Hotels in Baiona

Baiona is a small Galician fishing and sailing town at the mouth of the Vigo estuary, and it owns one genuine claim to world history: in March 1493 the Pinta sailed in here, making Baiona the first European port to hear that Columbus had reached the Americas. A replica of the caravel bobs in the harbour, and the walled Monterreal fortress on the headland, now a parador, gives the town its postcard silhouette. The compact old quarter is good for seafood and Albariño, and the views across to the Cíes Islands are superb.

Nearby beaches like A Ladeira are broad and sandy. This is the Atlantic, so the water is cold, the weather is changeable even in summer, and July and August bring heavy day-tripper crowds from Vigo, while winter can feel very quiet. With only a handful of hotels, it pays to book ahead in peak season. Stay in or near the old town by the harbour, where restaurants, the fortress walk and the waterfront are all on foot.