Free walking tours in Pontevedra and what to see

Must-sees

Pontevedra has one of the best-preserved historic centres in Galicia, and almost all of it is pedestrianised. You explore it square by square: Praza da Leña, with its arcades and stone cross, Praza da Ferrería, Praza do Teucro and Praza da Verdura. The Sanctuary of the Peregrina, built in the shape of a scallop shell, is a reminder that the Portuguese Way to Santiago passes through here. The basilica of Santa María la Mayor, with its Plateresque façade, is close to the river.

The Museum of Pontevedra brings together archaeology, Galician painting and silverwork in several buildings in the centre, and entry is free. It includes the Gothic ruins of the convent of Santo Domingo, beside the Alameda gardens. If you feel like a walk, follow the path along the river Lérez to the Illa das Esculturas, a park with contemporary art in the open air.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours cover the old town on a pay-what-you-wish basis. They take in the main squares, the Peregrina and Santa María, and tell local stories, such as that of Ravachol the parrot, who has a statue by the old pharmacy. Among paid options, the best are trips around the Rías Baixas: Combarro and its granaries by the sea, a few kilometres away, the island of A Toxa or Cambados, with a visit to an Albariño winery. In season, boats leave Vigo for the Cíes Islands.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the city: the morning for the old town and the Peregrina, and the afternoon for the museum and the walk along the Lérez. With two or three days you can use Pontevedra as a base for the estuary, with one day between Combarro and Sanxenxo and another in Cambados or the island of Arousa. In summer, keep a day for the beach. Getting around the area is easier by car, although there are buses to the main towns.

Where to stay

The best place to stay is in the old town or on its edges, near the Alameda or Praza de España. Everything is within walking distance, the streets are quiet with no traffic, and the tapas bars are on your doorstep. If you are travelling by car, look at hotels in the Ensanche, along the avenues around the centre, where parking is easier and you are still ten minutes’ walk from the squares.