Cruises to Vigo

382 Reviews
Vigo (Photo:jx1306/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Vigo

Vigo is the main port for Spain's Galicia region, with Portugal to its south and the Spanish mainland to the east. This port of call is a frequent stop for cruise lines sailing to Spain. Vigo's location between the mighty Atlantic and snow-topped mountains gives the region a cooler, damper climate than the rest of the country and has earned it the nickname of "The Green Spain."

This makes it a popular retreat for Spaniards keen to escape the searing summer heat, enjoy lush country scenery and tuck into some of the world's freshest seafood. And for cruise visitors, in Vigo you can experience "real" Spanish culture, meet the locals and enjoy a city and countryside still largely unadulterated by mass tourism.

Old Vigo rises in tiers to the 17th century hilltop citadel of El Castro, one of three that originally guarded the city. All were necessary to defend Galicia from successive hordes of invaders including Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, French and British, who regularly invaded between the 14th and 19th centuries. Sir Francis Drake famously took the city (for a while, at least) in 1589.

If you have a strong sense of history, you'll find the ghosts of these ancient and unwelcome guests still lingering in Vigo's gray walls and steep streets. The old Ribera del Berbes fishing quarter -- at the bottom of the hill opposite the port -- dates from the 17th century reign of Philip IV and is well preserved and particularly atmospheric.

Although there is plenty to see and do further afield, first-time visitors to Vigo could simply explore the old city, enjoying its world-class seafood and taking in some of the large sculptures that adorn its cobbled streets and squares. These include El Sireno(The Merman) in Puerta del Sol and Los Caballos (a monument to the horses that once roamed free in Castro Park) in Plaza de Espana.

This art-loving maritime gem of a city -- with its beautiful neoclassical cathedral -- has been proclaimed a Spanish national historical monument. Give it your time, and it will reward you with wonderful memories.

  • More about Vigo

  • Why Cruise to Vigo?

  • Vigo Cruise Port Facilities?

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Sun Princess
Sun Princess will debut in Europe in 2024 (Rendering: Princess Cruises)

16 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

6 Reviews
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Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Encore (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

14 Night
Repo - Transatlantic

424 Reviews
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Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Bliss (Photo: Cruise Critic)

13 Night
Repo - Transatlantic

1,404 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite
Celebrity Equinox
E Q19  Aerials F L034

10 Night
Best Of Mediterranean

2,313 Reviews
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25 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

6 Reviews
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14 Night
Spain & Portugal Transatlantic

1,701 Reviews
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13 Night
Europe Cruise

1,404 Reviews
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17 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

297 Reviews
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14 Night
Mediterranean Cruise

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11 Night
Canaries & Portugal Cruise

204 Reviews
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14 Night
14 Nt Spain & Portugal Transatlantic

1,701 Reviews
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33 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

1,788 Reviews
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13 Night
13 Nt Western Europe Transatlantic

204 Reviews
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21 Night
Transatlantic Cruise

1,788 Reviews
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7 Night
Spain & France Cruise

1,701 Reviews
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More about Vigo

Why Cruise to Vigo?

Pros:

This beautiful old port town is famous for outstanding seafood

Cons:

Vigo's steep hills can make walking around town a physical challenge

Bottom Line:

Nicknamed "the Green Spain," Vigo has no shortage of history, culture and beautiful scenery, including dozens of beaches

Vigo Cruise Port Facilities?

There is an information kiosk as you come off your ship and a tourist office just across the road from the port. Either will provide you with a map and information on local bus services, including tourist buses.

There's a large and interesting shopping mall right next to the cruise port which is worth browsing through on the way back to the ship after exploring Vigo's old quarter. It has some unusual jewelry and craft stores.

Good to Know?

Traffic is heavy as you cross the Avenida del Castillo from the port.

The fish market features well-stocked but rather pungent stalls.

The town contains steep hills and cobblestones -- wear sensible shoes with a good grip and take a walking pole/stick if necessary.

Be wary of rain showers -- they are why this part of Spain is so green. Take a small umbrella along just in case.

Getting Around?

On Foot: Given that Vigo is so hilly, if you're mobility-restricted, it is wise to take a taxi or bus up to El Castro citadel, which offers great sea views and a pleasant park area that includes the ruins of a pre-Roman settlement. After exploring the park's palm-lined sandy paths, you can enjoy a gentle downhill stroll back to your ship through the old city. The haul up to El Castro takes about 10 minutes by cab.

Don't want to go that far? Just head for old Vigo's historic main streets -- Calle Real and Triunfo -- or its four original squares; Plaza de Pedra, Plaza Almeida, Plaza Princesa or Plaza Constitucion. Lined with elegant buildings, these squares offer easy access to the maze of back alleys and steep stairways leading back to the marina. Princesa and Constitucion have many cafes with outside terraces, where you can take lunch or coffee al fresco and watch the city's life unfold.

By Bus: If time is at a premium, a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus tour of Vigo will show you the main sites, and you can explore on foot whenever you fancy (just leave time to get back to your ship). Buses leave from the tourist information center at the port and run roughly every two hours from 10 a.m. (Check current times inside.)

By Taxi: Taxis gather just outside the port gates, and all are metered (look for the green light, which signals they're free to pick up a fare).

By Car: The main railway station, Plaza de la Estacion, is a five-minute taxi ride away, and there is a Europcar outlet at the station -- though as a cruise visitor it's doubtful you'll have time to need it.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The local currency is the euro. For updated currency-conversion figures, visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.

There are plenty of banks with ATMs in Vigo, and most shops and restaurants take credit or debit card payments. Be aware that the city's streets are steep and, although the town is very close to the port, you might not want to waste valuable time ashore hunting for an ATM. Think ahead and get cash in advance of your port stop if possible.

Language?

Spanish, obviously -- and in this remarkably un-touristy part of Spain you will need a good phrase book or language app because few people speak English. In an emergency, dial 112, a free call from any phone to summon police, ambulance or fire services.

In some rural villages, even a phrase book won't be enough because people speak both Gallego (the local dialect) and Castilian (mainstream Spanish), or a confusing mix of the two.

Where You're Docked?

Ships dock at the Muelle de Transatlanticos. Just cross the palm tree-lined Avenida del Castillo waterfront promenade and you're in the city.


Vigo Cruise Reviews
Vigo surprised us. The cruise was supposed to stop at Porto, but got changed to Vigo for some reason. But Vigo is beautiful, and very intersting. The guide was good and very informative.Read More
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KlausL
Not a great fan of Vigo having been here before. However bought a two hour tour on the quayside which was good value and took us to the beach and a high viewing point.Read More
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Willibobs1954
Very scenic coastal coach trip once you got away from Vigo fishing portRead More
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selwob
it was an adventure for my daughter pushing my wheelchair, it is hill after hill, but the old town is gorgeous, did some shopping nd had a great time in general.Read More
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MrsPeel55

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