Vigo in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

There are many places to visit in Vigo, that's why in this 4-day itinerary in the city, I want to show you not only the architectural wonders and tourist attractions within the city centre, but also in Vigo's surroundings, where you'll see charming natural landscapes.

The O Castro Mountain with its Fortress of the same name, the A Pedra market and the square are some of the places you're obliged to visit in Vigo. But with four days to explore, I recommend you consider places like Baiona, Tui and the Cíes Islands for a complete tour of the best things to see and do in Vigo.

You're going to start your 4-day holiday in Vigo by leaving your bags in your hotel room, after having made your transfer from Vigo Airport to the city.

Let's assume that the first day of your holiday in Vigo will start early in the morning, either because you've arrived in Vigo at night and want to start your holiday the next day, or because you've arrived very early in the morning. The truth is that you'll start your day by visiting the port of Vigo.

Vigo Ferry Port

From the city of Vigo to the port will take you approximately 30 minutes by car, so you 'll start your first day's tour of this touristy place. To get to the port, you'll first have to pass through the village of Bouzas, where I recommend eating some breakfast before continuing. Breakfast will be around 9:00.

Some of the places you can find on the way to have breakfast before the port are: Las Anclas and Cafeteria Verano. After tasting a good breakfast, continue into the village of Bouzas, looking for the way to the port.

The visit to this place will start at approximately 10:00, and it won't take you more than an hour to walk around the harbour and take the occasional photograph. You can do this tour on your own or you can also take a guided tour. This is one of the most important ports in Spain and is definitely a must-see in Vigo.

Alfonso Promenade

Leaving the port of Vigo, you'll go straight to the next point on your day one itinerary in the city, which is none other than Paseo de Alfonso. This is one of the most iconic places in the town of Vigo because it's where you'll find the olive tree that gives Vigo its name.

This place is open to the public every day, and it's an excellent urban viewpoint from which you can see all the landscape the city has to offer, even the Cíes Islands when the day is clear. To get to this viewpoint from the Port, you will have to go to Avenida da Beiramar from the exit of Bouzas to the viewpoint.

It will take you 30 minutes or an hour to finish the tour of the viewpoint on the historic Paseo de Alfonso, so it will probably be 10:30 or 11:00 when you leave this place for the next point on your travel itinerary for this day 1.

Porta do Sol Square

Going further into the city of Vigo, you'll come across one of the squares you shouldn't miss when you start to explore this place, and that's Porta do Sol Square. This place is interesting because it represents the division between the old city of Vigo and the modern expansion.

Where the square is located today, there used to be a gate that gave access to the walled city. Today it represents the difference and contrast between an old city and a more modern one.

The iconic sculpture in this square is the Siren, a statue that, like the square, represents the relationship between two parties, in this case between a man and a fish. This sculpture evokes the union that exists between the people of Vigo and their main source of income, which is the fishmonger's shop.

Pedra Market

Leaving from Porta de Sol square, the Mercado de Pedra is very close by, either on foot or by car. Assuming you have spent at least half an hour walking around the square, you should arrive at the market around 11:30. At this time you will have time to walk around the whole market and it will certainly be time for lunch, but let's take it one step at a time.

This place has a lot of history and was previously known as a market where you could buy tobacco without taxes, and over time it became the perfect place to buy everything to do with clothes and other things, which were branded but counterfeit.

Nowadays it's still possible to buy this kind of products, but it's definitely a place you can't miss in Vigo if you want to get a complete cultural experience of this town. A complete tour of this market can be included in one of the best tours of Vigo, in this case of the old town, which usually last no more than 2 hours.

Once you've finished walking around the market, you're probably already hungry. It must be around 13:00. Around the market there are several places where you can taste delicious food of Vigo's gastronomy, among them are: Taberna A Pedra, Restaurante La Marina and Mosquito Vigo.

Compostela Square

After lunch, your watch must be ticking at 14:00, the perfect time to take a short walk around Compostela Square, which is very close to the market. Besides being a relaxing walk, visiting this square is also a good time to see and appreciate one of Vigo's most popular sculptures, which is none other than El Dinoseto.

I assure you that the first thing you'll feel when you see this sculpture is tenderness. It's a large dinosaur with its offspring, both sculptures made by pruning the bushes in this place. This is definitely a place you can't miss to take a picture or two. Especially if you go with children, they'll love this place.

Vigo's Old Town

After about 30 minutes touring Compostela Square and its popular Dinoseto, it's time to continue on a truly interesting tour of Vigo's Old Town. If there's one thing you're going to love about this place, it's the large number of historical sites to see, learn about and photograph.

You have two ways to get to know the old town: you can explore it on your own by getting lost in its streets, or you can take a guided tour that will take you to see each of the most interesting places in the old town. In either case, it will probably take you about two hours to complete the tour. You should finish around 16:30.

Monte O Castro

Monte O Castro is the end of your first day in Vigo. You can go up to the castle on your own or on a guided tour that takes you there. As for the way up, you can do it by car or on foot, because the route to the highest part of the mountain offers beautiful scenery and good places to get good photos.

Once at the top, you have the chance to take even more pictures because the viewpoint at the top gives you a much wider view of the city of Vigo and the Cíes Islands, quite a spectacle. But above all, you'll be able to tour the castle's interior and learn a little more about its history.

Assuming you get to the top around 17:00, you could finish the tour in a couple of hours, approximately at 19:00. When you get off, you have two options: either go back to Vigo's old town to eat some dinner and finish partying in any bar, or have a light dinner and continue to your accommodation, because day 2 promises to be a great day.

For this second day of your holiday in Vigo, you'll pack your bags, swimming costumes, sunscreen and towels, because you're going to the best beaches on the coast of Vigo.

To make the most of your time and enjoy every moment of the day, I recommend leaving your accommodation as early in the morning as possible, with the intention of arriving at the first beach stop at approximately 8:00 am for breakfast at a beach bar.

Vao Beach

If you're staying in the centre of Vigo, you won't have to drive far to get to Playa del Vao, the first place on your itinerary for the day. In this case, you'll only have to drive around 15-20 minutes to get there, so I recommend leaving around 7:30 from your hotel.

Playa del Vao is one of the best swimming beaches on the coast of Vigo, so it's the perfect place to start your day's itinerary. And since you'll arrive here so early in the morning, I recommend starting with a good breakfast to give you energy for the rest of the day.

On the shore of the beach you will be able to get countless beach bars, and after there, yes to swim and enjoy. I recommend you stay at this beach for no more than 3 hours, so, assuming you arrive at 8:00, you can leave at approximately 11:00.

Samil Beach

You will only have to drive for about 5 minutes to get to the next destination from Playa del Vao. This next point on the itinerary is also a good beach on the coast of Vigo, and it's none other than Samil Beach. In addition to enjoying its warm waters, you'll be able to take plenty of photos before continuing.

As with Playa del Vao, I recommend that you don't spend more than 3 hours here, so, assuming you arrive a few minutes after 11:00, you 'll stay in the water until 13:00 at the latest, to leave and enjoy a good lunch at a nearby restaurant, one I recommend is Restaurante Verdemar. With an hour to eat, you should be leaving this place around 14:00 or 14:30.

Galician Museum of the Sea

A further 5 minute drive will take you to the Galician Museum of the Sea, one of the most interesting museums for learning about the fishing history of this city that has historically been linked to this form of economy of the sea.

Part of what you can see in this museum are objects with centuries of history, or that in one way or another have been part of the fishing development of the area. But in addition to the permanent collections, you can also see temporary exhibitions that vary according to the museum's itinerary, so I recommend you check its website before visiting to find out which ones will be open at the time of your visit.

Bouzas Village

It will take you two hours to visit the whole of the Museo do Mar de Galicia, so, assuming you leave around 16:00, this is the time you will start your tour of the village of Bouzas, the next on your itinerary for day 2. In about 10 minutes you will be in this small village if you go by private car.

Once in this place, I recommend you to get lost in its cobbled streets, because there is nothing better to get to know a village like this, than walking and looking at every interesting place you get on the way. I recommend you to use at least two hours to walk around it, so you should be leaving this place around 18:00.

Afundación Vigo Headquarters

From Bouzas to Sede Afundación Vigo is approximately 12 to 15 minutes by private car, so this is the maximum time it will take you to get from one place to the other. This is the perfect time to enter the last tour group of the Afundación Vigo Headquarters.

This museum, which is one of the most interesting in Vigo, closes its doors to the public at approximately 20:00, so if you arrive at 18:30, you'll have time for a good hour and a half tour of all areas of the museum. You can visit on your own, or you can take one of the guided tours available inside the museum.

At the end of the day, you can have dinner when you leave the Afundación Vigo Headquarters, and again you have two options, the first one is to party in the bars in the nearby areas, or go to your accommodation to rest, to get ready for the third day in Vigo.

The third day of your 4-day itinerary in Vigo will start very early again. I recommend having lunch at your accommodation so you can leave with all your energy to climb Monte A Guía, another of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city, where you can see the sea and the Cíes Islands.

You will leave the hotel at approximately 8:00 to get to the mountain early in the morning and be able to appreciate the first hours of the day from one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city.

Mount A Guía

You should arrive at Monte A Guía at approximately 8:30, a good time to see the sea in the early hours of the morning. I recommend you to take advantage of the view and the walk to take lots of pictures, and above all to do some physical exercise in the morning.

To get up to the mountain you can do it walking or by car. Both ways are quite comfortable and safe, but the best way to go up if you're going to Vigo with children and other people with back problems is by private car. It won't take you more than an hour or an hour and a half to get here.

VigoZoo

Coming down from A Guía Mountain, it's a good time to continue your third day's tour by visiting VigoZoo, Vigo's zoo, where you can enjoy different activities.

You'll arrive at the zoo between 10:00 and 11:00. At this point you should know that if you travel between April and September, you'll be able to enter from 10:00, but if you travel between October and March, you'll have to wait until 11:00 to enter.

You'll be able to see lots of species from all over the world, so it's a great place to see an incredible display of animals from all habitats. You should spend at least three hours at the zoo, visiting each of its areas and observing each of the species inside.

Quiñones de León Palace

After leaving VigoZoo, the clock should strike about 13:00, so it's a great time to look for a place to have lunch, just in the vicinity of Pazo Quiñones de León. Some of the places you can visit in the vicinity of this place for lunch are: Cavanna and Mesón Anduriña.

The Pazo Quiñones de León is one of the best museums in Vigo and is located in the central area of Vigo, representing a large part of the identity of the people of Vigo. Inside you can learn about the history of Vigo's society and, above all, the construction of this place that served as the residence of the marquises who built it.

It is divided into different areas which also include the gardens outside. So a good visit to the whole complex can take about 2 hours. You can go on your own or you can even take a guided tour to this place, in either case, it can last the same amount of time.

Castrelos Park

Right next to the Pazo de Quiñones de León, you'll find Castrelos Park, the largest urban park in Vigo, and one of the places you have to visit during your holidays in this city.

This is a great place for cycling and walking at any time of the day. One of its main attractions is the Lagares River, which runs through the park and next to it is a path that, if you follow it, you'll get straight to Samil Beach.

You can also find different areas within the park to enjoy, such as children's playgrounds, an auditorium and a pond, where you can see lots of birds. Inside the park you can also see the Castrelos bridge, an ideal place for photography.

This park is worth visiting for a whole day, but in this itinerary, you will use approximately 2 hours to see the most beautiful places. So you will leave no later than 16:00, a perfect time for you to visit the next destination.

Tuy

At 16:00 hours after having enjoyed a bit of Castrelos Park, it's time to get in your rental car and drive to Tuy, a town located 30 minutes away from Vigo, where you can spend the last hours of your itinerary for the third day of your trip.

You'll arrive in Tuy after 16:30, so I recommend you get there by taking a tour of the town's historic centre. After the expected tour, I recommend you try some of the gastronomic specialities of this place and stay to enjoy the rest of the scenery.

In the end, Tuy is a good place to stay after touring this place. If you want, you can arrive at your accommodation in Tuy, and then go out at night for a night tour of the town, as one of the top 10 things to do in Vigo at night, or in the surrounding area, in this case.

For this fourth and final day of your trip, I recommend you pack your bags, lots of swimming costumes and sunscreen, because you're going on a trip to the Cíes Islands. A holiday in Vigo isn't complete if you don't visit the Cíes Islands, and if you're going to the city for four days or more, it's definitely an activity you can't miss.

In this sense, I recommend having breakfast at your place of accommodation or in a restaurant in Tuy, and then going straight to the port of Vigo, from where you can board a boat that goes along the Vigo estuary to the Cíes Islands.

As you will be travelling from Tuy to Vigo, it will take you approximately 30 minutes to drive. Once you arrive at the port, you can board the boat that will take you to the Cíes Islands. Boats to the islands usually leave from 9:00 and there are several routes in the morning. The boat trip from the port of Vigo to the Cíes Islands takes approximately 40 minutes.

Cíes Islands

You can forget about everything else if you take this trip with a guided tour. In most cases, the trip to these islands can last a whole day, so the fourth day of the excursion will be devoted to a full day of sun and beach.

One of the best beaches to visit on these islands is undoubtedly Rodas beach, which has been listed as one of the best beaches in the world by The Guardian, so if you visit the Cíes Islands and don't go to this beach, did you really visit the islands?

This excursion, which is one of the best that you can do from Vigo, will take you to spend the whole day on these islands, so you can enjoy lunch and then the trip back. Some of these experiences offer to pick you up and take you back to your accommodation, it all depends on the experience you choose.