Vigo Cruise Holidays
The Spanish city of Vigo sits in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in the Galicia region where it location at the far western edge of the north of the country make sit a popular cruise port of call for ships heading further south to the Canary Islands or for those heading to the Mediterranean whilst itineraries taking in the best of Iberia will also call in there.
The city has a long history going back to the early Middle Ages but it has been its importance as a military and commercial port that has been at the forefront of its importance as a city and it is the sheltered waters of the Atlantic inlet it sits in that makes it such an important port of call for cruise ship to this very day.
There have been settlements in the area going back further than that and modern day city takes in part of a Roman settlement but it is the cities fortress (Castro) that is one of the key attractions for visitors, although if you are there during the summer, a day at one of the cities beaches is always a popular choice.
Cruises To Vigo
Our Visit
We visited the port of Vigo in October 2023, when we had a late change to our schedule as the original itinerary for our journey had us calling into Leixões for Porto rather than Vigo.
The chance to visit Porto had been one of the big reasons for the booking the trip we did and that could easily have spoilt our day in Vigo but thankfully it didn’t as the port had everything we look for.
For a start, you dock within an easy walk of the town centre and can simply walk from your ship to the Vigo main shopping area without the need for any shuttles.
The city also has plenty to offer for those wanting to go off and explore on their own and that is exactly what we did as we walk along the seafront, through the main boulevard, up the ever so useful travelators to the top of the hill and cities fortress of El Castro.
From there was a straight walk down the hill, through the city’s main shopping district before the short stroll back past the marina to the cruise terminal.
Shore days where you can just set off walking and see what you come across and spend time with locals are really what make cruising so great and in Vigo, you can do just that.
Vigo Cruise Guide
Vigo Cruise Port Ratings
Name: Vigo Cruise Terminal (Terminal de Cruceiros)
Currencies accepted: Euro
Address: Rúa Cánovas del Castillo, 5, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Overall
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Attractions - 6/10
6/10
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Excursions - 7/10
7/10
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Facilities - 6.5/10
6.5/10
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Getting Around - 5/10
5/10
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Location - 9/10
9/10
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Choice of Lines - 8.5/10
8.5/10
User Review
( votes)If you are in the fortunate position to have booked a cruise that is calling into the port of Vigo on a cruise and would like to know all about the destination and what you can do whilst you are on shore or if you are at the research stage for your next cruise holiday and would like to know if the port is one worth you choosing an itinerary featuring it, our guide brings you all of the information that you need.
The port features on a many itineraries from the United Kingdom as well as cruises starting out of the major Mediterranean ports and even some transatlantic crossings, but despite all of that, the port is often overlooked by many when choosing a cruise of the region.
With popular ports such as Bilbao further around the northern coastline of Spain and with the popular Portuguese ports of Porto (Leixoes) and Lisbon just to the south, that is perhaps not too surprising, even if it is somewhat unfair on the city.
It also doesn’t help that some cruise lines promote the nearby Santiago de Compostela on its itineraries and that leads to some confusion as it is around an hour away but our guide cuts through all of that noise to bring you the information that you need.
Type of Cruises Available
When it comes to visiting the port on a cruise there is lots of option available.
Thanks to its location, the port features on a number of No Fly options out of the United Kingdom including on itineraries that are heading to Portugal, to the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands.
There are also a number of options for visiting Vigo on a cruise originating out of the Mediterranean, with cruises from Barcelona offering the most options and making for a great place to spend a few days before or after your cruise.
It is also possible to call into the port on a repositioning cruise including starting in the Med and sailing back to the UK (or vice versa) or you can stop off in Vigo on a transatlantic cruise heading to Florida or the Caribbean or heading to the UK or Baltic from those destinations.
Vigo Cruise Port Location
One of the big positives of the port is the location of its cruise terminal which is just a short stroll from the main ton centre and offers easy access to the cities sea front full of shops, bars, a marina, and beaches.
The modern cruise port terminal makes boarding and exiting your ship straight forward and with its central location, it is easy to explore all that Vigo has to offer on your own.
Vigo Cruise Port Facilities
The cruise port of Vigo is well equipped for every type of visit as it can handle 2 large ships (or 4 small ships) that are either homeporting, interporting or simply calling in there as a port of call.
There is a large terminal building, with basic facilities but as it is only a short walk to the town centre, it has everything that you need.
Vigo Attractions
It is fair to say that Vigo, as a relatively new and industrial city, doesn’t have the historical sites or modern attractions of other port sin the region but it does have a charm of its own and plenty to offer.
For many it is simply strolling around the Casco Vello (historic centre) of the city where you can enjoy a bit of shopping and enjoy a local delicacy before making your way up the hill to the ruins of the Celtic Castro and the Castro Fortress that is all it takes to make for an enjoyable day ashore.
As a port that is often the first or last port of call on itineraries to and/or from the UK, many use the city as a chance to do their holiday shopping and buy gifts for others and mementos for themselves.
To do that the modern centre areas of Porta do Sol, Policarpo Sanz and Alameda and the shopping streets of Principe and Urzaiz is where to head although there is a large shopping centre right next to the cruise terminal for any last minute grabs.
If culture is o you liking their area number of museums in the city including those dedicated to the environment, the sea, contemporary art, language, and photography whilst the Teatro Garcia Barbon (theatre) is one of the most beautiful building in the city.
There are a number of Romanesque architecture that can be spotted throughout the city including the Santa Maria de Castrelos, the Santiago de Bembrive and the San Salvador de Coruxo churches.
The north of Spain is often not as warm and dry as the southern coast so a day at the beach may not be the top choice for everybody but if you are there on one of the sunnier days, there are a number of beaches to choose from including the likes of Argazada, Candido, Punta, Rodas and Samil beaches that all have blue flags.
Vigo Shorex
There are a number of shore excursion choices when it comes to the port with many of them simply making it easier to visit the cities fort and other historical military sites around the region but the most popular day out is a visit to Santiago de Compostela.
The city is around an hour away and offers lots to see and do.
Best Time To Visit
Vigo can be visited all year around on a cruise holiday, so in the main it depends on when you want to visit but overall we would say that it is best to visit in either early or late summer- May/June or September.
Most visitors will spend their time on shore walking around the city and taking in the sites- all of which are outside and many are up a steep hill, so you really want to the weather to be warm but not too hot.
Transport
Getting around the city is relatively straight forward enough to do on foot with most attractions within walking distance of the central cruise port but if you do want to do some exploring of the region your own, there is the chance to take a ferry service to the towns of Cangas and Moana or the beautiful Cies Islands which are part of the Atlantic Islands of the Galicia National Park.
Vigo Cruises From UK
Vigo is one of the most popular cruise ports on itineraries out of the United Kingdom with a wide range of lines offering the opportunity to visit the city on a cruise of the Med or the Canary Islands whilst some lines use the port before heading into the open Atlantic on cruises from the UK to the USA or the Caribbean.
Southampton Cruise to Vigo
If you would like to cruise to Vigo from these shores, the widest range of ships, lines, and itineraries can be enjoyed from the port of Southampton.
