Best Things To Do in Vigo

Vigo is a very versatile city, offering both beach plans and urban plans, so it is 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 in all seasons of the year.

And speaking of seasons, if there is something that Vigo has is that, despite being a coastal place, you can visit the city in summer or winter and find good activities to do. Some of the things you can do are visiting the Pazo Quiñones de León, touring the historic center, or traveling to nearby towns like Tui or Pontevedra.

The historic center of Vigo is one of those places that you necessarily have to include even in the itinerary of Vigo for a day. The old town has important places of tourist and cultural interest that you can get to know in a guided tour of this area, although, of course, you can also do it on your own if you do not 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 center are: the Cathedral of Vigo, the Plaza da Constitución, the Plaza de Compostela and the Porta de Sol. But in addition, each of these places has representative elements that characterize the city. For example, the Plaza de Compostela boasts the Dinoseto, a huge plant dinosaur with its offspring.

In the case of the Plaza Porta de Sol, it boasts the Siren, a sculpture with a human part and a fish part, which represents the relationship of man with the sea that is so present in the city of Vigo because of its proximity to the sea and the fishing economy of the area. Another place you can not miss after transferring from the airport to Vigo, is the Mercado de Pedra.

Interesting details

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

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

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 in Tuy, other similar buildings with the same importance 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 pass through the street between fornos, which is one of the most beautiful and touristic of this town because it is precisely where most of the medieval facades of the houses are preserved. This street exhales history from the beginning to the end. Obviously you can 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 fuel for the car, tolls if any and any treats you want along the way. In case you go with a guided tour, you can pay between 100 and 130 euros per person, approximately.
• Schedule: There is no schedule for visiting Tui, but if you go on a guided tour, the schedule will be set by the tour guide.
• How to get there: You can arrive by private or rented 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 located on the outskirts of Vigo that is worth visiting if you are passing through the city. Like Tui, it is about 30 minutes away by car, approximately, and is a town that is located to the north of the city of Vigo.

By taking a short tour of this town, you will be able to 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, 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 especially to know the culture of Vigo more closely.

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

Details of interest

• Price: Entrance to the town is free. In case you want a guided tour, it can cost around 60 euros per person.
• Schedule: There is no schedule to visit Pontevedra, but in case you take a guided tour, the schedule will be determined by the tour guide with whom you go.
• How to get there: You can reach this place by private car, guided tour or cab.

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 something to see on these islands it is definitely the bridge that connects the islands with the mainland, which is the longest bridge ever built in Spain.

Other places of tourist interest that you can see in Arousa Island are: the Punta Cabalo Lighthouse, the Aeroso Islet and above all the Carreirón Natural Park, where there is a bird protection area with a large population of grey herons.

In addition, another thing you will like about this place is the varied wildlife you will see, with animals of multiple species that call this island home. Not to mention the coasts of these islands that, 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 hire a full day guided tour, you can pay up to 400 euros per person.
• Schedule: If you go on your own, there is no schedule for visiting the island. If you go with a guided tour, then the schedule may be determined by the tour guide.
• How to get there: You can reach the island by crossing the island bridge, which is one of the longest in Spain.

The Pazo Quiñones de León is one of those special places that Vigo has to see. It is 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 of the city of Vigo, thanks to the extensive history it keeps inside. In the surroundings of the Pazo Quiñones de León you can find the Castrelos Park, one of the natural lungs of the city, 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 length of the park and next to it there is a path that takes you to the beach Samil.

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

Interesting details

• Price: Entrance to both tourist sites is free. If you go on a guided tour, these places may be included in the tour and you may have to pay from 90 euros for a full tour of the city.
• Hours: The park is open every day and 24 hours. 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 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 parking lot located in front of the Pazo.

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

In any case, I recommend visiting this castle in the morning hours, when the view is much clearer and you can clearly see both the city and the Cies Islands in the clearest 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.

Details of interest

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

One of the must-sees 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 ones, basically objects that are part of the work of national and international artists of the contemporary art world are shown. In the case of temporary works, I recommend you visit the official website of the museum to find out which ones are available 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 you to choose this type of guided tours, so that you do not leave out any information that you find interesting about the museum and the different works presented in it.

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 that go.
• 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 from 11:00 to 14:30. On Mondays the museum is closed.
• How to get there: You can get there either by private car or by public transport. If you go by car, you have to know that in the outskirts of this museum there is a parking lot where you can leave your car.

This is the zoo of the city of Vigo and it is definitely one of the places you have to visit if you go to Vigo with children, because you can meet and see in their natural habitat, a variety of animal species, 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 besides 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 organized by the city for December.

Details of interest

• 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 get in free. There are also special rates.
• Hours: From November to January 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 arrive by Vitrasa bus, or you can arrive by private car. You can also take a guided tour and go by private bus with all the comforts.

Vigo's coasts have a lot to show, that's why this is a must when you visit this city. Not to mention the Cíes Islands and its famous Rodas beach, Vigo has great attractions all along its coastline. Some of the beaches you will 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 a lot of beach bars to enjoy good food and especially drinks to hang out on the beaches. If there is something I can recommend when you visit this place, it is undoubtedly the diversity of cocktails you can enjoy.

The beaches of the coast have an advantage and it 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 beach farthest from the city center.

Details of interest

• Price: None of the beaches have an entrance fee, but you will have to pay for what you consume inside the beach bars.
• Schedule: You can go to the beach at any time if you go on your own. If you go on a guided tour the schedule is adjusted to what the tour guide indicates.
• How to get there: You can get to the beaches by public transport, private car or by private bus if you go on a guided tour.

The Cíes Islands is a true paradise that you can't miss to include in your itinerary if you visit the city of Vigo for 4 days or more. These islands are located just in front of the city and can be reached if you board a boat in the port of Vigo and sail 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 crystalline waters with incredible natural landscapes 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 license 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. Usually this type of excursion lasts about a day.

In these activities, your tour guide will show you the best of the island, as well as you will 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 doing this full day excursion can cost just over 100 euros per person.
• Schedule: You will have to coordinate the schedule of the excursion with the tour guide.
• How to get there: To get to the Cíes Islands you will have to go by boat, either from Vigo, Portonovo or Sanxenxo.