Best Day Trips from Vigo

Vigo is a city with many things to do, but excursions from here to the villages are definitely a must.

Andressa García

Andressa García

11 min read

Best Day Trips from Vigo

Vigo, Spain | ©Sergei Gussev

From the traditional excursion to the Cíes Islands sailing along the Vigo estuary, to trips to the closest towns to the city and others not so close, Vigo has many interesting full-day plans, so embarking on one of these excursions is one of the best things you can see and do in Vigo or outside of it.

Generally, you can do this type of excursions on your own or you can also hire a private excursion with all the comforts, which will take you to the most interesting places outside Vigo, by sea, land or air.

1. Excursion to Finisterre and Costa da Morte from Pontevedra

Costa da Morte| ©charlotteinaustralia
Costa da Morte| ©charlotteinaustralia

This tour departs from Pontevedra, which is located about 30 minutes by car from Vigo city, so if you want to take part in it, you'll have to get to this town on your own and right there, get on the bus that will take you to the Finisterre and Costa da Morte area. During the trip you will get to know part of the Camino de Santiago and the places where pilgrims usually pass through.

The trip will also be full of magical and wonderful places to see and photograph, as well as religious temples worth admiring. The tour guide will tell you in detail everything you want to know about each of the monuments you will visit along the way.

Among the most beautiful places you will see is the Ézaro waterfall, the only river in Continental Europe that flows into the sea in the form of a waterfall, a real spectacle. On the way back you will learn all the stories and legends about Costa de Morte.

Details of interest

  • Price: From 50 euros per person.
  • Duration: This experience lasts approximately 9 to 11 hours.
  • Means of transport: Transport is by bus with all facilities.
  • Advantages of this option: This tour is in Spanish, although it can also be requested in English. It is not necessary to print the ticket, it can be taken electronically. Transport is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Not suitable for people with limited or reduced mobility. Pets are not allowed, not even assistance pets. No meals or drinks are included.

2. Day trip to Tui and Baiona from Vigo

Tui Cathedral| ©Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Tui Cathedral| ©Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias

This excursion departs from Vigo and will take you to two of the most lively places on the outskirts of Vigo. We're talking about Tui and Baiona. In the case of the former, you'll be able to explore the historic centre, visit Tui Cathedral and take a photo or two along the way. You can also take a full tour of the town of Tui.

If there's one thing your tour guide will tell you about this town, it's that it's possible to find a great architectural legacy for the city of Vigo and for Galicia as a whole. It's a town that still preserves much of its medieval essence, so once you enter the historic centre, you'll feel like you're in that era.

In the case of Baiona, it is a fishing village par excellence, where you will not only walk around the place, but you will also have the opportunity to try some of the Galician gastronomy that is very well rooted in Baiona.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 150 euros per person, although the price may vary according to the number of people on the tour.
  • Duration: The tour lasts approximately 6 and a half hours.
  • Means of transport: The tour will be done in a private car according to the number of people on the tour.
  • Advantages of this option: It is a private tour, so only you and your group participate in it. Included is the professional guide who will accompany you and tell you everything you want to know about each place. You have the option of transport to and from the hotel where you are staying.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Tapas, drinks and other food are not included. Tips are not included in the price. It is not adapted for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.

3. Santiago de Compostela tour for small groups

Santiago de Compostela| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Santiago de Compostela| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie

This tour to Santiago de Compostela, which lasts approximately 7 hours, is one of the best alternatives if you are travelling on a cruise and need to get back in time. It takes you to the city of Santiago, which is the capital of the province of Galicia, and departs from Vigo.

The best thing about this excursion is that it has a maximum capacity of 15 people, so the tour guide who will accompany you on this experience will treat you in an almost personalised way. You'll see the most interesting sights in Santiago, but you'll also have time to explore it on your own.

Not only will you get to photograph the beautiful panoramic views you'll get all over the city, but you'll also be able to ask your tour guide anything you want to know about this city and its countless stories. You should be in good physical shape for this experience, because the tour is on foot.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 135 euros per person, approximately.
  • Duration: This tour can last around 7 hours.
  • Means of transport: Transport is adapted to the number of people attending the tour, but always maintaining comfort.
  • Advantages of this option: Free time to explore the city on your own is included in addition to the guided tour. A local and professional guide is included. This tour is suitable for people travelling on cruise ships, because you are guaranteed to arrive at the ship on time. There will be a maximum of 15 people on the tour.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not wheelchair friendly. Meals, snacks and drinks are not included. Tipping is not included in the base price.

4. Private tour of the Rias Baixas with wine and mussels tasting

Departing from Rías Baixas| ©juantiagues
Departing from Rías Baixas| ©juantiagues

Beyond the traditional tours of Vigo, you have the option to do a tour like this one, which includes pick-up by car from your hotel or accommodation. In addition, you'll have the chance to taste some of Vigo' s typical gastronomy, such as mussels and wine straight from the vineyard town of Cambados.

Once you arrive in the Rías Baixas, the first thing you'll do is visit a winery where you'll be able to taste the different flavours of Vigo and Cambados wine. Then you will embark on a trip along the Arousa estuary to visit the island of Taja and Albariño.

Definitely this is a tour without waste, in which you will not only be able to ask your guide everything you want to know about the Rías Baixas, but you will also have the opportunity to taste on your own the flavours that emerge from this area of Vigo.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 270 euros per person, approximately.
  • Duration: This tour lasts approximately 8 to 9 hours, i.e. a whole day.
  • Means of transport: The transport will be in a private vehicle with all the comforts.
  • Advantages of this option: You will have wifi during the car ride, as well as a phone charger inside the car. You will have access to bottled water and wine tasting fees are included in the price. Snacks and mussel tasting tickets are included. Photographic souvenir is included. This is a guided tour, so only your group will participate.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Lunch and other meals not included in the price are not included. Tips are not included. It is not adapted for wheelchair users.

5. Private Albariño Wine Tour from Vigo

Wines in Albariño| ©Imamon
Wines in Albariño| ©Imamon

On this private tour you and your group will go straight to visit two wineries that belong to the Albariño wineries under the Rías Baixas appellation. On the tour you will learn about the winemaking process from the very beginning. One of the things that will catch your attention is the particular way they treat the vines.

The way wine is made here is rooted in Atlantic influences. Of course you will also taste the wines, but you will love to talk to the different oenologists who are in charge of the delicate and careful process of making Albariño wine.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 310 euros per person, approximately.
  • Duration: This tour can last around 8 hours.
  • Means of transport: Transport will be by private car with all comforts, depending on the size of the group.
  • Advantages of this option: This is a private tour, so only you and your group will be able to participate. A tour guide will be accompanying you throughout the trip. You will have wifi connection on board. All taxes and fees are covered. Transport to and from your accommodation is also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Lunch is not included during the experience. Gratuities are not included in the price of the tour. Not suitable for wheelchair users or people with other mobility difficulties.

6. Full day cruise to Cíes Islands

Cíes Islands| ©Jorge Tomé Hernando
Cíes Islands| ©Jorge Tomé Hernando

On this full day cruise departing from the port of Vigo, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a full day of beach, sun and sand. You have two options to enjoy this trip. The first is to stay on board for the whole experience to snorkel and enjoy the view of the islands and the sea from the boat.

The second option is to get off at the islands to enjoy the coast and the sand, as well as a good few hours of walking around the islands. The best thing about this experience is that it is private, which means that only your group will be present. The boat's crew will always be attentive to your needs and the needs of your companions.

The sailboat is equipped with all the comforts you need to live a premium experience, but above all, you have the possibility to discover the local nature if you decide to get off the boat to discover a little more of the Cíes Islands.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 1,000 euros per group of up to 10 people.
  • Duration: The experience can last between 6 and 7 hours, approximately.
  • Means of transport: You will arrive at the port on your own and from there you can board the boat that will take you to the Islands.
  • Advantages of this option: Snacks are included. Snorkelling equipment is also included. All taxes and fees are paid. This is a private tour so only your group can participate.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not an adapted experience for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.

7. Private tour of Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña

A Coruña| ©Wilhelm Lappe
A Coruña| ©Wilhelm Lappe

In this private tour that goes from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña, you will see the old town of the first of these cities, which is also the capital of Galicia and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Santiago you won't just see monasteries, temples and churches, you'll also have the chance to eat Galician food. The gastronomy of this Galician town is one of the gems you can't miss on this tour.

Besides, your tour guide will always take the opportunity to enlighten you about the most important details of Galician food, its origins and its importance within the typical Spanish food. To take the time to get to know Santiago and its gastronomy, you have to travel to Vigo for at least 4 days.

Afterwards, in A Coruña you will see a lot of tourist attractions, including the famous Tower of Hercules, which is the only Roman tower still functioning today. You'll see very different panoramas and landscapes in each city, but you'll definitely take more than one photo.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 173 euros per person, although the price may vary according to the number of people in the group.
  • Duration: This is a full day excursion, so it can last approximately 8 hours.
  • Means of transport: The experience will take place on board a bus with all comforts.
  • Advantages of this option: Pick-up and return to the hotel is included, provided that the hotel where you are staying is among those selected. Entrance to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is included. The tour is private, so only your group participates. You will have a tour guide available to accompany you at all times.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Lunch and tips are not included. It is not adapted for wheelchair users or those with reduced mobility or any other mobility problem.

8. Romantic excursion along the Vigo Estuary with dinner and breakfast

Along the Vigo Estuary| ©juantiagues
Along the Vigo Estuary| ©juantiagues

This experience for two is definitely one of the best things to do in Vigo at night and as a couple. It's accommodation with dinner and breakfast included for two, where you'll have the chance to admire the Vigo estuary and of course spend a luxurious night in the company of your special someone.

You will be accompanied by a crew that will always be attentive to any request you may have. The boat departs in the afternoon towards the Vigo estuary, and the trip begins. It then sails all night long and the next morning you can enjoy a good breakfast. You can choose traditional Spanish food or international flavours.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 500 euros for two people.
  • Duration: The excursion is from sunset to sunrise, lasting approximately 13 hours.
  • Means of transport: You will have to arrive on your own at the port of Vigo, and once you get on board, you will spend the rest of the excursion on board.
  • Advantages of this option: Exclusive trip for two people. One night's accommodation is included, with bed linen and everything you need to spend the night in luxury. Dinner and breakfast are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Additional consumption to dinner and breakfast is not included.

Duration of the excursions from Vigo

Clock| ©Cats Coming
Clock| ©Cats Coming

Depending on where the excursion is for and what type of excursion it is, these tours from Vigo usually last half a day or a whole day. In the case of the tours I've shown you above, most of them usually last more than six hours.

The half-day excursions, on the other hand, usually go to places closer to Vigo, such as Pontevedra or Tui, so they last approximately 3 to 5 hours. In any case, the duration of each experience depends on you and the tour guide who will accompany you on your trip.

Tips for excursions from Vigo

Vigo| ©Sergei Gussev
Vigo| ©Sergei Gussev
  • Wear light, comfortable, closed-toe shoes, because most of these tours are on foot and you'll have to do a lot of walking.
  • Make sure the tour you book guarantees food and drinks, but if it's not included, it's important to bring money to buy, rather than bringing food from outside, because this is generally not allowed, especially in the case of boat trips.
  • If you're taking children on some of these experiences, remember to bring a toy or electronic device to keep them entertained when you need to wait patiently to see something or enter somewhere.