Qibla · Galicia
Qibla direction in Vigo
To face the Kaaba in Vigo, turn to 101.6° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (11.6° south of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 5,052 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Vigo should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Vigo as a needle at 101.6°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 102°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Vigo
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 11.6° towards south: the result is the bearing of 101.6°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 12° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Vigo, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Vigo to Mecca points to 117.0° (south-east), a full 15.4° away from the true Qibla of 101.6° (east). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 46 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Vigo first heads east, and that is the direction to face.
The value of 101.6° is the direction in which the shortest route from 42.2328° N, 8.7226° W sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Vigo to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 5,052 km from Vigo as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 4,827 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 6 h 27 min, although most pilgrims from Vigo connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Vigo run 2 hours behind Mecca in winter and 1 hour behind Mecca in summer, because of daylight saving time. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Vigo rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Vigo
On 219 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Vigo while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 15 March 2027 it happens at 08:43 local time.
On 127 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in May (31 days), for instance on 1 May 2027 at 20:34.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | — | — |
| 1 March 2027 | — | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 08:43 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 10:06 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 10:25 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 10:46 | 20:34 |
| 15 May 2027 | 11:04 | 20:15 |
| 1 June 2027 | 11:22 | 20:00 |
| 15 June 2027 | 11:31 | 19:56 |
| 1 July 2027 | 11:34 | 20:00 |
| 15 July 2027 | 11:27 | 20:11 |
| 1 August 2027 | 11:10 | 20:30 |
| 15 August 2027 | 10:49 | 20:47 |
| 1 September 2027 | 10:19 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 09:51 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 09:20 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | — | — |
| 1 November 2027 | — | — |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Vigo: at 11:18 and 11:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Vigo compared with other cities
Compared with Madrid, 465 km away, the Qibla in Vigo is turned 2.3° further anticlockwise (101.6° against 104.0°), and Mecca is 453 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Ourense (72 km), prays towards 102.5°, a difference of 0.8°.
Across the 49 cities in Spain on this site, the Qibla ranges from 84.6° in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to 112.0° in Girona, a spread of 27.4°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Spain.
Qibla in cities near Vigo
- Ourense102.5° · 72 km
- A Coruña103.0° · 129 km
- León, Castille and León, Spain104.7° · 262 km
- Oviedo105.2° · 266 km
- Gijón105.6° · 288 km
- Salamanca, Castille and León, Spain102.9° · 291 km
Qibla in Vigo: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Vigo?
It is 101.6° from true north, which is east: 11.6° south of east.
How far is Vigo from Mecca?
5,052 km in a straight line over the globe, and 4,827 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Vigo?
On 219 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Vigo not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 117.0°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Vigo at 101.6°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 101.6° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.