Pontevedra Holidays: Old Town, Convents and Galician Coast
Provincia de Pontevedra · Galicia · Spain · 82,802 residents · on the coast
Ruins of San Domingos Convent
Basilica of Santa María la Mayor
Sculpture Island Park
plaza de toros de Pontevedra
Old town of PontevedraPontevedra is a provincial capital of around 83,000 people in Galicia, sitting just 29 metres above sea level on Spain's north-west coast. Its protected old town holds an unusual concentration of gothic buildings within a few hundred yards of each other: the ruined San Domingos Convent, the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, and the convents of San Francisco and Santa Clara. A little further out you will find the Sculpture Island Park, Lérez Beach and the wetlands of the Marismas de Alba natural park. Three airports with direct flights from the United Kingdom lie within reach, the closest under an hour away. Summer here is warm rather than scorching, and August is the standout month.
Why go
- The gothic ruins of San Domingos Convent sit barely 0.1 miles from the centre of town.
- August brings highs of 27°C with just four rainy days on average, ideal for exploring.
- Santiago de Compostela airport, with direct UK flights, is only a 49-minute drive away.
Top sights in Pontevedra
Gothic Convents, Museums and Riverside Parks
Start with the Ruins of San Domingos Convent, the roofless remains of a gothic convent about 0.1 miles from the centre, then walk a quarter of a mile to the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, which blends gothic and renaissance styles. The protected Old town of Pontevedra wraps around both, and within it you will also find the gothic San Francisco convent, the Convent of Santa Clara and the Palacio de la Diputación, the palace of the provincial council. The town's bullring, the plaza de toros, lies about 0.4 miles out.
For museums, the Pontevedra Museum, the Archbishop's Towers Interpretation Centre (CITA), an archaeological museum, and the former Jesuit school of Colegio de la Compañía are all within a quarter of a mile of the centre and suit families well. Slightly further afield, the Sculpture Island Park is an open-air sculpture park around 0.8 miles away, Lérez Beach is 1.1 miles out, the Marismas de Alba natural park offers a large expanse of wetland about 1.3 miles away, and the Pazo of Lourizán, a palace, sits roughly 1.8 miles from town.
Tours and tickets for Pontevedra and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page, with more than 40 activities shown in the booking cards below.
- 1Ruins of San Domingos Convent
- 2Basilica of Santa María la Mayor
- 3Sculpture Island Park
- 4plaza de toros de Pontevedra
- 5Old town of Pontevedra
- 6Marismas de Alba natural park
- 7Convent of Santa Clara
- 8Palacio de la Diputación de Pontevedra
- 9Archbishop's Towers Interpretation Centre (CITA)
- 10San Francisco convent
- 11Lérez Beach
- 12Colegio de la Compañía
1monastery- 2basilica
Basilica of Santa María la Mayor
In the centre · Photo
gothic and renaissance basilica in Pontevedra, Spain
- 3museum
- 4amphitheatre
- 5protected area
6protected area
7monastery
8palacePalacio de la Diputación de Pontevedra
In the centre · Photo
Palace of the provincial council of Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain
9museumArchbishop's Towers Interpretation Centre (CITA)
In the centre · Photo
archeological museum in Pontevedra, Spain
10monastery
11beach
12museum
Tours & tickets in Pontevedra
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Pontevedra can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Pontevedra
Old Town or the River's Edge
Most of what draws visitors to Pontevedra is concentrated in the old town, where convents, the basilica and several museums sit within a few minutes' walk of each other. Staying here puts you on foot for nearly everything, and as a working city of over 80,000 people it keeps a lively, lived-in feel through the year.
If you prefer greenery and a slightly calmer base, the areas towards the Sculpture Island Park, Lérez Beach and the Marismas de Alba lie between one and one and a half miles from the centre. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across the town.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Pontevedra and the villages around it is a hire car from Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), about 49 min away.
Best time to visit Pontevedra
When to Visit Pontevedra
- 14°CJan237 mm
- 16°CFeb128 mm
- 16°CMar248 mm
- 20°CApr111 mm
- 21°CMay138 mm
- 24°CJun93 mm
- 26°CJul45 mm
- 27°CAug17 mm
- 24°CSept140 mm
- 21°COct419 mm
- 18°CNov259 mm
- 15°CDec190 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
August is the most pleasant month in Pontevedra, with average highs of 27°C, lows of 17°C, only 17 mm of rain and around four wet days. July runs it close at 26°C, with eight rainy days, and June is a gentler 24°C. These are also the warmest months of the year.
Galicia is famously green for a reason. October is the wettest month by far, averaging 419 mm of rain across 21 days, and March and November are also very wet. Winters are mild rather than cold, with highs of 14 to 16°C from December to March, so the city suits a cultural break off-season if you pack a good waterproof.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 7°C | 237 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 7°C | 128 mm | 8 h |
| Mar | 16°C | 9°C | 248 mm | 7 h |
| Apr | 20°C | 10°C | 111 mm | 10 h |
| May | 21°C | 12°C | 138 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 24°C | 16°C | 93 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 26°C | 16°C | 45 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 27°C | 17°C | 17 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 24°C | 15°C | 140 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 21°C | 14°C | 419 mm | 6 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 11°C | 259 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 15°C | 7°C | 190 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Drives from the UK
Santiago de Compostela airport (SCQ) is the closest, about 34 miles away and roughly a 49-minute drive, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. A Coruña airport (LCG), around 62 miles away, also has direct UK flights and is about an hour and a half by car. Asturias airport (OVD) is a further option with direct UK flights, though at around 153 miles it is a drive of about three hours and forty minutes.
If you would rather bring your own car, the drive from Calais takes around 18 hours of driving time, so most people will want to split it over two or more days. Car hire from any of the airports makes it easy to reach the coastal villages nearby.
By air
- Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)34 miles, about 49 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- A Coruña (LCG)62 miles, about 1 h 28 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Asturias (OVD)153 miles, about 3 h 38 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 17 h 53 min without stops.
Pontevedra is good for
Around Pontevedra
Coastal Towns Within Easy Reach
Combarro is the closest escape, just 3 miles away. Sanxenxo, the largest of the nearby coastal towns, and neighbouring Portonovo are both about 9 miles from Pontevedra.
Around 11 miles out you can choose between Cambados, Bueu and Redondela, while Moaña and O Grove are both roughly 12 miles away. With so many towns within a short drive, Pontevedra works well as a base for exploring this stretch of the Galician coast with a hire car.
.jpg/500px-Catedral_de_Santiago_de_Compostela_agosto_2018_(cropped).jpg)
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Pack for rain outside high summer. Even September averages 13 wet days, and October brings more than 400 mm of rain, so a waterproof jacket is far more useful here than in southern Spain.
The main sights are remarkably compact, with most convents, museums and the basilica within a quarter of a mile of the centre, so you can see a great deal on foot in a day. Remember that Pontevedra is a provincial capital rather than a beach resort; for sand and sea beyond Lérez Beach, plan short drives to the coastal towns nearby.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Pontevedra from the UK?
Santiago de Compostela airport (SCQ) is the nearest, around 34 miles away and roughly a 49-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. A Coruña airport, about 62 miles away, is another option with direct UK flights.
What is the weather like in Pontevedra in summer?
Summer is warm without being extreme. August averages highs of 27°C with only four rainy days, July reaches about 26°C and June about 24°C. Nights stay comfortable at around 16 to 17°C during these months.
When is the rainiest time to visit Pontevedra?
October is the wettest month, averaging 419 mm of rain over 21 days. March and November are also very wet. If you want reliable dry weather, August is by far the best choice, with just 17 mm of rain.
Is Pontevedra good for a family holiday?
Yes. Many attractions suit families, including the Ruins of San Domingos Convent, the Sculpture Island Park, the Pontevedra Museum, the CITA archaeological museum and Lérez Beach. Most of these are close together, which makes getting around with children straightforward.
Are there beaches near Pontevedra?
Lérez Beach is about 1.1 miles from the town centre. For more coastline, Sanxenxo and Portonovo are around 9 miles away, and O Grove is roughly 12 miles away, all within an easy drive.
Can you drive to Pontevedra from the UK?
You can. The drive from Calais takes around 18 hours of driving time, so it is best split over at least two days. Most British travellers find flying to Santiago de Compostela and hiring a car quicker.