Travel Guide of Aveiro in Portugal by Influencers and Travelers

Aveiro is a city and a municipality in Portugal. In 2011, the population was 78,450, in an area of 197.58 square kilometres: it is the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal.

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The Best Things to Do and Visit in Aveiro

TRAVELERS TOP 10 :

1 - Praia da Barra

   8 km away
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2 - Rossio Garden

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3 - Kitesurfing in Murtosa

   12 km away

Benefit from Nortada Aventura's many years of experience and Murtosa's amazing weather conditions and learn to master wind as you start your kitesurfing journey! Murtosa is a perfect place to kitesurf, it's over 10,000 m2 beach with no depth water an...

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4 - Praia da Barra Aveiro

   8 km away
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5 - Street in Aveiro

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6 - Sailing in Porto

Porto is mainly known for boat trips on the Tagus River, which flows through the city and sets its pace. However, all around this city, which is open to the Atlantic Ocean, it offers other nautical routes worth sailing, and this sailing boat trip fro...

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7 - Fontinha

   14 km away

Fontinhas is a civil parish in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores. The population in 2011 was 1,594, in an area of 12.14 km².

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8 - Agueda

   19 km away

The Municipal Stadium of Águeda is a multiuse stadium located in the civil parish of Borrolha, in the municipality of Águeda, in the Portuguese district of Aveiro.

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9 - Stand up Paddle in Murtosa

   12 km away

SUP is relaxed but still an awesome way to enjoy the amazing waters of Murtosa in the Aveiro region of Portugal! Nortada Aventura welcomes you to their hometown of Murtosa where their HQ's are located! This perfect location allows them to take advant...

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10 - Arrifana

   33 km away

Praia da Arrifana is a beach within the Municipality of Aljezur, in the Algarve, Portugal. The beach is on the western Seaboard in the north west of the Algarve.

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11 - Espinho

   41 km away

Espinho is a city and a municipality located in the Aveiro District, Portugal. It is located in both the Greater Porto and the Metropolitan Area of Porto, 16 km from its city centre.

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12 - Sea Kayaking in Murtosa

   12 km away

Nortada Aventura welcomes you to their hometown of Murtosa where their HQ is located! This perfect location allows them to take advantage of the shallow waters that will make your SUP or kayaking excursion, smooth and a lot of fun. Murtosa is a smal...

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13 - Caramulo

   42 km away

Caramulo is a town in Portugal. It is part of the civil parish Guardão in the municipality of Tondela, Portugal. In Caramulo is housed one of the most important motor vehicle museums in Portugal.

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14 - Bom Sucesso

   43 km away
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15 - Stand Up Paddling in Murtosa

   12 km away

Murtosa is the perfect location for a Stand up Paddling excursion, given that it allows both guides and participants to take advantage of the shallow waters that will make your SUP excursion simply perfect.Murtosa is a small town located on the Avei...

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16 - Arouca

   47 km away

Arouca is a town and a municipality in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, Norte Region, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 22,359, in an area of 329.11 square kilometres. It had 20,383 electors in 2006. The population has grown from 7072 inhabitants in 1801.

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17 - Miramar Beach

   47 km away
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18 - Chapel of Senhor da Pedra

   48 km away
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19 - Miramar

   48 km away
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Pictures and Stories of Aveiro from Influencers

20 pictures of Aveiro from Ricardo Resende, Miguel Henriques, Pedro Mealha and other travelers

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Why should you visit Aveiro ?

Travel to Aveiro if you like:

  🏖️ Ocean     🏘️ Town     🏖️ Beach     🚢 Pier     🏞️ Waterway     🌲 Forest  

How to visit Aveiro ?

Aveiro, often referred to as the "Venice of Portugal," is a charming coastal city with a rich history, stunning architecture, and picturesque canals. It's the perfect destination for travelers seeking a relaxed atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and authentic Portuguese culture.

To get to Aveiro, you can either fly into Porto or Lisbon and take a train or bus to the city. The train ride from Porto to Aveiro takes approximately 1 hour, while from Lisbon, it takes around 2.5 hours. Buses are also available but might take slightly longer.

Visiting Aveiro doesn't require booking many attractions in advance. However, if you're interested in taking a guided boat tour of the canals on a traditional Moliceiro boat, it's a good idea to book your tickets early, especially during peak tourist seasons.

The costs in Aveiro are generally lower compared to more popular tourist destinations in Portugal like Lisbon and Porto. You can expect to pay around €30-50 per night for budget accommodations and €60-100 for mid-range hotels. Eating out is also affordable, with meals at local restaurants ranging from €10-20.

Some of the best things to do in Aveiro include:
- Exploring the picturesque canals on a Moliceiro boat
- Visiting the Art Nouveau Museum and observing the stunning architecture in the city
- Strolling through the vibrant fish market
- Relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Costa Nova and Barra
- Discovering the Aveiro Salt Pans, an important part of the city's history

For dining options, consider trying the following local favorites:
1. O Bairro: A popular restaurant offering delicious Portuguese cuisine with a modern twist.
2. Mercado do Peixe: A lively fish market where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes.
3. A Portuguesa: A traditional eatery serving local specialties like ovos moles (egg yolk sweets) and seafood rice.

When it comes to accommodation, here are some suggestions:
1. Hotel Aveiro Palace: A centrally located mid-range hotel with comfortable rooms and a great breakfast.
2. Aveiro City Lodge: A budget-friendly guesthouse offering clean, stylish rooms and a rooftop terrace.
3. Hotel Moliceiro: A higher-end option with elegantly decorated rooms and excellent service.

Off the Beaten Path:

For a unique and offbeat experience, consider visiting the nearby village of Vale de Ílhavo. Renowned for its production of traditional handmade pottery called "Vale de Ílhavo Ceramics," you can witness the fascinating process of creating these intricate ceramic pieces at the local workshops. Additionally, the village is home to several beautiful walking trails that will take you through lush forests, vineyards, and charming local farms, providing a glimpse of rural Portuguese life.

Learn More about Aveiro

Aveiro, the most Italian of Portuguese cities 

Aveiro is a nice discovery at a little more than an hour from Porto by urban train.

This city of 80 000 inhabitants is located on the west coast of Portugal, not far from the beaches. 
Aveiro is full of colors and more colors everywhere! The buildings with azulejos all more original than the others give it a crazy charm, the churches at the end of the small lanes and the squares with terraces where it is good to live.
But what makes Aveiro unique are the canals that cross it (that's why it is called the little Venice).
Let yourself be surprised by the artistic achievements of which the gondolas are decorated, which are worth the detour alone! If you feel like it, a little stroll is quite possible.
Don't hesitate to explore the two banks of the city, even if they are different, they are worth a visit.


Practical information: trains leave regularly from Porto Sao Bento station for about 4€. One day will allow you to visit Aveiro in a relaxed way.
From Aveiro's train station, the historic center is accessible on foot in barely 10 minutes.

The walk on the canals of Aveiro

The canals, better known as the Ria Aveiro, cut through the streets of the historic center. Their history is linked to the proximity of the city to the coast. Trade with the sea, as well as the production of salt, made this place one of the most important ports in Portugal since the Middle Ages.

However, in 1570, a great storm hit the area and blocked the exit of the river Vouga to the sea. This tragedy cut short all port activity and the city slowly became impoverished.

A few centuries later, in 1808, the Barra Canal, more commonly known as the Ria de Aveiro, was created, which once again opened the passage to the sea.
The city was able to regain its economic activity and quickly become richer. That's why, when visiting the canals, you can see many large buildings, often in Art Nouveau style.
For your stroll, nothing better than to leave from the center in one of the many "Moliceiro".The ride lasts about an hour and costs only 6 euros.

The walk in the city center

After seeing the center from the canals, you should also walk around. The city center is small and can easily be reached on foot. Between the many points of interest in the city,
We recommend you to go to the Fish Market. This is where all the products caught in the area arrive.
It is better to arrive early in the morning to avoid crowded streets.

You can also visit the Friendship Bridge, which is decorated with thousands of colorful ribbons that represent the bonds between people.
you can go shopping in the adjacent shopping streets, Rua da Direita and Rua de Coimbra.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Aveiro

How to get to Aveiro?

The easiest way to get to Aveiro is by train.
The regional line that leaves from Campanhã and São Bento stations offer trains every 40 minutes and at a low price (3,55 €). It is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance. The trip takes one hour.

Once you arrive at Aveiro, you can walk along Dr. Lourenço Peixinho Avenue, which connects the station to the city center. It will take about a kilometer of walking.
You can also get there by bus, which stops in front of the station.

If you are going to Aveiro by car, you should know that the city center is pedestrian, so you will have to leave your car at the gates of the historic center. Don't worry, there are plenty of reasonably priced parking lots available. 

What to visit in Aveiro Portugal ?

• Visit the Aveiro Museum

Start your visit to the city with a quick trip to the Aveiro Museum. Housed in a 15th-century monastery known as the Mosteiro de Jesus, it contains an extensive collection of religious artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, and jewelry from the Renaissance. The Portuguese princess Joana stayed here during the last years of her life, and her beautifully carved tomb has been placed in one of the rooms. The museum also features a chapel decorated with gilded woodwork and mosaics depicting the princess' life.

• Board a Moliceiro

One of the first things you'll see when you arrive in Aveiro is the moliceiros. Emblems of the city, these colorful boats look a bit like Italian gondolas. It is these boats and the many bridges that have earned Aveiro its nickname of "Portuguese Venice". Before becoming a tourist attraction, the moliceiros were used to harvest seaweed from the lagoon which was then used as fertilizer. When the trade ended, the boats changed function and now offer tours of the city. You don't need to book in advance, you can just show up at the dock and hop on a boat.

• Admire the Art Nouveau buildings

Facing the canals, beautiful Art Nouveau buildings stand out with their wrought-iron balconies and colorful facades. You'll probably see some of them on your cruise, but there is also an Art Nouveau-themed walk that will guide you along with these properties. The most famous are without a doubt the Art Nouveau Museum, the Casa dos Ovos Moles and the Cooperativa Agrícola located at number 7 of Rua João Mendonça. Once you've photographed these magnificent buildings, you can relax in the Jardim do Rossio, a small park lined with palm trees and offering a view of the canals.

   Where to Stay in Aveiro

   More Travel spots to explore around Aveiro

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Discover more travel spots to explore around Aveiro

  🏞️ Waterway spots     🌊‍ Ocean spots     🏘️ Town spots     🚢 Pier spots     🏖️ Beach spots     🌲 Forest spots     🌉 Bridge spots     🏞️ River spots     🚢 Dock spots     🏖️ Coast spots     🐾 Wildlife spots     🏖️ Shore spots     🌲 Plain spots  

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