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Vigo Travel Guide
Vigo
Vigo is known for being a clean and safe city, characterized by its excellent educational system and for its focus on the environment. It is a beautiful town located in the province of Pontevedra. Vigo is full of magic, with many things to discover and also a great history.
Today, Vigo is a very special city to live in and enjoy. It has excellent festivities, one of which occurs in September: The Vigo Festa do Marisco (Seafood Festival) allows tourists to savour delicious seafood.
In terms of climate, the summers are hot and very clear, while the winters are humid, cold and partly cloudy. The average annual temperature of this city varies between 7 and 25°C during the day (with this data being an average of the temperatures of the different seasons of the year). Vigo is a blessed land, full of life and one of the cities in Spain with the best quality of life.
Vigo hides unparalleled places to discover, a unique gastronomy and many other details that one cannot miss.
Top 7 places to visit in Vigo
As the most populated city in Galicia, Vigo has many wonderful places to visit. We present our selection of seven places to see in the city of Vigo:Bouzas neighbourhood
This neighbourhood retains the aroma of the sea with its cobbled streets, its port, its taverns, its two-story houses and the food market. Therefore, the Bouzas neighbourhood is a must-see in Vigo.
You can get there by bus, by bicycle, on foot or through the promenade.
This seafaring neighbourhood is also home to a beautiful parish church. Its streets will take you for a walk so pleasant that you will feel as though time has stopped.
You can get there by bus, by bicycle, on foot or through the promenade.
This seafaring neighbourhood is also home to a beautiful parish church. Its streets will take you for a walk so pleasant that you will feel as though time has stopped.
Casco Vello de Vigo
After its recovery, the Casco Vello de Vigo became one of the essential sites in town.
This space has been transformed after an extensive renovation. Before, one could hardly walk on its sidewalks due to the wear and tear of time. Now, the streets are beautiful, making it one of the most sought-after areas of the city.
Casco Vello's shops, restaurants and bars are the main attractions – a true masterpiece of Vigo.
This space has been transformed after an extensive renovation. Before, one could hardly walk on its sidewalks due to the wear and tear of time. Now, the streets are beautiful, making it one of the most sought-after areas of the city.
Casco Vello's shops, restaurants and bars are the main attractions – a true masterpiece of Vigo.
Museum of the Sea
Also known as the Galician Sea Museum, this site is a beautiful cultural centre that highlights Vigo's proximity to the sea. Galicia itself is a paradise that intertwines with the waves in an extraordinary way.
This museum seeks to exalt the theme of fishing by elevating its importance, talking about the practice and its benefits for the town. From the skeleton of the old Alcabre Canning factory (later reused as a municipal slaughterhouse), Italian architect Aldo Rossi devised the structure of this beautiful museum, but he died while carrying it out.
This museum seeks to exalt the theme of fishing by elevating its importance, talking about the practice and its benefits for the town. From the skeleton of the old Alcabre Canning factory (later reused as a municipal slaughterhouse), Italian architect Aldo Rossi devised the structure of this beautiful museum, but he died while carrying it out.
Constitution Square
This square is a great attraction in the city and was declared a Historic Site by the Xunta de Galicia. It offers a pleasant route and many things to see, making it one of the walks that visitors enjoy the most in Vigo.
From Constitution Square, one can see the towers of the Co-Cathedral. The square has a rectangular floor plan and is surrounded by old stone buildings with supports and balconies with ironwork. In this square are also some of the most interesting buildings in the city such as the old Town Hall and the birthplace of D. Casto Méndez Núñez.
From Constitution Square, one can see the towers of the Co-Cathedral. The square has a rectangular floor plan and is surrounded by old stone buildings with supports and balconies with ironwork. In this square are also some of the most interesting buildings in the city such as the old Town Hall and the birthplace of D. Casto Méndez Núñez.
Pazo Quiñones de León
The Pazo Quiñones de León or Quiñones de León Museum is another characteristic cultural work of Vigo. The Municipal Museum of Vigo houses excellent works of Galician painting and that also has a room full of great works of archaeology.
This museum was inaugurated in July 1937. In ancient times, it belonged to one of the predominant families of Vigo.
However, later, as there were no descendants, the private property was lost and what is known today as the museum was created.
This museum was inaugurated in July 1937. In ancient times, it belonged to one of the predominant families of Vigo.
However, later, as there were no descendants, the private property was lost and what is known today as the museum was created.
Cies Islands
Now we are going to a natural paradise in Vigo – islands that adjoin this town and that are striking in every aspect.
This archipelago belongs to the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park and is made up of three small islets: the island of Monteaguado, to the north, and the islands of Faro and San Martiño
All three can be visited.
This archipelago belongs to the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park and is made up of three small islets: the island of Monteaguado, to the north, and the islands of Faro and San Martiño
All three can be visited.
Mermaid Statue
The statue of the mermaid is a monument located in the centre of the city of Vigo, specifically in the Puerta del Sol. It is the work of the sculptor Francisco Leiro.
The statue stands out for being a quite ingenious and innovative creation. It is, in fact, one of the symbols of Vigo.
If you visit Vigo, be sure to photograph yourself next to the great statue of the mermaid.
The statue stands out for being a quite ingenious and innovative creation. It is, in fact, one of the symbols of Vigo.
If you visit Vigo, be sure to photograph yourself next to the great statue of the mermaid.
How to get around in Vigo
Vigo is a charming maritime city, which makes it perfect to visit if you like the sea. However, what is the best option for getting around Vigo?In the same way, one can use the taxi system, which is also very functional. Vigo is a small city, so moving around it is easy.
Accommodation in Vigo
As in any city, the best area to stay is near the historic centre. However, Vigo is such a varied town in terms of places to visit that not every site is in the historic centre.For this reason, in addition to the centre, the commercial area is a good place to stay, as it is close to some of the best beaches.
Gastronomy in Vigo
The gastronomy of Vigo is varied and very delicious, typical of that part of Spain where the sea and its products shine at every meal. Each area has outstanding dishes, and Vigo is among them. Here, find out which five dishes you must try if you visit this city:Seafood platters
Given Vigo's proximity to the sea, it is not surprising that one of its main dishes is made up of seafood.
A seafood platter is just what it sounds like: a dish accompanied by various types of shellfish that allow the diner to taste the most outstanding food in the place.
Oyster Street is a great tourist attraction. There, many people sit down to taste the famous oysters that come from the Ría de Vigo.
A seafood platter is just what it sounds like: a dish accompanied by various types of shellfish that allow the diner to taste the most outstanding food in the place.
Oyster Street is a great tourist attraction. There, many people sit down to taste the famous oysters that come from the Ría de Vigo.
Peixiños fritos
This dish, as its name suggests, consists of small fried fish accompanied by half a lemon from which a few drops are sprinkled on top of the fish before it is eaten.It is a favourite in Vigo and other towns in Spain, and it can be eaten as tapas or even as an appetizer before or after a main meal. We assure you, it is a dish to "lick your fingers" over, as they say.
Queimada
This is a typical drink served in a clay cup. Brandy, coffee beans, lemon zest and sugar are combined in the cup, which is then lit so that the alcohol burns.It is an extraordinary and fascinating drink that you must try in Vigo!
Roast beef in a pan
This dish is perfect for lunch. It consists of spices, onion, potatoes and veal shank chopped into small pieces and marinated over very low heat.
Galician beef is one of the highest quality meats in the world due to its upbringing, feeding and care. The meat in this dish is wonderful.
It is cooked in such a way that it completely falls apart, achieving a very soft texture – one of the best characteristics of this dish.
Galician beef is one of the highest quality meats in the world due to its upbringing, feeding and care. The meat in this dish is wonderful.
It is cooked in such a way that it completely falls apart, achieving a very soft texture – one of the best characteristics of this dish.
Llanderas cake
We could not finish without mentioning the Llanderas cake.This specialty cake, covered in almonds and with chocolate éclairs on top, has been a tradition for years at very special holidays such as Christmas.
It should be noted that Vigo's gastronomy is varied and ranges from roasted octopus to small chocolate canes.
Other information of interest
The city of Vigo, with almost 300,000 inhabitants, has a singular personality that mixes the maritime, industrial, traditional and cosmopolitan.It is a city full of architecture but also full of nature, with wonderful beaches and natural spaces. Vigo is so special as a community that the olive tree is its symbol, referring to the fact that a large olive tree existed at the Collegiate Church of Saint Mary since ancient times. It was planted by the Knights Templar when they governed the community. "Faithful, Loyal, Courageous and Always Beneficent" is the motto given to such a beautiful city. Another interesting fact is that Vigo is the most populated city in Galicia.
One of the most curious things about Vigo is the presence of a small statuette of Jules Verne, one of the most emblematic characters who visited Vigo during the 19th century. This monument commemorates his stay in the city and the role he gave it in his unforgettable novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea".
The French writer walked its streets on two occasions. Jules Verne was in Vigo for the first time for four days in June 1878 before continuing his route to Lisbon while sailing towards the Mediterranean in his 31-meter yacht, Saint Michel III. Although he had no idea before setting foot on Galician land, he had to take refuge from a storm that surprised him in the Ría de Vigo.
The French writer walked its streets on two occasions. Jules Verne was in Vigo for the first time for four days in June 1878 before continuing his route to Lisbon while sailing towards the Mediterranean in his 31-meter yacht, Saint Michel III. Although he had no idea before setting foot on Galician land, he had to take refuge from a storm that surprised him in the Ría de Vigo.
Vigo is home to many stories and anecdotes. Its narrow streets, its squares, its parks and its attractions hide the love of its people.
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