Vigo in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Vigo is known throughout Spain for its great beauty. If you're going to visit it in two days, it's advisable to go with a previously prepared itinerary. This way, you'll be sure to visit the most important places in the city.

In this itinerary of things to see and do in Vigo in 2 days, you'll find a wide variety of plans, from sunsets on the beach to visits to hermitages, as well as some of the best restaurants in this municipality of Pontevedra.

On your first day in Vigo, I invite you to explore Vigo's Old Town, where you'll find some of the city's main monuments, such as the Collegiate Church of Santa María.

You'll also be able to watch the sunset in one of the most beautiful places in this city of Pontevedra. As if that weren't enough, it's also a great day gastronomically speaking, thanks to the restaurant suggestions I'll make for you.

Visit Vigo's Old Town

Vigo's Old Town has four squares: Plaza Princesa, Plaza Almeida, Plaza Constitución and Plaza de Pedra. Of these four, the main square is Constitución Square, which is larger than the others. Here you'll find what was once **Vigo'**s town hall, as well as the city's first lamp. I recommend you visit its shops and sit on a terrace for a coffee.

After the first coffee of the morning, head to the Collegiate Church of Santa María, located in Plaza de Pedra. This building has its origins in the Middle Ages. The temple was built in honour of the Christ of Victory, who is credited with saving the people of Vigo from the Napoleonic invasion. You can visit its interior free of charge from Monday to Sunday from 09:30 to 13:00 and from 18:00 to 20:30 on weekends, approximately.

Once you have visited the Basilica of Santa Maria, head to the Porta do Sol, which is only a 3-minute walk away. It is named after its past as the entrance to the walled town. Here you'll see two sculptures of Dinoseto and El Sireno, two representative figures of the city.

You'll see that there's a large avenue that starts at Porta do Sol square, the famous Príncipe Street, Vigo's main shopping street. Walk along the street while you browse the shops until you reach the Museum of Contemporary Art. This building was once Vigo's courthouse and prison. It's open every day of the year, except Mondays, and it's free.

Walk the streets of El Ensanche

As you walk along Príncipe Street from Porta do Sol, you've moved away from Casco Vello and into El Ensanche, the city's most sophisticated neighbourhood. The Ensanche neighbourhood was built after the demolition of Vigo's city walls and its first street was Rúa de Carral.

The buildings are in the Belle Époque style and were built in the 19th century. This is where the city's wealthiest people live, which you can easily see if you look at the buildings.

Walk to Policarpo Sanz Street, where you'll find the García Barbón Theatre. I also recommend that you walk to the Alameda Park, where there is a stone zoo and a few benches for you to stop and rest after your walk.

Impressive stone buildings stand around the park. Also worth seeing are the Montero Ríos gardens, as well as the parishes of Santa María de Vigo and Santiago de Vigo.

Have lunch in one of Vigo's best restaurants

If you walk along Rúa do Areal, you'll reach one of Vigo's best restaurants: Casa Marco. This restaurant is located on Rúa de García Barbón and is just a 15-minute walk from the El Ensanche neighbourhood. Here you can savour traditional Galician cuisine, with dishes made with local, quality products.

Among the specialities on the menu is the grilled Martiño de Ons loin over squid from the estuary with onions, a real delicacy. The cod rice with chickpeas and prawns is also exquisite, as well as the hake fillet and the grilled Burela tuna loin with sea urchin caviar sauce.

The prices are around 20 euros, so the value for money of the restaurant is exceptional. Finally, if you go in summer, try their homemade ice creams, such as the truffle ice cream with caramelised hazelnuts. If you go in winter, be sure to try the glass of cream cheese with mango coulis and chocolate ganache.

Stroll up to O Castro mountain

After your meal, head to the fortress of O Castro. From the restaurant, you can either walk or drive. If you walk, it will take you about 30 minutes. If you have your own private vehicle, take Rúa Travesía de Vigo and continue along Alcalde Gregorio Espino Avenue, which should take no more than 15 minutes.

Castro Hill is a beautiful hill located in the centre of Vigo. It was here that the first settlers of the city settled, making it the oldest area of Vigo.

Beyond the beautiful gardens, O Castro hill has two treasures of great importance in the city: the fortress and the castle.

Castro Fortress is located next to San Sebastián Castle and together they formed Vigo's defence system as protection from invaders. This fortress is located 80 metres above sea level, at the top of O Castro hill. Both constructions date from the 17th century, motivated by the Portuguese Restoration War. Both offer incredible views of the Vigo estuary and the city.

Watch the sunset from the Rande Galleons Monument

The Monument to the Rande Galleons, also known as The Anchors, is located on O Castro hill itself, a 10-minute walk from San Sebastián Castle. It is the work of the architect Desiderio Pernas and is made up of three anchors in honour of the ships that sank during the Battle of Rande.

Legend has it that, along with the ships, the treasures that were on them sank. As a result, from time to time, expeditions are carried out in the estuary in search of these treasures.

Beyond the monument itself, I've brought you here for a specific reason: the Rande Galleons Monument is one of the best places in Vigo to watch the sunset. After a day of walking around the city, sit and watch the sun set over the estuary.

Dinner overlooking the Vigo estuary

After a pleasant sunset at the Rande Galleons Monument, I recommend you head to one of the restaurants with the best views in Vigo: the Room Museum. It's located on Atlántida Avenue and offers beautiful views of the estuary. If you're going from the previous stop, it's best to walk until you find a taxi stop, as the walk will take you more than an hour.

Both during the week and on weekends, it's very common for different concerts to be held at the restaurant during dinnertime. For this reason, I recommend you take a look at their website to see the day's events.

Among the most outstanding dishes on the menu are the exquisite Room-style Russian salad, as well as the octopus carpaccio, braised beef cheeks and hake loin with seaweed risotto. For dessert, opt for crème brûlée, baked cheesecake or pineapple carpaccio, among others.

End the day with a walk to the Museo del Mar lighthouse

End your day of sightseeing in Vigo in style with a walk to the Museo del Mar lighthouse. The place is just a 6-minute walk from the restaurant and offers wonderful views of the Vigo estuary and the Cíes Islands, especially at night.

This lighthouse belongs to the Museum of the Sea and both buildings date back to 2002. They were built on the site of an old canning factory called Alcabre-Molino de Viento and were the work of two architects: Aldo Rossi and César Portela. Today, the lighthouse is mainly used as a lookout point.

For the second day of your trip to Vigo, I recommend you go to the outskirts of the city. You'll get to know Vigo's true seafaring culture, spend the day at the beach and taste its famous tapas with a good wine.

Discover Bouzas, one of Vigo's most beautiful neighbourhoods

Start the second day of your trip to Vigo in 2 days with a visit to the seaside neighbourhood of Bouzas. If you want to get to know the essence of Vigo and soak up its culture, this is the place for you. This neighbourhood was independent until relatively recently, in 1904. Although it's just another neighbourhood in the city of Vigo, it acts as a separate urban nucleus, with everything you need.

The neighbourhood is just over 10 minutes by car from the centre of Vigo and more than 45 minutes on foot. So, if you feel like strolling, you can go on foot. If you go on a Sunday, I recommend you go to the Alameda, where there's a weekly street market in the mornings.

Also worth seeing is the neighbourhood's food market, where the area's seafaring spirit is very present. Here you'll find many stalls selling local products, such as fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers. This market is located on Calle Covadonga, just a few minutes' walk from the Liceo Marítimo de Bouzas.

Bouzas is also home to the church of San Miguel. This was built in 1542, given the increase in population in the neighbourhood. At first, it was just a small chapel; however, in 1697 it was enlarged. The church of San Miguel is architecturally beautiful and has a cruceiro, a type of stone cross that is very typical of Galicia.

Open your stomach at Bouzas' best tapas bar

Next, head for Bouzas' promenade, which is just over a kilometre long. Here you can enjoy the pleasant views of the estuary, so you can open your stomach before the next stop.

Before leaving Bouzas, you must do one of the most typical things to do in Vigo and Spain in general: have some tapas. A little more than 15 minutes' walk from the promenade, you'll find one of the best places in Bouzas for tapas: Patouro.

This tavern is located in Praza M Diego Santos and is famous for its tapas. Have an albariño and enjoy its cuisine, but don't forget that you have to have lunch afterwards, so don't eat until you're full.

Have lunch with a view of the estuary

For lunch, I suggest a great seafood-based meal at one of the best restaurants in Canido: Timón 2.0 If you go from the Patouro tavern, it will take you about 10 minutes by car along Europa avenue. This restaurant has a nice terrace with beautiful views of Canido beach, in the parish of San Miguel Oya.

If you like beer, this is your place, as the restaurant has a wide range of beers. Most of the menu is made with seafood products, such as seafood croquettes, cod carpaccio, lobster rice or monkfish in green sauce. However, if you are more of a meat lover, you also have some options, such as the beef sirloin steak or the lamb chops.

Timón 2.0's specialities include langoustines, pickled mussels, spicy hake roe and grilled lobster. Prices at this restaurant range from around 20 to 30 euros. I recommend that you book in advance, as it tends to be very busy and you may run out of space.

Spend the afternoon at Samil Beach

Samil Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Vigo. It's practically a 15-minute drive from the centre of Vigo and less than a 5-minute walk from the previous restaurant. It's an ideal beach for families, making it one of the best things to do in Vigo with children.

With a little over a kilometre long and 15 kilometres wide, Samil Beach is one of Vigo's blue flag beaches. Beyond its calm waters and fine golden sand, this beach stands out for its equipment. Undoubtedly, the three swimming pools, the sports courts, the green areas and the skating rink make this a real paradise for children.

If you want, after taking a dip, you can go to one of the beachside cafés for a coffee or an ice cream. Afterwards, wait to watch the sunset, as it's one of the best places in Vigo to see the sunset.

Discover the Guía Chapel

The Guía Chap el is one of Vigo's symbols, so you can't leave the city without visiting it. If you go from Samil beach, it will take you about 20 minutes by car.

You'll have to head towards Rúa de Pedro Alvarado and drive to Dona Fermina Avenue. There are really no other options for getting from one place to another, as it's too long on foot and there are no good bus connections.

This chapel is located on A Guía hill, about 100 metres above sea level, and stands out for the beautiful views it offers of the Vigo estuary. It was built by Manuel Gómez Román, who completed the construction of the chapel in 1951.

As you can see, although two days may seem like a short time to get to know Vigo, the truth is that they are enough to discover the main places in this Pontevedra city. The only thing you have to do is allocate your time well and organise it in advance.