Experience in Vigo, Spain by Irene

What is it like to live in Vigo? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I've been living in Vigo for three years. It's quite an industrial city, with lots of resources and potential, but honestly it's less focused about tourism and nature than industry. The good point of that is that everything that you are going to find in Vigo is genuine, authentic, real!

Vigo is quite a big city, with lots of suburbs in a Galician style -elderly people living on the old style. Vigo has several city centres:

• Rua do Principe, main pedestrian street with lots of international shops. It lays on
• Casco Vello, the ancient part of the city, on the seafront, with traditional small houses, narrow streets with lots of local pubs. This is one of the main "party zones". It's quite alternative, good price for shots and beers, all kind of music, probably more rock and Galician music, but you will find everything.
• Areal is the posh zone, with lots of pubs, with commercial or retro music. This party zone is more focused on cocktails and fashion. There are lots of restaurants here too, probably the most international part of the city: Italian, Argentinian, Chinese, Turkish,... Very close to here there is a place for "botellon", where mostly young people drinks in huge plastic glasses.
• Calvario is mostly a pedestrian zone, with lots of local shops and the main market. Nowadays there are several initiatives by local manufacturers, so you can find lots of handmade presents and design.
• Churruca was the main place for the "movida" -a 80's social and music movement in Spain. Now there are still several pubs, very different: reggae, reggaeton, salsa, rock, pop, electronic, goth... There is a main square for these three streets, as a meeting point, very often for drinking too.

The city has many more places, of course! Remember that there is a seafront city, and it has lots of hills, so you can enjoy sea views from almost everywhere. It has several beaches, the biggest one is Samil. You are always going to see Illas Cies, islands classified by The Guardian newspaper as the best beach around the world -even better than the Caribbean ones!

What is the student lifestyle like in Vigo?

Universidade de Vigo has three main campus: Pontevedra, Ourense and Vigo. They are different cities too, very interesting by themselves.

In Vigo, there are two main places too. "CUVI" is the name of the big campus. It is on the top of a mountain. It has its own residence, gym, library, sports pitch, coffee, bank and very good transport. The problem is that most of these places close since afternoon and it's almost dead during the weekend.

Within Vigo city center you can find "Peritos", that is the local name for Telecom studies. They organize the biggest party once a year, "St Pepe" (St Joseph, patron of those studies) by 19th March. This party takes place in CUVI, though, because it's massive and everybody heard about this, with concerts, concurses, special events and lots of alcohol. Vigo council has to provide special transport and support for those days!

You can go out any day of the week and find some pubs open. The main students day is usually on Thursday and local people go out on Fridays and Saturdays.

There are several courses always running on the city, concerts, art performances, etc. The modern art museum is MARCO, in Rua Príncipe. They have lots of initiatives and several bars are supporting their activities: open cinema, book sellings, concerts, skating exhibitions...

There are several important parties in Vigo:

• A Reconquista, where citizens celebrate the rejection of French troops by the farmers and fishers in 19th Century. It's basically a medieval market with parallel activities.
• O Marisquiño is an annual meeting related with skaters and BMX but enriched with concerts, art proposal, fish and tapas offers, etc.
• St Pepe (described before).
• August is the biggest month for activities all around the city. Free concerts, fun fairs, lots of gastronomic parties, open air markets...

How much does it cost to live in Vigo?

Vigo is quite cheap in average. Within the city centre flats are old and cheap. On the outskirts flats are newer and depending on transport links, more expensive.

Food is very cheap and super good quality, because most of people has family on a small town with their own animals and vegetables. Because of that, gastronomy probably isn't nice looking, but tastes are wonderful. You are going to earn some kilograms!

Drinks are very cheap too. You can find places with "caña y tapa 1" (tap beer and tapa for 1€), cocktails about €4, sandwiches less than €3, etc. Galicia (Vigo's county) is famous for its huge food sizes and fresh and quality vegetables, fish, seafood and meat.

Transport is OK, no amazing, no super cheap. But you get very good discounts with your student card.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Vigo? Is there any advice you can give?

I think it's a little bit difficult to find accommodation because Vigo is a busy city and students aren't the main aim. I strongly recommend use the University service, there is an office for this. They have a list of accommodation available.

Otherwise, look for your place on bus stops to the CUVI or Peritos. The state agencies are abusive with students in general, I would refuse that option.

What is the food like? What are your favorite dishes?

As I said before, Galicia (Vigo's county) is famous for its superb quality food, specially fish and seafood. Some typical famous dishes are:

• empanada: massive pastry fill with almost any option, specially pork, cod&raisins or tuna.
• pulpo á feira: octopus "to the party", with paprika, olive oil and salt.
• zorza: pork meat very rich, with olive oil and paprika and chips.
• filloas: kind of crepe, thin and slightly sweet.
• queso de tetilla: famous half-fresh cheese, very often with extra sweet "membrillo".

Most of dishes don't look very nice, but portions are massive and they are always super fresh and high quality.

What places would you recommend visiting in Vigo?

• Castrelos: huge park with old trees. On the top you can visit Museo Quiñones de León, with local historical and social stuff and a French style garden. Bring your dates there!; )
• Playa de Samil: you can arrive here on foot by a path from the previous park. During winter, this beach is even better! The feeling of freedom is amazing.
• O Castro: a mountain in the middle of the city -literally! It has a fortress and very good views of the city, sea and Cies Islands.
• Illas Cies: protected paradise. It has a camping, with very restricted access. Sunrise or sunset from there is just amazing! Water is transparent and freezing too.
• Casco Vello: during day time, plenty of small coffee and local shops, with ancient trades. During night time, full of pubs and life too! Look for "O Ovo" (The Egg pub) and ask for a shot with the egg and its story. Look for "O Porrón" (I don't know how to translate this, but it's like a traditional drinking pot) and ask for a wine in a Porrón.
• García Barbón: the golden mile between Rua Principe and Areal, a very important financial centre, with amazing buildings.
• O Berbés: during Sunday mornings/afternoons it becomes a massive street market, crazy. It's located on the ancient part of the city too and you can find nice places for a drink and a starter. It has a cozy square.



Is it good to eat out in Vigo? Can you tell us your favorite spots?

It's good and cheap to eat out in Vigo. Sadly, there aren't many vegetarian places. There is a vegetarian restaurant next to "El Corte Ingles" (everybody know this massive store, in Gran Via). It's difficult to find any information in the menus about this. If you are vegetarian, ask for Spanish tortilla, chips and olives. Probably any of the others will have traces of meat, just because it's absolutely strange for local people to hear that someone doesn't eat meat. Good luck!

Is the nightlife good in Vigo? Where is good to go?

Nightlife could start with a wine close to Calvario. It's plenty of professional wine places, a little bit expensive (€2 a glass of wine) but tapas are included. You can go to Areal for a proper dinner and a cocktail until 2am. Go to Casco Vello for some shots and table football games. Keep drinking on the street and finish your night in a club like Loft in Churruca until 6am!

Remember that we have dinner about 10pm so nobody will be in a pub for a drink until probably midnight or 1am. Enjoy "botellon" on the street!



What advice would you give future students heading to Vigo?

If you are going to Vigo, you might find difficult to find basic information about concerts, activities, parties... Use CUVI to get some information or just ask me.

Enjoy!

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