Vigo is situated near to the northern most borders with Portugal on the north east coast. The city has a magnificent port which looks out over the coast of to the Atlantic. The airport is just 9 kilometers from Vigo city center and 28 kilometers from the city of Pontevedra. Currently there are no direct flights to Vigo if you want to fly right into Vigo chances are you will have to change planes at Madrid for an onward short internal flight to Vigo. Iberia and Spanair are the main providers of flights into vigo airport which now handles around 1.5 million passengers a year.
The best way to reach Vigo is to fly to a local airport and then travel onward by means of a hire car. Hiring a car in Spain is often a lot cheaper than her in the UK. You can even hire the car in one location and return it to another meaning you can take a real road trip adventure without having to go back to your starting destination.
Once you have hired a car it could not be easier to get to Vigo the town has a great road network which links on good modern and fast roads. The Autovia Noroeste even runs as far away as Madrid which is 667 kilometers away. The Autopista Del Atlantico heads all the way into northern Galicia.
The weather in Vigo is substantially better than areas further north on the coast, it enjoys warm climates all year round with temperatures in the summer averaging in the high twenties. Vigo has much to offer anyone who ventures as far as this in their hire car, open parks, large gardens, historical squares and beautiful buildings from several eras in Spain’s history. Remember that when you visit here as well as Spanish people speak Galicean an ancient language which later evolved in Portuguese.
It’s a good idea to start a tour in the center of the city at the Porta Del Sol here you can see the tall sculpture name Sireno, this gilded figure is a work by Paco Leiro it goes back into local Spanish folk lore and represents a figure who is half man and half sea creature. From here working your way to the oldest parts of town will take you to an area known as the Casco Vello. This is a good place to find a leisurely lunch in the narrow romantic streets and tiny winding cobbled paths. Every Sunday a lively collectors market is held in the Plaza de la Constitucion.
There is also some great shopping here all week long in the boutiques and shops around the Plaza.
Whilst here in the historic quarter make sure you see the Santa Maria cathedral inside stands a revered sculpture of Christ of Victory. During one of Sir Francis Drake’s attacks in 1589 the church burned down; keep a look out for the two original parts which were incorporated into the 19th century re-build.
Because the city is located at one of the worlds best natural harbours competition for rule of Vigo has been fierce. The very beginnings of Vigo started when it was a simple Celtic settlement which fell to the Roman invasion. During the Middle Ages repeated attacks from Vikings meant that the city remained very small. Even Sir Francis Drake and a Turkish fleet had a go at securing Vigo for their own purposes. Large fortifications and an external city wall were erected in 1656 to protect the inhabitants. These walls can still be seen in places today and make a great walking route from which to see the city and surrounding mountains.
Now that you have had a glimpse of the A Madroa and A Guia mountains you will undoubtedly want to explore them further. A short drive in your car will get you close and from here you can explore on foot. If you’re travelling with a family and worry that your children may get bored of this don’t panic because there is a very good Zoo which can be found on Mount A Madroa. It’s sure to keep them entertained for hours.
Car hire here is an essential if you are considering visiting anywhere outside of Vigo city center. Car hire is much more affordable in Spain and as I mentioned earlier there are no direct flights to Vigo airport, therefore you would have to pay expensive taxi transfers to your accommodation. Hiring a car will certainly be the cheaper option leaving you more free time any money to enjoy during your stay.
