So, you’re looking at flights to Vigo Spain. Honestly, most people just book a ticket to Madrid or Barcelona and think they’ll "figure it out" from there. That is a massive mistake. Vigo is tucked away in the Rías Baixas, and while it feels like the edge of the world, getting there doesn't have to be a headache if you actually know how the regional connections work.
I’ve spent enough time navigating Galician transport to tell you that Peinador Airport (VGO) is a quirky little beast. It’s small. It’s efficient. But if you aren't careful, you’ll end up spending six hours on a train from Madrid when you could have just hopped a quick connection.
📖 Related: Chicago on the Map: Why the Windy City’s Location Is Actually Its Secret Weapon
The Reality of Flying into Peinador (VGO)
Vigo Airport, or Peinador, is basically ten minutes from the city center. It’s incredibly convenient. Unlike the trek from Barajas into central Madrid, you can be eating pulpo á feira in the Casco Vello within 30 minutes of touchdown.
Iberia and Air Europa own the skies here. They run the Madrid-Vigo shuttle like a bus service. If you’re coming from the US or UK, you’re almost certainly going to lay over in Madrid. Sometimes Vueling offers a decent connection through Barcelona, but Iberia is usually your best bet for reliability.
Why you might skip Vigo Airport entirely
Wait, what? Yeah. Sometimes the best way to find flights to Vigo Spain is to not fly to Vigo.
👉 See also: Why Luxury Hotels Las Vegas In-Room Wellness Technology is Changing How You Sleep
Hear me out. Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) is only 50 minutes away by car or an hour by a very cheap train. Because Santiago is a massive pilgrimage site, the flight prices there are often half what you’d pay for a direct ticket to Vigo. If you're on a budget, check SCQ. Also, don't sleep on Porto (OPO) in Portugal. It’s about 90 minutes south, has way more international direct flights, and there’s a direct bus (the Alsa) that drops you right in downtown Vigo.
Best Airlines and Routes for 2026
If you’re determined to fly straight into VGO, here is the current landscape.
- Iberia: Multiple daily flights from Madrid. This is the gold standard.
- Vueling: Good for connecting through Barcelona. Often cheaper, but they’ll hit you with bag fees.
- Binter Canarias: Surprisingly great if you're coming from the Canary Islands. They fly from Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
- Ryanair: They occasionally dip their toes into Vigo with routes from London (Stansted or Luton), but these are seasonal and fickle. Check the 2026 summer schedule early.
Honestly, the "hidden" trick is looking at Air Nostrum. They operate under the Iberia umbrella and handle many of the regional hops. Their planes are smaller, but the service is usually decent.
When to Book Your Tickets
Galicia is rainy. Like, "why am I underwater" rainy. If you book a flight in February, you’ll get a great deal, but you’ll also see a lot of grey.
The sweet spot is May or September. The weather is crisp, the sun is out, and the tourist crowds at the Cíes Islands haven't peaked yet. If you’re eyeing July or August, book at least four months in advance. Everyone in Madrid flees the heat for the Galician coast in the summer, and flight prices skyrocket.
✨ Don't miss: All inclusive cancun vacations: What most people get wrong about the Hotel Zone
Getting from Peinador to the City Center
Once you land, don't get scammed by unofficial transfers.
The Vitrasa A bus (Line 9A) is the local way to do it. It’s about €1.50. It runs every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on weekends. It’s not fancy. You’ll be sitting with locals coming home from work, but it gets you to Plaza de América or the city center perfectly fine.
If you have three suitcases and zero patience, a taxi will cost you around €25. It’s a flat-ish rate, but always make sure the meter is on. Uber exists here now, but it’s hit or miss depending on the time of day.
A Quick Reality Check on the Cíes Islands
Most people searching for flights to Vigo are actually trying to get to the Cíes Islands. Remember: even if you have your flight, you need a permit to visit the islands. They limit visitors to about 1,800 a day. You can't just show up at the port with your boarding pass and hope for the best. Get that permit the same day you buy your plane ticket.
Essential Travel Logistics for Vigo
Let's talk about the hills. Vigo is built on a slope. A steep one. When you’re looking at hotels near the "center," check the elevation.
- Vigo-Guixar vs. Vigo-Urzáiz: These are the two train stations. If you’re coming from the airport and heading further into Galicia, know which one you need. Urzáiz is the shiny new one for high-speed trains; Guixar is for the older regional lines.
- Seafood is king: You’re in the biggest fishing port in Europe. Don't eat at the places with pictures of food on the menu. Head to Rúa da Pescadería (Oyster Street) and just buy them fresh from the granite tables.
- The Portugal Factor: Since you're so close to the border, many people use Vigo as a base to visit Valença or Porto. The "Celta" train to Porto is a beautiful two-hour ride.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
Stop overthinking the "perfect" flight and just get to this corner of Spain. It’s greener, cheaper, and more authentic than the Mediterranean coast.
- Check Santiago (SCQ) and Porto (OPO) prices first. Compare them against VGO. If the difference is more than €100, take the alternative and use the train/bus.
- Download the Vitrasa app. It’s the only way to accurately track the airport bus in real-time.
- Book the Cíes Islands permit immediately. You can do this through the Xunta de Galicia website.
- Pack a raincoat. Even in July. Seriously.
Vigo isn't a city that tries to impress you with shiny monuments. It’s gritty, salty, and incredibly alive. Getting your flight sorted is just the first step into a version of Spain that most tourists never bother to find.