Vigo in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

The best things to do and see in Vigo can be organised in a three-day itinerary. If you plan everything in advance, you'll be able to enjoy the whole city. You also have the advantage that Vigo is a small city, so you don't have to worry about excessive distances.

It's best to divide the city by areas. This way, on the first day you'll get to know a bit of its history and origins. On the second day you can explore its neighbourhoods and perhaps areas that few tourists usually visit. Finally on the third day you can explore the port and visit the beautiful beaches.

You've finally arrived in the Olive Tree City! The first thing I recommend to start your journey in Vigo is to visit its historical sites. There's no time to waste, so if you come by plane, choose the best transfer from the airport to the city centre.

I recommend you go to your hotel and leave your luggage there. Hotels usually have good restaurants where you can have breakfast before you start exploring the city. I suggest you order something typical from Vigo, such as empanadillas del Carballo. After lunch, you'll be ready to explore the city.

Visit Castro de Vigo

The best time to visit Castro de Vigo is in the morning. From the centre of Vigo you can walk about 15 minutes to reach the Castro de Vigo settlement, which hides secrets from the Bronze Age.

Some people say that entering this village is like entering another world. This village is located on a slope of Monte de O Castro and has the remains of a settlement that was abandoned centuries ago. To date, at least three houses have been reconstructed which, when you see them, tell you what the Roman occupation was like in its beginnings.

Visit Monte de O Castro

Monte de O Castro is the park that offers the best views of Vigo. It is located in the heart of the city, right where the first settlers lived. After visiting the Castro settlement, you should climb up to appreciate the views. Be warned that it can be a bit complex, so it's best to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

In this park you can enjoy sports areas and playgrounds, so it's a good option for you to enjoy Vigo with children. In addition, this visit is free and you can access the Monte from Camelias Street. It's also accessible by car.

Lunch and tour of the centre of Vigo

At the end of your visit to Monte de O Castro, it will be around noon, which is the ideal time to have lunch. I suggest you walk back to the centre of Vigo, where you'll find several restaurants where you can have a great meal.

After recharging your batteries with a good lunch, it's time for a tour of the centre of Vigo. It's best to hire a local guide to take you around the area. These tours usually last around two hours and cost approximately €60.

Walking tours usually start at Plaza Fuente del Sol, right next to the famous "Sireno" sculpture. Sites to visit include the Fortress of San Sebastian, the iconic El Olivo tree, as well as several iconic squares and streets. Don't forget to buy some souvenirs in the handicraft shops.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 60 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.

Visit the museums of Vigo

When the walking tour ends at around 5 pm, you still have time to continue exploring the city. I suggest you visit some of Vigo's best museums. Many of them offer free admission.

If you like contemporary art, I recommend visiting the Marco Museum. Here you'll find avant-garde works and temporary exhibitions of plastic arts, music, fashion, among others. Right at 6pm this museum offers guided tours so you could plan your day to arrive just in time.

If you are interested in theatre plays, concerts and similar shows, you can visit the Afundación Vigo Theatre. However, the timetable will depend on the day's performances. Other places to visit are the Barrié Foundation and the Casa das Artes.

Enjoy the night in the Alameda

From the centre of Vigo to the Alameda, specifically the Plaza de Compostela, you can easily get there in seven minutes on foot. When you get there, you'll see beautiful gardens and terraces. During the day it's ideal for spending time with family and children.

During the night it's a great place to hang out and have a cocktail with friends. For dinner I recommend a restaurant like Mesón de Compostela, where you can enjoy excellent views and delicious food.

After dinner you can return to your hotel by taxi or use the Vitrasa buses. Please note that many of their lines stop working after 8pm.

For the second day, I recommend getting away from the centre of Vigo to see much more of this city. As on the first day, it's best to have breakfast at your hotel or at a nearby restaurant. This way you'll be able to make the most of your time.

On this day you'll get to know the coastal area of the city, an interesting museum, some beaches and much more.

Visit Alcabre and the Museo do Mar

Alcabre is a small parish in Vigo. To get there from the centre of Vigo, go to the Colón bus stop and take bus XG624. The trip takes about half an hour and only includes two stops, one of them being Bouzas, where you should get off.

Once there, I recommend walking for about 20 minutes to the Museo do Mar. On the way you will see the Church of Santa Baia de Alcabre. Once you enter the museum you can take a tour to discover all the secrets of the fishing activity in the area.

On your way out I recommend you to walk to the Museo do Mar lighthouse. From this beautiful spot you can see the sea and the whole coastline, so don't forget to take a few photos!

Spend some time on the beach

After this visit it will be noon, so the best thing to do is to find a good restaurant for lunch. Very close to the museum is the Bar O Muiño do Alcabre where you can have lunch. If you want to enjoy the beaches of Samil or Vao, you should walk at least 20 minutes to them. In the surrounding area you will also find good restaurants such as La Hacienda de Machado.

Samil beach is ideal for a family day out and is perfect if you are travelling with children. Its waves are gentle and it also has swimming pools, restaurants, green areas, among other areas that you will love. O Vao beach, on the other hand, is more of a beach for young people. It is an ideal place to learn to windsurf or even go sailing.

Traveller Tip
When you go to the beach, never forget your sunscreen. Remember that your skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Also, I recommend you always stay hydrated so that you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

Visit the Roman Villa of Toralla or a forest park

After enjoying the beach until four or five in the afternoon, you can visit the Roman Villa of Toralla, located next to O Vao beach. This is a very interesting archaeological site in Vigo. It dates from the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It is also the only Roman villa in Galicia that can be visited and is fully excavated.

There are two ways to explore. One of them is external, accompanied by information panels that will help you understand everything you see. The other option is to go inside the villa on a guided tour. However, to take advantage of this option you must call in advance and make a reservation.

Instead of this visit you can also go hiking or have a picnic in a forest park. The Coruxo and Saiáns parks are close to the area. However, to get there in half an hour you will need to travel by taxi.

Say goodbye to the day in the seaside neighbourhood of Bouzas

When it's already getting dark, I recommend you take a taxi to the seaside neighbourhood of Bouzas. Note that there are no bus lines in this area, so it is best to take a taxi or come to this area with a rented car.

In Bouzas you can walk through the beautiful cobbled streets while watching the night fall into the sea. I recommend walking along the Paseo Marítimo until you reach the Son Vento Restaurant. There you can have a luxurious dinner accompanied by Albarino white wine, the best wine in the area. To return to your hotel I recommend you to take a taxi.

To get to know the Vigo estuary, I recommend exploring the Cíes Islands. This third day of your stay in Vigo should definitely be about relaxing and enjoying these natural wonders. You have the option of enjoying them as a quiet beach day or as a day to explore.

Two of the islands can be visited at your leisure, while the third requires a private boat. I'll explain a little about how you can visit them and what activities you can do on each one. To close your last day in Vigo I suggest a dinner on your boat back to the city centre. The trip can be half an hour or more, it depends on the experience you request.

Visit the Illas Atlánticas National Park

The Atlantic Islands National Park stretches from the Arousa estuary to the Vigo estuary. The different islands in this area form a beautiful National Maritime-Land Park that you must see before leaving Vigo. To explore it, you must take a boat to the Cíes Islands from the Estación Marítima de la Ría, five minutes from the centre of Vigo.

Among the companies that offer boat and sailboat rentals is AC Náutica. Rental prices can be found from €30 and you'll also find several tour options. Don't worry as you'll receive all the information at the station before boarding.

This is an ideal plan if you're travelling during the summer or Easter week. Those are the best dates as the weather is ideal to go into the sea. In the winter you'll freeze to death if you travel by boat in this area, but if that doesn't bother you, you're sure to find good prices for these trips.

Explore Monteagudo Island

Depending on the tour you choose, you can visit one or more of the beaches of the Cíes Islands. These islands are one of the archipelagos that form part of the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. Although there are three islands, only the island of Monteagudo and the island of Faro can be visited. The third island, San Martiño, is only accessible by private boat.

The first two islands are linked by a footbridge, so it is easy to visit both. You can easily spend the whole day on these islands without any problem as they have a lot to show. Monteagudo Island has the beaches of Figueiras and Costa do Bufardo. I invite you to visit them and lie in the sun.

After a few hours it will be time for lunch, so you can visit the Rodas Restaurant, the only one on the north island. There you can enjoy the beautiful scenery if you eat on the terrace, as well as enjoy the delicious seafood.

Explore Faro Island

The island of Faro has more things to see and do all afternoon. Tourists usually stay in the camping area of this island. It is very close to Rodas Beach and Dos Viños Beach. You can walk around these areas on foot and spend some time admiring the scenery.

To explore the area you can always follow the Camiño do Lago. However, you can also take a short detour to see the Alto da Campá Bird Observatory. There you can admire the sea and the birds that live there. To finish the afternoon I recommend you to relax on one of the beaches and have a nice swim.

If you like adventure, you can always rent a boat to explore the island of San Martiño or South Island. Here you will find San Martiño beach which is usually deserted. On this island you will also find the Lighthouse dos Bicos, 175 metres above sea level. Another thing you can see is the Muiño de Limpiño, but to get there you have to go deep into the vegetation as there are no paths. You can also see the remains of a salting factory.

Dinner in a restaurant on the Cíes Islands

A relaxed way to end the day on the island of Faro is to have dinner at the Illas Cíes tapería restaurant. However, if you want something more special, you can return on a sailing boat with dinner included. This type of coastal tour is an ideal plan, especially if you are travelling as a couple.

The cruises usually include a dinner or tasting. A bottle of wine is also included. It's the ideal option if you don't want to stop enjoying the day even when you're on your way back to the centre of Vigo. Remember that the boat will drop you off near the Maritime Station, in the centre of Vigo.

When you go to Vigo, it's best to pack a pair of swimming costumes. This city has a wide variety of beaches you can visit, so it's best to be prepared. I also recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes, as you'll need to walk around the city.

Another recommendation is to bring sunscreen to wear at all times. The plans in Vigo are walking tours, visiting the beach or taking a cruise and in all these plans you'll always be exposed to the sun, especially if you're travelling in summer.

To get around Vigo, you can use Vitrasa's bus lines. They have multiple stops that can help you move around the city. However, if you want to explore the Vigo estuary, I don't recommend relying on this option. The bus will drop you off in an area a bit far from the beaches, so you 'll have to walk.

If you want to explore the centre of Vigo, the bus can be useful and you can look up the route to follow on Google Maps. I recommend paying for the ticket when you enter or buying a card if you have to use the bus multiple times. You can buy both when you board the bus.