Cíes Islands

Highlights

  • • Rodas beach — voted world's best beach
  • • Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park
  • • Access limited to 2,200 visitors/day
  • • World's largest yellow-legged gull colony
  • • Ferries from Vigo, Cangas and Baiona

Description

An archipelago of three islands at the mouth of the Ría de Vigo, declared Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. Rodas beach, linking the North and South islands by a strip of white sand and turquoise waters, was voted the world's best beach by The Guardian. Access is limited to 2,200 daily visitors requiring advance authorisation in summer. The seabed harbours extraordinary biodiversity: kelp forests, bottlenose dolphins, European shags and the world's largest yellow-legged gull colony.

Guide

Essential information for visiting Cíes Islands

Location

How to get there

By carBy public transport
Planning Information

Visitor Tips

Apply for authorisation on the Xunta website (mandatory June-September). Book ferry in advance. Bring food and water — no restaurants, only a beach bar. Sunscreen essential. Lighthouse trails take 1.5h. Camping only with advance booking.

Historical Facts

The Romans called them the Islands of the Gods. Pirates including Francis Drake used them as a base. They were declared a Natural Park in 1980 and National Park in 2002. In 2007, The Guardian crowned them the world's best beach, sparking international fame. Access authorisation was implemented in 2017 to protect the ecosystem.