VIGO TRAVEL GUIDE

Why Travel to Vigo?

Vigo is a coastal city situated in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia, separated from the capital city of Madrid by 600km. Why is it a surprising city? Because people normally when thinking about travelling to Spain haven’t even heard of it and when they come to discover it they are totally surprised by the beauty, things to do, food...  A great place to base when exploring the region of Galicia!

Vigo is the largest city of Galicia with a total population of 300,000 inhabitants, as well as one of the largest fishing ports in the world. This city has a good combination of things to do within the city and on the bay like sailing, windsurfing or scuba-diving, etc... The size of Vigo city is just perfect, not too big or too small with art museums, markets, and excellent restaurants from traditional seafood to Michelin-starred cuisine. In this Vigo travel guide we'll bring you many more plans, don't miss them:

Discover Vigo’s Rich Gastronomy

A city important for its automotive industry (Citroen, the French-owned car makers have their largest factory in Vigo employing many people that live in the city) and for its rich and highly regarded gastronomy, thanks to the fresh seafood that the Ría de Vigo, Rias Baixas provide. Food and wine tours are one the most popular activities among the tourists that visit this destination. Enjoy tasting the delicious seafood dishes such as Pulpo à Feira (Octopus Galician Style), baked scallops, merluza a la gallega (Hake Galician style), etc. And all paired with some of the finest wines, most notably the white wines made of the Albariño grape in the D.O. Rias Baixas wine region in Galicia. A great way to walk the streets of the city making selected stops to try the amazing food of Vigo!

Wondering What to see in Vigo?

Some of its tourist attractions are the Monte O Castro (Celtic Hill-fort remains) which was the city's origin, inhabited by the local Celtic tribes, then taken over by the Romans when they conquered the area.  You can see the remains of the Celtic huts and at the top a fort overlooking the whole bay of Vigo, a great spot for photos! The Neo-classical Collegiate of Santa María and the urban centre with its harmonious combination of quiet streets and broad avenues including the elegant squares of Plaza Compostela and Plaza de la Constitución. Wander around the Casco Vello (Old Quarter) stopping for some wines and tapas in the many bars. Getting outside the city you can take a ferry boat ride or charter a private yacht to Cies Islands a natural paradise at the mouth of Vigo’s Bay, part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, a must-see when visiting while you are in Vigo. Don't forget to book ahead in the summer season as the number of passengers is limited to 2,200 people per day on the islands. per day.  Home of one the most beautiful beaches Playa de Rodas (Roda’s beach) was awarded “the best beach in the world” by the recognized British newspaper “The Guardian”. Down the coast from Vigo is the quaint historic nautical town of Baiona, with a spectacular Parador hotel within the wall of the old Monterreal Fortress. The fort is located on the Monte Boi peninsula which was a Celtic hillfort originally. There is an old part of the town to enjoy a stroll and taste the local seafood, wines, etc.

Moreover, this village witnessed the discovery of America when La Pinta arrived on March 1st, 1493. Every year thousands of people come to celebrate the Fiesta Medieval de la Arribada to reenact the arrival and commemorate this historical event. From Vigo, you can also take a ferry boat over to the other side of the bay and explore the Peninsula of O Morrazo. Wander around fishing villages like; Cangas do Morrazo, Moaña, Bueu... There are also some excellent coastal trails to walk with spectacular views. Spend the day from Vigo touring the wine country of the Rias Baixas appellation of origin. The wine region is divided up into 5 sub-zones; Val do Salnes, Ribeira do Ulla, Soutomaior, O Rosal, and Condado de Tea.

A city with a different vibe

This city is unique in Galicia, with a charm hard to explain that it captivates visitors from all over the world. You will have to visit Vigo Spain to be able to experience the Atlantic Rias Baixas vibe in person, and with this Vigo travel guide we make it all easy for you!

Our food experts have chosen the best tour operators offering tours with food, wine, and walking holidays in Vigo. You can check our full list of top food tours to Vigo and recommended boutique hotels in the sections of this Vigo travel guide.

Population: 300,000 inhabitants