This coastal town in Galicia has white sand beaches, a large marina, and seafood restaurants serving local specialties. Summer temperatures stay mild at 25°C.
Sanxenxo is a coastal town in Spain's Galicia region with several beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. At Playa de Silgar, you can walk the wooden promenade and stop at beachfront cafes. Surfers head to A Lanzada beach for its consistent waves, while sailors can take day trips to the Ons Islands. The town comes alive in summer with street festivals, and its restaurants serve fresh seafood caught by local fishing boats.
Location and Getting There
Sanxenxo sits on Spain's northwestern coast in the Pontevedra province, 15 kilometers west of Pontevedra city. You can reach the town by taking the AP-9 toll road and connecting to VRG-41. The nearest airport is in Vigo, 60 kilometers away, with buses running every two hours to Sanxenxo. During summer months, additional bus services connect the town to major cities.
Beaches of Sanxenxo
Playa de Silgar extends for 600 meters along a curved bay, where the surrounding cliffs block strong winds and create calm swimming conditions. The wooden promenade has cafes and ice cream shops that stay open from 9 AM until 11 PM. A Lanzada beach spans over 3 kilometers, with waves reaching 1-2 meters in height during peak surfing seasons. At Baltar beach near Portonovo, you can walk through sand dunes or follow the marked paths through the pine grove behind the beach.
Summer Activities and Water Sports
Between June and September, boats leave daily for the Atlantic Islands National Park and the Ons Islands. A round-trip ticket costs €20 per person. On the islands, you can follow marked trails ranging from a 30-minute coastal walk to a 3-hour circuit of the lighthouse and cliffs. The town's marina has sailing schools where you can book basic courses, and at Playa de Silgar you can rent kayaks and paddleboards by the hour.
Local Food Scene
The morning fish market supplies Sanxenxo's restaurants with fresh seafood daily. Many menus include pulpo a la gallega (octopus prepared with paprika and olive oil), steamed mussels with bay leaves from local farms, and arroz con bogavante (rice with local lobster and saffron). Vineyards in the nearby Rías Baixas area produce Albariño white wine, and many open their cellars for tours between June and September.
Day Trips Around Sanxenxo
In Pontevedra, 30 minutes by car, you can explore granite squares in the medieval quarter and see the 16th-century Basilica of Santa María. The waterfront of Combarro, 13 kilometers away, has more than 30 stone houses and grain storage buildings built on stilts above the water. O Grove peninsula, a 20-minute drive north, combines seafood restaurants with thermal spas that maintain indoor and outdoor pools at 40°C year-round.
