Aveiro is also known as the Portuguese “Venice,” but I was heading to this town for entirely different reasons than canal cruises. I’ve long wanted to see the most colorful area of Portugal, which you’ll find on a nearby beach. In this guide I will share with you Aveiro, Portugal: 13 Best Things to Do and See. Want to know what I’m talking about? Read on and discover Aveiro and its surroundings with me.
Aveiro, the second-largest city in the Centro region with approximately 80,000 inhabitants, may not be among Portugal’s most famous tourist destinations, but it is definitely worth a visit. The city, located about an hour’s drive south of Porto, is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture, canals, and proximity to Costa Nova, but you’ll find much more here.
Where to Stay?
I recommend staying in Costa Nova, which is a short distance from Aveiro, but you’ll be in a coastal area and can stay directly in a striped house at Costa Nova Hotel or in the luxurious Villa Rafa.
Aveiro, Portugal: 13 Best Things to Do and See
Let’s take a look at the most interesting places that the Portuguese Venice has to offer.
1. Antiga Estação Da CP – Municipal Tourism Space
A short walk from the train station, you’ll find one of two parking lots, from where it’s a short distance to the center. If we hadn’t parked here, we probably would never have discovered this beautiful building.
I didn’t discover it during my research (I’m crazy about lists of places we must see). So, I’m including it here for you. Inside the building, you’ll also find an information center where you can pick up maps and brochures (if you’re like my mom).
2. Ruins of the Chapel of S. João Do Rossio
If you park in the second parking lot, you’ll walk past archaeological excavations. On the information board, you would learn that here you’ll find the Chapel of St. Pedro Gonçalves Telmo from 1910, the ruins of an old theater, and a bronze statue of João Afonso de Aveiro, a 15th-century Portuguese explorer who explored the African coast and the Golden River.
3. Manuel Firmino Market
Just like in other cities in Portugal (and Spain), in Aveiro you’ll find a market where you can buy local tangerines, olives, or other seasonal fruits and vegetables. But you can also taste some traditional delicacies here, such as fish and seafood specialties.
Among the most famous dishes are Caldeirada de Enguias (stewed eel soup) and Caldeirada de Petinga (stewed sardines). Also often served are enguias de escabeche (marinated eels) and raia em molho pitau (skate in pitau sauce). Also popular are espetadas de mexilhão (mussel skewers).
Aveiro is also famous for its sweets called ovos moles, which are delicate confections made from egg yolks and sugar. Other traditional desserts include raivas, castanhas doces, and tripas, which are essentially pancakes.
4. Ponte Dos Laços Da Amizade
You’ll find this bridge over the Côjo canal, connecting the Fórum Aveiro shopping center with Largo do Mercado Manuel Firmino. Since 2004, the bridge has been a symbol of friendship and love, thanks to a tradition started by two students who tied the first colorful ribbons to the bridge’s railing as a symbol of their relationship and friendship.
5. Go for a Boat Ride at Moliceiros Pier
It’s not for nothing that Aveiro is called the Portuguese Venice. If, unlike us, you don’t have a baby, definitely go for a ride through the city on traditional boats called moliceiros. The price is 15 euros for 45 minutes (children 8 euros).
6. Infante Dom Pedro City Park
This park was once a garden, considered one of the most beautiful in Portugal.
Originally, there was a field here that belonged to the Monastery of Saint Anthony, where monks cultivated the land. The rest of the land was sold in 1842 by the first Viscount of Saint Anthony, Pedro António Rebocho.
In 1861, the then-president of Aveiro, Firmino Maia, decided to transform “Campo de Santo António” into a public park.
In 1919, this area was expanded thanks to Dr. Lourenço Peixinho, who purchased adjacent plots and enabled the creation of new attractions, such as a colonnade with a double staircase, a tea house with a library, and a terrace overlooking the lake.
The park gained its popular name due to the cages with monkeys and birds that were once housed here. Today, the park is a green oasis, a place to escape the hot summer days.
7. Zé Penicheiro Tile Panel
A short distance from the University of Aveiro, you’ll find a large panel made of traditional Portuguese tiles – azulejos – by the artist Zé Penicheiro. This artistic creation symbolizes the historical and academic development of the university. The year of the university’s founding, 1973, is displayed at the bottom of the panel, which is more visible in photos than when you walk by.
This panel is likely the only publicly displayed work by Zé Penicheiro in Aveiro.
8. Chapel of São Gonçalinho
In the picturesque Beira Mar district of Aveiro, you’ll find the beautiful Chapel of São Gonçalo, also known as Capela de São Gonçalinho. This chapel, built in 1714, captivates with its unique hexagonal structure and elegant dome covered with traditional blue and white tiles, known as azulejos. In 2011, it was designated as a monument of public interest.
The chapel is also the center of annual celebrations in honor of Saint Gonçalo. The city’s residents fulfill their vows by throwing traditional cookies called cavacas from the dome into the crowd. (When someone asks Saint Gonçalo for help or intervention – for example, for healing, protection, or success in love – they often promise to perform some ritual or gesture of gratitude after their request is fulfilled.)
The festival also includes a symbolic handover of a floral wreath to future festival organizers and the traditional “Dance of the Lame,” during which men pretend to limp and dance to folk songs.
9. Aveiro Museum
The Museu de Aveiro, also known as the Museu de Santa Joana, is a rather impressive museum housed in the former Convent of Jesus (Convento de Jesus). Among the main exhibits are:
- Tomb of Princess Joana: A richly decorated baroque tombstone made of multicolored marble, a work by the royal architect João Antunes.
- Church of Jesus (Igreja de Jesus): A church with rich golden decoration and Portuguese azulejos, considered an excellent example of baroque decoration.
- Cloister and Refectory: Spaces with original architectural elements, including a reading tribune and walls covered with azulejos.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays.
10. Art Nouveau Museum
If you’ve read more of my articles, you know I don’t miss anything related to art. So, in Aveiro, I recommend the Museu Arte Nova, which is housed in the historic building known as Casa do Major Pessoa and is dedicated to celebrating and interpreting the Art Nouveau movement.
This building, constructed between 1907 and 1909 according to the designs of architects Francisco Augusto da Silva Rocha and Ernesto Korrodi, is itself a significant example of this style.
11. Best Restaurants and Cafes in Aveiro
If you’re wondering where to go for coffee or a good meal in Aveiro, we have a few tips for you. The food at Balance FitFood Aveiro was absolutely excellent; I’m glad we stumbled upon this bistro during our walk.
But don’t get coffee there; if you want an excellent flat white or latte, go to Porta do café or Monlou, Cake and Coffee House. They also have great brunches at BEMA brunch.
12. Visit a Local Products Shop
I was lucky enough to overhear a local guide telling tourists: “If you want to buy something truly Portuguese, go here.”
A wonderful little shop where you’ll find clothes, bags, plates, mugs, bath salts, soaps, and even small rugs that were made in Portugal. In short, it’s an ideal place to buy a souvenir, and it’s not ridiculously overpriced either. And what’s its name? A Minha Terra.
13. Costa Nova Beach
And last but not least. The place we went to Aveiro for. Costa Nova, located only about 12 km from Aveiro, is a small seaside paradise known for its iconic wooden houses – palheiros, whose colorful stripes immediately catch the eye.
They used to serve as storage for fishing equipment; today, you’ll find shops, restaurants, and accommodation in them. If you come during the season, it will probably be livelier here than when we were here at the end of October.
You can easily get to Costa Nova by bus from Aveiro city center or faster by car via A25.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
