Understand
[edit]The estuaries of the Rías Baixas are dotted by islands, and O Grove is almost one of them, but the tombola of O Vao links it to the mainland. The original name was Ogrobe but the initial "O" got separated and confused with the Galician word for "the". It has a small fishing trade, especially shellfish, and morphed into a beach resort in the 20th century.
A Toxa is an island long connected by bridge to O Grove. In the 19th century it became fashionable for its geo-thermal mud baths, but nowadays you go there to play golf.
Get in
[edit]Highway AG / VG-41 is a spur off AP-9, the motorway crossing Galicia north-south. This leads onto the tombola road leading into town; it gets congested on fine summer weekends.
Monbus runs hourly from Pontevedra, taking 90 min with multiple stops. They also run three times a day from Santiago de Compostela, taking two hours via Padrón.
1 Estación de autobuses is by the harbour in O Grove.
Get around
[edit]The town is best explored on foot. You need wheels to get around the peninsula and Toxa island, linked by road bridge.
See
[edit]
- 1 A Siradella is the highest point of the peninsula, with great all-round views.
- 2 O Grove Aquarium, C Reboredo, Punta Moreiras, ☏ +34 986 732327. Daily 11:00-14:00, 16:00-19:00. Displaying local species; pricey for what you get. Adult €15, child €12.
- Museo das Salgadeiras de Moreiras 200 m north of the aquarium is a small museum about the local fish-curing industry, open Tu-Sa 11:00-14:00, 16:30-19:30.
- 3 Ermida da Toxa on Toxa island is a small chapel from the 12th century covered with scallop shells.
- 4 Toxa Pequena is an islet east of Toxa, with the smaller Ortigueira between. Nothing there.
Do
[edit]
- Beaches: lots here and there, but the best is Lanzada, the 3 km Atlantic-facing shore of the tombola.
- Boat trips from the harbour explore other nearby islands such as Sálvora. The bay is dotted with platforms for mussel farming.
- Golf: La Toja Golf is towards the north of Toxa island.
Buy
[edit]- Mercado Municipal is on Rúa Irmans Otero Goday in O Grove, open M-Sa 08:30-14:00.
- Several supermarkets, such as Eroski Center at Rúa Alcalde Xacobe Barral Otero 8, open M-F 09:00-21:30.
Eat
[edit]- Half a dozen places near the harbour.
Drink
[edit]- Several bars along Rua Cruceiro.
- Galician wine is white and crisp similar to Portuguese.
Sleep
[edit]
- Hotel Norat Marina is at Rúa Peralto 32.
- Hotel Spa Norat is at Rúa Luis Cassais 22.
- Hotel Maruxia is at Rúa Luis Cassais 14.
- Hostal As Viñas is at Rúa Luis Seoane 38.
- 1 Hotel Montemar, Rúa Teniente Dominguez 6, ☏ +34 611 036316. Basic hotel by the bridge to Toxa.
- 2 Hotel Samar, La Lanzada, ☏ +34 986 738378. Efficient hotel on the tombola beach. B&B double €150.
- 3 Hotel Spa Atlantico, Lugar de Granxa 15, San Vicente, ☏ +34 986 738061. Pleasant hotel with pool north edge of village. B&B double €110.
Connect
[edit]As of May 2025, O Grove and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from Masmovil, Movistar and Orange.
Go next
[edit]- Combarro is the largest of the string of villages along the mainland north shore of the Ria.
- Pontevedra the provincial capital has a historic centre.
- Santiago de Compostela to the north has a magnificent medieval old town.