What to Do on a Day Trip to Charming Aveiro, Portugal
Often called the “Venice of Portugal,” Aveiro is a colorful canal city on Portugal’s Silver Coast that makes an excellent day trip option from Porto or Coimbra. While it has become more popular in recent years, it still feels much calmer than Portugal’s more popular destinations. Here’s what to do in Aveiro and why you should add a day trip to Aveiro to your Portugal itinerary.
Why Aveiro?
Aveiro is a small city of approximately 80,000 residents and a university. This size means that you can get a good look at city life without the hustle and bustle of a big city. Its center is compact, walkable, and relaxed.
Aveiro is unique. Its canals, moliceiro boats, Art Nouveau architecture, and nearby Costa Nova striped homes give Aveiro its own distinct character, something you won’t find in other coastal cities.
There are enough things to do in Aveiro for a relaxed day trip. Aveiro offers maritime history, Art Nouveau architecture, fresh seafood, cute streets with charming shops, and beaches.
With the nearby beaches and bike trails, you can extend a day trip to Aveiro to an overnight stay. The city has plenty of affordable accommodation options including hotels and vacation rentals on sites like Airbnb.
Aveiro was the 2024 Portuguese Capital of Culture, which means that the city has been revitalized. You will notice that the city is in very good shape with clean, renovated buildings.
Like much of Portugal, Aveiro is steeped in history. Originally an ancient settlement rooted in salt production, it became a wealthy medieval port due to its salt production. The city found wealth again in the 19th and 20th centuries, which is why there is so much beautiful early-20th century architecture here.
How long do you need in Aveiro?
Half a day is enough to experience most of Aveiro, but you could easily extend your stay.
We spent about a few hours in Aveiro. We arrived by car from Coimbra, parked in the center, walked its central streets and popped in several cute shops, admired the canals and architecture, had a snack at a canal-side cafe, drove to nearby Costa Nova, and walked along the beach. After that, we took a beautiful, relaxing drive down the coast before heading back to Coimbra.
We could have easily extended this visit by having lunch in Aveiro, taking a boat ride on the canals, walking through one of the parks, and visiting one of the town’s museums.
Besides its compact and charming center, Aveiro has excellent walking and biking trails nearby. This makes it a nice option for a relaxing overnight stay. Consider staying for two or more nights if you want to experience the slow pace of life along the coast.
What to do in Aveiro?
Here are the top picks for what to do in Aveiro:
- stroll the city center streets along the canals
- see the Art Nouveau architecture
- pop into the charming shops and cafes
- try ovos moles
- visit nearby Costa Nova
- take a scenic boat ride on the canals
- visit the Fish Market (Mercado do Peixe) and the upstairs restaurant
- Museum of Aveiro, located in an old convent, to learn about the local history. Open every day except Monday.
The city itself is easy to explore on foot. One of the highlights is the collection of elegant Art Nouveau buildings scattered throughout the center. The Museu de Arte Nova, located in one of the city’s stunning buildings along the canal on R. Dr. Barbosa de Magalhães, offers insight into this architectural style and the city’s early twentieth-century prosperity.
Nearby, the fish market area and Praça do Peixe are good places to stop for lunch and enjoy local seafood. Traditional moliceiro boats once used to harvest seaweed from the lagoon offer short sightseeing rides that provide a fun introduction to the city. Note that you may need to bargain with the boat operators.
Another thing to do in Aveiro is to try ovos moles, which means “soft eggs,” Aveiro’s famous sweet made from egg yolks and sugar wrapped in delicate wafer shells shaped like seashells or fish. While we didn’t love them, we enjoyed trying this local, traditional treat. Stop in the cafe A Barrica, located near the Art Nouveau facades on the canal, called “The House of Ovos Moles” and try not only the ovos moles but also their delicious almond cookies.
Where to see architecture in Aveiro
The collection of Art Nouveau buildings in central Aveiro is one of the unique features of this city. You can find them on the main drag that follows the canal. In fact, Aveiro is a member of the an international Art Nouveau network along with cities well known for their architecture, including Barcelona, Helsinki, and Budapest.
One thing you’ll notice about the Art Nouveau buildings here is that they combine traditional Art Nouveau features with Portuguese details in the intricately painted tiles found on some of the facades. Here are 10 Art Nouveau buildings not to miss while in Aveiro, but if you like architecture, don’t miss the Museu Arte Nova at R. Dr. Barbosa de Magalhães 9-11 in the historic Casa Major Pessoa from 1909.
Beach near Aveiro: Visit Costa Nova
A day trip to Aveiro includes more than just the city center. About ten minutes away by car or bus is Costa Nova, one of the region’s most recognizable coastal areas.
Costa Nova is famous for its striped wooden houses painted in bright colors, originally built by fishermen and now used as vacation homes and cafés. The beach itself is wide, scenic, and ideal for a long walk. On one side is the Atlantic Ocean, while the calmer lagoon waters lie on the other. The beautiful ocean views and cute striped homes make this a top choice for what to do in Aveiro.
If you have additional time, consider stopping at nearby Barra Beach, home to Portugal’s tallest lighthouse.
How to get to Aveiro
Transportation to Aveiro is relatively simple. Trains from Porto take a little over an hour, making it one of the easiest day trips from northern Portugal. The train station itself is worth a quick look because of its traditional blue-and-white azulejo tile murals depicting scenes from Portuguese life.
If you drive, it’s easy to find street parking in the center of town, and you can easily add a stop at Costa Nova.
Once in Aveiro, most major attractions are within walking distance, but buses and rideshares can be used for reaching Costa Nova.
Is a day trip to Aveiro worth it?
I think a day trip to Aveiro is worth it. While Aveiro was not one of the most exciting places we visited in Portugal, it has a special vibe. It’s a very peaceful, compact city that seems like a wonderful place to live. The fact that the beach is so close to the city makes it a perfect day trip option.
However, I didn’t think that Aveiro is really the “Venice of Portugal.” The canal system is pretty small and not nearly as charming as the canals in Venice. But the waterways make Aveiro a unique and beautiful place to visit.
What questions do you have about a day trip to Aveiro? Any tips for what to do in Aveiro?
