by Jed Eane

Created on: July 18, 2010   Last Updated: July 30, 2010

Introduction

Situated on the north-western coast of Spain, in the historic region of Galicia, Vigo offers visitors a scenic and cultural contrast to the country’s better-known southern provinces. This is a part of Spain where the quintessential images of the country may not be too obvious. With a landscape that’s lush and green, Vigo’s culture and language have more in common with those of its western European neighbours than those of its country’s more commercialised regions.

Vigo is known as the Gateway to the Atlantic due to its location, which is on the far western end of Spain’s northern coastline (just above Portugal), and its huge port, the second largest in the world next to Tokyo’s. And while Vigo may not be on a tourist par with more famous regional centres such as Santiago de Compostela, the provincial capital, its stupendous beaches, rich history, and cosmopolitan outlook still manage to attract an increasing number of visitors each year.

Getting around

Ships stopping at Vigo dock at the Muelle de Transátlanticos. There’s a sightseeing bus that meets most cruise ships to give visitors a taste of the city. In addition, there’s a main bus service (Estación de Autobuses Vigo) and a main train service (Renfe), which you can use in order to venture further afield depending on how much time you have ashore. However, the stations aren’t located near the port so you’ll have to take a town bus or taxi to reach them. Taxis are usually available at the port, but if you plan on staying in the city centre, you can walk to all that’s on offer. If you want to return to the port from town via taxi, though, use the taxi stands at Avenida Balaídos, Castrelos, Praza Suárez Llanos, Torrecedeira, and Gran Via.

Currency

The currency used in Spain is the euro. The euro is a decimal currency comprising 100 centimos (cents). Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euro. Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro. Money can be obtained from any number of banks and ATMs in Vigo.

Tipping

It’s not customary to tip in Spain, or at least not in the same way it is in North America or other parts of the world. Spanish waiters are usually paid a good salary, which includes benefits, in much the same way that professionals working in other industries are. You may want to leave a few coins from your change on the table

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