Innovation and tradition combine perfectly in the city of Vigo. All neighborhoods have a special charm, historic streets, weekly outdoor markets, nature trails, shopping and cultural acitivities. From the Cies Islands to Mount O Catro, Vigo is a perfect urban destination for your holiday.

Here are some tips so you don’t miss the essence of Vigo.

1.- Food Festivals

It is going to be strange visiting the city and not matching any of its food festivals. The annual calendar is full of them, like Vigo Mussel Festival, which is held every September in the park of Castrelos or The Seafood Festival the second weekend in September at the Port of Vigo, which sold more 40 different varieties at affordable prices.

Ria de Vigo has excellent characteristics in terms of water temperature, which makes excellent seafood! A curiosity: did you know that the best seafood’s season in the Ria de Vigo begin September to April?. Do you know how you can remember the best months to consume seafood? They are the months that contain the letter “R”.

2.- Aperitif time

Visit Vigo is an excellent opportunity to taste the best Ria’s seafood at great pricing, like in the appetizers full of tapas and beer which have a fierce devotion between the people in Vigo, especially on Saturday and Sunday morning: a walk and an apperitif before lunch.

3.- Statue de Julio Verne

One of the best options in Vigo is to walk before the appetizer down to the yachthabour enjoying the ocean breeze, and get to the bronze statue of Jules Verne, opposite the Club Náutico de Vigo. The city has paid tribute to French writer because in his famous novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” dedicates an episode to the Ria de Vigo and to Rande Treasure’s legend .

4.- Learn how to cook  productos of the Ria

If you also want to learn how to cook seafood, join this exciting initiative; a gastronomical workshop that shows you how to buy and cook the best products with the advices of the city’s top chefs, who will help you in everything. After selection of the best raw materials and shopping at O Berbés market or at the port’s shellfish nurseries, you can prepare the typìcal sailor dishes yourself and enjoy them along with some glasses of wine of Rias Baixas.

5.- Try out the oysters on the street

One of the most interesting places  is Fish Street, which offers a unique spectacle when ostreras tirelessly open oysters on the street while preparing the dishes. You can buy oysters directly to them, give them a squeeze of lemon and you eat them accompanied by a good Albariño. There is no such a better pleasure!

6.- Come up to a Furancho

Furanchos are venues or private homes in which buy excess wine or try on the spot accompanied by a good home cooked meal. Usually, served with tortillas, empanadas, meats, sausages and cheeses in a family atmosphere at a great price.In the area of Vigo ther is over a dozen to choose , in which attention is always exquisite!.

We’ll be there. If you want to come too, check out our flights here.

Holy Week coincides with the onset of spring, a season associated with milder temperatures. Although you should still pack some warm clothes – jerseys, jacket, raincoat, gloves, cap and scarf – it’s unlikely to snow in Warsaw, unless you’re in the higher mountain areas. And, by early April, the days are quite long and sunny. Unlike in other European countries, during Holy Week in Poland both the Thursday and Friday are working days and most of the museums and shops are open to the public. Visiting hours at churches may be different, however, as in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, where the largest Good Friday procession of all Poland is held.

As in other areas where the Catholic festivities are traditionally observed, Palm Sunday is celebrated here in style. Like in Spain, in Poland the faithful carry palms, but here they are far more elaborate. Dried flowers and paper flowers go into their careful making by hand. They are so popular here that many towns and villages organise palm contests. We recommend taking the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Łyse, in the region of Masovia, where you can find palms of up to 6 metres high.

Cultural activity also revolves around Easter. The keynote event is the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival. Held in Warsaw, as well as in Krakow and Gdansk, it attracts classical music virtuosos from all over to perform a number of works based on Holy Week themes. The festival alone makes it well worth visiting the city. Over the festive period churches host classical music concerts. The programme features religious works, pride of place going to the staging of the Lord's Sepulchre. This is undoubtedly a good reason for visiting the holy precincts of Poland’s capital city. Even under the Communist regime the uncensored sepulchres stood for the most important political events of the time.

Another high moment of the holy celebration is the blessing of the food. Starting on Easter Saturday morning, crowds of people congregate at the churches bearing adorned baskets containing, in addition to the classical hand-painted Easter eggs, bread, salt, pepper, sausage and an endless assortment of Easter pastries to have them blessed. Once the ritual has been completed, they may then eat meat. In bygone days the baskets’ contents were indicative of the purchasing power of the various families – the greater the amount and variety of food, the high their economic status.

Easter eggs are decorated in different ways and this is often the favourite activity of the younger members of the household. Once boiled, the easiest thing is to colour them with polychromed powders dissolved in water. These colours are sold in small sachets at this time of year. A more natural technique is to boil the eggs in a pot with onion skins, giving the eggshells a dark tinge and, the more onion skin you use, the darker the colour. After the eggshell has dried out, it can be drawn on or incised using a sharp needle.

Easter Monday is noticeably more playful in character and closely linked to rural traditions. In Polish it is known as Lany poniedzialek – “Water Monday” – as Slavic tradition has it that throwing water over the girls is believed to ensure their health and fertility. So, make sure you keep your eyes skinned because even today you can have a bucket of cold water thrown over you.

Cuisine is important in Poland at Easter and tables are decked out with Easter eggs, symbols of a new life. Confectionery also plays a major role, particularly mazurek, a cake based on butter and very thick cream, eggs, sugar and flour. It is also stuffed with nuts, chocolate and fruit (orange or lemon). Another cake typically made during this festive season is kaimak. Although similar to mazurek, the dough contains liquid toffee.

Are you eager to go? Check out our prices here!

Text by ISABELYLUIS Comunicación

Images by Polish National Tourist Office

The María Pita festivities are a summer’s essential. It is when A Coruña dresses in their best clothes and offers a full program of free outdoor music, food, craft and book fairs,

Throughout the month of August, the city comes alive with activities all day and night spread throughout the city in a celebration that honours the figure of María Pita, the heroine who captained the defense of the city against the British Navy, led by the pirate Francis Drake in 1589.

The day 1 proclamation will mark the starting point of the holidays and this year Luz Casal will be responsible for putting the first chord in an open-air free concert.

The first Saturday of August takes place the traditional Pyrotechnics Naval Battle, a firework show illuminating the sky color of A Coruña that each year attracts thousands of people.
 
And for the young, the third of August there is an entire program of Maria Pitiña at the Explanada del Parrote with activities designed for them. A day that will turn around the circus, with shows, music, games and workshops.

And coinciding with the celebrations of María Pita, the Northwest Pop Rock festival is organized on the beach of Riazor. It is on Friday the 8^th and Saturday 9^th August, with a varied program.

Friday 8^th of August
21:00 h La Senda de Afra | 22:00 h Misterioso Viaje Holanda, Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules and Love of Lesbian.

Saturday 9^thof August
21:00 h Anima | 22:00 h Bourbon Queen Eskizo and Madness.

Picture by Carlos Fernández San Millán

Perfect plan to go with friends! Check our flights and sign up!

1 – A few pintxos through the old town

Yes, accompanied by a zurito and taking our time, a requirement. Walking from the port to the square of the constitution we can test any of these delicious miniatures as cod fritters, squid-in-its-ink croquettes , stuffed aubergines …. the list is endless and there is something for everyone.

2 – Palacio de Miramar

Located in one of the most beautiful places in the city, this English-style old building that used to house the Spanish royalty we can enjoy from one of the best views of the bay of San Sebastian and
its gardens.

3 – Kursaal

One of the most emblematic buildings of the city where (among other events) the famous San Sebastian International Film Festival is celebrated. An impressive building of translucent cubes, work of Rafael Meneo, facing the sea. It is also located in Gros, the surfer neighborhood, so if you like surfing, you can always go down with your board to practice.

4 – Playa de la Concha

It is one of the most famous beaches in the country for a certain reason. Summer or not, admiring the island of Santa Clara as you walk , you ride your bike , or even surf the waves is another delicacy that San Sebastian offers. Do not struggle , you’ll end up falling in love with her.

5 – Igueldo

With an endearing wooden funicular that we can take very close to El Peine del Viento, in this magical corner we can see the best view of the city, Concha bay and the island of Santa Clara.

Besides enjoying the beauty of the natural environment, the amusement park and the old lighthouse that oversees city are some of the best kept secrets of the place.

Image: Mikelo

By Isabel Sánchez

Why not take a trip to San Sebastián? Have a look at our flights here!