Here is a selection of plans to do on a trip to Vigo with friends. Get your pen and paper ready!
The Cíes Islands
An essential plan in Vigo is to visit the Cíes Islands, one of the main natural wonders in Galicia. As the main part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, the Cíes Islands are one of those unforgettable paradises. Enjoy its Rodas beach, walk up to the lighthouse or spend a night at its campsite.
A Starlight night
Did you know that the Cíes Islands are a Starlight Tourist Destination? The Vigo archipelago and its surroundings have this certification that defines them as an excellent place for stargazing without light pollution. You can do a Starlight activity aboard one of the night boats that sail along the estuary or by sleeping at the Cíes campsite, where some of these activities are also carried out. If you sleep at the campsite, be sure to enjoy the fascinating sunrise that awaits you on these islands.
Beaches in Vigo
Vigo has nearly fifty beaches, so it is an essential activity if you go with friends in the summer. They include the famous Samil beach and O Vao beach, and the award-winning Rodas beach in the Cíes Island, voted as the best beach in the world.
The Christmas lights
In the last few years, Vigo has become one of the Christmas wonderlands in Spain thanks to its commitment to the season in which the city comes to a standstill and is filled with colour, people, music and numerous activities. For almost two months, Vigo lets itself be carried away by the Christmas spirit thanks mainly to its famous Christmas lights that are displayed throughout the city centre.
Concerts in Castrelos Park
If you visit Vigo in the summer, your agenda will include Castrelos Park, where its famous open-air amphitheatre gets ready to host famous Spanish and international artists. The likes of Mike Oldfield, Metallica, Joan Manuel Serrat, Sting and Oasis have played there. The peak moment is during Vigo’s Festival Week (Semana Grande), which takes place in the first week of August.
Nightlife in Vigo
Vigo has a long tradition of pubs and clubs. The Vigo music scene of the 1980s left behind an important musical legacy in the city. Today you can find everything from terraces on the beach to watch magical sunsets in the Samil or Beiramar area, to rock and independent music venues in the Churruca area, right in the centre.
The Reconquest Festival
Did you know that Vigo was the first European city to kick out Napoleon’s army? It took place on 28 March 1809, when a popular uprising managed to expel the French. That date is when the Reconquest Festival now takes place and the locals re-enact this turning point in their history. It has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest and is usually celebrated for several days around 28 March.
Water sports
Vigo is the sea and that is why many plans focus on its wonderful estuary. In the Vigo estuary, you can do any type of aquatic activity and nautical sports such as jet skiing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, kitesurfing, paddle surfing and diving. You can also consider renting a boat to visit the third island of the Cíes, the least known since it is not accessible from the other two, and explore some of its hidden coves. Of course, you can also learn to sail at one of the sailing clubs in the city.
Recommendations and advice
Vigo has around 300,000 inhabitants, although its metropolitan area is close to half a million. The centre can be explored on foot, without the need for a car, but some places in the city such as the beaches, Castrelos Park, Balaídos stadium and the Sea Museum are a bit far away to walk.
Vigo is also characterised by its hills, which make it a bit more complicated in some areas. In any case, it has a bus network that reaches the entire city.
Vigo is a small part of everything that the Rías Baixas area has to offer. Take your car and spend one or two days sightseeing elsewhere. In just half an hour, you will find yourself in tourist towns with historical interest such as Pontevedra, Baiona, Tui, Cangas do Morrazo, Combarro and Sanxenxo, and you can even go to neighbouring Portugal.
If you are planning a trip to Vigo with friends, set aside at least a couple of extra days to explore the Rías Baixas area, visit other islands and enjoy its fantastic food.
Where to stay in Vigo
here are multiple hotel options in Vigo. Its size and surroundings, with many towns and villages along the estuary, mean that the accommodation options are numerous.
Nevertheless, we recommend that staying in Vigo is an excellent option for combining an urban holiday with nature trips since you can easily reach the numerous places that the Rías Baixas area has to offer.
A strategic accommodation in the heart of Vigo is the Occidental Vigo, a four-star hotel located next to the train station and just five minutes walk from iconic streets such as Gran Vía and Urzáiz. This comfortable hotel has 104 rooms, some of them with views of the estuary.
