Vigo

Charming Vigo, Spain's busiest fishing port, occupies the rugged west coast of Galicia province beside a deep, fjord-like harbor. The city's welcome for cruise ships is evident in the redeveloped port area, which creates a first class impression.

Ships berth at Muelle de Transatlanticos, directly in front of this fortress city. Cross the busy, palm tree-lined Avenida del Castillo waterfront promenade to arrive. On the first floor of the cruise terminal are a few small stores and a WiFi cafe. Directly across from the terminal is the brand new tourist office, where ferry tickets are also sold.

Note: as this is also an important fishing port, seagulls are everywhere...even on your cabin balcony.

A printable map to take with you.

Galicia's cooler, damper climate has given it the nickname "The Green Spain". It has also made the region a popular escape for Spaniards seeking relief from searing summer heat, lush country scenery and some of the world's freshest, finest seafood.

For cruisers wanting to encounter the "real" Spain, meet local people and explore a region largely untouched by mass tourism, Vigo is the place to be. The waterfront is where the adventure starts, with Old Vigo rising in tiers towards the citadel of El Castro -- one of three that originally guarded the Spanish city.

A few miles south of Vigo, Samil Sands is regarded as the best beach within easy reach of the city. Here, a vast expanse of golden sand allows you to enjoy the sun and swim in the sea, while the estuary provides protection from the breakers. Walk the white promenade behind the beach or settle into one of the many cafeterias for ice creams and cooling drinks. The hop on/off bus mentioned below stops here.

Immediately across from the cruise terminal is the brand new tourist office, which also sells ferry tickets.

A hop-on-hop-off bus leaves from the pier head, although it runs very infrequently. Bus C1 is a good alternative, following a circular route around the city. Its stop is on the main road opposite the tourist office. A single-trip ticket costs 1.63 Euro in cash, paid to the driver.

A taxi rank is just outside the port gates, and every taxi is metered; a green light shows that it is free to take a fare. The fare to town is 5 Euro. A round trip to Santiago de Compostella costs 85 Euro plus waiting time.

You could also take the ferry across Vigo bay to the small, relaxed town of Gangas. The 15 minute crossing operates every 15 minutes and costs about 4 Euros return. The ferry terminal is 100 meters from your berth. Tickets can be bought only at the office, not on the ferry.

As you leave the ship, walk around the harbour to the left; the ticket office for ferries to Gangas and the Cies Islands is in a nondescript building on the right.

The countryside around Vigo is pleasant, and ships may offer excursions for mountain biking and hiking.

Off Pontevedra's coast in Galicia, at the mouth of the Ría de Vigo, the Cíes Islands form an archipelago. They are part of the parish of San Francisco de Afora in the municipality of Vigo. Declared a Nature Reserve in 1980, they were included in the National Land-Marine Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia (Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia), created in 2002. In 2007, the British newspaper The Guardian named Monteagudo island's beach No. 1 in its Top 10 beaches of the world. The ferry to Cies Islands can be booked at

Nearly 60 miles north of Vigo lies the world-famous shrine of Santiago de Compostela, medieval Christianity's third most important pilgrimage destination after Jerusalem and Rome. Closer by, at 12.43 miles, is the pretty fishing village of Bayona, known for its 12th-century church and 16th-century castle, now a hotel.

Vigo's train station is a 10 minute taxi ride from the port. Train Schedules

From the Estación Marítima in the port area, regular boats leave for Islas Cíes during Easter Week and summer, from mid-June to mid-September.

Beside the cruise terminal, a brand new shopping mall has opened, with Mediamarkt as its anchor store and large outdoor cafes. Mediamarkt is a major technology and white goods store.

The cute little old centre of Vigo, with small stores and many outdoor cafe's, rises directly up from the Bahia Hotel, which is easily seen from the cruise terminal. Part of this street is known as Oyster Alley, where shucked oysters can be bought and eaten at any of the outdoor cafe's. Free Wimax(WiFi) is available here. Wheel chair users can take the elevators in the shopping mall beside the cruise terminal and the elevated walkway to reach this area without negotiating stairs.

Currency: The euro

Spanish is the official language across the entire national territory. Other languages coexist with it in some Spanish regions: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region, and a particular variety of Catalan on the Balearic Islands.

Emergency number: dial 112 free of charge throughout Spain. The service is in Spanish, and in some tourist areas also in English, French and German.

Most shops and businesses are commonly open Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.

Large shopping centers and department stores open continuously from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h. These large stores sometimes open on Sunday.

Pharmacies operate from 9.30 to 13.30 h and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. Major cities have pharmacies open 24 hours. A rolling late-hour schedule is followed, published in newspapers and displayed at every pharmacy.

Museums are generally closed on Mondays.

National information.