Baiona is the historic town at the southern mouth of the Ría de Vigo, protected by a medieval fortification that now houses a parador — one of Spain's famous state-owned hotels in a historic building. The fortress walls are open to visitors for a walk with sweeping views over the Atlantic and the Cíes Islands.
The old centre is handsome and lively in summer, with seafood restaurants clustered near the harbour and a good fish market. Beyond the Pinta replica, the beach at Praia América to the north is one of the better beaches on this section of the coast. Baiona makes a better base than Vigo for those prioritising beaches and the Cíes Islands, with a more manageable scale.