Best tours of Vigo

Vigo is a very interesting city located on the banks of the Vigo estuary. Although it is a small place, there are many things you can do in this city. Among these activities are the tours of Vigo. You can choose walking tours through the streets to learn the stories and curious facts about the corners of this part of Galicia.

There are also tours where you can learn about the sea, have a romantic experience or learn how to cook. If you are going to spend more of your vacation in Vigo I assure you that you will not get bored. You will always find something fun to do in the city and there are even many excursions from Vigo that you can also take.

A private walking tour of the city of Vigo is one of the best ways to explore this place. With a walking tour you will be accompanied by a professional guide. Generally these tours are historical, so you will get to know the most interesting facts and sights of Vigo. These tours usually have an average duration of two hours and an average cost of 60 €.

The schedule of these tours usually varies, as they are fully adapted to your time. However, I recommend doing the tour during the afternoon. Usually these tours start near the "Sireno" sculpture in the Plaza Fuente del Sol, in the center of Vigo.

Then you can visit the Fortress of San Sebastian. From there you can admire excellent views while your guide tells you about the history of this city. You can also visit El Olivo, a tree that over the years has become an icon. In fact, thanks to it, Vigo has the nickname of "the olive city".

Other sites that should be included in this tour are the Plaza de la Constitución, the Calle de los Cesteiros, the Plaza de la Iglesia and the Calle de las Ostras. Visiting all these points of interest will make you feel like a local as you will be able to see many locals as you walk around. If you still have time, ask your guide to take you to visit the Emigration Monument and the Paseo Marítimo de Vigo, you won't regret it.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 60 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: in a short time you will be able to visit a large part of the city and learn information that you probably did not know.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not suitable for people who have difficulty moving around. In addition, it does not usually include breaks along the way.

Do you like Galician food? Can you imagine being able to prepare it at home? If you like the idea I invite you to take a catamaran tour in Vigo with a Galician cooking class included. This kind of tours have an average cost of 150 € and an approximate duration of five hours. This way you will have enough time to learn from a professional chef and taste your culinary creation.

This tour starts with a tour from the port of Vigo to the village of Cangas. The tour takes about 20 minutes. You can take advantage of this time to see the beautiful city of Vigo from the sea. You will also be able to see the Cies Islands and the Rande Bridge. In Cangas your guide will take you to the main market.

In the market you will be able to see the seafood and fresh fish of this area. In case you do this tour in the evening or on a Sunday, this visit would be changed to a walk through the port of Vigo. You can also stroll through the streets of the center of Cangas and the new promenade. There you will be met by private transportation that will take you and the rest of your group to the cooking school.

The dishes you will learn to cook are typical Galician dishes. Its main products are mussels, sardines, clams and similar. At the end you will be able to eat what you have cooked while you watch the sea. In addition, you will be able to accompany your dish with typical wines such as Albariño and thus have a unique sensory experience.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 150 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: in this type of tour you can do a gastronomic tasting and also learn how to do something new. A cooking class is one of the best memories you can bring back from a vacation.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you find cooking too complicated, this may not be the best option for you. However, I recommend you try it and have fun doing something different.

Getting to know Vigo by night is an experience you should include in your Vigo day itinerary. These tours are usually done with a professional guide for an average cost of 30 €. The approximate duration is two hours or a little more. During the tour you will learn about the legends of Vigo and Galician mythology.

This type of tour, like the previous one, usually starts at the Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, right under the sculpture of the Siren. From here you will begin to discover the secret of Galician mythology, starting with one of its iconic characters: the meigas. Besides them, you will also hear stories of the trasnos, vampires, lobishomes, mouras and many more. If you like that kind of stories, you'd better pay close attention.

To know a little bit about each of them you will have to walk through the streets of the old town of Vigo. In these tours you can hear the legend of the olive tree, the iconic tree of the city. Very close to the port you will find the famous Monument to Jules Verne, the visionary writer. Did you know that in his work "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea", the author dedicated a whole chapter to the bay of Vigo?

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 30 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: a night tour is the best option to enjoy a full day in Vigo. Since it is at night, you will be able to do other activities during the day and continue your day at night.
• Disadvantages of this option: you may not have much energy at this time after a long day, which can be counterproductive to enjoy the tour.

Traveller tip
If you dare to do a night tour in Vigo I recommend you to check the temperature for that night. This way you will know whether to take a warm sweater or go with cool clothes. This depends a lot on the season in which you decide to travel. Winter nights are much colder than summer nights.

One of the things you can do in Vigo at night if you are traveling with your partner is a romantic cruise. This tour usually includes dinner and a bottle of white Albariño wine to enhance the experience. It usually has an average duration of 12 hours and an approximate cost of 350 € and it is common to spend a whole night.

For this tour you will meet the skipper of the sailboat in the port of Vigo. From here you will embark on a scenic adventure to take in the views from the deck. You will be able to see the beautiful coastline of the Vigo estuary and the city as it is bathed in the colors of the sunset.

After this tour of at least one or two hours, you will return to the port. There the skipper will disembark so you can enjoy an intimate and romantic dinner with your partner. This dinner usually includes a variety of typical Galician recipes such as Carballo pasties. These include potato dumplings with tuna, smoked salmon canapés, among others.

On this tour you have the opportunity to spend the night on the sailboat. You will enjoy a cabin with clean sheets. Towels and toiletries are also included for your comfort. The next morning you can continue enjoying Vigo.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 350 €.
• Duration: about 12 hours.
• Means of transport: sailboat.
• Advantages of this option: in this tour besides enjoying a walk along the coast of Vigo, at the end of the tour you can enjoy the sailboat just for you and your partner.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must plan your itinerary very well so that you can enjoy this tour at the end of the day.

Mussel farming in Galicia is a system that has been used for decades. On a mussel farming tour in San Simón Bay you will learn about the whole process of mussel farming. You will also learn about harvesting, breeding, splitting, packaging and even marketing. This type of tour usually lasts two hours and has an average cost of 40 €.

This tour is done in a boat that will take you to know the different panoramic views of the Bay of San Simon. This area has a high ecological value thanks to its flora and fauna. You will depart from the fishing port of Cesantes, north of Vigo. While sailing you will discover the numerous farming ponds where this food is cultivated.

In addition to learning about mussels, you will discover different fishing techniques , a very popular tourist attraction in Vigo. You will also hear about historical events that occurred in this area. You will pass under the Rande Bridge and disembark in front of the Meirande Museum, which used to be the German cannery. There you will enjoy a guided tour.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 40 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: in this type of tour, besides being able to ride on a boat and see the city from the sea, you will have the opportunity to learn something new and typical of Vigo.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of tour does not include any kind of snacks.

When you come to Vigo I recommend preparing for the temperatures. Summer is usually the best time to visit, especially if you want to take sailing tours or go to the beach. You will be able to enjoy the sun and the sea breeze with peace of mind.

However if you are traveling in a cold month you should bring your coat as the temperature can drop down to 7 °C (45 °F). That is why it is better that you prepare yourself with adequate clothing and choose the best season according to the activities you have in mind. Keep in mind that walking tours are usually better in months that are not as hot as September.

As a tourist many times you will want to know all the places hidden in the city you are visiting. However, being new there is a high probability of getting lost. My recommendation is to go out and see as much as you can on a guided tour. That way you will make the most of your time and you will be able to plan with more certainty where you will go.

The other alternative you have is to create an itinerary researching all the sites to enjoy the best of Vigo. Although it is feasible, you should be much more organized and always have your cell phone handy to see the map. Personally I don't recommend it unless you have a lot of time and very specific interests, because the best thing about a vacation is to disconnect and live in the moment.