The Playa de las Catedrales is one of the most beautiful and spectacular beaches in northern Spain. But what actually makes the beach in the north of Spain so special? Is the Playa de Catedrales really so touristy? And when is the best time to travel? Answers to these questions and important travel tips we will give you now.
Hi Guys!
We are Sabrina and Andreas, two adventurous travelers who never miss an opportunity to discover the world. Whether by plane to distant countries or with our campervan Bruno, we just love to travel. We hope to give you helpful tips for your next trip on our blog.
Sabrina & Andreas Globetrotters, Travelers, Adventurers
Playa de las Catedrales
Playa de las Catedrales is located in northern Spain in the region of Galicia and is one of the most popular beaches in Spain. Here, there are numerous rocks and arch-like rock formations on the beach and in the water and, in addition, the beach is made of powdered sugar sand and the water is truly as beautiful a turquoise blue as we have seen on very few beaches in northern Spain.
There is a large entrance at the official parking lot and also another smaller entrance down a wooden staircase a few hundred yards to the west. Along the coast there is a long wooden walkway where you can walk along the coastline and have a great view of the sea.
What makes Playa de las Catedrales so special?
The really special thing about the Cathedral Beach are two things:
First: Many of the rock formations have the shape of arches or gates through which you can also walk.
Second, the beach can only be visited at low tide, because at high tide almost all the rocks and almost the entire beach are washed by water.
The rocks on the beach look really spectacular and you can climb up on them. The really amazing rocks formations are located on the far right side of the beach. There you can find the round arches through which you can walk at low tide. There are really several in a row, which from the right perspective visually form the outline of a cathedral. Hence the beautiful name of the beach.
But even apart from these spectacular formations, the beach is really interesting. There are various caves, narrow passages between the rocks, naturally formed pools on the beach and generally a lot to discover. So definitely take a few hours to discover all the highlights of this beach.
And don’t forget: If the weather is good, you can also have a wonderful swim here. So pack a bathing suit and a towel!
Hotel Recommendation
Accomodation close to Playa de las Catedrales
This accommodation* is super close to Playa de las Catedrales and also offers a lot of comfort.
- only a few minutes by car from the Cathedral Beach
- large double room with private bathroom
- located directly at the sea
- breakfast included
Tips for the Playa de las Catedrales Beach
Visiting is only possible at low tide!
It is very important to know that the beach with its rock formations can only be visited at low tide. The especially beautiful arch-like rock formations on the far right side of the beach can only be visited dry-footed at low tide. If you take too much time, you may have to walk a short distance through knee-deep water back to the exit. But this is usually doable without any problems.
At high tide almost the whole beach is covered by water, only on a 100 meters wide section of the beach directly at the main entrance you can still reach the beach (this also depends on the tides).
So be sure to check the local tides before you go. You can do that for example on this website: Tides at Playa de las Catedrales
Tickets for the Playa de las Catedrales
In the high season between July 1st and September 30th (and at Easter) the access to the beach is highly regulated and only about 3000 tourists per day are allowed on the beach. Tickets can be booked online for free maximum 30 days before your visit: Booking a visit to Cathedrals Beach
On all other days the visit of the beach is free and unregulated. It is crowded here even in the low season.
Is Playa de las Catedrales very touristy?
Unfortunately, we have to answer this question with a resounding yes. There is always a lot going on and the parking lots are packed, especially in the high season. Many visitors also come just to take pictures and to admire the beach.
So there is also a whole different atmosphere here than on “normal” beaches. Because many visitors walk around and only relatively few lie here in the sand and enjoy the sun.
Is it possible to swim at Playa de las Catedrales?
Yes, it is possible. Even if there are many visitors who only want to take pictures, it is possible to find a quiet corner and swim in the crystal clear water. If the weather is good, we would really recommend it to you, because the beach is really wonderful!
Are dogs allowed at Playa de las Catedrales?
Yes, dogs are allowed on the beach. There is no explicit prohibition that would exclude dogs.
Playa de las Catedrales Spain | Is parking free here?
Fortunately, there are two large and completely free parking lots at Playa de las Catedrales. The first parking lot (Google Maps) is asphalted and has not so many parking bays. Accordingly, this one is quickly full. The second parking lot (Google Maps) is a large meadow or gravel parking lot and has no marked parking bays.
In the high season, both parking lots are nevertheless very quickly full.
Playa de las Catedrales Camping – Can you stay here overnight?
If you are traveling by motorhome, there is an official campground near Playa de las Catedrales (Google Maps) and directly at the beach there are 2 large parking lots (see above). On the more distant parking lot (Google Maps) it is allowed to stay overnight with your camper or motorhome. There is no service, but you can be the first on the beach in the morning.
We hope you enjoyed our report about Playa de las Catedrales Spain. If you have any questions or tips, please leave us a comment.