Sanxenxo is a popular seaside resort town in Pontevedra province, Galicia. While the town may lack the historic charm of other parts of Galicia, if you are looking for beaches, bars, food and fun then it may be for you. Sanxenxo municipality has a population of about 17,000 people but this booms during the summer months as people escape the cities and head to the beach.
The main focus of Sanxenxo is the beach, Playa de Silgar. This is a large semi-circular white sandy beach with a boardwalk running along it. On the street lining the beach are numerous bars and restaurants. So there are no shortages of places to stop, eat and take in the view. Apartment buildings surround the beach as well, all with magnificent views across the beautiful blue water.
Most of the buildings in the town have been built in the last 50 years but there are a few older historic buildings hidden behind the newer apartment blocks on the water. As you’d imagine, apartments with sea views and direct beach access command the highest prices. But if you stay a little further back from the beach you will pay a lot less and still be only a few minutes walk from the water. The town is very clean and the beach is well maintained to keep tourists happy.
You will mostly find that is Galicians and other Spaniards holidaying in Sanxenxo. The area has largely flown under the radar of foreign visitors which means you can have a great holiday, with authentic Galician and Spanish dining. If you can’t holiday without a traditional English breakfast, find somewhere else to stay.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the whole Sanxenxo municipality sits on a peninsula. It has around a dozen of other beaches and small towns where you will find different types of accommodation, beaches and activities.
With about a dozen nice beaches in the municipality, you could spend a week just visiting each of them. Some of the best are Playa de Areas, Playa Canelas, Playa de Baltar, Playa de Foxos.
Nearby Cambados is a pretty little seaside town that also happens to be the Alborino wine capital of the world. There are plenty of places to try and buy the local product and plenty of good places to eat. It is located about a 20-minute drive away to the north.
There are a number of boat cruises you can do in the region. Some of these include tours of Muscle farms with wine served along with, of course, plenty of muscles.
There are several places in the area to do scuba diving and courses. Just grab a brochure almost anywhere in town.
“My tip for Sanxenxo is to book your accommodation early. It’s a popular destination and apartments and hotel rooms sell out fast.”
The nearest major airport is 45 minute drive away at Santiago de Compostela. To get from Santiago de Compostela you are then looking at a 34-minute train trip followed by a 28-minute taxi ride at the cost of around 30 Euros.
Pontevedra is about a 29-minute drive away and is also the location of the nearest rail link.
The port city of Vigo is 41 minutes away by car and its airport has a number of flights from other Spanish cities. The taxi fare from Vigo airport will set you back at about 65 Euros.