The Best Things To Do In Aveiro, Portugal's City of Canals

A special city with an intriguing past, Aveiro is an underrated gem close to Porto. Our Aveiro guide includes the best things to do, where to stay, and essential information how to get here and how long you should spend.

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As far as we’re concerned, Porto is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We could easily spend days, weeks, and months exploring its narrow cobblestoned laneways, such is our love for that enchanting city.

However… Portugal is so much more than just Porto & Lisbon. The surrounding area is rich with culture and history- and there is a long list of fascinating places that you have to see. We covered some of them in our post detailing the best day trips from Porto.

Aveiro is one of those places that is deserving of a visit. It’s only an hour away from Porto, making it an ideal candidate for a romantic day trip away. We choose to spend a few days in this maritime city- and we’re here to share what we discovered.

If you’ve heard of Aveiro, then you probably heard it referred to as “the Venice of Portugal.” Canals crisscross throughout its old town, connecting the heart of Aveiro with the neighbouring lagoon. Vibrant traditional boats navigate this ancient waterway.

Feelings of romance and whimsy float through the air in Aveiro (along with the scent of ovos moles, but we’ll get to that later). There’s something almost fairy-tale-like about the vibrantly painted boats docked along the promenade or gliding underneath elegant stone bridges.

Clear water splashes along their shallow, cherry hulls; their passengers squeal with delight, waving eagerly. Art Nouveau buildings from the turn of the 20th century observe their journey from above.

There’s no denying that Aveiro is a special city. To help you best organise your time there, we have compiled our top Aveiro activities in this post. There’s also a section on how to get here and how long you should spend.

AVEIRO GUIDE OVERVIEW

WHERE | 70 kilometers south of Porto and 250 kilometers north of Lisbon

THINGS TO DO | Ride a moliceiro boat through the canals, Wander the old town, visit the beaches & lighthouse at Praia da Barra, take a trip to colourful Costa Nova

WHERE TO EAT | Sample ovos moles at Confeitaria Peixinho, sample sardines at Comur, Sétimo Beach Club, Bacalhau & Afins

WHERE TO STAY | Hotel Aveiro Palace

HOW TO GET THERE | Train, bus or car rental

BEST TIME TO VISIT | May - June

WHERE TO STAY IN AVEIRO

Here are three standout hotels in Aveiro, Portugal, offering unique experiences and a touch of luxury:

HOTEL MOLICEIRO

Overlooking Aveiro's iconic canals, Hotel Moliceiro is slightly ostentatious, but it works. The bold, individually styled rooms are both comfortable and sophisticated (and colourful), and there’s also a complimentary glass of port waiting on arrival (always a win!).

The delicious breakfast spread highlights local flavours, and the hotel's central location makes exploring the city easy.

BOOK | Hotel Moliceiro

HOTEL AVEIRO PALACE

Set by the city’s famous central canal, Hotel Aveiro Palace is a historic gem retrofitted for the modern traveller. The rooms offer stunning city views and are light-filled and spacious.

Its proximity to cultural landmarks and vibrant local eateries makes it a perfect base for exploring Aveiro's charm.

BOOK | Hotel Aveiro Palace

MELIÁ RIA HOTEL & SPA

If you seek contemporary luxury, Meliá Ria Hotel & Spa delivers in abundance.

Situated near the Ria de Aveiro, this futuristic hotel has stylish rooms, a rejuvenating spa, and an on-site restaurant serving some wonderful local cuisine, including an excellent breakfast buffet.

BOOK | Meliá Ria Hotel & Spa

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN AVEIRO

TAKE A MOLICEIRO BOAT TOUR THROUGH THE CANALS

Aveiro is famous for its network of glistening canals and colourful traditional moliceiro boats. The canals are undeniably Aveiro’s main attraction- the reason why tourists flock to this quaint, maritime town just south of Porto. For a reasonable fee, you can glide through Aveiro’s canals on one of these distinctive boats.

Each also bears an evocative, often risque, image on its stern and curved bow. Many of these brightly painted panel motifs depict religious, historical, and local scenes. The boat itself is a punchy shade of red and sits low in the water.

This style of boat is unique to the region. Originally, they were used to harvest and transport seaweed from the nearby lagoon. The seaweed, called moliço, fertilised the farmlands. Nowadays, the moliceiro boat is purely for tourists.

So how much does a moliceiro boat ride cost? A tour in Aveiro lasts for 45 minutes and costs around 13€. The first sailing is at 9 AM and the last at 5 PM.

Admittedly, we came to Aveiro with some pretty lofty expectations for the canals. It is known as the Venice of Portugal, after all. We spent a few days in Aveiro and have to say, this unofficial title feels a bit overinflated. The canals are beautiful, yet not very extensive.

Although the moliceiro rides are very touristy, we feel they’re worth the fee, if just for the experience.

BOOK | Pre-book your moliceiro boat tour here

WANDER THROUGH AVEIRO’S OLD TOWN

One of our favourite European activities is wandering the continent’s charming, cobblestoned old towns. Although Aveiro’s old town is modest in size, it is no less delightful.

Of course, it has the classic cobblestoned streets that we know and love. Aveiro has put its own spin on cobblestone, however, by adding shapes of fish and local coastal images to the laneways.

If you wish to learn more about the history of the town, its industries and attractions, we suggest joining this walking tour.

As you explore Aveiro’s old town, you will come across buildings adorned with Azulejos tiles, statues, churches, and arched bridges dressed in fluttering ribbons. These colourful ribbons are tied by couples, giving these bridges the nickname “lover’s bridges.”

If you’re visiting Aveiro with a lover of your own, you can purchase a ribbon to tie onto one of the bridges.

BOOK | This highly-rated Aveiro walking tour

SAMPLE OVOS MOLES, THE LOCAL SWEET

Move over pastel de nata, it’s ovos moles time.

Ovos moles are the signature sweets of Aveiro. In their truest, most simple form, they are pure egg yolk and sugar in a variety of shapes and sizes. Seashells, clams, barrels, and nuts are the most common shapes, each representing a different aspect of Aveiro culture. There are also different, more complex pastry versions of ovos moles.

Like the pastel de nata, ovos moles originate in the convents of Portugal. Nuns in the Aveiro convent had the brilliant idea to combine egg yolks and sugar, and the recipe eventually made its way into broader society.

We came to Aveiro with a well-established affinity for Portuguese sweets and left with a new favourite in the ovos moles. The centre is creamy, eggy, and perfectly sweet; the exterior is papery and light. It’s delicious.

Interestingly, ovos moles can only be made in Aveiro. Just as port wine can only come from the Douro Valley near Porto, ovos moles are not ovos moles if they’re made outside of Aveiro.

Although ovos moles are sold throughout the almost coastal town, we went to the Confeitaria Peixinho for our daily dose of this local delicacy.

There are also workshops in Aveiro to teach you the ins and outs of making ovos moles.

BOOK | Sample ovos moles on this walking tour

TRY THE SARDINES AT COMUR

Portugal is renowned for its sardines. And one of its largest and most significant canneries, Comur, started here in Aveiro in 1942.

Comur’s stores feel like the Willy Wonka Factory of Fish. They’re… unlikely anything we have ever seen before, to be honest. Every surface is either crimson or gold, there are carnival lights and chandeliers, giant toy soldiers stand guard, and entire walls are covered in cans of sardines. Plus, the cans are decorated with bright and bold designs.

The Comur store in Porto is the largest and most outrageous, however, there is a smaller establishment in Aveiro. It may lack the life-size toy soldiers, but sardine cans are plentiful.

The traditional, Portuguese way of eating sardines is on a piece of sliced bread. We were told broa de avintes (a kind of rye) or broa de milho (a kind of cornbread) is best.

LEARN ABOUT SALT PRODUCTION

Aveiro is known for many things: canals, ovos moles, sardines, and salt.

Salt production was a major industry in Aveiro for hundreds of years, dating back as early as the 12th century. However, the salt industry is not what it once was. It has mostly dissipated since the mid-twentieth century, leaving only a few remaining artisanal salt producers in the area.

Even though the industry has shrunk, there are still fields of salt pans outside of the city.

We stayed beside a salt farm during our four nights in Aveiro- and it’s quite the sight. The rectangles of shallow water turn into mirrors in the soft light of morning and evening- essentially, every photographer’s dream!

Since the salt farms are private companies, you can’t enter without permission. One company, Marinha da Noeirinha, offers guided tours of their salt farms. However, there is also a public (and free) salt farm nearby that doubles as an open-air museum.

At the Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada just outside of the main part of Aveiro, you can walk amongst a field of salt pans. A series of informative signs describe the history of the salt industry in Aveiro, as well as the process of salt production.

EXPERIENCE HISTORY AT THE AVEIRO MUSEUM

If museums are your thing, then you should include the Museu de Aveiro in your Aveiro itinerary. The museum houses an assortment of Renaissance paintings, sculptures, tiles, and other artifacts. Most notably, it also holds the marble tomb of Princess Saint Joanna.

The Princess served as Regent of the Portuguese Kingdom during the late 15th century before fulfilling her life’s desire to join a convent. She refused many marriage proposals and, ultimately, was able to live out the rest of her days as a nun.

Additionally, the actual building that houses the Museu de Aveiro is a piece of history in its own right. The building dates back to 1458 and was the very convent where Princess Saint Joanna lived.

ADMIRE THE BEAUTIFUL ART NOUVEAU ARCHITECTURE

Art Nouveau is characterised by sweeping organic lines inspired by the natural world. Imagine arches, curves, sinuous features, and intricate patterns detailing motifs from nature. It’s an expressive and easily recognizable aesthetic that spread throughout Europe and the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

You can see multiple examples of Art Nouveau architecture throughout Aveiro. This style was favoured by wealthy bourgeois emigrants who returned to Portugal from Brazil in the first few decades of the 1900s.

However, being Portugal, the Art Nouveau aesthetic was also applied to tiles. This led to a special- and uniquely Aveiro- version of Art Nouveau architecture.

The Museu Arte Nova de Aveiro is a classic example of this style of building. Although the actual museum has mixed reviews, there is a charming little cafe in the back called Casa de Chá.

GO FOR GELATO AT SABORINI

Besides writing these travel guides for you, our other life mission is to discover the world’s best gelato. It’s tough work but we are committed to the cause.

Our top pick for gelato in Aveiro? Saborini.

Located right in the old town of Aveiro, this little ice cream shop mesmerised our taste buds and bewitched our hearts. The gelato is made in-house daily, making it divinely fresh. You can really taste the homemade goodness. This is real, authentic, thick, and creamy ice cream.

In addition to their decadent dairy-based gelato flavours, they also have a selection of fresh and fruity vegan sorbets. We highly, highly recommend the mango.

VISIT THE BEACHES & LIGHTHOUSE OF PRAIA DA BARRA

Aveiro may be near the coast but it is not on the water. The ocean with its legendary Portuguese beaches is about 10 kilometres from the city centre. Barra Beach in Praia da Barra, just outside of Aveiro, is a popular spot for sunbathing and simple water activities. A long breakwater shelters the beach, creating calm waters. Barra Beach also boasts Portugal’s tallest lighthouse.

Of course, there are beaches all along the peninsula. A boardwalk stretches from the lighthouse southward to the beaches of Costa Nova, making for an easy and beautiful stroll.

A fishing pier stretches out from Barra Beach, marked with a small lighthouse at its tip. Portuguese fishermen cast their lines into the ocean below, sometimes pulling up panicked cuttlefish. The cement pier is stained with splotches of black ink from past catches.

There are several highly aesthetic restaurants and beach clubs along the way. We caught an early dinner with an Aperol Spritz (because when in Europe…) at Sétimo Beach Club. The food is great, plus they have vegetarian and vegan options.

If you are spending a couple days in Aveiro, we highly encourage you to allot one day to the beaches of Praia da Barra.

TAKE A TRIP TO COLOURFUL COSTA NOVA

Costa Nova was the highlight of our trip to Aveiro.

Most people come to Costa Nova for one reason: to see the rows of brightly striped beach cottages. Every house is a colourful note in an enchanting coastal symphony; a vibrant piece in a collage, stitched side by side to form a prismatic ribbon. There is baby blue, forest green, golden yellow, deep crimson, salmon pink, royal blue, and emerald. Some houses have vertical stripes, some horizontal, and some are entirely white except for coloured window frames.

Imbued with romance and whimsy, the streets of Costa Nova are a visual delight.

Av. José Estevāo is the main street in Aveiro, lined with striped buildings. However, the street behind is also oh so deliciously coloured. Once the cottages stop, the beach begins.

Please remember that these houses are not just tourist attractions- people actually live in them. So be respectful! Take photos, of course, but don’t trespass and don’t harass the local residents.

At only 12 kilometres from Aveiro’s city centre, Costa Nova is a quick drive by car. You can also take the #13 bus from Aveiro if you’re travelling sans vehicle. Planning your route is easy using the Moovit Portugal app.

Everything about Costa Nova is absolutely picture-perfect- and an undeniable must-see during your time in Aveiro.

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO AVEIRO + FAQS

WHERE IS AVEIRO AND HOW TO GET THERE

Aveiro is a small city located 10 kilometres inland from the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. It sits about 70 kilometres south of Porto, and 250 kilometres north of the country’s capital, Lisbon.

Due to its proximity to Porto, Aveiro is a convenient destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. Many tourists and Portuguese locals come to Aveiro for a delightful change of pace and to escape from the crowded (albeit beautiful) streets of Porto.

But don’t expect to see empty streets here in Aveiro! Getting here from Porto is incredibly easy and many, many people do it every single day.

TRAIN

Aveiro is serviced by Porto’s urban train line.

The train is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get there. A one-way ticket costs around 3.55€, and the journey lasts just over an hour.

You can catch the Aveiro line from either of Porto’s two major train stations, São Bento or Campanhã. There are one or two trains every hour from 4 AM until 1 AM. Click here for the official timetable.

BOOK | You can book your train and bus tickets here

BUS

Flixbus does offer a Porto to Aveiro route, which takes 55 minutes. It costs anywhere from 3€ to 12€ depending on the time. But why would you bus when you can train?

BOOK | You can book your train and bus tickets here

CAR

Renting a car? Then you can definitely drive yourself to Aveiro. The drive takes around an hour from Porto, depending on traffic. Expect to pay tolls along the way. You do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in Portugal.

BOOK | Search and book car rentals in Portugal here

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND IN AVEIRO?

Honestly, we think less is more when it comes to Aveiro.

There are some little towns where time seems to stand still; you get lost in the ebb and flow of slow mornings, charming cafes, sundrenched strolls, and steaming cups of espresso.

That was not our experience with Aveiro. Our initial enchantment quickly faded into the lacklustre feeling that you’ve already seen everything worth seeing.

Aveiro is perfectly suited for a day trip from Porto.

That being said, we really loved visiting Costa Nova and Praia da Barra as well. We could easily have spent a weekend relaxing on the beach, photographing the striped homes of Costa Nova, and watching the blinking eye of the Barra lighthouse as dusk rolled over the coast. These tiny seaside towns alone justify a weekend trip to Aveiro.

So, in conclusion, you should spend 1-2 days in Aveiro… but give the second day to Costa Nova.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT AVEIRO?

Is there ever a bad time to visit Portugal? Nope, definitely not.

If beaches, tanning, swimming, and hot days are your thing, however, consider coming in the warmer summer months. The seaside near Aveiro is gorgeous, especially in warm weather. June through September offer the sunniest days and highest temperatures… Unfortunately, that’s also peak season.

We always recommend visiting off-season, if you can. It helps mitigate the negative impacts of over-tourism, which Portugal is not immune from. Plus, things are cheaper!

May is slightly off-season and still has great weather. The average high temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, whereas July and August are barely warmer at 24 degrees.

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