Vigo may not be the best known of Spain’s sun-kissed destinations, but its charms are undeniable. Wander the winding streets, soak up the atmosphere in the bustling squares and take it easy on the fantastic beaches.
Explore the heart of the city
The best place to get your bearings in Vigo is in the Casco Vello, which rises behind the city’s busy commercial port. This charming neighborhood is a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with traditional buildings and punctuated by attractive squares. The largest, Praza da Constitución, is a great place to sit with a coffee at one of the cafés and watch the city go by.
Discover the city’s history
South from the old town is the Parque del Castro, a pleasant park and botanical garden with partly reconstructed Roman remains dating from the 3rd century BC. The park is topped by the Castelo do Castro, a castle built in the 17th century for Felipe IV as part of Vigo's defenses. The best time to come here is at dusk when the sun slides spectacularly into the ocean behind the Illas Cíes – a trio of spectacular islands a 45-minute ferry ride away.
West of the center is the excellent Museo do Mar, housed in a former canning factory. Part aquarium, part museum of social history, it explores Vigo's long and eventful relationship with the sea in fascinating style.
Sample the finest seafood
As home to the world’s largest fishing port, it’s hardly surprising the city boasts some of the best seafood in Spain. The old town is crammed with traditional old tapas bars offering the ubiquitous octopus (pulpo), as well as baby squid, grilled sardines and chinchos (small fried fish).
There are a host of great spots to sample, but for some of the best food in town try Taberna a Pedra on Rua Cesteiros for delicious sardines and moreish desserts. Follas Novas, on Rua Serafin Avendano, makes an ideal spot for dinner with its selection of excellent Galician cuisine, though it’s best to reserve a table in advance.
Enjoy the best beaches in Spain
Stretching south-west from Vigo’s port you’ll find 10 miles of sandy beaches. Best of the bunch is the mile-long Praia de Samil, which lies about three miles from the city center. Backed by a long promenade lined with bars and restaurants, it offers great views of the Illas Cíes. A little further along is the quieter but equally beautiful La Fontaíña.
Take a boat to an island paradise
Lying offshore, at the mouth of the Vigo estuary, are the stunning Cíes islands, a three-island archipelago that forms part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. The islands – Monteagudo, San Martiño and Do Faro – are reached from Vigo via a 45-minute boat ride and are well worth the effort.
Their pine and eucalyptus forests are fringed by dazzling white-sand beaches and steep, rocky cliffs. The islands and are an unspoiled paradise for hiking, scuba-diving and bird watching, or simply swimming in the crystal clear waters and spending time on what many consider to be some of the finest beaches in Spain.
Car rental in Vigo gives you the freedom and convenience to explore this stunning Spanish city and beyond.
