//
City in Galicia, Spain
Photo: farrangallo, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Vigo is a port in Galicia in northwest Spain. It's industrial but has an old town and lots of maritime heritage. In 2024 the population was 295,000.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Neoclassical building of 1810. It shares its status with Tui co-cathedral.
Built in 1656 along with the city walls to repulse the English and Portuguese, but it was poorly designed and the English overran the city in 1719. Later it was variously a cattle pen, city chambers and barracks, but restored as a fortress from the 1990s.
MARCO
This displays changing exhibitions of contemporary art, but has no permanent collection. It was built as a prison in 1861.
Park and panoramic viewpoint. This hill was the prehistoric Celtic citadel of Vigo, and has 3 reconstructed dwellings. It was reinforced in medieval times but then the population drifted away to lower ground near the harbour. Continue up the hill for views over the town and bay.
Over 1500 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and applied arts. The best known artists exhibited are Carracci, Pourbus, Goya, Teniers, Fragonard and Prud'hon. There's also archaeology and history of the city.
Small Romanesque church, probably from 1216.
Galicia's maritime history in a striking modern building, plus aquarium and lighthouse. No English signage.
Buzzing Galician bistro.
Good meals, tapas and wine.
Sandwiches and pizza, beer on draught, eat in or take away.
Great value for Galician trad fare.
Authentic Mexican.
Reliable fast food.
Inexpensive seafood grill.
Bar with good tortillas and empanadillas. Other branches are further out on Av de Florida and at the airport.
Cosy friendly place for tapas.
Burgers and the like.
Bakery and tapas takeaway.
Filling Galician fare, go hungry and order the stew.
Halal Moroccan food.
Friendly tapas bar.
Arepas are stuffed maize flatbreads, more common in South America.
Quality classic cuisine.
Good trad fare.
Serving Galician seafood.
Chic place for inventive fine dining.
Good value chain. They have another by Urzaiz station.
Basic hotel by Urzaiz Station.
Pleasant central hotel in a grand mansion of 1904.
Charming hotel in the old town centre.
formerly Hotel America
Welcoming place near the harbour.
Smart, comfy and central.
By train
Vigo Urzáiz is the modern main station, and terminus for almost all trains except those from Portugal.
By bus
Monbus runs overnight from Madrid Moncloa, taking six hours via Ourense.
By road
From Madrid follow A-6 (toll) to Benevente then A-52 via Ourense, 600 km and 6 hr 30 min.
Mar de Ons ferries sail frequently between Vigo and Cangas across the gulf. The same company sails to the Cies islands.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Vigo · Regional · VGO
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Vigo and Spain.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in November across autumn foliage, mild desert warmth, southern spring blooms, and off-peak travel bargains.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.