Ribeira, Galicia's biggest port town

Ribiera is Galicia's main fishing port and is economically important, not just to Galicia but, to the whole of Spain. Sited in the lower bays, this ancient town lands huge quantities of fish and sea food and also acts as the sales room for many of the regions smaller port towns.

General information about Ribeira

Ribeira is a genuine working fishing town with a large port capable of taking deep sea fishing vessels. The town, whilst not exactly a picturesque piece of Galician urbanisation, is popular with holiday makers and gives a true view of Galicia's ancestory and seafaring history. The town is always busy and is the best spot in Galicia to get freshly caught and cooked seafood. Sardines are a local speciality.

What to see in the town of Ribeira

Tip 1. Ribeira's main appeal is that of a working fishing port. There is a large key and it has a busy market with constant deliveries of fish. The town is certainly not from a picture postcard, but it still gets a large number of holiday visitors.

Tip 2. The small towns and villages of the greater Ribeira area are worth a look. There are several of them and they are all located on the coast. This stretch of the rias baixas also has some of Galicia's best beaches, many hidden away in small coves and bays.

Tip 3. For anyone who likes fish, a plate of the local favourite, sardines, at one of the harbour side bars is a must. Ribeira has a big sardine festival in the summer and is reputed to serve the best (and certainly the most recently caught) sardines in Galicia.

Tip 4. Located only a few kilometres from Ribeira and also on the sea front is a large sand dune with a visitor centre and large beach. Called the Complexo Dunar de Corrubedo e Lagoas de Carregal e Vixan, this dune is a natural phenomenon and attracts a lot of visitors, especially if the weather is good.

Tip 5. Ribeira has a number of festivals and nearly all are connected with fishing or the sea. If you are fortunate enough to see one, you will gain an insight into the history and traditions of the town.

Where is Ribeira and how do you reach it

The closest major city to Ribeira is probably Santiago de Compostela. Reaching Ribeira from Santiago by the scenic route can take a couple of hours, but the views are good and much of the route is coastal. Taking the main highways is much quicker.

Ribeira is one of a large number of towns that holiday visitors to Galicia are likely to call in at and explore. Ribeira is not the best place from which to base a holiday, but it is an ideal stop to build into a day out driving down the sea front. Parking can be difficult in the old town.