GALICIA ocio

SIGHTS

Torre de Hércules (Av. Navarra, s/n / Bus 3): This tower is the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use. This structure, which is almost 1900 years old, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Spanish National Monument. The garden surrounding the tower features sculptures from different artists. The site is located only 1.5 miles from the center of the city and overlooks the Atlantic Coast.

Murallas de la Ciudad Vieja: These walls are the remains of A Coruña’s historic settlement that used to protect and fortify the city during the rule of King Enrique III in the 6th Century. They are a Monumento Histórico of the city. Three defensive walls remain throughout the Paseo del Perrote. You will find older additions to the wall, built around the 11th Century, in front of the Castillo de San Antón, Jardín the San Carlos, and in front of the Palacio de Capitanía General.

Plaza de María Pita: A plaza filled with history in the center of A Coruña. Sit in one of its terrazas and look at the Palacio Municipal, a modernist structure from the early 20th Century, currently the location of the Town Hall. You will hear the clock strike the hours from the highest tower of the building, weighing in at 1.6 tonnes. This plaza is also the location of a meridian, which will have a sign on it.

Monumento a Emilia Pardo Bazán (Jardines de Méndez Núñez, s/n): Dedicated to the cosmopolitan Countess of Pardo Bazán (1851-1921), who greatly influenced her city as an author, introducing the naturalist literature movement to Spain, and as one of the first Spanish women’s rights activist.

Ascensor Panorámico Monte de San Pedro (Monte de San Pedro, s/n): Take the elevator up 330 feet up a steep cliff to the Mount of Saint Peter, where you will get one of the best views of A Coruña, its small islands, the Hercules Tower, the Millenium area, and the San Pedro park. Closed on Mondays. 2€ for a single ticket.

Castillo de San Antón: Learn about artifacts from Celtic and Roman times and visit an underground cistern from when this fortress was used as a prison! 3 euros for students.

Tourist Information Points: Avenida de Navarra, s/n Plaza de María Pita, s/n Tourism Office: Dársena de la Marina *Temporarily located in Jardines Méndez Núñez, s/n, although this may change at any time*

FESTIVITIES

Montealto is one of the most active barrios of A Coruña during Entroido/Carnaval. The main events of Tuesday of Entroido (Fat Tuesday/Mardigras) take place on R/ Torre and Praza de España/Campo da Leña. There you can find a festive streetfair atmosphere, with many people dressed up. Os choqueiros of Montealto are locals who spend all year creating costumes out of common household items and/or recycled materials. Every year, they hold a competition, the winner of which, aside from winning a cash prize, is immortalized with a street name placard on R/ San José. There are also many events in Pr. María Pita and the Obelisco, including small parades (cabalgatas) of musicians and merry-makers in the city center. One of the more curious customs is the Burial of the Sardine (Enterro da Sardiña). Beginning about a week before Tuesday of Entroido, a bar sets up a mock funeral parlor, in which performers fully-garbed as clergy and mourners hold a nightly wake (velatorio), celebrating the life of “our sister Sardiña” with religious tropes and lewd, often political, humor. This continues until the day after Entroido, when the sardine is taken in its casket and paraded around Montealto, usually around Campo da Leña. The sardine is finally laid to rest in the waters of Praia de San Amaro, accompanied by fireworks and the burning of a falla (wooden humanesque statue). Popular food in this time of year include filloas (crepes stuffed with sweet things) and orejas (fried crispy dough, often with powdered sugar).

Semana Santa: Although not as big in A Coruña as other places, like in Andalucía, Holy Week, or Easter, is very important in Spain and is still observed. Nationwide, it has been one of the most important times of the year since the Medieval Ages. Easter processions or procesiones pass every day of this week through the major streets of many cities and towns, reenacting the Passion of Christ in pasos, which are intricately constructed heavy sculptures, depicting the events, carried by locals, or members of cofradías. Members of these processions may choose to carry candles or incense, wear robes, conceal their faces under masks or even walk barefoot or in chains. A marching band will accompany each paso playing lamentations, funeral marches, hymns, or marchas.

There are many other smaller fiestas celebrated by A Coruña’s different barrios, here is more information on these festivities.

SHOPPING

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.” In A Coruña specifically, there is a large number of Gadis supermarkets in the center of the city.

One-stop shops: There are two Carrefours (a French quasi-hypermarket chain)—one in Los Rosales and one in  Rúa Francisco Pérez Carballo, 5 —that can be good for a big shopping trip that might call for electronics, household goods, and food all at once. There is also El Corte Inglés, the high-end Iberian department store, which features a Hipercor in the basement (this is the Corte Inglés’ hypermarket). It sells food and cheap clothes, appliances, and other home and kitchen goods. The Hipercor prices are very reasonable and it’s worth making a trip either to Hipercor or Carrefour to stock up on necessities. One Corte Inglés is in Marineda City shopping mall, and the other one is in Rúa Ramón y Cajal, 57.

Food Markets: The Mercado de Plaza de Lugo (Plaza de Lugo, s/n), and Mercado de San Agustín (Praza San Agustín, 5), both located in the area of Oza, are fantastic places to buy food, eat prepared foods, and just wander around enjoying the sights, smells, and tastes. Markets are open every day except Sunday, but Saturday is the big market day, when, in addition to the regular vendors, older folks come in from the country to sell produce fresh from the garden — depending on what is in season, of course!

Shopping malls: You can check out the enormous Marineda City shopping mall (Carretera de Baños de Arteixo, 43), with an extensive variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, services, a movie theater, an Ikea, and even an ice skating rink in the winter. A previous grantee recommended the shop, “Busy” (located in Marineda City Mall), as a good place in Coruña to get your brows threaded. Closer to the center, you’ll find the Cuatro Caminos shopping mall (Ramón y Cajal, s/n ), with a large amount of stores, services, supermarkets, and food available to you. Another shopping mall is Los Rosales, with many services, stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

A Coruña has many museums, these are just a few! For more information on museums in A Coruña, click here.

Torre de Hércules (Avenida de Navarra): Museum inside the iconic Hercules Tower and lighhouse. Price: 3€. 

Museo Casa de María Pita (Calle Herrerías, 28): Home of the 16th and 17th Century Galician heroine. Free entry.

Aquarium Finisterrae (Paseo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez, 34): Submerge yourself into the Atlantic Ocean! Price: 10€.

Domus (Calle Santa Teresa, 1): The first ever interactive museum dedicated to examining mankind. Price: 2€.

MUNCYT (Calle Maestro Bernadino González Freire, 1): National Science and Technoogy Museum. Free entry.

Museo de Bellas Artes (Calle Zalaeta, s/n): Dedicated to Spanish and Galician Art from different centuries. Price: 2.40€.

Casa Museo Emilia Pardo-Bazán (Calle Tabernas, 11).

If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time (big museums can get overwhelming!), stop by any coruñés art gallery. Here are just a few: Xerión (Calle de Modesta Goicouria, 7): Holds 10 expositions per year, with two dedicated solely to showcasing Galician artists. Monty4 (Rúa Montroig, 4): Contemporary Art Gallery. Galería Vilaseco (Rúa Padre Feijoó, 5-1º): Contemporary Art Gallery. Atlántica Centro de Arte (Calle Federico Tapia, 15): Contemporary Art Gallery.

[MEGA] Museo Estrella Galicia (Rúa José María Rivera Corral, 6): Guided tours in a brewery with interactive museum displays, plus beer tastings in a bar. Price: 25-35€. Tickets purchased in advance.

Temporary Exhibits: Check out the Agenda de Exposiciones for a list of current temporary expositions in A Coruña, as well as the Agenda Cultural for other upcoming expositions, events, conferences, or collections. Here are a few highlights:

• Fundación Luis Seoane (Calle San Francisco, s/n): Contemporary Art and Culture Gallery with a range of permanent and temporary expositions.
• Fundación Rodríguez Iglesias (Calle Cordelería, Hercules Building, 32): Expositions dedicated to promoting Galician culture.
• Fundación Caixa Galicia (Calle Cantón Grande, 21-23): Various Art & Photography temporary expositions.

MOVIES

Movies are usually dubbed in Spanish, unless they are in V.O.(S.), that is, Versión Original (Subtitulada), some carteleras will put V.O.(S.) next to the movie title, or they will put the language in the details. Here are the locations and showings of different A Coruña movie cinemas:

• Yelmo Cines Espacio Coruña (Calle de José Pascual López Cortón, 10)
• Cinesa in Marineda City shopping mall
• Cantones Cines in Cantones Villages shopping mall (Avenida Alférez Provisional, 3)
• Yelmo Cines in Los Rosales shopping mall – a former grantee mentioned this is the only theater that offers dubbed movies.
• Cultura Coruña Cine (Cines Fórum Metropolitano)

SHOWS

Teatro Colón (Avenida de la Marina, 7A): This theater hosts comedies, musicals, stand-up performances, concerts, dance, opera, and more!

Palacio de la Ópera (Glorieta América, s/n): Along with hosting temporary expositions and events, the Opera Palace hosts a variety of opera performances.

Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia: The Galician Orchestra is known for being one of the most prestigious orchestras nationwide.

Songkick A Coruña – For live music concerts.

La Opinión Coruña Conciertos – Live shows ranging from pop and rock music to jazz and opera.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

A Coruña has many green spaces, beautiful beaches, and sport activities available to you. Some recommended parks both in and outside of the city are the Jardines de San Carlos (Paseo Perrote, 3), Jardines de Méndez Núñez, and Parque de Bens.

Here you will find A Coruña’s Town Hall information on sports facilities in the city, how to register oneself to use a sports facility, sports clubs, and how to join a sports club or society.  One 2017-2018 joined a basketball club team called Maristas.

A Coruña has a host of different beaches, bays, coves, islets, and islands that you can enjoy. The city of A Coruña has two beaches, Playa de Riazor and Playa de Orzán. These beaches are very easily accessed from the city and are always buzzing with people. They also have large waves (and strong tides), which is great for surfers. One 2021 grantee recommends Base Surf Camp if you want to take lessons.Other beaches nearby are the Playa de las Amorosas, on the Orzán Bay, along with Orzán Beach, and Playa de San Amaro, near the Tower of Hercules. Enjoy an ice-cream from Bico de Xeado (Avenida Marina, 21) while you feel the ocean breeze! (Or try out ice cream shop ‘Colón’ which a 2021 grantee argues is better. Let us know what you think.) Other beaches close to the city and in the surrounding smaller towns can be found here. If you would like to run by the ocean, you can find information about races (5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon) in A Coruña here.

A Coruña also has two climbing organizations: AMI and Artabros. Both have bouldering gyms and occasionally host events and trips. The Federación Galega de Montanismo also has some helpful resources for grantees that enjoy climbing. Additionally, a past Fulbrighter liked the Hangar 4 Climbing Gym.

One Fulbrighter recommended Escola da Bici.

A previous Fulbrighter also recommended La Solana and Termaria as really good gyms. Another Fulbrighter recommended McFit Gym as well since it was big, clean, and not crowded.

Popular places for dance classes include:

• AC Donaire – Galician dance or music classes
• Danza10 – Afro Fusion, reggaeton, jazz, hip hop, flamenco, salsa
• Escuela de Danza Carmen for flamenco/traditional Spanish dance classes.

If you are interested in a language exchange, a previous Fulbrighter recommends using the Meetup app as a way to start looking.

NIGHTLIFE

A Coruña has a very energetic, young, and cosmopolitan nightlife. The nights in A Coruña are well known around the province for never ending, and the cascarilleiros (a nickname given to local A Coruña people after the cacao shells) will stay up until the early hours of the morning to have chocolate con churros after a long night of dancing. University students will begin to go out on Thursdays and the hours are late in Spain. From 22:00 to 00:30, you will find most people having a glass of wine with a tapa, or pincho in bars, such as La Bombilla. Unless you want to order a bigger portion, or a ración, the tapa comes free with the drink! You probably will also see people coming to dine as late as 22:30-23:00. La Ciudad, which is what some locals call the old part of the city, or Cidade Vella, is filled with different pubs and bars to enjoy a drink in. You can find any place to have a glass of wine and a tapa, some popular ones are Cevercería La Estrella, Patachim, El Garufa, and La Velvet. High concentrations of bars and pubs can be found in Plaza de María Pita, Calle de la Barrera, Calle de la Franja, and Calle San Nicolás. You can also find many bars and pubs around the Orzán neighborhood, such as O Cachivache, El Bar Egeo, or El Tatraplán. However, the biggest and most popular nightlife area in A Coruña is Los Cantones. People usually go to clubs after 1:00, and in Spain they close around 5:00-6:00. You can head out to Playa Club, located on the Riazor beach, and if you manage to stay awake by closing time, enjoy some churros at the Bombilla. Here are some opinions and reviews for different bars, pubs, and clubs in A Coruña.

Nightlife in Carballo (a town 30 minutes outside of Coruña)

Although Carballo isn’t a big city, you shouldn’t underestimate its nightlife! If you live there, there’s no need to go all the way to Coruña for a night out. Fridays and Saturdays are most popular, and there are several discotecas in town. It can be intimidating to go out alone, but a 2019-2020 grantee said she had a great time when she did. 

RESTAURANTS

Galicia is known for is excellent food, and A Coruña is no different! Here are some restaurant recommendations just to get you started:

• Eating Coruña: The City’s Best Restaurants – Sunshine + Siestas
• Top 20 Best Restaurants in Galicia – David’s Been Here
• Trip Advisor 10 Best Restaurants La Coruña
• Galicia’s 10 Best Cultural Restaurants: Fresh and Local Eat
• A 2021 grantee recommends La Tita “if you’re feeling posh” and La Maleta “if you feel more punk.”
• Galician/Spanish food – Sampaio, Pulpeira Maria Pita, 100 Tapas, Taberna da Penela, Taberna da Galera, Morriña, A Taberna de Cunqueiro, Artabria
• Indian –  Taj Mahal
• Thai –  Kohlanta, Thai Bangkok, Thai Market
• American –  VIPS
• Cafés –  Pandelino (has brunch options also), Caffé Vecchio, Siboney
• Japanese –  Art & Sushi, Chirashizushi, Sibuya
• Mexican –  Tamarindo, Buenasuegra, Nana Pancha
• African –  Faramareen , Mamá Africa
• Italian –  La Saporita, La Piadina
• Pizza –  Giova
• Brunch –  Ingooco, WACO Coffee
• Argentina –  Parrillada Buenos Aires
• Brazilian –  Parrillada Rodicio
• Bar –  Clover Club
• Churros –  Churrería Valen

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY RESOURCES

• Alas A Coruña: LGBTQIA+ nonprofit organization

SIGHTS

• San Andrés de Teixido: Find a ride up to San Andrés and the cliffs in that area north of Ferrol; the view above the sea is gorgeous and there are wild ponies and free-roaming cattle.
• Ermita de Chamorro: Take a walk up to the Ermita de Chamorro for a wide view above Ferrol (more in the outdoor activities and sports section below).

• La Ruta de las Meninas: In the neighborhood of Canido, the walls are lined with reimagined street art versions of the figures from Velázquez’s famous painting Las Meninas. Ranging from comical to political, it is well worth your time to explore the various meninas that can be found in Ferrol. There are even a few spots left specifically for the famous street artist Banksy in hopes that he will drop by and paint a menina himself. 

• El Castillo de San Felipe. (Lugar San Felipe s/n): Castelo San Felipe, in Galician, is a 16th Century military fortress located on the Ferrol Ría (pictured right). It was later a castle for King Philip II in the 18th Century. Located only 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the city center, the route to the castle makes for a nice hiking trip (approximately 2 hours – go through the camino Canido, in the direction of Malata and Graña, until you find a right turn that indicates the way to the castle – on the English Route, or camino inglés, of the Camino de Santigo). You can also take a short bus ride to the castle (Line 35).

• Barrio de A Magdalena: This barrio, or neighborhood, was constructed from the late 18th Century to the 19th Century. It is one of the prime examples of Spanish Rationalist and Modernist architecture and urbanism from Europe’s Age of Enlightenment. This area is located in the old part of the city, casco histórico in castellano, or Ferrol Vello in galego. Take a historic walk around this enchanting neighborhood, and you will find lots of parks and places to shop and eat along the way!

• Concello de Ferrol (Plaza de Armas, s/n): Ferrol’s town hall, located in one of the two squares of the barrio de A Magdalena, was built in the 50’s.

• La Cortina: Located next to the Naval Base, La Cortina is an 18th Century fortified wall that surrounds some of the military area, bearing the shield of King Carlos III.

• There are also several Churches to visit, such as: Iglesia de la Orden Tercera, Capilla de las Angustias, Capilla de los Dolores, and Capilla del Socorro.

• Walk along Ferrol’s boardwalk, and take in the sight that is the Port of Ferrol.

There are two tourist information offices in Ferrol if you want more information on places to visit, things to do, or any other interesting activities that may be available.

• One is located in the town hall located in Plaza de Armas, from 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 Mon-Fri and 10:00-14:00 Sat-Sun and Holidays.
• The second office is in Plaza de España, from 09:00-14:00 and 16:00-18:00 Mon-Fri and 10:00-12:30 Sat. This does not apply to the months of July & August, where the schedule for this office is from 09:00-14:00 and 17:30-19:30 Mon-Fri, 10:00-12:30 and 17:30-19:00 Sat, and 10:00-12:30 Sunday

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Ferrol. A former grantee suggests that you also keep an eye on the newspaper El Diario de Ferrol for even more events. There is also an Event Agenda for Ferrol, with information on other upcoming expositions, events, festivals, conferences, or collections.

• San Ramón: Ferrol’s fiestas patronales are held in the final week of August and have plenty of different activities, ranging from free concerts to traditional folk music, sports competitions, and theater productions. On the final day of the fiestas, there is a large fireworks display. 
• La Noche de las Pepitas: March 18: A traditional festival featuring bands of string instruments called rondallas that roam the street in suits called tunos. 
• Os Maios: the first weekend in May: Os Maios is a typical Galician festivity held to celebrate the arrival of May. People, especially children, make flower statues that they present at the festival as they celebrate with singing and dancing. One 2018-2019 grantee suggests that you celebrate by “Having a vermouth at a bar near Plaza del Cruceiro on Saturday or Sunday”.
• Pantin Surf Classic – worldwide surf competition held the first weekend in September 
• Las Meninas festival – A weeklong festival in the beginning of September in which participants can watch as new meninas are painted
• Festival Ortigueira –  Celebrating everything Celtic
• Felipop – Music festival held in August
• Esténarúa – Theater festival held in June
• Fenerock – Music festival held in September
• Fóra do Mapa – Theater festival held in June
• More festivals in the Ferrol area

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

Ferrol has several museums with interesting information on Ferrol’s history, culture, and naval importance. Here is a list of Ferrol’s museums with their corresponding information.

• Museo Naval (Rúa Irmandiños, s/n): The Naval Museum has a reputation for excellent collections and extensive information on Ferrol’s naval history. The museum is located inside Ferrol’s naval base, in what used to be barracks. They have preserved a ship that crashed in the 18th Century, including 34 canons. Entry is free. If you are interested in finding out more about Ferrol’s naval history, present, and future, next to the Naval Museum you will find the Museum of Naval Construction, or Museo de Construcción Naval and Exponav. 
• SGHN Natural History Museum – The Galician Society for Natural History Museum is located in Plaza Canido and showcases various parts of natural history with a special focus on marine life. Entrance is free.

If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time, stop by any ferrolán art gallery, such as Galería Platas (Calle Real, 48), or Galería Arboreda. Check out some temporary expositions that are being presented in Ferrol, such as the Sala de Exposicións do Ateneo Ferrolán, Sala de Exposicións do Casino Ferrolano, and Centro Torrente Ballester. 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

Though the city itself is not as architecturally beautiful as other Spanish cities, the surrounding landscape is. Take advantage of this and explore the outskirts of the city! At the Ermita de Chamorro there is a group walk and picnic in early Spring, and the vistaabove the city and estuary is beautiful. The Ermita is open to the public if you go alone on a different day, too. In early May there is a flower display festival in Ferrolterra. For jogs past Fulbrighters recommend the water view path in the neighborhood Caranza, the port path below the neighborhood Canido, and along the naval wall down to the port. There is a very talented dance company in the town Fene with many types of classes, including hip hop and Latin dance, for groups of different ages and levels. It is called Fusion Dance Academia de Baile.

A 2018-2019 grantee joined the Ferrol Mountain Club, which organizes hikes and has a small municipal climbing gym in the A Malata stadium. 

There is an endless amount of beaches, bays, and coves to explore in Ferrol. Here is a list of some of Ferrol’s beaches with a small description of each. Playa Doniños is a Fulbright favorite! Ferrol’s Town Hall has a great booklet that covers almost any outdoor activity that you can do in Ferrol, from visiting the islands, waterskiing, and boating, to mountaineering and castle-visiting. Previous Fulbrighters loved their lessons at Nordes Surfhouse. The Fragas de Eume are part of a regional park just outside the city, in Pontedueme, that features a hike up to an old monastery. While there, you can also kayak on the river! You can get to a few of Ferrol’s beaches without needing a car. There are several bus lines that can get you to the beach! 

The app Moovit is great for figuring out which bus you need.

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY RESOURCES

• Avante Galiza has a Facebook page for LGBTQ+ people and accepts foreigners
• ALMAT (organization for victims of abuse)
• CIM (information for women
• Xeración (volunteering, sustainability, different European cultural nights)
• Padroado de Cultura
• La Fundación Secretariado Gitano

RESTAURANTS

Galicia is known for its excellent food, and Ferrol is no different! Here are some recommendations from past Fulbrighters in Ferrol:

• Eder, near the city center and the university zone of Esteiro has great salads.
• Most popular tortilla: Hostal Zahara
• Best tortilla sandwich: El Canario
• Best Burgers: V.I.P. Burguer (Simpsons themed and surprisingly good), and Eder (also salads)
• Favorite chocolate cafetería: Bonilla
• Casual seafood: La Bodega de Estrella
• Nice place on the water: Nautic (in La Grana)
• Small casual bar that also offers a language exchange: Zucre

And here are some general restaurant recommendations:

• 5 restaurantes recomendados de Ferrol para todos los bolsillos – Viajablog
• 15 mejores restaurantes en Ferrol – Gastroranking
• Restaurants in Ferrol – TripAdvisor

SITES

• The Roman Wall of Lugo: Built between the 3rd and 4th century, the Roman Wall of Lugo that surrounds the city center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a walk along the 2117 meter stretch as you appreciate this incredible example of Roman military architecture.
• The Cathedral of Lugo: Right inside the Roman walls, you will find this beautiful cathedral that merges architectural styles to yield an impressive result. The creation of the cathedral goes back to 1129 AD.
• Domus del Mitreo: Go underground to discover information and artefacts related to the urban history of Lugo. Located near the University, entrance is free on the first Wednesday of every month and otherwise costs 3 euros.
• The Roman Bridge: Stroll along the ancient Roman bridge as you cross the Minho River and enjoy the views. The bridge is pedestrian only, so it makes for a nice, calm walk. Be aware, though, that from the city you will have to descend a hill to get there, which means that you’ll have to ascend the same hill to get back. 

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Lugo. A former grantee suggests that you also keep an eye on this website  for even more events, expositions, concerts, and festivals. 

• Fiestas de San Froilán: Lugo’s  fiestas patronles that take place  in early October. Festivities last for about a week, with plenty of different activities every day, including folk dancing and music, theater performances, and even a marionette festival! On the final day of the fiestas, October 12th, the old city inside the Roman walls transforms back into its Medieval past, with people dressed up in Medieval costumes, knights, jugglers, and a banquet. That night, there is a fireworks display to put the fiestas to a close.
• Arde Lucus: In mid-June, the entire city transforms as thousands of people gather to commemorate the city’s Roman past. Participants dress up as either Romans or Celts and reenact rituals and battles from the 3rd century. Most people agree that the highlight of the day is the Roman circus, but the overall atmosphere is electric and sure to make this festival enjoyable for just about anyone.
• FIV – Music festival held in April
• Festival Osa do Mar – Music festival held in August with young alternative Galician artists
• Festival de Jazz – Held in November
• Resurrection Fest – Heavy metal, hardcore punk, and punk rock music festival held in July
• Festival de Musica Cidade de Lugo – Classical music festival held from May to June
• Caudal Fest – Indie Rock Pop festival in mid-September

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

Lugo has several museums with interesting and interactive exhibits and information on Lugo’s history, culture, and Roman heritage. Here is a list of Lugo’s museums, along with the schedule and price of entry, if there is one. If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time, stop by any lucense art gallery. A few examples are Galería Glérigos, Galería La Catedral, and NovaRúa. Check out some temporary expositions that are being presented in Lugo here and here. 

SHOPPING

Street Market: A discount market with local shops and boutiques, located in various streets and plazas of the Casco histórico and held in May from 11:00 to 20:30 (look out for posters around the city that will let you know the details).  As Termas and Centro Abella are shopping malls in Lugo with a wide variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, and supermarkets.

SITES

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Ourense. A former grantee suggests that you also keep an eye on the Ourense Auxiliar Facebook Page and  this website  for even more events, expositions, concerts, and festivals. There is also a tourist office (Rúa Isabel la Católica, 2) where you can find more detailed information and schedules during special events. 

• Fiestas del Corpus – as their name suggests, Ourense’s fiestas patronles celebrate Corpus Christi (June 25th). Ourense’s fiestas last for a week, beginning on Corpus Christi, and are known for having an excellent concert lineup with a range of different musicians. The fiestas feature an enormous variety of programming over the entire week, with a host of cultural, gastronomic, traditional, and musical activities.  
• Magostos is a chestnut festival only celebrated in Ourense (though schools across Galicia celebrate it as well) in November. Most people celebrate by going to Montealegre and joining in on dancing, music, and general revelry. In the past, other auxiliares have organized as a group to go together. Information about that can be found on the Ourense Auxiliar Facebook Page. One Ourense grantee described participating in the seasonal traditions: “The traditional way to celebrate is by going up to a mountain and roasting chestnuts on an open fire (like the song!)… We made a huge fire and made churrasco, tons of different veggies and meats, and then the chestnuts for dessert. There’s also a traditional drink called queimada that we made, it’s made with aguardiente and coffee beans… We recited a long chant and then took a shot of it, it’s supposed to ward off evil spirits. And then you’re supposed to paint your faces with ash from the fire… We stayed up and played soccer until the sun set over the mountain.” 
• Entroido/ Carnaval – The province of Ourense is known around Spain for its celebrations of Carnaval. Celebrations last weeks, but center especially on the week leading up to the Christian holiday of Ash Wednesday. The small towns of Xinzo, Verín, and Laza are especially famous for their celebrations. In Verín, on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, women eat dinner together while men take to the streets in dresses and wigs. That weekend, Xinzo comes alive with parties and general revelry. When Monday comes, head to Laza if you want to be showered in fire ants, flour, and mud. On Tuesday, prepare for the burial of and elegy for sardines. These are some but not all of the events that take place for Carnaval. Each town also has a specific traditional character, and on these days, the people from the town dress up in the ornate costumes and parade down the streets, teasing participants. Most of the time, the teasing is harmless, as is the case with Xinzo’s pantallas or cigarrones en Verín, but if you decide to go to Laza, be careful because the peliqueiros carry whips and do use them if people are in their way. Don’t be afraid, though, because it is obvious when they are coming, as they have cowbells attached to them. There are inexpensive busses to get to these towns that run more frequently during Entroido, but since it is still a popular event, make sure to get to the bus station early in order to reserve a spot (in 2019, it was not possible to purchase bus tickets online for these days). Renting a car is also a great option, and if you split the cost with friends, it is quite economical as well. For more information, the tourist center in Ourense will have helpful pamphlets as festivities draw near, and you can always ask locals for their suggestions as well.
• OUFF – Ourense International Film Festival, held in October and November
• Festival Derrame Rock – Rock music festival held in July
• Pórtico do Paraíso – International music festival held in March
• Festival de Jazz de Primavera
• ICC Week – Festival celebrating local auriense cultural and creative industry
• Festival Reperkusión – Music festival with a range of different genres and artists held in September
• FITO – Ourense International Theater Festival, held in October

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

• Museo Arqueolóxico: Ourense’s Archeological Museum was founded in 1845 and works towards archeological investigation and conservation. The museum has a pair of different expositions as well as a library. You can also visit the Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Ourense, located not far from the city in the A Peroxa valley. 
• Museo Catedralicio (Praza do Trigo, s/n): Museum inside Ourense’s 13th Century Cathedral, with different religious artifacts and paintings, including San Roque’s Treasure.
• Galleries: If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time (big museums can get overwhelming!), stop by any auriense art gallery. A few examples are Marisa Marimón, Arte Pérez, Galería Visol, and ArtCuestion.
• Exhibits: There is a permanent collection at the San Francisco Cloister (Rúa da Canle) with religious and historical artifacts. Here is a list of temporary exhibits in Ourense. 

SHOPPING

The Mercado de Abastos (Praza Abastos, 1), is a fantastic places to buy fresh local food, wine, and flowers. Feel free to talk to the people managing the stands, they give great recommendations and even Galician recipes using what is in season!  Markets are open every day except Sunday, from 8:00 to 15:00, but Saturday is the big market day, when, in addition to the regular vendors, older folks come in from the country to sell produce fresh from the garden.

The Ponte Vella shopping mall (Av. Ribeira Sacra, 50), located right in front of the river and named after the medieval bridge, has a variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, services, and a movie theater.

The street Calle Paseo is also lined with stores in which you gain purchase clothes, fashion accessories and more. Ourense is considered to be the fashion capital of Galicia. As one former grantee said, “Ourense is home to Bimba y Lola and Purificación Garcia and has a Carolina Herrera store all owned by an Ourense fashion dynasty family!”  If you like shopping, you’ll have plenty to love in Ourense. 

There are also a few secondhand clothing stores located south of the plaza. A fan favorite is Reestrea (Rúa Cervantes, 18). And, while there are many chain stores in the mall and on Calle Paseo, there are small boutiques and locally owned stores everywhere! For sporting goods, Deportes Redonet (Rúa Ervedelo, 21) has been an Ourense fixture for 40+ years.

MOVIES, SHOWS, AND OTHER CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

• Teatro Principal de Ourense (Rúa da Paz, 9): Ourense’s main theater, built in 1830, with different dance, theater, and music performances.
• Auditorio Municipal de Ourense (Rúa da Canle, 2): Theater with various performances and shows.
• Here is a list with current theater and dance performances in Ourense. And Songkick Ourense has music and concert information.
• La Escuela Provincial de Gaitas (Rúa Doutor Temes Fernández, 20) – If you’d like to really immerse yourself in Galician music, you can learn to play the Galician bagpipe, or gaita, at this internationally respected school in Ourense! Even if you have never played an instrument before, the instructors are friendly, helpful, and welcoming. A 2018-2019 grantee who took lessons here said, “I could not recommend this experience enough! It was one of the best things I did during my Fulbright year. Everyone was so excited that we were trying to learn the bagpipe that we were even interviewed on Galician TV! It may seem intimidating, but it is worth it!” To sign up, simply visit the school and explain that you are looking for classes. For 2018-2019, a full year of classes (twice weekly) cost 40 euros. 
• Public Library (Rúa Concello, 11) – Open from 9am to 9pm on weekdays with a room to study. You can get a library card for free and it has a decent selection of books.
• Cine Ponte Vella – Movie theater located in the Ponte Vella shopping mall. Movies are dubbed in Spanish.
• Cineclub Padre Feijóo – It shows independent and foreign films a couple times a week for a small fee in original version.
• Bar Charlotte (Rúa Bedoya, 18)- Conversation exchanges throughout the week and Trivia night once a month.

RESTAURANTS

Galicia is known for its excellent food, and Ourense is no different! Here are some recommendations from past Fulbrighters:

• Fuchela in the town O Carballiño serves what locals consider to be the best Galician pulpo. The train to O Carballiño from Ourense takes 30 minutes and costs about 2 euros one way. 
• The Vinos area of Ourense is the best for tapas.
• Specific restaurants in Ourense:
  • Nova – an expensive but delicious Michelin star restaurant 
  • Tapa Negra 
  • Arco de Vella (a traditional Galician selection of tapas, including the best tortilla gallega in town)
  • Café Latorta (for a slice of cake and a coffee or tea)
  • Tea & Nature (A wide selection of teas–including bubble tea, brunch foods, and sweets)
  • Café Pérez
  • Casa do Pulpo (another traditional spot)
  • Fuentefría (a classic, very small, and very popular taparía)
  • La Romantica (for good, cheap Italian food)
  • O Souto
  • O Frade
  • Rebusca (some Fulbrighters claim it has the best pizza)
  • La Fugazza (other past Fulbrighters claim HERE has the best pizza)
  • Adega do Tito (incredible staff and huge menu for only 10 euros)
  • El Tajín (the best Mexican food in town!)
  • O Barallete (a unique tapas restuarant, where servers come around with different tapas periodically, and you take what you want and turn in your toothpicks to get your bill)
  • La Zapatería de Abuelo is a new and fantastic café/bar on the Rua de Paz. It’s beautiful– very art deco vibes. And their drinks are delicious! 
  • Bar Fuentefria 
  • El Ingeniero has great food but can get packed during peak hours. 
  • Tea and Nature has really delicious Bubble Tea
  • Tamarindo
  • O Enxebre
  • Trampitan
  • La Coruñesa
• Our favorite bakeries! Some are just bakeries, but many also have cafes. 
  • Sobre Migas
  • Panadería Teto
• • O Forno de Tomás
  • Celidulce (gluten free, with some dairy free and vegan options as well)
  • O Couto Confitería 
  • Panatier
  • Lambonarte

Here are some general restaurant recommendations:

• Los mejores restaurantes en Ourense – Gastroranking
• Restaurantes en Ourense – TripAdvisor

NIGHTLIFE

Ourense has a lively nightlife scene–so lively, in fact, that you might see your bachillerato students or coworkers on a night out. (You’ve been warned!) Many bars and discotecas are located in the Vinos district, just north of the cathedral. A notable exception is Pub Ego (Praza Correxidor, 10), the gay club of the city, which is a short walk away from the other bars and clubs. The big “end of night” club, Luxus, is a short walk away from Vinos as well, and is typically the only one that charges cover fees (although many discos will charge cover around Entroido, to capitalize on the influx of tourists). Luxus: Rúa Arturo Pérez Serantes, 3.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

Ourense has many green spaces and sporting facilities available to you. Here is a list of large green spaces around the city for you to enjoy. If you would like to join a sports club/team, or use a facility to practice a sport in Ourense, the Town Hall has lots of information for you. Other interesting outdoor activities are the botanical garden at the top of Montealegre Pozas de Melón, La Coba beach, and O Invernadeiro Natural Park. The thermal baths are one of the most unique things about Ourense. The hours for As Burgas, in the city, are 9-13, 17-21 every day except Monday (it’s also free). There are also free hotsprings by Outariz (it’s 5,50€ to get in), along the Miño, which are open-air and always open. There are also several very hard-working outdoors clubs. There is a mountaineering club, a climbing club (Asesou), and a marcha nórdica club, as well as a feminist offshoot women-only mountaineering club called Meigas Montañeiras. To get more information about these clubs you can look on Facebook or go to the Entrepicos store right off the Plaza Mayor. In the words of a 2017-2018 grantee “The river is the prettiest part of the city. Take advantage, take hikes, walk along some of the smaller paths for a nice hike to some waterfalls.”

There are also a few hiking clubs. The university has one that the public can join for hikes through the university website’s activities page, and another is Rutea.

If you are looking for a gym to work out in, former grantees recommend Benefit Gym Club Ourense and AB Fitness (22 euros/month). Pabellón Os Remedios is a cheaper city-owned option, but grantees have found it to be more than enough. Additionally, the Pabellón has outdoor basketball courts open for public use! Paco Paz Deportes has recreational sports leagues open to the public for a low cost.  The Escuela Provincial de Danza (Centro Comercial “As Lagoas,” Pza. Daniel González 4) has muñeira classes.

• One Fulbrighter recommends picking up squash! They say, “ Try Gimnasio Squash! If you’re a fan of squash, or if you need a sport to play when the weather is unpleasant, head to the only squash court in town! It is not well-maintained at all, but the staff is super nice. You can buy racquets at Bamio Sport. The gym has squash balls.”
• Mandala Yoga studio is also recommended!

Note: If you’re placed in O Carballiño, Ourense and choose to live there, reach out to Mary Kate! The previous grantee has a ton of suggestions for this pueblo in particular that she will love to pass along.

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY RESOURCES

A Fulbrighter from 2021 recommended “New Wave Escola de Linguas” for Spanish or Gallego classes.

SITES

• The Pilgrims Church – Pilgrims pass by this church as they are completing the Portugese route of the Camino de Santiago, and it is said that the Virgin Mary watches over the church and those who pass it as they complete the final parts of their pilgrimage. It has a distinct design and was built in 1778. 
• The Ruins of San Domingo Convent – Dating back to 1281, this gothic style convent was destroyed in the 19th century, but the ruins still remain.
• Basílica de Santa María a Maior – Constructed in 1541, this gothic basilica is beautiful inside and out. Enter it and gaze at the decorations and architecture or check it out from the outside as you stand in the Plaza de Alonso de Forseca.
• St. Francisco Convent – Dating back to the 14th century, this huge church in the center of the city may be considered by some somewhat primitive in design, but it holds the tombs of some important figures.

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Pontevedra. A former grantee suggests that you also download the mobile app Pontevédrate from the Concello de Ourense for even more information. There is also an Agenda Cultural for Pontevedra, with information on other upcoming expositions, events, festivals, conferences, or collections.

• Fiestas de la Peregrina are Pontevedra’s fiestas patronales and are celebrated in August. The fiestas feature an enormous variety of programming over an entire week, with a host of cultural, gastronomic, traditional, and musical activities
• Entroido (Carnaval): In the words of one former grantee,  at the end of the Entroido celebrations, “Pontevedra commemorates the parrot Ravachol, who lived from 1891-1913 and belonged to Perfecto Feijoo Poncet who was a promoter of the Galician language and culture. During Ravachol’s life, he came to symbolize the city due to his good nature and charisma. It’s quite entertaining to see everyone come out for the parade/pseudo funeral procession celebrating him, complete with bagpipes and a giant parrot effigy.”
• Festival Surfing de Lérez – Charity festival on an island, with free concerts and activities, held in June
• Festival Internacional de Jazz y Blues – Held in July
• Novos Cinemas – Film festival held in June and July
• Here is a list of music festivals in Pontevedra with a range of different genres and artists

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

Pontevedra has several museums with interesting, informative and interactive exhibits and information on history and cultural heritage, as well as art collections and cultural centers. Here is a list of Pontevedra’s museums, along with the schedule and price of entry, if there is one. If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time (big museums can get overwhelming!), stop by any pontevedrés art gallery, such as Alquima Art Studio and Gallery Check out some temporary and permanent expositions that are being presented in Pontevedra here.

SHOPPING

A Barca shopping mall (paseo Domingo Fontán, 2) and Vialia shopping center (Rúa Eduardo Pondal, s/n) have a variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, and services.

The Mercado de Abastos (La Sierra, 5), located between the Ponte do Burgo and the Ponte de Santiago in the old part of the city, is a beautiful building and a fantastic place to buy food (especially seafood), eat prepared foods, and just wander around enjoying the sights, smells, and tastes. 

For clothes shopping you should go to Rúa Benito Corbal.

SITES

• The Cathedral of Santiago  – Located in the center of the city, this cathedral dates back to the 14th century and is the final stop for pilgrims on the Camino. It is not uncommon to see barefoot, tired hikers lay down on the ground outside as they revel in completing their journey. Catholics celebrate mass here everyday at noon, and for special masses, they use the Botafumeiro, a huge incense spreader that has been used for centuries. As a grantee in Santiago or anywhere in Galicia, you are sure to hear much about this extremely famous sight.
• San Fransisco Convent – St. Francis himself came to Santiago de Compostela and founded this convent in 1214. Check out the mixture of the Baroque and neo-Classical styles as you marvel at its immense history.
• Las Dos Marias – If you go to the Alameda park in the center of the city, you will likely see this statue of two women adorned in brightly colored outfits. The statue commemorates a pair of sisters who used to go to the park and flirt with young university students. They were seen into the 1980s and have been remembered long past.
• Monastery of San Martiño Pinario – This church is centuries old and is less well known but often said to be just as beautiful as the cathedral. Go inside to see the beautiful sign, altar pieces, and choir loft! With your TIE, it is 3 euros to enter. 

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Santiago. A former grantee suggests that you also keep an eye on the following websites for even more events, expositions, concerts, and festivals: Santiago de Compostela Tourism, Compostela Es Bien Facebook Page, and Compostela Hoxe.

• Santiago Apóstol. The city of Santiago celebrates these fiestas patronales during the second half of July, (la segunda quincena de julio). The fiestas feature an enormous variety of programming over two whole weeks, with a host of cultural, gastronomic, traditional, and musical activities. The 24th and 25th of July are the most important days of these fiestas, on the 24th, the city throws a huge fireworks show, and on the 25th, the Day of the Apostle, and also the Day of Galicia, thousands of gallegos get together for a procesión, a religious parade with statues and live marching bands. Other highlights include the burning of a giant wooden maquette of the Cathedral and a visit from the King of Spain, or a member of the Royal family.
• Ascención: At the end of May and the beginning of June, the streets of Santiago come even more to life as people take to the streets to celebrate with music, dancing, concerts, and even a circus! Check out the 2018-2019 programming to get an idea of what is to come for next year!
• WOSINC: Alternative and avant-garde festival with music, performances, films, discussions, conferences, and gastronomy. Held in early September in symbolic Santiago locations.
• CurtoCircuito: International film festival.

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, AND EXHIBITS

If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time (big museums can get overwhelming!), stop by any compostelano art gallery. Here are just a few:

• Galería Metro (Pza. da Quintana, 3)
• Contemporary Art Gallery Trinta (Virxe da Ceram 24)
• Contemporary Art Gallery Sargadelos (Rúa Nova, 16): Gallery featuring Galician artists, a mix of new and old styles that still hold on to Galician culture and tradition.
• Galería José Lorenzo (Praza do Toural, 9)
• Contemporary and Modern Art Gallery SCQ (Pérez Constanti, 12)
• Contemporary Art Gallery   Centro Abanca Obra Social (Praza de Cervantes, s/n): With three exposition spaces and one permanently reserved for Galician Art.
• Auditorio de Galicia (Avenida do Burgos das Nacións): Large and modern exposition space with art and different musical and performance productions and shows.
• Espacio de Arte Grupo Correo Gallego (Rúa do Preguntorio, 29): Temporary art exhibits of various types, having featured over 50 different Galician artists.

Santiago has many museums. These are just a few! 

• Museo de Arte Sacro (San Paio de Antealtares, s/n): Museum of Sacred Art inside the monastery of Saint Paio of Antealtares and contains many pieces of important cultural heritage. Price: 1.50€. 
• Centro Galego de Arte Contempóranea (Rúa Valle Inclán, 2): A medium-sized contemporary art museum with two rotating exhibitions. Free entry. 
• Museo do Pobo Galego (Campo de San Domingos de Bonaval, s/n): A museum dedicated to the people of Galicia and their customs and lifeways, with exhibits on architecture, clothing, music, printed materials, rural life, and the sea. The permanent collection is interesting if you have an interest in Galicia, but the museum building itself merits a visit all on its own. It is located in the 13th-century convent of San Domingos de Bonaval, which features a nice cloister and a beautiful (decommissioned) Gothic church, which now houses the Pantéon de Galegos Ilustres. 3€ regular entry. 
• Museo de la Catedral (Praza de Obradoiro s/n): Contains artwork and artifacts from the Cathedral, including many pieces that were taken down or replaced during previous renovations. Easily skipped but not to be missed if you are interested in art history and medieval art especially. Prices may vary. 
• Cidade da Cultura (Monte Gaiás, s/n – Bus 9 Mon-Fri and Bus C11 Sat-Sun): The Cidade da Cultura (pictured below) takes a bit of explaining. It was originally designed, in the boom years of the late 90s and early 2000s, to put Santiago on the map as an artistic and cultural destination, and to compete with other well-known modern structures being erected around Spain. The complex houses a museum along with the library and archives of Galicia and features a striking modern design. Unfortunately, due to the explosive cost of construction and a low number of visitors, construction was halted in 2013 and remains incomplete today. The Cidade da Cultura is widely regarded as an enormous farce and a testament to government incompetence and (some say!) corruption. Still, it is worth a visit, if only to see it in person, and especially if there’s an exhibition that looks interesting. Free entry.

SHOPPING

If you’re looking for one-stop shops, there are two Carrefours (a French quasi-hypermarket chain)—one downtown and one in As Cancelas—that can be good for a big shopping trip that might call for electronics, household goods, and food all at once. There is also El Corte Inglés, the high-end Iberian department store, which features a Hipercor in the basement (this is the Corte Inglés’ hypermarket). It sells food and cheap clothes, appliances, and other home and kitchen goods. The Hipercor prices are very reasonable and it’s worth making a trip either to Hipercor or Carrefour to stock up on necessities. If you’re living in either the old or new town, they’re both a bit of a hike, but there are buses that go to both (take the 4 bus to As Cancelas and the 12 or 6 to El Corte Inglés). 

The Mercado de Abastos (Rúa das Ameas, s/n), located on the edge of the old town, is a fantastic place to buy food, eat prepared foods, and just wander around enjoying the sights, smells, and tastes. It’s open every day except Sunday, but Saturday is the big market day, when, in addition to the regular vendors, older folks come in from the country to sell produce fresh from the garden — depending on what is in season, of course! Past Fulbrighters particularly recommend the Chacinería Lolita Cardelle, for cured meats and cheeses and the chocolatiers Doce Amargor, just across the way. 

For wine, you must go to Valladares (Rúa da República de el Salvador, 14). It’s a tiny ultramarino run by an elderly husband and wife couple, but they stock an outrageous collection of wines from Galicia and all over Spain. They know their stock well and are happy to make recommendations and help you choose a wine. Their prices are very reasonable.

 You can also check out the As Cancelas shopping mall (Bus C2, C4, C11), with a wide variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, and supermarkets.

MOVIES

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS

• Mirador en el Parque de la Alameda
• Parque de Santo Domingo de Bonaval
• Go to the top of Monte Pedroso for a beautiful view!
• Traditional Galician Dance Classes: CSOA O Aturuxo das Marías
• Hiking group that goes around Galicia: Rutas a Pie. One former Fulbrighter said that this was his favorite thing he did all year and recommends that you message the Facebook page and talk to Cima de Villa for more information.
• Walk along the river at the Palacio de Carmen for a breathtaking riverwalk. The entrance to the path is through a small garden beside the hotel.
• Santiago brags that you can walk the entire perimeter of the city without ever leaving a park! Take advantage of that beautiful green space and check out these parks!
• Aventuras en Galicia – Will organize almost any outdoor activity you want to do: from rafting, kayaking, windsurfing, thermal baths, go-karting, paintballing, and horseback riding, to multi-adventure trips with a combination of activities!
• Gyms: Espagat, Squash, Impetu. Public gyms: Santa Isabel and Multiusos Fontes do Sar
• Club Hípica La Lagunita
• Club de Golf Val De Rois
• Gimnasios y Fitness de Santiago
• Club Deportivo Fontiñas
• Federación Galega de Ciclismo
• https://www.trevorhuxham.com/p/santiago.html

• Surf Galicia: organizes surf trips to different beaches each week. The reasonable price (around 40 euro) covers transportation, equipment rental, a beach yoga class and surf lesson. Mostly Erasmus 
• Walk along the Río Sarela y Río Sar! 
• For a gym, Mary Kate enjoyed Central Gym in New Town. It’s 29 euro a month (just say you’re a student) which includes unlimited access to fitness classes. They have everything from Spin to Yoga to HIIT workouts. Beware, it is a very “Gym Bro” environment, but the classes are female majority and the girls were really nice. Try going to the same class every week, and you’ll really see the same people / feel like you’re part of the community.
• One Fulbrighter recommends Brañas do Sar and Bosque do Banquete de Conxo as their favorite parks!

SHOWS

Orchestra (Av. do Burgo das Nacións, s/n): Santiago is home to the Real Filharmonía de Galicia, which is housed in the Auditorio de Galicia, located near the north University Campus. The orchestra is not one of the premier orchestral ensembles of Europe, but they deliver excellent performances several times a month from September to May, programming is varied, tickets cost only €12 or €6 with a student ID, and there are no bad seats in the house. Songkick Santiago de Compostela – For live music concerts. Compostela Capital Cultural – For theater, opera, music shows, dance performances, and even organ concerts!

NIGHTLIFE

Santiago has a very energetic, young, and cosmopolitan nightlife. University students will begin to go out on Thursdays and the hours are late in Spain. From 22:00 to 00:30, you will find most people having a glass of wine with a tapa, or pincho in bars in the old part of the city. Unless you want to order a bigger portion, or a ración, the tapa comes free with the drink! You probably will also see people coming to dine as late as 22:30-23:00. The zona histórica will quickly fill up with people and you will find a selection of pubs or bars on any street. You can find any place to have a glass of wine and a tapa, but the streets with the highest concentrations of bars or pubs are rúa Franco, Raíña, Troia, San Pedro, Travesa, Porta do Camino, pza do Santo Agostiño, and San Roque. If you are in the zona nueva, or Ensanche, you will find them around Carreira do Conde, Montero Ríos, Alfredo Brañas, República El Salvador, and around the area of plaza Roxa, Santiago del Estero, República Argentina, calle Nova de Abaixo, and Santiago de Chile. If you want to enjoy a coffee, glass of wine, or copa on a terrace during summertime, check out rúa de San Paio Antealtares, Quintana, Vilar, Nova, and Rodrigo de Padrón. People usually go to clubs after 01:00, and in Spain they close around 05:00 or 06:00. Bloom is a gay club with a perfect atmosphere for dancing! Usually people leave the historic area and go to the new area for big clubs and places to dance. El Maykar is known for having lots of people and being a place where the party never ends, with people arriving at around 04:00! Other clubs include La Radio, and Meia, where they host Erasmus parties on Wednesdays, so you can meet other young international people. Tapasporte: A passport, but for tapas! You can get reduced prices at a number of bars/pubs/cafés, and even cheaper Gin & Tonics, depending on the bar that you are at. The tapasporte gives you 5 different tapas routes around Santiago, and the more routes you complete, the more prizes you win!

RESTAURANTS

In Santiago, in addition to buying fresh meat, fish, and produce from the market, you can eat at a variety of excellent restaurants. A note: some places are particularly well-known for their tapas (more on this below), but almost every restaurant and café in town offers a free tapa with the purchase of a beverage. In this respect, quality and quantity vary, but one rule is ironclad: if you are interested in the free tapa, don’t so much as look at the menu before ordering your drink, or else they might skimp on the tapa in the hopes that you will purchase something. Here are a few important spots to check out:

• Cafe d’Lucia: kind of a strange location (it’s tucked away in New Town) but the amount of tapas they give is insane. You’ll get 3 rounds of tapas with each drink. Hidden gem!
• Tertulia: arguably the best cafe in Santiago and a huge local favorite.
• Cadrado Doce: tiny coffee shop on Rúa San Pedro. Try the Banana Brownie!!!!
• NaturCoffee: if you miss American Iced Coffee, the Iced Latte here is pretty close. 
• Restaurante Entreruas: really cool small restaurant, literally between two **tiny** streets. Good Menu del Día
• La Flor: fun bar in Old Town, right where the Caminio enters the city (if you sit in the winter during the Spring / Summer, you can watch pilgrims arrive all afternoon.) Funky, eclectic vibes and non Galician food! 
• O Moa: great terrace, cool Galician place on Rua San Pedro
• TS A Casa: cool vegetarian place on Rua San Pedro! Really good cocktails
• Las Vegas / El Marte: good terraces, tons of local students go here, the waiters are nice and will remember you if you go even once or twice,  one Fulbrighter argues Las Vegas has the best tortilla in the city.
• Lusco e Fusco (San Clemente, 11): This cafe was started by an American expat and is a favorite spot of many past Fulbrighters. There are language exchanges hosted here along with other events. Be sure to try the scone! This is also one of the one places in Galicia where you can find a bagel. 
• O Gato Negro (Rúa da Raíña, s/n): Former grantees say that this place has the best octopus in Santiago. 
• La Galiciana (Rúa de Gómez Ulla, 1): A food court type place with various restaurant options that share a common eating space. A great place to go if you are craving sushi.
• Abastos 2.0 (Rúa das Ameas, casetas 13 a 18) Located in the market, this chic and modern (for Santiago!) restaurant offers a forward-thinking take on traditional Galician food. This is essentially fusion food, combining Galician ingredients with elements of other international cuisines to create something familiar and different at the same time. Inside their restaurant, they offer a €35 per person tasting menu, which is quite expensive by Santiago standards, but it is still a bargain. There is also a bar/counter selling tapas and raciones a la carte at more affordable prices.
• Atlántico (Rúa da Fonte de San Miguel, 9) The Gin and Tonic is considered the pinnacle of cocktail culture in Santiago (and really, in all of Spain), and Atlántico is where these drinks are most lovingly crafted. This bar has two floors, with two different vibes, and an extensive menu of gin and tonics made with every kind of gin, citrus, and berry you can imagine, in all possible permutations.
• A Vaca (Rúa da Troia, 6, Bajo) Serves good hamburgers.
• Bodeguilla San Roque (Rúa de San Roque, 13) A good, traditional eatery not far from the old town. A bit more expensive than most of the restaurants around, but worth the extra few euros. Similar to O Dezaseis (see below) in price and quality, but with less ambience (still plenty of ambience though!).
• Borriquita de Belem (Rúa de San Paio de Antealtares, 22) There are weekly jazz concerts on Wednesday nights.
• Churrería San Pedro (Rúa de San Pedro, 121) This is the only place in Santiago that makes their churros fresh and in-house. Churros are offered at all hours of the day and a media ración is plenty for breakfast for one, or even perhaps for two, depending on how hungry you are. The hot chocolate is also quite good—what would chocolate con churros be without it?
• Pub Momo (Rúa da Virxe da Cerca, 23) A large bar with several rooms, two bars, lots of hidden corners to hang out in, a futbolín table, and a nice, spacious terrace. It’s one of the rare places that isn’t doing double duty as a café, discoteca, or restaurant. It is just a good bar.
• Casa das Crechas (Vía Sacra, 3). Before going here, be aware that it is very much a stop on the tourist trail (it is located right near the Cathedral, and there are always pilgrims swarming around). It has also gone all in with the International Celtic aesthetic (more on this later), in a way that can feel a bit gimmicky. But Crechas makes this list because, almost every Wednesday night — check their Facebook page to be sure — they host a concert of traditional Galician music, with their house band, A Banda das Crechas, which actually includes some fairly notable features in the traditional Galician music scene. Admission costs €1 and the concert usually goes from about 10:30 to about 2:30 am, with a 45 minute long “15 minute” break in the middle. The first set, from about 10:30 to about 1, is generally quite crowded, amplified and well-rehearsed, but for the second set they play unplugged and the vibe is much looser, with musicians trading off instruments and taking turns singing and playing. This is also an excellent place to see young folks showing off their best traditional Galician dance skills.
• Heladería Xearte Brigitte (Rúa de San Pedro, 70) This place is reputed to have the best ice cream in Santiago. It is right on the Camino, so it is always doing a brisk business, especially in the summer. They offer lots of conventional flavors, like stracciatella, but they also have some more locally-themed flavors, like Tarta de Santiago (almond cake) and Queixo Arzúa-Ulloa, made from a very commonly eaten local cheese.
• O Dezaseis (Rúa de San Pedro 16. This is the best Galician restaurant in Santiago. They cater to locals and tourists alike, offering high-quality versions of traditional dishes and specialties, in enormous proportions, at still-reasonable prices. The restaurant itself is also quite beautiful!
• Parrillada Don Manuel (Rua Avio, 16) Do you love grilled meat? Do you want 5 or 6 different kinds at once, along with some grilled marisco? Do you want to leave full to bursting and half drunk on homemade wine and aguardiente, having spent less than €20 when all is said and done? You should go to Don Manuel.
• Pulpería Os Concheiros (Rúa dos Concheiros, 2) Don’t be put off by the down-at-its-heels appearance of this pulperia. In true pulpería style, it’s nothing fancy, inside or out, but they know how to make a good octopus, which they serve on the traditional wooden plates, dressed with hot paprika, salt, and olive oil, and accompanied by potatoes. There is also a small selection of raciones, like pimientos de Padrón (when they are in season). They serve homemade wine along with the octopus. 
• Singulario (Rúa de Fernando III o Santo, 4) Located in the old town, this eatery definitely owes its aesthetic to Global Hipster Monoculture. The real attraction here isn’t so much the food—which is very good, if a bit pricy—but their well-curated selection of local and Spanish wines that you don’t find in many other places around town. There are always 5 or 6 reds or whites to try, and they have a bodega downstairs that sells bottles for at-home consumption.
• La Tita/Rúa Nova (Rúa Nova 46 and 36) These two cafés, which share an owner, are just a few doors apart from one another. The main attraction here is the tortilla, which can be purchased on its own but is also offered as a free tapa with a beverage (a word to the wise: La Tita does not offer the tortilla as a tapa with coffee, but Rúa Nova does!). The tortillas at both places are exactly the same, which is to say, the best you will ever have in your life. Ask El País! Rúa Nova is a little bit nicer and more spacious, and they also have a large dining room in the back in case you were thinking of eating a full meal instead of just having a snack. Either way, though, you can’t go wrong.
• San Clemente/Carretas (Rúa de San Clemente, 6 and Rúa das Carretas, 21) This is another pair of restaurants that share an owner. They’re both located not far from the Cathedral. The name of the game here is tapas—lots and lots of tapas. Buying one drink gets you at least two and sometimes as many as four tapas. There’s usually a cold tapa, like chorizo or cheese on baguette, or ensaladilla rusa, a hot tapa, like stew or fabas (often there will be two or three options to choose from), and homemade patatas. The drinks cost maybe 40 or 50 cents more than average, but it is a bargain when you consider that for less than 6 euros you can have two glasses of wine and enough food that you will be full until lunch tomorrow.
• Entre Pedras (Rúa do Hospitaliño, 18) Completely vegan restaurant with incredibly low prices, sure to please vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores, alike.
• Alice in Wonderpie (Rúa Ensinanza 12) Vegan-friendly bakery with smoothies, sandwiches, pizzas, cafés, and other treats.
• A Avoa Taperia Cafeteria: (Casas Reais 18) Vegetarian-friendly, delicious, very friendly staff.
• Blu Café: (Caldereria 49) Vegetarian-friendly, good menú de día.
• Restaurante Pizzeria L’Incontro: great pizza in old town Santiago
• Numaru is a fantastic Korean restaurant by Campus Sur; reservations are a must.  (A second location is supposed to be opening, though that may have been affected by the virus.)
• Fuco Lois: a cool, hole-in-the-wall bar that will make queimada in front of you if you request it ahead of time
• Xuntanza: a hip bar with free tapa selection and extensive beer options
• O Xachegou: a restaurant in the old town with great Galician food
• Bresca: Italian restaurant with fresh ingredients and great lasagna
• Santoro pizzeria

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY RESOURCES

• BLOOM is the most popular LBTQIA+ bar in Santiago, its reputation is absolutely mitica
• Libraría de Mulleres Lila de Lilith, which hosts free talks, events, and workshops about feminist and LGBTQ+ topics
• Oístes? Teatro is a small experimental performance group run by a former Fulbright TA. The aim of Oístes? is to create and produce interactive, bilingual, and interdisciplinary pieces, taking inspiration from current sociocultural themes, the cycles of nature, and the lived realities of collaborating artists. If you’re looking to participate in an experimental experience in an artistic or technical way while practicing/learning Galician, send a message to oistesteatro@gmail.com.
• The University holds free lectures on various topics.

SITES

• The Castro and the Fortress of the Castro: Castros are settlements from the first through third centuries that can be found in various parts of Galicia, including right in the center of Vigo. On your way up the Monte de Castro, check out this historical site where you can even enter the castros and see how they would have been modeled. Then, walk up the rest of the hill, look at the beautiful panoramic views of the river, and enter into the fortress that is now a nice park!
• Nosa Señora da Guia: This chapel can be found at the top of a hill and is another place to get an incredible view of the city. It is surrounded by greenery and trees, so it is also a nice escape from the hussle and the bustle of the city, while still remaining somewhat close to the center!

The various curious statues in the center of the city: 

• O Sireno: This merman statue, erected at the entrance of the main shopping street right in the center of the city, has become an emblem of Vigo. It is somewhat controversial because many people think that it is ugly, but there are also a few different guesses as to what it is supposed to represent. Some say that it is a glorification of Vigo’s seafaring culture. Others think that it is a criticism of the way that Vigo has been industrialized, with many tall buildings blocking the view of the sea from most parts of town. 
• O Dinoseto and Dinosetiño: This dinosaur made out of shrubbery and located in the center of the city was born in May of 2015, and its baby hatched (after first being a shrubbery egg) in October of 2016. These two figures have become a meme and are even sometimes referred to as  influencers, since they have their own social media accounts (@DinoSetoVigo). Rumor has it that there may be a new dino being born this year, so keep on the lookout for that exciting historical moment!
• Julio Verne (Jules Verne): The author Jules Verne visited Vigo a few times and dedicated a chapter of his most famous book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to the Bay of Vigo. Along the port, there is a statue of him sitting on an octopus to honor his time in the city. 
• El Nadador: This statue is composed of various huge bronze pieces that can be seen along the port as well. The artist said that he created it to honor the efforts of swimmers. 

FESTIVALS

Below are a list of recurring festivities in Vigo. A former grantee suggests that you also keep an eye on the following websites for even more events, expositions, concerts, and festivals: A Movida Vigo, the Faro de Vigo website and newspaper, and Ocio en Vigo 

• Fiestas Cristo de la Victoria (better known as “La Reconquista“), celebrate Vigo’s victory against Napoleon’s troops in 1809. Although these fiestas don’t have a religious origin, the city has been celebrating this victory for centuries by accompanying the Cristo de la Victoria, a sculpture of Christ on the cross, all the way to the Santa María Church. The fiestas feature an enormous variety of programming over the first week of August, with a host of cultural, gastronomic, traditional, and musical activities, including the reenactment of the victory.
• Os Maios: the first weekend in May: Os Maios is a typical Galician festivity held to celebrate the arrival of May. People, especially children, make flower statues that they present at the festival as they celebrate with singing and dancing. In Vigo, this is particularly celebrated in Bouzas. 
• Galician Literature and Language Day: On May 17, people gather to celebrate their linguistic heritage through rallying, dancing, singing, and general promotion of linguistic normalization. 
• Vigo’s Christmas Lights: You are sure to hear about these lights frequently during the fall and winter in Vigo. The mayor, Abel Caballero, boasts of a Christmas light display “bigger than New York city’s”, and truly, the city does light up beginning at the end of November and lasting until mid January. 
• Entroido: While the main celebrations for Carnaval happen in Ourense, Vigo has a few of its own traditions as well. Particularly, on the Tuesday before the Christian holiday Ash Wednesday, the city gathers to burn a large doll and throw a funeral procession complete with elegies. 

• Portamérica – Music festival held in July
• Primavera do Cine – International film festival held in May
• SinSal Audio Festival – Independent music festival on a boat in the San Simón island, held in July
• O Marisquiño – Festival dedicated to urban culture and action sports, held in August
• ImaxinaSons – Jazz festival held in July
• ALT – Performing Arts festival held in March
• Festival Kerouac – Poetry and spoken word festival held in October
• Posidonia Green Festival – Environmental awareness festival held in July
• International Folklore Festival – World folk music festival held in August
• Son de Vigo – Music festival for new local artists, held in August
• Festival Nun Local – Local arts and performance festival in March that features new and local artists of all different media in small venues around Vigo.

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES/EXHIBITS

Vigo has several museums with interesting, informative and interactive exhibits and information on history and cultural heritage, as well as art collections and cultural centers. Here is a list of Vigo’s museums, along with the schedule and price of entry, if there is one.

If you want to see local art for free entry and in a quick amount of time (big museums can get overwhelming!), stop by any vigués art gallery. Here is a list with some art galleries, as well as recommendations. Check out some temporary and permanent expositions that are being presented in Vigo here. 

SHOPPING

One-Stop Shops: There are two Carrefours (a French quasi-hypermarket chain)—one in the Gran Vía shopping mall and one in the  Travesía shopping mall—that can be good for a big shopping trip that might call for electronics, household goods, and food all at once. There are also two El Corte Inglés, the high-end Iberian department stores that feature an Hipercor in the basement (this is the Corte Inglés’ hypermarket). It sells food and cheap clothes, appliances, and other home and kitchen goods. The Hipercor prices are very reasonable and it’s worth making a trip either to Hipercor or Carrefour to stock up on necessities. One is located on Avenida de Gran Vía, 28, and the other one is in the Centro Príncipe shopping mall. 

There are several Mercados de Abastos in Vigo that are fantastic places to buy fresh local food, wine, and flowers. Here are the locations of the markets, with a few recommendations for you. Feel free to talk to the people managing the stands, they give great recommendations and even Galician recipes using what is in season!  Markets are open every day except Sunday, but Saturday is the big market day, when, in addition to the regular vendors, older folks come in from the country to sell produce fresh from the garden. In addition to these markets, there is an open air market that sets up in Bouzas every Sunday. You can go there to buy clothes, delicious bread and pastries, and sometimes hear live music!

Shopping malls in Vigo have a variety of stores, restaurants, cafés, services, and a movie theaters.

• Gran Vía shopping mall (Av. Ribeira Sacra, 50), located right behind the Gran Vía
• Travesía shopping mall (Travesía de Vigo, 202)
• A Laxe shopping mall (Calle Cánovas del Castillo, 1), located in the port
• Camelias shopping mall (Plaza de América, 1), located in Plaza América
• Plaza Elíptica shopping mall (Praza Francisco Fernández del Riego, s/n), located in the center by Gran Vía
• Centro Príncipe shopping mall (Rúa do Príncipe, 51), located in the center by the Sireno statue. This is a street of shops rather than a traditional mall. 

MOVIES

Movies are usually dubbed in Spanish, unless they are in V.O.(S.), that is, Versión Original (Subtitulada), some carteleras will put V.O.(S.) next to the movie title, or they will put the language in the details. Here are the locations and showings of different Vigo movie cinemas:

• Gran Vía Cines – Located in the Gran Vía shopping mall
• Yelmo Cines – Located in the Traversía shopping mall
• Cine Plaza Elíptica – Located in the Plaza Elíptica shopping mall
• Multicines Norte – Calle Vía Norte, 22

SHOWS

Vigo has the Teatro Afundación Vigo (Rúa Policarpo Sanz, 13) and the Teatro Cine Fraga (Rúa do Uruguay, 1), with various theater and opera performances, and comedy shows.

There are also various venues in Vigo that host smaller concerts with local bands including the Auditorio de Castrelos, la Fábrica de Chocolate, and Sala Masterclub. Keep an eye on the newspaper and on posters around town for these events and more. 

Songkick Vigo –  For live music concerts 

RESTAURANTS

Galicia is known for is excellent food, and Vigo is no different! Here are some recommendations from past grantees:

• A Mordiscos : Although it is a bit pricey and the portions are somewhat small, the food here is delicious and the interior is very trendy.  
• MaisPala: The oldest bar in Vigo, MaisPala has a cozy and unique interior and a very friendly staff and welcoming general atmosphere. Play board games after climbing the winding stairs or go on a Wednesday to listen to or participate in an anonymous open mic night that takes place on “the smallest stage in the world” (a 3ft by 3ft platform in between the two floors). 
• Cafe Uf: A bar and bookstore with a very nice outdoor terrace that hosts an open mic night in the basement every Thursday. Artists who perform in Galician language are entered into a raffle at the end of the night, making this a great place to practice your Galician listening skills. 
• Coffee Land – A cafe that serves a huge variety of coffees that can be hard to find elsewhere in Vigo. They also have great smoothies and the best milkshakes in town. Plus, it is one of the only places in Vigo that you can find bagels. 
• Terrae – An organic coffee shop with a plant-filled outdoor area. They also serve lunch and have a store where you can buy organic or vegetarian ingredients that you often cannot find in grocery stores. This is one place where you can bring your laptop or books to get work done and not be given weird looks. 
• Juanita’s Gastrobar – Past grantees say that this place has the best menu del dia en Vigo. They usually offer a fish dish and a meat dish, which is pretty typical of Vigo. 
• Arepa Olé – This is an arepa chain restaurant that has just recently opened a location in Vigo. The varied arepas are inexpensive and it’s a great option for when you are looking for something outside of tortilla and seafood!
• O Castro – Located at the mirador of Alfonso XII, this restaurant has the best view in the city. Sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine and frequent and delicious pinchos at sunset or come during the daytime for the menu del dia. An added bonus is that they also offer a plato del dia for days when you just might not have the appetite for a three course meal. 
• Albatros: Located on the port, this is another restaurant with a beautiful view, even from the inside. Although the lunch menu is more expensive, it is worth it for special occasions. 
• El Imperial: This bar is famous for its frequent and abundant pinchos. You can easily buy one drink and receive enough pinchos that it counts for dinner as well. For that reason, it is also generally quite crowded, so be prepared to stand or be crammed in when you go here!
• El Mono Vintage – This eclectic bar right in the middle of the city features one euro nights every Monday and Thursday where mini burgers, tiny sandwiches, beers, and sangria is sold for only 1 euro!
• Tapas Areal for a more innovative tapas menu or their related restaurant, Curcuma, for vegetarian tapas.
• Gamboa Vinte
• O Canario
• O Porton
• Picadillo: This restaurant has a wider variety of foods for when you might not be in the mood for Spanish cuisine.  Definitely go for lunch when there is a menu, because it can be a bit pricey for dinner since it is in the center. 
• Bar Manolo y Bar El Puerto (seafood)
• La Aldeana – Restaurant, great octopus and tortilla
• Porto Santo – Great for drinks, great menu, and has veggie meal options
• Sesamo – There are four in Vigo, great for coffee/juice, can use a laptop there during less busy hours
• Vitruvia Cafe – Aesthetic cafe, has an upstairs area great for computer work
• Sierra Madre Taqueria – Authentic Monterrey Mexican food with delicious offerings. To avoid high prices, go there for the lunch special that’s usually around 11 euros. 
• Riconcito Colombiano – Calling all Latin American food lovers! This restaurant has authentic Colombian food with HUGE (and cheap) plates, and it’s absolutely delicious.

Here are some general restaurant recommendations:

• Comer en Vigo
• Los 15 mejores restaurantes en Vigo – Gastroranking
• ​Restaurantes en Vigo – TripAdvisor

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS

Vigo has many green spaces and sports facilities available to you. Here is a list of large green spaces around the city for you to enjoy. If you would like to join a sports club/team, or use a facility to practice a sport in Vigo, the Town Hall has lots of information for you.

Interesting outdoor activites are:

• Visiting the Cíes Islands, where you can camp, find beautiful beaches, and go on a boat ride. This is a must while you are in Vigo or in Galicia in general.  The Guardian named this beach the most beautiful in the world, and these are protected islands, and people come from all over the world to see them, so make sure to reserve your tickets early from Mar de Ons. As you are ordering the tickets, you will also be promoted to get authorization, which is free and easy to obtain but is required to go to the islands. Keep in mind that the islands are not accessible from around late October to April, so plan your trips for the fall and spring!
• Samil Beach – This is the most popular beach in Vigo. It is beautiful, relaxing, and easily accessible by bus or even walking if you’re feeling ambitious!
• A Fontaíña Beach – also known as the Little Mermaid beach, this is another relaxing place that can be visited by bus!
• Castrelos Park – Go to this beautiful park for a nice run, to read under the shade of a eucalyptus tree, to walk through a shrubbery maze, watch ducks at the lake or walk along the Lagares River!
• Aquasports
• There are various hikes both in the city and the surrounding areas. Read about some of them here. Favorites of past grantees include the uphill hike to “El banco mejor del mundo” (the best bench in the world) and the Senda de Auga (water trail). Information about how to access these hikes can be found at the website above. There is also a group called Hiking in English that includes Spainards and native English speakers who are interested in hiking and getting to know one another while speaking in English!
• For a gym, former grantees recommend VivaGym for 25 euros/ month
• There are also many opportunites for surfing, sailing, and swimming. In particular, at Patos beach a month of surf classes only costs 55€.

Moncão, in Portugal, just across the river Miño from Salvatierra, Spain, which has a historic, walled old town and cultural offerings such as a museum dedicated to Alvarinho wine. Travel to the Morrazo peninsula for access to beaches at Limens and Nerga as well as Monte Facho de Donón for a mirador overlooking the Cíes. 

Also, there is a ferry to  the small town across the river called Moaña that offers waterfront walkways and cafes as well as access to Monte Faro Domaio – the highest point on the Morrazo peninsula.

Another ferry leads to Cangas, another small sea town with beautiful beaches. At Cangas, there is a beautiful hike to there lighthouses that leads across gorgeous beaches and through the forest. It takes a while to complete, but you can do so either by walking straight from where the ferry takes you (though this will likely take all day) or taking a taxi to the Playa de Barras and walking from there to Cabo Home. Here is the best route to follow. Ferries to both of these places leave from the port, and tickets cost €2.20 each way. 

NIGHTLIFE

Vigo has a very energetic, young, and cosmopolitan nightlife, it’s known as the party city of Galicia. University students will begin to go out on Thursdays and the hours are late in Spain. Many students will organize parties in different locales, or establishments, to raise money for their graduation trip. You can find almost anything in Vigo for your liking, price-range, and comfort. There are many bares de copas, places to terrazear, indie bars and breweries, and even after-hours events. From 22:00 to 00:30, you will find most people having a glass of wine with a tapa, or pincho in bars. Unless you want to order a bigger portion, or a ración, the tapa comes free with the drink! You probably will also see people coming to dine as late as 22:30-23:00.

You can start off your night with a drink around the Casco Vello, or old part of the city, in areas with high concentrations of bars and pubs, such as Calle Teófilo Llorente, Calle Oliva, Praza da Constitución, or Calle Real. Some cheap student locales with great deals are Maracaibo (Calle Velázquez Moreno), La Graciosa (Calle Uruguay), and Trastevere (stairs going down Calle Uruguay). Locales usually close at about 02:00-03:00. People usually go to clubs after 1:00, and in Spain they close around 5:00-6:00. You can head out to the clubs of Beiramar, Samil beach, Embassi, Quomo, and Loft. You will find the Vigo indie scene in the Churruca area, around Calle Cervantes, Rogelio Abalde, Irmandiños, Martín Códax, and down to Alfonso XIII. Here, locales will play rock, alternative, reggae, independent, and funk music. Cafe UF, Bonus Track, and Monks Blues offer regular live music performances and jam sessions. For a more pijo feel, head to the bars in Areal. The LGBTQ+ scene has a few offerings in Vigo, including bars/dance clubs like Plaff! and Mogambo. Here are some recommendations, opinions, and reviews for different bars, pubs, and clubs in Vigo.

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY RESOURCES

We don’t have any recommendations for organizations in Ourense yet. If you get involved with an organization, keep us updated!