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Galicia: the Rías Baixas: 4-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 4-day version for July: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.
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4
days
140 km
distance
5.5 h
driving
26
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~14.8 hours of daylight in July — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Cíes Islands boats run daily — reserve the free visitor permit ahead — and the rías are warm enough for long albariño lunches over the water.
Day 1 Santiago de Compostela → Pontevedra
- Transit
- 2h32
- Finish
- ~17:00
- Temperature
- 14.4°C–25.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~4
- Daylight
- 14.8h
09:00
Explore the grand Romanesque cathedral with diverse facades and towering Baroque entrance.
50 min · Santiago de Compostela · Adult €20, conc €16
open: Daily 07:00-21:00
10:00
Visit this rebuilt Benedictine monastery, now a seminary, museum, and simple hotel.
50 min · Santiago de Compostela
open: M-Th 09:00-20:00, F 09:00-15:00
11:00
Admire Peter Eisenman's modern architecture resembling rolling hills or scallops.
50 min · Santiago de Compostela
open: Daily 07:00-23:00
14:05
Museo Provincial de Pontevedra museo.depo.gal map ↗
Explore Galicia's heritage from prehistory to the 20th century in Edificio Castelao.
50 min · Pontevedra · Free
open: Tu-Sa 10:00-21:00, Su 11:00-14:00
15:05
16:10
Overnight: Pontevedra
e.g. Hotel Madrid · Hotel Avenida
Day 2 Around Pontevedra
- Transit
- 0h36
- Finish
- ~15:55
- Temperature
- 14.4°C–25.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~4
- Daylight
- 14.8h
09:00
Santa María a Maior santamarialamayor.org map ↗
Wander through the Gothic cathedral completed in 1559.
50 min · Pontevedra · Free; tower €5
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:05
Santuario de las Apariciones casadelinmaculadocorazon.es
Visit this 16th century mansion, now a convent with a rich spiritual history.
50 min · Pontevedra
14:55
Bar Pitillo search
Savor tasty tapas in a bustling, lively bar.
60 min · Pontevedra
open: M-Sa 09:00-16:00, 19:00-00:00
Day 3 Vigo & the Cíes Islands
- Transit
- 1h27
- Finish
- ~16:45
- Temperature
- 15.0°C–25.7°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 14.8h
09:30
Islas Cíes read more
Spot beaches, birds, and marine life on these islands.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands
10:35
Admire over 1500 works of art and city history.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands · Free
open: Tu-F, Su 10:00-14:00, Sa 17:00-20:00
11:40
Museum of Contemporary Art marcovigo.com read more
Discover changing contemporary art in a former prison.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands · Free
open: Tu-Sa 11:00-14:30, 17:00-21:00, Su 11:00-14:30
12:45
Museo do Mar de Galicia museodomar.xunta.gal read more
Immerse yourself in Galicia's maritime history.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands · Adult €1.50, conc or child €3
open: Jun-Sep Tu-Su 11:00-14:00, 16:30-20:30, Oct-May Tu-Th 10:00-14:00, 16:00-19:00, Sa Su 11:00-14:30, 17:00-20:00
13:50
Castillo de San Sebastián read more
Explore this restored fortress with historic views.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands · Free
open: 24 hours
14:55
Monte da Guía read more
Take in bay views from this wooded hilltop park.
50 min · Vigo & the Cíes Islands
15:45
Overnight here
e.g. Hotel Alda Puerta del Sol · NH Palacio de Vigo
Day 4 Baiona
- Transit
- 0h54
- Finish
- ~15:20
- Temperature
- 15.0°C–25.7°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 14.8h
09:30
10:30
11:30
12:30
13:30
14:20
Refuxio menuyvinos.com
Indulge in mostly tapas and occasional steaks.
60 min · Baiona
open: Daily 12:00-17:00, 20:00-00:30
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.