Vigo in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Vigo is known throughout Spain for its great beauty. If you are going to visit it in two days, it is recommended that you go with a previously made travel itinerary. This way, you will 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 will find a variety of plans, from sunsets on the beach to visits to hermitages, through some of the best restaurants in this municipality of Pontevedra.

During your first day in Vigo, I invite you to visit the Old Town of Vigo, where you will find some of the main monuments of the city, such as the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria.

In addition, you can see the sunset in one of the most beautiful places in this city of Pontevedra. As if that were not enough, it is also a round day gastronomically speaking, thanks to the proposals of restaurants that I make you.

Visit the Old Town of Vigo

The Old Town of Vigo has four squares: Plaza Princesa, Plaza Almeida, Plaza Constitución and Plaza de Pedra. Of these four, the main square is Constitución square, which exceeds the others in size. Here is located what was once the town hall of Vigo, as well as the first lamp of the city. I recommend that you visit its stores and sit on a terrace to have a coffee.

After the first coffee of the morning, head to the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria, which is located in the Plaza de Pedra. This building has its origins in the Middle Ages. The temple was made in honor of the Cristo de la Victoria, who is credited with saving the Vigueans from the Napoleonic invasion. You can visit its interior for free 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, go to the Porta do Sol, which is only 3 minutes walk away. It is named after its past as the entrance to the walled town. Here you will see two sculptures of Dinoseto and El Sireno, two representative figures of the city.

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

Stroll through the streets of El Ensanche

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

The buildings are in the Belle Époque style and were built in the 19th century. It is here where the wealthiest people of the city live, which can be easily observed if you look at its buildings.

Walk to Policarpo Sanz street, where the García Barbón Theater is located. 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 gardens of Montero Ríos, as well as the parishes of Santa María de Vigo and Santiago de Vigo.

Have lunch in one of the best restaurants in Vigo

If you walk along Rúa do Areal, you will come to one of the best restaurants in Vigo: Casa Marco. This restaurant is located on Rúa de García Barbón and is only a 15-minute walk from the El Ensanche neighborhood. Here you can savor traditional Galician cuisine, with dishes made with local and quality products.

Among the specialties of its menu is the grilled Martiño de Ons loin over squid from the estuary with onions, a real delicacy. Also exquisite is the cod rice with chickpeas and prawns, as well as the hake neck of the breseado skewer and the grilled Burela tuna loin with sea urchin caviar sauce.

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 cream, such as truffle with caramelized hazelnut. If you go in winter, be sure to try the glass of cream cheese with mango coulis and chocolate ganache.

Take a walk to O Castro mountain

After you have rested 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 Avenida Alcalde Gregorio Espino, which should take no more than 15 minutes.

Castro Hill is a beautiful hill located in the center 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.

The Castro Fortress is located next to the Castle of San Sebastian and together they formed the defense system of Vigo as protection from invaders. This fortress is located about 80 meters 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 Monument to the Galleons of Rande

The Monument to the Rande Galleons, also known as Las Anclas, is located on O Castro hill itself, a 10-minute walk from the Castle of San Sebastian. It is the work of the architect Desiderio Pernas and is composed of three anchors in honor 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 have brought you here for a specific reason: the Monument to the Rande Galleons 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 nice sunset at the Monument to the Rande Galleons, I recommend you head to one of the restaurants with the best views in Vigo: the Room Museum. It is located on Atlantida Avenue and offers beautiful views of the estuary. If you go from the previous stop, it is best to walk until you find a cab stand, as the walk will take you more than an hour.

Both during the week and on weekends, it is very common that during dinner time different concerts are held in the restaurant. Therefore, I recommend you take a look at their website to see the events of the day.

Among the highlights of their menu is the exquisite Russian salad Room style, as well as octopus carpaccio, braised beef cheeks and hake loin with seaweed risotto. For dessert, opt for a crema catalana, a baked cheesecake or a 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 located just 6 minutes walk from the restaurant and offers wonderful views of the Vigo estuary and the Cies Islands, especially at night.

This lighthouse belongs to the Museum of the Sea and both buildings date from 2002. They were built on an old cannery 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 in Vigo, I recommend you to go to the outskirts of the city. You can get to know the true seafaring culture of Vigo, spend the day at the beach and taste its famous tapas with a good wine.

Discover Bouzas, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Vigo

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

The neighborhood is just over 10 minutes by car from the center of Vigo and more than 45 minutes walking. Therefore, if you feel like walking, you can go on foot. In case you go on a Sunday, I recommend you to go to the Alameda, where a weekly market is set up in the mornings.

It is also worth seeing the neighborhood's food market, in which the seafaring spirit of the area is very present. Here you will find numerous stalls of local products, such as fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers. This market is located on Covadonga street, 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 neighborhood. At first, it was just a small chapel; however, in 1697 it was enlarged. The church of San Miguel has a great architectural beauty and has a cruceiro, a type of stone cross very typical of Galicia.

Open your stomach at the best place in Bouzas for tapas

Next, head to the Bouzas promenade, which is just over a kilometer 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 should do one of the most typical plans of Vigo and Spain in general: have some tapas. A little more than 15 minutes walk from the promenade, you will 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 meal based on fish and seafood in 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 the beach of Canido, in the parish of San Miguel Oya.

If you like beer, this is your place, as the restaurant has a wide beer menu. 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 beef sirloin or lamb chops.

Among the specialties of Timón 2.0 are the langoustines, pickled mussels, spicy hake roe and grilled lobster. The prices of this restaurant range from 20 to 30 euros, approximately. I recommend that you book in advance, as it is usually in high demand and you may run out of room.

Spend the afternoon at Samil Beach

Samil beach is one of the most famous beaches in Vigo. It is located about 15 minutes drive from the center of Vigo and less than 5 minutes walk from the previous restaurant. It is an ideal beach for families, making it one of the best things to do in Vigo with children.

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

If you want, after taking a dip, you can go to one of the cafes that are located on the beach for a coffee or an ice cream. Afterwards, wait to watch the sunset, as it is one of the best places in Vigo to see the sunset.

Discover the hermitage of Guía

The Guía hermitage is one of the symbols of Vigo, 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 should take the direction to Rúa de Pedro Alvarado and drive to Dona Fermina avenue. There are really no other options to get from one place to another, as it is too long on foot and there are no good bus connections.

This chapel is located on the mountain of A guía, about 100 meters above sea level and stands out for the beautiful views it offers to the Vigo estuary. Its construction is the work of Manuel Gómez Román, who finished the building of the chapel in 1951.

As you can see, although two days seem few to know Vigo, the truth is that they are enough to discover the main places of the city of Pontevedra. The only thing you have to do is to distribute your time well and have a previous organization.