute walk to the beach.
There are also a few daily buses from Foz, but with less frequent departures the distance is a little longer.
As Catedrais Tours
Sometimes the easiest and most convenient way to visit Cathedrals Beach is via a tour. Many of the tours also include the hassle of reserving a permit (during high season).
As Catedrais is typically offered as a day trip from Santiago de Compostela or Lugo. Always make sure to verify the tour departure city.
➜ This guided tour from Santiago de Compostela stops at Cathedral Beach and continues along the coast through villages in the area around Ribadeo and into the Asturias region of Spain.
➜ Another tour option from Santiago de Compostela includes a visit to Playa de las Catedrales, Lugo city with the Roman wall, and Ribadeo
On Foot
Cathedrals Beach can be visited on foot. For those walking either from Foz or Ribadeo, it’s part of the Camino Natural de la Ruta del Cantabrico. From Ribadeo, the walk to the beach is around 11 miles (18 Km). The walk from Foz to Ribadeo is 13 miles (21 Km).
If walking to the beach, remember to time the visit with the tides. Also check on the possibility to take public transportation to return to Ribadeo or Foz.
Ribadeo is part of the Camino del Norte, so you could easily use a rest day to visit As Catedrais. Alternatively, you could connect with the Camino do Mar, which goes past Cathedrals Beach. This is not like the typical Camino routes and can be quite isolating. The Camino do Mar arrives in Ferrol, where it’s possible to join the Camino Ingles to reach Santiago de Compostela.
Highlights of Visiting Cathedrals Beach
Now, you’ve got your permit (if needed) and followed the correct tide tables, here’s some of the highlights of Praia das Catedrais.
There is a wooden boardwalk and then a stone path that leads visitors down to the beach. Take the stone staircase with handrails to walk along the beach. Be careful that there are dangers associated with visiting, so be vigilant and respectful of the site.
One of the most beautiful sections is the triple archway. It’s iconic and at low tide it’s possible to see other small coves that are off the main beach.
Another famous archway sits at the end of Illa de Xangal. This large rock juts out towards the sea and has maintained its arc through all the erosion and strong seas.
Be mindful that a majority of the beach is sandy, but there may be sections, depending on the tide, where the only option is to walk on stones. Many of these rocks are covered in algae and can be quite slippery. Take caution when walking on the jagged stones.
It is possible to swim at the beach, but you’ll need to check the current sea conditions. I visited in February, so no one was swimming. Not only was it cold, but the sea was quite wild. Never swim when a red flag is flying.
The main cafeteria is nice and has restrooms if the public toilets are closed. They offer beverages, coffees to go, snacks, ice cream, and more. Usually, there is at least one vendor selling items for sale near the cafe.
Near the cafeteria is a viewpoint to get a bird’s eye view of the beach.
My sister and I ended up following the wooden boardwalk all the way to the viewpoint across from the small island of Pena dos Corvos. This was by far one of the best viewpoints of the entirety of the beaches and archways.
It really makes you feel small against the cliffs, wild sea, and jagged stones.
What to Pack for a Day Trip to Cathedrals Beach
Those visiting As Catedrais as a day trip may wish to pack a small day pack. It’s Galicia, so the weather can change fast. Be prepared for every season!
I always carry my Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack. If it’s safe and warm enough to swim, bring a quick-dry towel and a swimsuit. A nice pair of hiking sandals can be nice to slip on after a dip.
The north coast of Spain can be a little wilder than the eastern side of Galicia. A packable rain jacket is always a good idea. In the winter months, even though it was sunny, I still wore my puff jacket.
I carried along snacks with my Hydro Flask Lightweight Water Bottle because there are no free water fountains nearby.
On the beach I wore my Sanuks, but others may feel more comfortable in hiking shoes or a pair of trail runners.
If you want to bring hiking poles, be mindful that most of the walk is along the sandy beach. If walking to viewpoints, the surface will be a combination of stone walkways and wooden boardwalks. The hiking poles could add support if walking on the slippery stones on the beach.
I also brought my spare power bank because I took a lot of photos.
Is Praia das Catedrais Worth Visiting?
Playa de las Catedrals is one of the most popular places to visit in Galicia Spain and one of the most natural stunning places to visit in northern Spain. Cathedrals Beach is definately worth visiting.
It is best to visit Praia das Catedrais in the two-hour window before and after the low tide. Those visiting As Catedrais may be disappointed as they will not get to appreciate the stunning archways or walk along the beach.
For me, Praia das Catedrais is best visted outside the main tourist window of Santa Semana and the busy summer months. I loved showing up without a permit, with my family and dog to simply enjoy the beach with only a handful of people. Of course, we got lucky with the weather.
Cathedral Beach is worth visiting and is a stunning natural landscape to see in Spain.
Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Visiting Playa de las Catedrals on Spain’s North Coast
In short, this is a quick guide on how to best visit As Catedrais, one of Galicia’s most beautiful natural treasures and primitive beaches. This guide highlights the best way to get to the beach, useful tips on permits and regulations, and what to see.
For me, Cathedrals Beach is best to visit in the shoulder season when no permit is required and the crowds are fewer. Remember, the beach can only be walked at low tide.
There are many stone structures to appreciate, sandy beaches, viewpoints, and natural wonders in this corner of Galicia.
Cathedrals Beach is a very special and beautiful place.
Have you visited As Catedrais near Ribadeo Spain? How did you get there? What did you think of the natural monument and iconic beach? Let me know in the comments below.
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