Visit us

Discover Vigo on a Food Tour, tasting the Best Galician Cuisine by EATour Specialist Discover Vigo: Food of Vigo in a small group

We’re in the city of Vigo about to start one of the best culinary tours of the city a food and wine tour but lots of walking is involved around too. Vigo is the gateway to the Rías Baixas and the Galician estuaries and is called the City of the Sea, one of the most popular food destinations in the industry of Spain´s food tourism. It’s the world´s biggest fishing port and has the largest fishing companies, Pescanova. Vigo ( which derives from vicus in roman which means hamlet) has a population of 300,000, the largest city in Galicia but did not become a village until the 15th Century.

We meet next to a giant statue called El Salto (The Jump) which is a bronze sculpture from the local artist, Francisco Leiro. We head with our local guide to another bronze statue nearby from local artist José Molares of Jules Verne. He was a French writer who wrote 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea devoting a chapter about the Bay of Vigo and the treasure under Rande Bridge. Captain Nemo in Nautilus salvaged gold from the Battle of Rande and used it to pay for his adventures. The writer is seated on a giant squid that attacked the Nautilus. Looking out to see across the Bay of Vigo we can see giant, mussel platforms.

We then head for Plaza Compostela and Alameda Park and the attractive buildings around them. This is a residential/business neighbourhood designed in the 19th century and occupied by the rich, which is full of life in the late afternoon. We head past Rua Policarpo Sanz Vigo’s banking quarter. There’s an array of Stately buildings including Garcia Barbon Theatre by Galician architect Antonio Palacios. Then it’s Principe Street, the most popular shopping area in Vigo. MARCO Museum built as a prison in 1861 now the Museum of Contemporary Art looks very inviting.

Read More Fish and Seafood at the market Learn about the different types of fish and seafood visiting the market

We arrive at our first stop, Progreso Market, where the old food market stood 100 yrs ago. The market has lots of stalls selling very appealing fresh seafood. Here they have far more variety as there seems to be lots of types of squid, scallops or sardines, etc. The market has plenty of steaks/meats and Galician cheese which I like a lot including Tetilla, Arzúa, San Simon and Cebreiro. There are hams, flowers, fruit, and vegetables too as well as local pastries, biscuits and cakes. We’ve just got time for a quick coffee and some “palitos de anís” which are like little finger-shaped anise flavored mini-donuts. This helps to open the appetite so we’re already starting to feel hungry to try the best food in the world on these food walks! Walk the streets of this Urban Coastal City Walk the streets of this Urban Coastal City from the new part to the old fishing quarter

We’re on our way again passing Porta do Sol Square which connects the Old Town and nightlife areas. There’s El Sireno which is a striking modern monument again made by artist Francisco Leiro, a hybrid between fish and man. Vigo being a Port city grew rapidly so it lost many old buildings hence its variety of modern buildings. It’s an unusual place to see a Dinosaur made out of a hedge but the Mayor has installed them throughout the City !! And we see olive trees too. The Symbol of the City on its Coat of Arms. Vigo used to be surrounded by olive groves then the Catholic Monarchs ordered they be cut down in 15th Century as punishment for those nobles who supported Beltraneja, the Queen of Portugal.

At Princess Square, you can see one of the original walls of Vigo. Then it’s into Constitution Square where the Centre of Old Town is situated where they celebrate fiestas like on 28th March the Reconquista and 2nd week of May Os Maios. We learn about Vigo’s history from our well-prepared Guide: In 1585 Vigo was attacked and occupied by Sir Francis Drake. So the City´s walls were built in 1656. In 1702 there was the Battle of Vigo Bay or Rande. In 1809 Vigo was taken over by the French but they were beaten on 28th March by the Reconquista. In the corner of the Square we enter Rua Cesteiros (it’s in Galician and means basketmakers Street) where historically artisans and merchants where located. There are shops selling Baskets, hats, pottery, and jewelry which has not changed much over the centuries.

https://youtu.be/fBZQTTV76Vs

1st tapas & wine stop on our Food Tour of Vigo for cheeses, pate and wines

It’s here where we stop to enjoy our first tapas of the day at a small, charming place. It’s a deli where you can also stop and try their range of artisan products too at the premises. Carmen and Paco, the owners give us a really warm welcome and explain that they only buy selected local products which are made by small producers. They have a range of local wines from small wineries. They stock a selection of hand-made canned seafood products like mussels, razor clams, cockles, and small scallops. And a range of other great gastronomic products like cheese, cured meats and desserts. The place has bags of character including an old fireplace as part of a traditional Galician style house with a long history as they used to sell baskets too. We are served with a delicious spider crab pate with a nice glass of albariño white wine from O Rosal served in a ceramic bowl (una cunca). Then from a cheeseboard we try three different cheeses: one is really soft and creamy, another is stronger from goats cheese and the final one is mature which has a slightly sweet toffee/nut flavour with floral aromas. Apparently all are hand-made from cow’s milk from a small producer and they sure are delicious when washed down with another white wine, this time from D.O. Ribeiro. Tasting cheese and wine!

We are now into our stride as we head past Casa de Ceta a unique 15th Century urban- style mansion. Then Santa Maria Church/ Vigo Cathedral in its neoclassical style dating from 1836 with another olive tree outside. This area is part of Berbes which is where traditionally the fishermen live. We head down some steep stairs passing some gift shops where the sea and sand used to reach and the women sold fish on granite benches. We’re now in Calle de las Ostras (Oyster Street). This is where the sellers concentrate to sell their local catch from the head of the bay. Someone in our group stops to try one as they are eaten raw with a little lemon, better with a mouthful of albariño wine! Paella Galician Style 2nd stop for the Galician Arroz de Marisco (Seafood Rice) on our Food Tour in Vigo

Time for our second stop and this looks really promising from the start as the restaurant terrace is already packed with hungry dinners but inside we relax as we are led to our reserved table taking in the good atmosphere generated by the locals. This is an emblematic family-owned restaurant run by Maria whose parents originally opened it in 1989 and her partner Jose. We are quickly served with more delicious albariño wine this time from Arbo. A gigantic pan arrives full of seafood on a bed or creamy looking rice, like a paella but Galician style. The dish includes lots of the local catch: hake, prawns, shrimp, clams, mussels and the rice is flavorsome too made with fish stock and paprika, it tastes so fresh and animates the whole group who are now so happy to be tasting something so good. We reluctantly leave the place satisfied and content having enjoyed our time so much, but there is still one last stop so it is not over yet! Tarta de Santiago (Almond Cake) & Cañas de Crema (Cream pastry tubes) 3rd stop is a sweet ending to our Vigo Food Tour tasting Tarta de Santiago (Almond Cake) & Cañas de Crema (Cream pastry tubes)

The third and last stop will be a sweet end to our walking food tour in Vigo! Here we will enjoy the Tarta de Santiago almond cake with coffee or tea in a quaint cafe near the port area. It’s here that our tour will conclude, a fun morning spent in Vigo combining our interests of walking, sight-seeing, eating and drinking and learning about the Galician gastronomy.

It really was something that we would not have seen had we wandered around the streets alone without our fantastic guide. A fantastic tour for those who are looking to experience something different on food trips or food and wine tours and like to discover new places. We offer as well a private food tour of Vigo tasting the best local food of Vigo city!

Are you in Vigo for a few days? You could take another small group tour, like our day tour walking coastal trail on Vigo bay & tasting local seafood. Staring with a ferry boat ride over the bay to a fishing village to visit the market, a coastal walk and more tasty seafood tapas and wines with our foodie guide!

With eatourspecialist.com not only can you Discover Vigo on a Food Tour, but you could do a sailing trip to the Cies Islands, Cooking Class with a Galician Chef, and much more the list is endless! Get started planning your trip to Vigo by checking out our best tours in Vigo, Galicia, Spain.

CREATED BY EATour Specialist