Pontevedra
Pontevedra is a river city in Galicia where motor traffic in the old town is limited to residents and services, so its medieval squares are best seen on foot.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Pontevedra is a city in Galicia, northwest Spain, on the Lérez river at the end of the Pontevedra estuary. It is the capital of Pontevedra province and of the Rías Baixas area. Most of the center and the old town are pedestrianized, and motor traffic is limited to residents and services, so the medieval squares, churches and noble palaces are easy to reach on foot. Its historic center is the second most important in Galicia, after Santiago de Compostela.
The Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago runs through the city from south to north. Its main symbol is the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin, built in the 18th century for pilgrims, with a circular floor plan shaped like a scallop shell. The city has the most sunshine hours of any large Galician city, about 2,223 a year, though winter is rainy and Atlantic storms can bring gales and a sudden drop in temperature. Santiago de Compostela is about 58 km north and Vigo 30 km south.
Pontevedra in five
- Walk the old town on foot, nothing elseMost of the historic center is closed to cars, so the streets are flat, quiet and walkable. Start at the Praza da Ferrería and let the squares set the route.
- Eat Galician seafood in the old town's barsThe Rías Baixas are known for shellfish and white wine. Order from the day's board and ask what is local; bars here are casual and priced for residents.
- Use the train to Santiago and VigoFast regional trains link Pontevedra with Santiago and with Vigo in under an hour. It makes a good base if you want a quieter, cheaper evening.Santiago de Compostela
- Book the Cíes Islands boat in advance in summerThe Cíes Islands sit off the Vigo coast, with limited summer visitor numbers. Check the Xunta's official site for authorizations and boat departures from nearby ports.Vigo
- Walk part of the Portuguese Camino hereA stretch of the Camino Portugués passes through the old town. It is an easy stage to try without committing to the whole walk.
Things to do in Pontevedra
See all attractions in Pontevedra
Need to know
- Airport
- Vigo (VGO) or Santiago (SCQ), by road or train
- Getting there
- Train or bus from Santiago and Vigo in under an hour
- Getting around
- Walk; the old town is closed to cars
- Best base
- The old town or near the station
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, rainyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 228 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rainy
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, wetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, showersMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Spring, greenAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, greenMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°WarmJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Dry, warmJulyClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°WarmestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm seaSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°MildOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 257 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°WetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
Average daily high and low in Pontevedra, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Aug Viking Festival of Catoira · Sep Pontevedra Feira Franca
Right now in Pontevedra
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 53%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Pontevedra
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today21°10°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue17°7°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed14°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu13°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 13°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri14°3°35%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sat13°9°60%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sun16°13°93%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 93%.
Updated 06:28 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- AugViking Festival of CatoiraPontevedra
- SepPontevedra Feira FrancaPontevedra
Day trips by train
- Santiago de Compostelaabout 30–45 min by trainThe cathedral and the end of the Camino.Read the guide
- Vigoabout 25–40 min by trainA big port and the departure point for the Cíes Islands.Read the guide
- Combarroabout 10 min by carA fishing village with granite hórreos on the shore.
Before you go to Pontevedra
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Pontevedra, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you travel.
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Pilgrims on the Portuguese Way need a credencial to stay in albergues. Get it from a pilgrim office or parish on the route and have it stamped at each stop.
- Motor traffic in the old town is limited to residents and services. Check the Concello de Pontevedra's traffic rules before you drive in.
Plan around Pontevedra
Regions, trains, entry rules and money for the whole country
Read the guideSantiago de CompostelaThe Camino finish, 30–45 minutes north by train
Read the guideVigoA big Atlantic port with the Cíes Islands boats
Read the guideGaliciaRías, Romanesque churches and the Camino routes
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow a Portugal and Spain combination counts toward 90 days
Read the guidePontevedra FAQ
Is Pontevedra worth visiting?
Yes, for a calm, walkable old town and good seafood. It lacks a headline sight, so it suits a slow stopover rather than a long stay. Many travelers combine it with Santiago and Vigo.
How far is Pontevedra from Santiago de Compostela?
About 30–45 minutes by train, or a bit longer by bus or car. It is an easy day trip in either direction, and many walkers do part of the Camino between the two.
Is Pontevedra a good base for the Rías Baixas?
Yes. It has the old town, a train station and links to coves, Cangas and Vigo. Add a car if you want to reach smaller beaches and wineries around the rías.
Can you visit the Cíes Islands from Pontevedra?
Yes, by getting to Vigo, Baiona or Cangas for the boat. In busy periods you need an authorization and a boat ticket, so check the official sites before you go.
What is the best time to visit Pontevedra?
May to June and September are warm and green with fewer crowds. July and August are busiest and driest. Winter is rainy, but the old town is lively and the seafood is at its best.