ABOUT VIGO
Vigo is a city located in the province of Pontevedra, in the autonomous commuity of Galicia, and is the largest city in Galicia with 249,500 inhabitants. Evidence of ancient settlements in Vigo goes back to the Stone Age, with some forts and houses from the Iron Age still remaining today, before the Roman Empire arrived. Today, it is a booming city with a rapidly increasing population, economically influencing 600,000 people in the greater municipality city. Vigo is Galicia’s economic powerhouse, being the home to a major Citröen factory, important armaments by the port, and the zona franca, which is the economic zone of Vigo and its surrounding areas established to protect the local and smaller businesses. The University of Vigo has a campus in the city, as well as one in Pontevedra, Ourense, and Lagoas Marcosende. Vigo also has a UNED center, which is the National University of Distance Education.
Vigo is situated on the Vigo River, which is part of the Rías Baixas. Its economy is hugely marine based, which yields the great selection of seafood and is evident in the smell of fish that overcomes the city in the morning every once in a while. People who live elsewhere in Galicia sometimes describe Vigo as a very industrial city, and this can be felt in the urban design and the overall gestalt of the city.
TRANSPORTATION IN VIGO
You will find that Vigo is a very manageable city and walking is almost always your best bet; you will get anywhere in the center of the city in 40 minutes or less. However, the newer areas of the city, or the outskirts, might be a bit too far walking. Biking could be an option for you, but it is not usually very convenient in winter when it is rainy and the hills and lack of bike accommodating infrastructure can make riding difficult. Vigo offers a bus network that takes you all around the city and its surroundings, or las afueras. Be aware, though, that there is an extremely limited bus schedule from around midnight to 6 am. Tickets are 1.35€. A transit pass, the PassVigo card, is also available, which is a great option if you are going to take the bus frequently. With this pass, the bus will cost 89 cents and you can refill it at Abanca to avoid having to pay with cash upon entering the bus. In order to get a PassVigo card, you must fill out this online form or visit the office in the Ayuntamiento. You must be empadronado before applying for a bus card. The MoovIt app is a great resource for in-real-time bus schedules and routes. Also, if you are under 26, you can pay ~6€ for a Carné Xove (youth card). One 2016-2017 grantee got his Carné Xove with Abanca, and because he had an account with Abanca it doubled as an extra debit card. It’s good for many discounts, but especially for Renfe. If you need a taxi, you can call Radio Taxi at 986 252 700, Autotaxi at 986 296 957, or Su Taxi Vigo at 986 132 222. You can also call or send a WhatsApp message to schedule a taxi to the 24 hour service TaxiVigo at 604 002 101. Past grantees have recommended the maps.me app, which doesn’t need a WiFi connection to access maps.
If you’re looking to get out of town, the bus station, in Avenida Madrid, 57, offers a range of different companies and services that can take you to other Galician cities/towns or other parts of Spain or Portugal. Vigo has two train stations, Vigo Guixar, located on Rúa Real, offers normal, regional, and high-speed trains that take you to other Galician/Spanish cities. There is also Vigo Urzaiz, located in Plaza de la Estación, with a regional train to A Coruña with a frequent schedule. You may want to get the Carné Xove (above) to take advantage of discounts. If you want to head out farther away, the Vigo Peinador Airport has regular flights to Spanish destinations, as well as Portugal. However, past grantees recommend flying out of Porto Airport instead, which has more options and cheaper flights abrorad. There is a direct bus from Vigo, it is the largest international airport in the region, and Porto is wonderful for a weekend getaway.
DAILY LIFE IN VIGO
Generally, in Galicia, the main supermarkets are Gadis, Froiz, and Día, with locations in various parts of town. Gadis is the most recommended out of the three by a past university lecturer. This lecturer especially liked this particular store “because they identify local products with a little scallop shell symbol, so you know you’re buying something fresh and supporting the local economy.”
For Spanish or Galician classes, you can check out the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Vigo.
The University of Vigo (CUVI) also offers a free beginning level Galician course for foreigners in the Fall and sometimes in the Spring. The course meets twice a week for 2.5 hours and also includes free excursions and tours to other cities in Galicia. As one past grantee says, “This is one of the best things I did during my time in Vigo. Although the University is a somewhat long bus ride away, the course is well worth it. The instructor is incredible, I learned a ton, and it was a great way to meet people my age!” To sign up for the course, send a facebook message to the page Curso de Galego Universidade de Vigo. The earlier you can do this the better, as the course starts in September.
If you are a woman, the Departamento de Igualdade also offers free courses on writing, painting, or other activities delivered in Galician. Keep an eye on their website for those announcements!