Vigo: The Charming Spanish City You Need to Visit
Have you ever traveled to a new city and just immediately… fall in love?
Well, that’s exactly what happened when we visited Vigo, Spain for the first time last weekend.
48 Hours in Vigo
This beautiful little coastal city is located an hour north of us in Galicia (the western most part of Spain home to gorgeous (and fertile) green landscapes that produce the region’s high quality meats and cheeses).
Vigo had been on our list for a while and finally, when looking for an escape from the Braga heat, we settled on this seaside town for the perfect weekend getaway.
From the moment we arrived, we found ourselves oohing and aahing at the gorgeous architecture that spans the spectrum from Gothic to Eclecticism to Modernism.
We admired the stunning views while we ate and drank our way through the vibrant town.
What we appreciated most is that it lacked the tourism overload so many other European cities experience this time of year. Vigo is a local’s paradise – they seem to bask in the utter pleasure of a leisurely morning, picking a delicious pastry from the neighborhood pastelería, and enjoying an afternoon siesta before meeting friends for a drink later in the evening.
Like many Europeans, Vigo locals know how to relish the joy of everyday delights. Isn’t that why millions of people visit Europe every year, after all?
If you’re looking for a charming city to visit in Europe away from the tourists, Vigo is it.
Our Guide to Vigo, Spain:
Transportation
Since Vigo is so close to where we live in Braga, we were able to take the Flixbus there, which was only 30 euro round trip per person, which was a steal.
I just love the ease of bus (and train) travel. It definitely beats flying, especially for quick trips like this.
The ride itself was a little over an hour and included complimentary WiFi as well as electrical outlets, which (as we all know) is a godsend when traveling.
AVIOTHIC TIP:
- If you are flying to Europe, Vigo does have an airport (code: VGO) you can fly in/out of.
- Alternatively, there’s also Porto airport (code: OPO) in Portugal, about 1 hour away.
Where to Stay
We stayed two nights at the 5-star hotel, Gran Nagari Hotel in Vigo Bay (it’s a tad on the dated side but is the highest quality hotel in the area).
The entrance faces the beautiful Alameda da Praza de Compostela, a garden promenade full of statues, fountains, and gorgeous flower beds – an urban oasis around the corner from the waterfront.
We loved the location of this boutique hotel, which has a 2-story spa and rooftop pool with a retractable cover; while we didn’t make it up there due to inclement weather, we’ve made a note to check it out next time we’re in town.
AVIOTHIC TIP:
- Be sure to book your time in the rooftop pool in advance; it’s a small space so only a limited number of guests can be accommodated at a time.
What to See & Do
Our favorite thing to do in any city is to explore on foot – meandering through city streets to get a feel for its soul.
We did just that the two days we were in town checking out each of these spots:
- Port of Vigo:
- Snagging a view of the Atlantic was top of our list once we checked into the hotel; we walked along the waterfront, enjoying the fresh ocean smells and pretty views.
- Alameda:
- Mentioned above, this spot was directly in front of our hotel and is a magical little promenade to enjoy.
- Praza Porto do Sol:
- This bustling plaza is the epicenter of Vigo with tons of shopping, restaurants, and cafes; most importantly, it’s home to the El Sireno sculpture.
- El Sireno:
- Created by Galician artist Francisco Leiro, Vigo’s Tourism site says:
- “The sculpture was installed in 1991 and represents an imaginary character, a hybrid of fish and man. Since then, it has become one of Vigo’s most representative monuments due to its striking modernity and how it reflects the city, which it monitors from its elevated location.”
- It’s definitely a cool site to behold!
- Created by Galician artist Francisco Leiro, Vigo’s Tourism site says:
- Church of Santa Maria:
- This neoclassical church is located in Vigo’s old town; it’s a gorgeous exterior flanked by quiet cobblestone streets on either side. Unfortunately, the entrance was closed when we were there but from what we read, it’s worth the visit.
Someone recommended a day trip to Cíes Islands (a lush archipelago off of Vigo) but we didn’t have the time (or the Bouzas neighborhood); it’s definitely something we’ve earmarked for our next trip.
Where to Eat & Drink
Food is always our favorite part!
And like any trip, this one was all about enjoying awesome local restaurants.
I’ve broken out where we ate into three categories:
- Breakfast/Brunch/All Day Dining
- Pastries & Snacks
- Lunch & Dinner
Breakfast/Brunch/All Day Dining:
- Since we took an early bus from Braga, we opted to eat breakfast once we arrived in Vigo and enjoyed our first meal at 3Granos – a cute little spot up a narrow alley.
- Famished, we were eager for something that was delicious and filling so we each settled on egg and cheese toast topped with avocado, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic glaze; J opted for prosciutto on his.
- We sat outside and once our meals arrived, we dug right in – and let me tell you, the flavors kept bursting bite after bite after bite. It was giving manchego but I didn’t catch the exact name; whatever it was, I wanted more. And the cappuccini was pretty great too. 10/10 all around!
- On our second day, we dined at Galanga, a cool hipster-y coffee shop and breakfast restaurant about a 7 minute walk from the hotel.
- I had a freshmade acai bowl that was mixed with a ripe banana (for extra sweetness without the refined sugar) and topped with kiwi fruit, granola, and other yummy things.
- J got an egg and cheese sandwich loaded with a house sauce that he said was the right balance of creamy, tarte, salty. We loved this spot!
- We popped into La Cultural Brunch on our second day looking for a light lunch to share before heading to dinner; it’s a darling little spot with lovely flowers hanging from the ceiling, giving it a garden-like feel.
- We ordered the falafel grain bowl with homemade hummus along with avocado and side salad – it was just what the doctor ordered to tie us over until dinnertime. And I gotta give a shout out to the cappuccino – it tasted as pretty as it looked!
- Oh, and whenever we do go back (because we surely will), we’re absolutely trying the pancakes, which everyone was ordering – with flavors from oreo to nutella; it looked insanely good!
Pastries & Snacks:
- We saw a few empanadas spots around town but the smell wafting from Cantina Argentine made it clear it was the only one to check out; this joint had everything – I’m talking BBQ; I’m talking pumpkin and gorgonzola; I’m talking caprese.
- Ultimately, we chose the cheese and chorizo one and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. It was creamy, salty, flaky goodness; definitely a must-stop if you’re in the mood for a quick bite.
- We’re suckers for a good pastry. When we went to Copenhagen last year, I think we visited about 6 different spots over the course of a short weekend; Vigo was no exception.
- El Atelier is off the beaten path but well worth the trek; walking in is like a feast for the senses with the most vibrantly colored artisan pastries displayed in glass cases, which is only second to the most delicious aroma of baked goods swirling through the air.
- When I laid my eyes on a custardy fruit tart, I just couldn’t resist. Honestly, the crust was shortbread magic and the fruit was perfectly sweet!
- If you love pastries, don’t miss this spot.
- We grabbed a bite at El Molino the day that we left – two flaky croissants (and a cappuccino for me!) before heading home; it’s definitely a more elevated pastelería, similar to El Atelier, but it’s located in the heart of town (which is great if you aren’t willing to venture a little further out).
- I wish we could have tried everything but alas, there was only so much space in our tummies – and suitcases!
Lunch & Dinner:
- A trip to Spain isn’t complete without indulging in the best of its culinary delights. When we saw Crudeza got 4.9 reviews on Google, we knew we had to try it.
- We sat outside with a glass of wine and enjoyed, possibly, the most exquisite ceviche – it was the classico version with oodles of tangy lime, fresh red onions, yummy white fish along with corn nuts and hominy; it was simply outstanding – we can’t wait to go back!
- Being in a coastal town, of course, that meant we had to indulge in some seafood, so the occasion called for dinner at Elaine – an adorable tapas spot located on the northern end of the city (about a 30 minute walk from our hotel).
- We dined on calamari and octopus with potatoes, both of which were outstanding. But what I really loved was a new-to-me Spanish white wine I had called Godello – it was smooth, dry, and very fruit forward, which is perfect for summer.
- Godello comes from a grape variety native to Galicia (and has a fascinating history, which you can read about in the link).
AVIOTHIC TIP:
- The name of this restaurant varies depending on which app you’re using (we always recommend Google Maps over Apple because the information is more up-to-date across Europe).
- On Apple Map it shows as Romero Restaurante and on Google, it’s Elaine; it seems they’re in a bit of a transition as they open another restaurant closer to town, which will take one of the two names – just a heads up!
- Good Mexican food is hard to come by in Braga so we were overjoyed when we came across Ix-Chel researching for our trip. Y’all – it was FANTASTIC (there’s a reason they have 31 five-star reviews)!!
- We had about 6 tacos:
- 2x mushroom
- 2x carne asada
- 2x chicken
- Each one was a flavor explosion of the freshest ingredients and scratch-made salsas; if we could have had 12 tacos, we would have.
- Ever since we’ve been back, we’ve told everyone who would listen to us that they NEED to visit this joint – so do you!
Drinks
- We love a good nightcap after dinner and were happy to give Craft a try; talk about a cozy bar. There are wood beams that line the ceiling, exposed brick on the wall, and not to mention the floor-to-ceiling selection of international beers.
- The bar staff is friendly and every drink we ordered was accompanied by a little tapas – (sometimes fried cheese or patatas bravas).
- J got the Gulden Draak 9000 Quad – a beautiful Belgian beer that’s double fermented (the second time with wine yeast), which leads to this mouthy, full-bodied flavor and subtle finish – it’s marvelous!
- We liked the place so much we went twice! Definitely a good choice if you enjoy craft beer
AVIOTHIC TIP:
- Gulden Draak Quad has an 11% ABV so, as a word to the wise, pace yourself. 🙂
And there you have it!
If you plan to visit Vigo or already have, be sure to share what your favorite meal was.
xoxox
