Vigo is an often forgotten coastal city in the north of Spain. Besides its walkable cultural centre, this city benefits from its proximity to the beach, such as Playa del Vao and Playa de Samil. Vigo is also the main getaway to the heavenly Illas Cíes, the remote islands you can only access by boat.

The city’s architecture gives a modern impression, though a few old buildings still remain. These include the medieval chapel of the Casa de Caridad; the neoclassical Collegiate Church of Santo Cristo de la Victoria, built to commemorate the defeat of the French in the Peninsular War (1808–14); and the 17th-century Castillo del Castro.

The fishing industry has been the mainstay of Vigo’s economy for centuries; however, oil spills in the early 21st century polluted the waters and killed some of the marine life. Vigo’s manufactures include leather, lumber, flour, paper, sugar, brandy, and machinery.