Plaza de la Estrella, 1 36201 Vigo Phone +34 986 268 000 comercial@apvigo.es 42°14’13’N 8°43’59’O www.apvigo.es PHOTOS: Turismo de Galicia, Turismo Rías Baixas, Autoridad Portuaria de Vigo
Cruise traffic in the PORT OF VIGO
Sheltered by the Cíes Islands National Park, UNESCO World Heritage candidate, Vigo is a Spanish Atlantic port of reference for cruise lines. Its destination offer covers all interests, from families to independents, from the largest, conventional or premium, cruises, to the smallest luxury, boutique, adventure or expedition ones; and it is a recurring port of call on Atlantic itineraries between central and northern Europe heading to or coming from the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands; as well as on seasonal cruises with the Baltic Sea and the Caribbean. In the heart of the city, next to the Old Town and just five minutes walking from the main shopping streets, the port area dedicated to welcome cruise guests extends through a pedestrian space with promenades and gardens, with Vigo’s two cruise piers, one at each end. Located in the center of the city and exceptionally well connected, it provides a 1,000 mberthing line and all the necessary services for transit and homeport calls, with the highest ISPS and quality standards. A wide historical and cultural offer is available in the Port of Vigo, including the city of Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site, the nearby Portuguese border, medieval towns, castles and manors, Celtic settlements, Romanesque churches or modernist and eclectic architecture. The nature and landscape are also a highlight, mainly its wonderful estuary, the Ria de Vigo, with beautiful beaches, as well as the rich local cuisine, based on fish and seafood, and its world-renowned PDO Rías Baixas Albariño white wines. Hamburg Rotterdam Le Havre La Rochelle Barcelona Tarragona Valencia Cartagena Málaga Cádiz Lisbon Porto Bilbao Ceuta Canary Islands Madeira Southampton A Coruña
The Cruise Area THE PORT: Cruise ships in Vigo call in the central area of the Port, located at the very heart of the city, in a continuous, pedestrian and landscaped space, with direct access to the old town and the main commercial areas of the city; framed by the two Vigo cruise terminals. At one end, Trasatlanticos Pier, with the historic building Alberto Durán Maritime Station, which houses the two main cruise terminals of Vigo; and, at the other end, Comercio Pier, home of the secondary cruise terminal, designed to complement the first one in case of simultaneous multiple cruise calls. A very well connected area with the Train Station a 15 minute walk and the Airport a 15 minute drive away, thanks to direct access from both terminals to themain communication routes that link the city to the north with Santiago de Compostela, to the south, with the north of Portugal and to the east, with Ourense and Madrid. Area 60,000 m2 Berthing line 700 m Draught 12 m Terminals 2 Area 20,000 m2 Berthing line 290 m Draught 9 m Terminals 1 TRASATLANTICOS PIER COMERCIO PIER Train Station 15 minute walk
Trasatlanticos Pier Comercio Pier PONTEVEDRA SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA BAIONA TUI Shorex <60 minute by bus 15’ 30’ 30’ 55’ Airport 15 minute drive away
Pier THE PORT: Trasatlanticos Pier constitutes a privileged meeting point between the city and the more than 200,000 tourists who arrive in Vigo annually on board of cruise ships. In its central part, there is the Alberto Durán Maritime Station, a historic building built in 1958, linked to the great migratory movements of the 20th century from Vigo to America. Today, completely renovated, it houses the terminals concessioned to the two private companies that operate in Vigo: Vigo Cruise Terminal and Atlantic Vigo Cruise Terminal; both with modern equipment available, and large spaces for the management of vigo CruiseTerminal Trasatlanticos
boarding, disembarkation and transit of cruise ships, including walkways, baggage handling systems, shopping area, free WiFi, and all those services that passengers and crew may demand, complying with the highest standards of quality, safety and health control. The same maritime station houses, in addition to the terminals, the Harbour Master offices, the National Police Border Immigration Control premises, the Health Authorities and the port pilotage and mooring services. Atlantic Vigo Cruise Terminal
At the Comercio Pier, the old existing cargo warehouses were adapted in a novel project to allocate their central part to a second cruise terminal, called El Tinglado del Puerto, to complement the berthing line available for cruise ships and be able to serve multiple calls in the best conditions. It is anon-concessionedpublic terminal,managed by the Port Authority and available for use by any of the two passenger service operators in case of multiple stopovers. Surrounded by gardens and next to the Alameda, a reference urban tree-lined space in the center of Vigo, this dock completes the port space dedicated to cruise guests. Comercio Pier El Tinglado Terminal THE PORT:
The Port DESTINATION: Area Port & City In the area that hosts cruise ships in Vigo, passengers and crew can begin to discover the secretsof thecityand itsport, hidden inmonuments, statues, sculptural groups and gardens, which recall the historical role of Vigo in the time of the discoveries and emigration, the surprising link of the city with Jules Verne, its importance as a global communications node explained in the Cable Gardens, or its most modern expression, with the Nautilus underwater observatory, an example of the Port of Vigo’s commitment for a sustainable and environmentally friendly growth of the port, which is multiplied in the internationally awarded Sunset Docks project, which will be accessed through the pedestrian and bicycle lane that runs along the entire port front.
Directly connected to the port, the city opens up through its old town with cobbled streets and picturesque squares with beautiful arcades. Puerta del Sol, a pedestrian plaza at the center of the city’s social life, is the entrance to its cultural offering, itsmuseums and modernist architecture; in addition to one of its main shopping areas. From there, the numerous elevators and mechanical ramps that populate the city facilitate the walk to Monte del Castro, with archaeological remains of Celtic origin and crowned by the old fort of the city, with musealized passages and one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. Without leaving Vigo, the city itself offers a wide variety of destination alternatives to visitors: the impressive views of the Ría from Monte de la Guía; Castrelos Park, the authentic lung of the city, with its Pazo Quiñones de León that hosts great musical and cultural events, beautiful gardens and an extraordinary museum of Galician Art; or, for the most active, a multitude of options to enjoy nature, hiking routes, on foot or by bicycle, the Camino de Santiago, beautiful beaches of fine sand, an authentic local treasure, or amazing sunsets over the Cíes Islands .
The Cíes Islands DESTINATION: The Cíes Islands are the jewel of the Illas Atlánticas National Park, UNESCO Heritage candidate and the most appealing natural tourist attraction in northwest Spain. With idyllic white sand beaches with crystal clear waters surrounded by forests and protected by steep cliffs, surprising routes that link impressive natural viewpoints and bird observatories, a visit to the Cíes offers the opportunity to go hiking, practice water sports such as rowing, paddle surfing, diving and snorkeling to admire the richness of its seabed, or simply enjoy the sun and the sea.
Among other recognitions, they have been listed by the New York Times as one of the 52 destinations without crowds that should not be missed (52 Places for a Changed World), the fourth best destination within the Hidden Gems of Europe by European Best Destinations, or the perfect one-day Lonely Planet route; and its central beach, Rodas, has been selected as the best beach in the world by The Guardian, as well as being recognized as an accredited Starlight Destination for stargazing. But, in addition, the Cíes Islands not only welcome our cruise visitors at the entrance to the Ría de Vigo; they are the true guardian that calms the force of the Atlantic Ocean and turns Vigo into a port with calm and always safe waters.
Santiago de Compostela a World Heritage city, has been a Christian pilgrimage destination since the 9th century. An excellent opportunity to get closer to the history of Galicia, its art and its culture, through its narrow, cobbledstreets. The CaminodeSantiago and its Cathedral, consecrated in 1211, with elaborate stone-carved facades, among which the famous Portico of Glory stands out, attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors every year and making Santiago the most prominent tourist attraction in the region.
Baiona is one of the most traditional tourist destinations when visiting Vigo. This town with medieval origins was the first witness to the discovery of America, after the return of Columbus’ caravel “La Pinta”. It is worth visiting its replica, moored in the port, and attending the month of March to the celebration of the Arribada, a Festival of International Tourist Interest that commemorates the arrival of the caravel to Baiona; as well as stroll through the Monterreal Fortress, which dates back to the 11th century and currently houses the Parador Nacional de Baiona, and even go up to the boat-shaped viewpoint of the Virgen de la Roca, a 15-meter-high sculpture made by the Spanish urban planner Antonio Palacios. Santiago de Compostela · Baiona DESTINATION:
Pontevedra · Combarro · Soutomaior · La Toja · Cambados DESTINATION: Between Vigo and Pontevedra, is the Soutomaior Castle, of medieval origin, which was the scene of the Irmandiños wars and houses beautiful gardens that are part of the Camellia route, a magical itinerary of tourist attraction that runs through old palaces, castles and mansions throughout the entire province. Pontevedra, an ancient city and medieval port, stands out for its pedestrian nature and its historic center, in which buildings such as the Basilica of Santa María with its plateresque façade, the baroque church of La Peregrina located next to Plaza Ferrería and the ruins of Santo Domingo. The Pontevedra museum presents a permanent collection made up of archaeological remains found in the province of Pontevedra and an artistic collection that goes from the Romanesque to the 20th century. Very close to the city is Combarro, a beautiful fishing village that stands the test of time, with its traditional hórreos (raised granaries) and cruceiros (calvaries). Continuing along the coast you can also visit Sanxenxo, where A Lanzada beach stands out, with its Romanesque chapel; and O Grove, with the well known La Toja Island with its spas, golf course, casino and the church of San Caralampio, a 12th century chapel, completely covered in shells; or Cambados, nerve center of wine tourism, with an old town listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest and beautiful natural landscapes.
Tui · A Guarda DESTINATION:
To the south of Vigo, 30 kilometers away, the last stretch of the Río Miño extends, marking the border with Portugal. Throughout its course, the town of Tui stands out, with its medieval historic center, the second in importance and one of the best preserved in Galicia, and its Romanesque fortress Cathedral, Santa María de Tui, Asset of Cultural Interest. From the Monte Aloia Natural Park you can see impressive views of the city, and of Valença de Minho, on the Portuguese border. At the mouth of the river is the traditional fishing village of A Guarda, at the foot of Mount Santa Tecla, 341 meters high, from where you can admire the spectacular views of the river opening to the Atlantic Ocean and visit the Celtic archaeological remains of the most important fortified town in Galicia, inhabited before the Roman conquest (1st BC-1st AD).
Wineries · Gastronomy “Rías Baixas” is the name of the Protected Designation of Origin that includes the five wine subzones that surround Vigo. With world-renowned white wines based on Albariño grapes and native varieties, local wineries are a destination not to be missed by those interested in mixing culture, history and gastronomy. Wine tourism also allows everyone to enjoy a privileged natural environment with a very rich heritage, with characteristic buildings of traditional Galician architecture, such as manor housesandstatelyhomes,andspectacular vineyard landscapes, extending on the slopes of hills and facing the sea. A visit to one of the many wineries in “Rías Baixas” will provide tourists with not only anapproach to thewine-making process, but also the best opportunity to taste in situ the characteristic aroma and flavor of Albariño; an excellent option to pair with local fish and seafood, both essential elements of the delicious and healthy Atlantic Diet. DESTINATION:
The gastronomic culture of Vigo immerses you in a sea of unique flavors. Its cuisine is a great opportunity to taste the seafood and fish that offer both the Atlantic Ocean and the Vigo Estuary, which, due to its richness of plankton, the currents and marine temperature, as well as its peculiar seabed, have excellent quality, placing them as a global reference.
The Ría de Vigo is a destination in itself, full of secrets that can be discovered by sailing its waters. A beautiful and surprising natural refuge in which naval battles and legends of sunken galleons loadedwith gold intermingle with the richness of its waters, fishing tradition and the cultivation of mussels and oysters. And like a pearl in an oyster, San Simón Island emerges within; once a refuge for pirates, a lazaret, a monastery and even a prison, and still today hiding Captain Nemo and his men, who can be spotted when the tide goes out carrying the gold under the sea. Dare to penetrate its mysteries, discover its depths, learn its stories, learn how its waters are cultivated, or put on your boots and become one of its shellfish collectors... THE RÍA DE VIGO: Jules Verne · Marine and Experiential Tourism “Well, M. Aronnax”, replied Captain Nemo, “we are in that Vigo Bay; and it rests with yourself whether you will penetrate its mysteries” Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
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