Best Things To Do in Vigo

Vigo is a very versatile city, offering both beach and urban plans, so it's the perfect place if you want to enjoy the beach atmosphere, but also the city life. Vigo is a city to enjoy from all points of view and at all times of the year.

And speaking of seasons, if there's one thing about Vigo is that, despite being a coastal place, you can visit the city in summer or winter and find great activities to do. Some of the things you can do are visiting the Pazo Quiñones de León, touring the historic centre, or travelling to nearby towns like Tui or Pontevedra.

Vigo's historic centre is one of those places you have to include in your Vigo itinerary for a day. The old town has important places of tourist and cultural interest that you can visit on a guided tour around this area, although, of course, you can also do it on your own if you don't want to choose a guided and paid tour.

Among the things you can see on one of the best tours of Vigo and its historic centre are: Vigo Cathedral, Plaza da Constitución, Plaza de Compostela and Porta de Sol. But in addition, each of these places has representative elements that characterize the city. For example, Compostela Square boasts the Dinoseto, a huge plant dinosaur and its offspring.

In the case of Plaza Porta de Sol, it boasts the Sireno, a sculpture with a human and a fish part, representing the relationship between man and the sea, which is so present in the city of Vigo due to its proximity to the sea and the area's fishing economy. Another place you can't miss after transferring from the airport to Vigo is the Mercado de Pedra (Stone Market).

Interesting details

• Price: If you go on your own, you don't have to pay, but if you take a guided tour, you'll have to pay from 90 euros for a private tour of Vigo's historic centre.
• Timetable: There's no timetable for touring Vigo's historic centre, unless you take a guided tour, where the timetable is set by the tour guide. If you want to visit each of the places in the old town, then I recommend you check their respective visiting hours.
• How to get there: You can get to Vigo's Old Town by car, on foot or by public transport. If you're staying nearby, you can walk around this place.

Tui is one of the towns that are very close to Vigo, and by car it will take you no more than 30 minutes to get there. There are many activities you can do in this town, including walking through its streets and getting lost in its medieval architecture.

Among other things you will like to see in Tui is its cathedral, a very old building that will catch your attention because of the great fortress that represents its construction. I also recommend you to visit other similar and equally important buildings in Tuy, such as the Convent of the Poor Clares or the Chapel of San Telmo.

To get to the Capela de San Telmo you will have to first go through the street between the fornos, which is one of the most beautiful and touristy in this town because it is precisely where most of the medieval facades of the houses are preserved. This street exhales history from beginning to end. Obviously you will see medieval ovens along the way.

Interesting details

• Price: The price you pay to go to Tui depends on how you travel. If you go on your own, you won't have to pay anything except for fuel for the car, tolls if any, and any treats you want along the way. If you go with a guided tour, you can expect to pay between 100 and 130 euros per person, approximately.
• Timetable: There is no timetable for visiting Tui, but if you go on a guided tour, the timetable will be set by the tour guide.
• How to get there: You can get there by private car or rental car, as well as by public transport or private vehicle and with all the comforts if you travel on a guided tour.

Pontevedra is another place outside of Vigo that is worth visiting if you're passing through the city. Like Tui, it's about 30 minutes away by car and is a town located to the north of the city of Vigo.

On a short tour of this town, you can see liturgical monuments such as churches and temples, as well as many museums. I recommend that you allow yourself the time to visit Pontevedra in its entirety, and you can even take a night tour, which is one of the best things to see and do in Vigo at night.

Other interesting places to visit in Pontevedra are: the Monastery of Santa María de Armenteira and the Pazo de Lourizán. Pontevedra is undoubtedly an interesting place to enjoy new experiences and, above all, to get to know the culture of Vigo more closely.

If you plan to travel to Vigo for 2 days, I recommend using one of those days to visit the historic centre of the city and another to travel to Pontevedra, where you can go on city tours, taste typical gastronomy and take countless pictures.

Interesting details

• Price: Entrance to the town is free. In case you want a guided tour, it can cost around 60 euros per person.
• Timetable: There is no timetable for visiting Pontevedra, but in case you go on a guided tour, the timetable will be determined by the tour guide with whom you go.
• How to get there: You can get here by private car, guided tour or taxi.

In the heart of the Arousa estuary is also the island of Arousa, a place that stands out for being considered the highest point of the municipality of Pontevedra. If there is one thing to see on these islands it is definitely the bridge that links the islands to the mainland, which is the longest bridge ever built in Spain.

Other places of tourist interest to see on Arousa Island are: the Punta Cabalo lighthouse, the Aeroso Islet and above all the Carreirón Nature Reserve, where there is a bird protection area with a large population of grey herons.

In addition, another of the things you will love about this place is the varied wildlife you will see, with animals of many species that call this island home. Not to mention the coastline of these islands, which, without a doubt, are a ten if you want to have a nice day at the beach.

Details of interest

• Price: Prices can vary, whether you want to go on your own or on a guided tour. If you go on your own, you may only spend on fuel. If you book a full-day guided tour, you can pay up to 400 euros per person.
• Timetable: If you go on your own, there is no timetable for visiting the island. If you go with a guided tour, then the timetable may be determined by the tour guide.
• How to get there: You can get to the island by crossing the island bridge, which is one of the longest in Spain.

Pazo Quiñones de León is one of those special places Vigo has to see. It's an old house with many gardens, which belonged to the powerful people of past centuries. Inside you can see many valuable objects from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, while outside you can see perfectly manicured and maintained gardens.

The Pazo Quiñones de León is one of the most emblematic structures in the city of Vigo, thanks to the extensive history it holds inside. In the surroundings of the Pazo Quiñones de León you can find Castrelos Park, one of the city' s natural lungs, and also a good place to walk or sit and rest.

One of the best things about Castrelos Park is the large amount of green areas inside. If you go with children, they can enjoy the playgrounds that are located in the different areas of the park. Another attraction that you will love is the Lagares river, which runs through the entire park and next to it there is a path that takes you to Samil beach itself.

You should definitely dedicate no less than two hours to visit Castrelos Park in its entirety, but if you're visiting Vigo for 3 days or more, I recommend you dedicate a whole day to explore it. The Castrelos Bridge, which is also inside the park, is an incredible place to take great pictures.

Interesting details

• Price: Entrance to both tourist sites is free. If you go on a guided tour, these sites may be included in the tour and you may have to pay from 90 euros for a full tour of the city.
• Opening hours: The park is open every day and 24 hours a day. The Pazo Quiñones de León is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00, Saturday from 17:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00. The gardens of the Pazo Quiñones de León are open in winter from 9:00 to 20:00 and in summer from 9:00 to 21:00.
• How to get there: You can get there by public transport using line 8, which leaves you right in front of this place. You can also arrive by private car, and leave your car in the car park located in front of the Pazo.

The Castelo do Castro is on the highest part of the hill of the same name. It's one of the best viewpoints you'll find, from where you can see the entire city of Vigo and also the entire expanse of the ocean. This is a view you can appreciate at any time of the day because it's open 24 hours a day.

In any case, I recommend visiting this castle in the morning, when the view is much clearer and you can clearly see both the city and the Cíes Islands on clear days. You can go up to this viewpoint on your own and even take a complete tour of the castle inside and in its gardens.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission to the castle is free.
• Opening hours: It is open 24 hours a day.
• How to get there: To get there you have to drive up to Monte O Castro in a private car and park at the top, just outside the castle, or you can walk up.

One of the must-visits in the city of Vigo is definitely the Museum of Contemporary Art, also called MARCO. This is undoubtedly one of the best museums in Vigo, especially because it is a place where national and international art converge.

Although this museum has been operating as such since 2002, the structure has much more than history, and has had multiple uses since its construction. Before being used as the headquarters of the Museum of Contemporary Art, it was used as a prison and also as a fortification where the Palace of Justice functioned.

Inside the museum you can see temporary and permanent exhibitions. As for the permanent exhibitions, they basically show objects that form part of the work of national and international artists from the world of contemporary art. In the case of the temporary works, I recommend you visit the museum's official website to find out which ones are on display at the time of your visit.

To visit this museum you can do it on your own or hire a guided tour that will take you to know in detail each of the exhibition areas. Personally, I recommend that you choose this type of guided tour, so that you don't miss out on any information that you find interesting about the museum and the different works of art on display.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission is free, although if you want to take a guided tour inside the museum, you will probably have to pay a certain price depending on the number of people attending.
• Opening hours: You can enter the museum from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 21:00. On Sundays you can visit the museum from 11:00 to 14:30. It is closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: You can get there either by private car or by public transport. If you go by car, you should know that there is a car park outside the museum where you can leave your car.

This is Vigo's city zoo and it's definitely one of the places you have to visit if you go to Vigo with children, because you can meet and see a great variety of animal species in their natural habitat, from mammals to insects, including birds, reptiles and fish of different species.

Inside the zoo you will also have the opportunity to see a diversity of plants divided into three sections: trees, shrubs and herbs. But as well as taking a good tour to see all the animals in the zoo, children also have access to an educational area where they can learn much more about each species and about the museum.

This is one of the best things to do in Vigo at Christmas, because the zoo joins in the Christmas cheer and turns on the lights for the season, as part of the celebrations organised by the city for December.

Interesting details

• Price: Tickets can cost between 2 and 6.25 euros, depending on the age of the visitor and the day of the week you want to go to the Zoo. Children under 2 years old are free. Special rates are also available.
• Opening hours: From November to January it is open from 11:00 to 19:00. October, February and March it is open from 11:00 to 19:30. And finally from April to September it is open from 11:00 to 21:00.
• How to get there: You can get there by Vitrasa bus, or you can get there by private car. You can also take a guided tour and go by private bus with all the comforts.

Vigo's coastline has a lot to show, which is why this is a must when visiting this city. Not to mention the Cíes Islands and its famous Rodas Beach, Vigo's coastline has a lot to offer. Some of the beaches you' ll like the most are Playa Samil, Playa del Vao, A Foz and Nerga, all ideal for swimming.

Each of these beaches also have a good beach atmosphere, where you can find plenty of beach bars to enjoy good food and above all drinks to pass the time on the beaches. If there's one thing I can recommend when you visit here, it's the diversity of cocktails you can enjoy.

The beaches of the coast have an advantage and that is that they are very close to the urban area, and you will only have to drive about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the farthest beach from the city centre.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no entrance fee to any of the beaches, but you will have to pay for what you eat at the beach bars.
• Timetable: You can go to the beach at any time if you go on your own. If you go on a guided tour, the timetable is in accordance with the tour guide's instructions.
• How to get there: You can get to the beaches by public transport, private car or private bus if you go on a guided tour.

The Cíes Islands are a true paradise that you can't miss if you're visiting the city of Vigo for 4 days or more. These islands are located just in front of the city and can be reached by boarding a boat in the port of Vigo and sailing across the estuary of the same name to the islands.

One of the main attractions of these paradisiacal islands is the beach of Rodas, a beach of crystal clear waters with incredible natural scenery and above all an excellent view from every angle. To make a trip to the Cíes Islands you can do it on your own if you have a sailing licence for sport boats.

You also have the option of taking a guided tour, which I assure you is one of the best excursions from Vigo that you can do on your trip. This type of excursion usually lasts about a day.

In these activities, your tour guide will show you the best of the island, as well as you'll have the opportunity to taste good dishes of Vigo's gastronomy. The beach of Rhodes, which is located on these islands, was declared by The Guardian as one of the 10 best beaches in the world, so it is quite visited and is usually quite crowded especially in summer.

Interesting details

• Price: Hiring a boat to the Cíes Islands can cost approximately 20 euros per person, but a full day trip can cost just over 100 euros per person.
• Timetable: You will have to coordinate the timetable with the tour guide.
• How to get there: To get to the Cíes Islands you'll have to go by boat, either from Vigo, Portonovo or Sanxenxo.