Cidade Turismo
Portugal
Aveiro

Aveiro · Portugal

Aveiro

City of canals and colorful moliceiro boats, on the edge of the Ria de Aveiro, with art nouveau houses, ovos moles and the striped houses of Costa Nova a few minutes away.

Centro

In the photo: Costa Nova

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get it on Google Play Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Aveiro is on the central coast of Portugal, about 70 km south of Porto, on the edge of the Ria de Aveiro, a large coastal lagoon connected to the sea. The city is crossed by canals, where moliceiros operate — high-prowed, painted boats that once collected seaweed from the ria.

Along the Canal Central there are early 20th-century art nouveau buildings, with tiled facades and wrought iron. The Museu de Aveiro, in the former Mosteiro de Jesus, houses the tomb of Princess Santa Joana. The city is known for ovos moles, a sweet made of egg yolks and sugar served in wafer shells.

A few kilometers away, between the ria and the sea, are Praia da Barra, with the tallest lighthouse in Portugal, and Costa Nova, with old wooden palheiros painted in colorful stripes. In Ílhavo, the Vista Alegre porcelain factory has a museum.

This destination brings together 1 city: Aveiro.

Share: WhatsApp
Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Aveiro is
Aveiro

Contornos: Direção-Geral do Território, CAOP 2025, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Aveiro

✈ Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO), in Maia · 75 km to Aveiro

The nearest airport is Porto (OPO), about 75 km away. Check before booking. From Porto, the train takes 40 minutes to 1h10 to Aveiro Station; from Lisbon, about 2h30.

The local experience

Things to do in Aveiro

Canais de Aveiro e moliceiros
Aveiro · Aveiro · Promenade

Canais de Aveiro e moliceiros

The canals that cut through Aveiro's centre, connected to the Ria, are traversed by moliceiros — high-prowed painted boats with colorful scenes and humorous sayings. The rides depart from the Canal Central.

Museu de Aveiro – Santa Joana
Aveiro · Aveiro · Museum

Museu de Aveiro – Santa Joana

Museum housed in the former Mosteiro de Jesus, from the 15th century, where Princess Santa Joana, daughter of D. Afonso V, lived. Her tomb, made of colored marbles, and the gilded woodwork church are the highlights.

Costa Nova
Aveiro · Aveiro · Beach

Costa Nova

Small settlement between the Ria de Aveiro and the sea, known for the palheiros, former wooden fishermen's houses painted in colorful stripes, with the ocean beach on one side and the ria on the other.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September for moliceiro rides and going to the beach. Spring and autumn are usually pleasant for walking. Winter is wet and windy on the ria.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

One day is enough for the canals, a moliceiro ride, the Museu de Aveiro and Costa Nova. With two days you can add Praia da Barra and the Vista Alegre museum.

Which city to stay in

The center, near the Canal Central and the Rossio, lets you do everything on foot. There are convenient hotels near the station for those arriving by train. In Costa Nova and Barra there are beach accommodations, more in demand during the European summer.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Aveiro

Can you do a day trip from Porto to Aveiro?

Yes. The train takes 40 minutes to just over an hour, and the centre is walkable.

What are moliceiros?

High-prowed, painted boats that used to collect moliço, the seaweed from the ria used as fertilizer. Today they run sightseeing trips through the canals.

What are ovos moles?

A sweet made of egg yolks and sugar, served in wafer shells shaped like shells and fish, or in small wooden barrels.

Do you need a car?

Not for the centre. For Costa Nova and Barra there are buses; a car or taxi makes getting around easier.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city
Back