How to Spend the Perfect Day in Aveiro: A Complete Guide
Aveiro is a city on the west coast of Portugal set along a lagoon called Ria de Aveiro. It's distinguished by its canals navigated by colorful boats (barcos moliceiros), traditionally used to harvest seaweed. Not far from its core, known for art nouveau buildings, is the Cathedral of Aveiro, with its prominent bell tower. The Museu de Aveiro, housed in a former convent, has a lavish tomb made of marble. ― Google
Aveiro is often referred to as the “Venice of Portugal”. If you are expecting “Venice”, you may be very underwhelmed. But, if you are expecting a beautiful, charming, seaside town in Portugal with beautiful traditional boats, lovely architecture, and a plethora of waterfront cafes, then you will love Aveiro.
I took an easy day trip to Aveiro from Porto in September 2025 and had a lovely day in this famed Portuguese city. I had plenty of time in Porto, so I committed a full day (late morning to early evening) to visiting Aveiro and could have spent more time there but also could have spent less. When I return, I plan to add Costa Nova to make a full day out of my trip to Aveiro.
As far as day trips from Porto go, Aveiro is not on the top of my list, but is certainly on my list. I personally preferred Braga and Guimaraes as day trips from Porto, as I found they had more to explore, more history, and a uniquely Portuguese feel. That said, if you have time, want a more chill day trip, or are able to add Aveiro to a day trip to another city, it is absolutely worth visiting.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting Aveiro:
How Much Time to Spend in Aveiro
How long to spend in Aveiro really depends on what you want to do there and how leisurely or fast paced you want your visit to be.
I spent about 5 hours in Aveiro and found that to be more than enough to have a nice brunch, walk around the city center, visit the highlights, have a beer and snack while my phone charged, and take a walk to the “Aveiro Stairs” before heading back for my bus.
In my opinion, Aveiro is a great half day trip or a perfect add-on to another city visit. If you want to make the most out of a half or full day trip to just Aveiro, be sure to visit Costa Nova to see the beautiful striped houses and coastal town.
How to Get to Aveiro from Porto
Less than 50km from Porto, Aveiro is an easy day trip by car, train, or bus and can reached in 35-50 minutes depending on mode of transport.
Here is a breakdown of how to get to Aveiro from Porto:
🚂The train from Porto, Campanha Station, to Aveiro is a quick and easy way to get to Aveiro from Porto. Depending on train line, the journey takes 34 or 54 minutes and costs 3,90-17€.
Urban train costs (3,90€) do not vary but take the longest. The faster AP and IC train costs vary depending on availability and demand. These are indicated on the CP site.
With numerous trains running every hour, there are plenty of options to fit your schedule. For schedules, costs, and tickets, click here.
⭐With trains running so frequently, you have flexibility to book the day of travel, but if you are on a tight schedule or traveling during peak season, it is always a good idea to book in advance.
For my Complete Porto Transit Guide, click here!
🚌Taking the bus from Porto to Aveiro is a cost effective, efficient (45 minute), and easy trip. With numerous buses running between the cities daily, you can pick which schedule works best for you. Both Flixbus and Rede Expressos have buses between Porto Campanha Station and Aveiro Bus station (both are the same stations as the trains).
Bus tickets from Porto to Aveiro are as little as 3€ when booked in advance. The coaches are clean and comfortable and generally run on schedule, making them an affordable and easy way to take a day trip to Aveiro.
Taking the train or bus to Braga? Use my Omio Referral link or enter this code: hillad4d5x5f and get 10€ when you make your first booking!
⭐Omio is the only officially recognized third party vendor for train and bus tickets in Portugal.
🚗The drive to Aveiro from Porto is quite straightforward and takes approximately 45 minutes.
🪙Note this route involves tolls
🅿️There is a fair amount of parking in Aveiro, with paid parking lots and free parking at Parque Estacionamento - Nossa Sra dos Aflitos, which is located close to the city center
🚕You can take an Uber or Bolt to Aveiro, though it may be a bit challenging securing a driver for that duration of a trip (especially Aveiro to Porto as there are fewer drivers). The ride will cost approximately 35-50€ depending on time and demand.
🚐 There are numerous tours from Porto to Aveiro, or tours that include stops in Aveiro. This is a great way to visit Aveiro, as well as other cities in one day. Whether it is a private or group tour, this option takes all the guess work out of getting to and from Aveiro. An organized tour can involve just transportation or can also include a guide to share top sites and historical significance along the way.
Cost and duration of these tours varies by operator and route. These are some top rated tours that include Aveiro:
For my Complete Guide to Things to Do in Porto, click here!
What to Do In Aveiro
I found Aveiro to be a beautiful city to just wander around. There is so much vibrancy and charm to this coastal Portuguese city, it is hard not to sink into it. The river walk is beautiful with its Art Nouveau style architecture, bright traditional boats, and an overall upbeat feel. The Aveiro City Center is full of Portuguese charm with its cobblestone streets, pedestrian walkways, shops and cafes.
While it is good to go with a loose plan, especially if time it limited, Aveiro is the prefect city to explore organically and casually.
Here are some of the highlights you may want to seek out while wandering Aveiro:
Take a Free Walking Tour
I always recommend a free walking tour when exploring any new city and I planned to take one in Aveiro, but my schedule didn't quite align with one this time. I definitely plan to go back to Aveiro and will be sure to take a free walking tour to learn some of the history and background of the things I saw on my first trip.
A free walking tour of Aveiro is also a great way to see most of the city in an abbreviated time, with tours lasting about 2 hours. This lets you see and learn a lot in a shorter period of time, especially if you are only committing a few hours to your visit.
You can find some great free walking tours in Aveiro at Guru Walk.
🪙Remember to always tip your guide!
Aveiro City Center
Aveiro city center is packed with Portuguese charm, vibrant colors, beautiful cobblestone streets, art, and architecture. Here you will find shops, cafes, and restaurants. If you take the train or bus to Aveiro, you will pass through here on your way to Moliceiros Pier.
Along the way, you will see several ribbon adorned bridges spanning over the cannel.
Ponte Laços de Irene
🗺️3810-164 Aveiro, Portugal
While there are several bridges spanning over the cancal, Ponte Laços de Irene is one of the most famed and photographed. In recent years, “love locks” were prohibited from being placed on the bridges in Aveiro due to their weight and damage caused to the bridge’s structure. These locks have been replaced with colorful ribbons with messages, names, dates, quotes, etc on them.
Not only do the ribbons eliminate the damage caused by the locks, they also add a unique and beautiful aesthetic to the bridges. If you want to pay tribute to a love, add a quote, or just some flair to the bridges in Aveiro, bring along a ribbon and add it to the other well wishes.
Moliceiros Pier
The most famed area in Aveiro, Moliceiros Pier is what has gotten this city dubbed the “Venice of Portugal”. Lining the canal, you will find vibrantly painted Moliceiros, the gondola-style traditional Portuguese boats.
While the boats are the main draw to this area, there is also a beautiful walk along the canal that originates here (and leads to the Salt Flats).
Whether you opt to take a ride in one of the famed Moliceiro boats, or walk along the canal, this is the highlight of any trip to Aveiro.
Aveiro Traditional Portuguese Boats (Moliceiro)
Moliceiros, the traditional Portuguese boats are much of the reason many people travel to Aveiro, and for good reason: they are quite beautiful. I opted not to take a boat ride and enjoyed watching them as I walked along the canal. If you do opt to take a cruise, there are many options available.
Generally, you do not need to pre-book a moliceiro boat ride in Aveiro, you can just approach any of the stands selling tickets and take the next available ride. The prices and experiences only vary slightly, with the majority of the cruises I saw costing between 15-20€ per adult.
If you want to be assured a time, have upfront pricing, and/or have a larger group or family, it is a good idea to book an Aveiro boat cruise, like the one below, in advance.
Aveiro Sign
Between Moliceiros Pier and the Aveiro Salt Flats, you’ll find the Aveiro sign.
This is a great place to stop for a photo op to commemorate your day trip to Aveiro.
Aveiro Salt Flat
The Aveiro salt flats have a history dating back to ancient times, with the first documented mention of a salt pan in the area being from 929 AD, before Portugal was even a nation. Salt production was a crucial part of the economy for centuries, supporting the local fishing industry and serving as a major export
While salt production in Aveiro has drastically reduced, some of the Aveiro Salt pans remain and are open to visitors. You can wander the pans on your own at no cost or take a paid guided tour (pre-booking is required).
The active salt harvesting season runs from March to mid-September. Outside this time, the pans are flooded.
Escadaria "I Love Aveiro"
🗺️R. Gustavo Silva, 3810-164 Aveiro, Portugal
I wandered to the “I Love Aveiro” Stairs to see the sign, but realized this little area is actually surrounded by street art and tile work, a lovely park, and the perfect vantage point to watch the Moliceiros pass under the bridge and make their turn to return to Moliceiros Pier.
This is a great photo-op spot for the stairs, but also a unique vantage point for boat watching that many visitors miss.
Aveiro Museum
The Museum of Aveiro / Santa Joana is a museum of sacred art whose mission is to study, conserve and disseminate the collections that are in its custody and the monument in which it is installed, as well as to contribute to the execution of the national and local museological policy.
Housed in the building of the extinct Convent of Jesus, its history is closely linked to the history of the institution that gave rise to it.
🗺️Av. Santa Joana, 3810-164 Aveiro, Portugal
🕰️Tue-Sun 10:30a-12:30p, 1:30p-6p, Mon-Closed
💶Museum of Aveiro and the Church of the Carmelitas 7€, Carmelite Church Ticket (without museum) 2€
⭐ A single ticket for entry to all Museums of Aveiro can be purchased for 10€
Knowing I will be spending more time in Porto and will venture to Aveiro again in November 2025, I opted to save the museums and churches for a subsequent visit to Aveiro.
Aveiro is home to numerous museums and exhibition spaces, that appear well worth checking out if you have the time and interest.
You can find all the information, locations, and costs for Aveiro’s museums here.
Where to Eat in Aveiro
My trip to Aveiro was pretty abbreviated, but I did have a really great brunch and ducked in to a cafe for a beer and sweet treat to charge my phone for a bit.
Aveiro has an amazing food scene with everything from lowkey cafes to fine dining and everything in between. It’s coastal location also makes it the perfect place to find some amazing seafood.
Aveiro has several local pastries and delicacies that are unique to the area and worth sinking your teeth in to (especially the pastries), so be sure to keep an eye out for these tasty sweet and savory dishes:
Must Try Aveiro Local Pastries:
Ovos Moles: A sweet pastry made from egg yolks and sugar, encased in a thin wafer. The wafers are often shaped like maritime symbols such as shells, fish, or barrels, referencing Aveiro's nautical heritage.
Tripas de Aveiro: A sweet crepe that is folded and filled with ingredients like chocolate or Ovos Moles.
Pão de ló de ovar: A traditional sponge cake.
Traditional Portuguese Dishes in Aveiro
Leitão da Bairrada: A roasted suckling pig from the Bairrada region, seasoned with garlic, salt, pepper, and lard, known for its crispy skin.
Caldeirada de enguias: An eel stew made with fresh eels, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and white wine, a nod to the region's abundant eel population.
Bacalhau: Cod is a very popular fish in Portugal and is commonly prepared in Aveiro.
I reached out to some local friends, fellow travelers, and top tour guides for some Aveiro restaurant recommendations, and these were the most highly recommended:
Breakfast & Brunch in Aveiro
BEMA brunch•coffee
🗺️Av. 5 de Outubro 41, 3810-082 Aveiro, Portugal
🕰️Tues-Fri 8:30a-7:30a, Sat-Sun 8:30a-7p, Mon-Closed
💶€€
🥬Vegetarian Friendly
Brunch is the most important meal of the day, and BEMA really delivers! If you are looking for a tasty, fresh, brunch in Aveiro with solid portions and a great price point, BEMA is a fantastic option. The service was friendly (if a bit slow), the menu was broad with sweet and savory options, and the atmosphere was welcoming.
This spot seems especially group-friendly with many share plate options.
Traditional Portuguese Lunch & Dinner in Aveiro
Maré Cheia
🗺️R. de José Rabumba 8, 3810-125 Aveiro, Portugal
🕰️Tues-Sat 12-2:30p, 7p-10:30p, Sun 12p-2:30p, Mon-Closed
💶€€
Maré Cheia is on the top of my list for when I return to Aveiro. Friends and fellow travelers cannot speak highly enough of this traditional Portuguese restaurant in Aveiro. They say the service is friendly and welcoming, menu is broad and always fresh, and it all comes at a modest price point.
Restaurante A Nossa Casa
Traditional restaurant offering regional dishes & seafood specialties amid a relaxed ambiance.
🗺️R. do Gravito 10, 3810-194 Aveiro, Portugal
🕰️Mon-Sat 12p-3p, 7:15p-10:30p, Sun 12p-3p
💶€€–€€€
For some of the best seafood in Aveiro, in huge portions, head to Restaurante A Nossa Casa! Friend absolutely rave about this place, and the reviews and photos back up their claims this is one of the best restaurants in Aveiro.
Bacalhau & Afins
🗺️R. de João Afonso de Aveiro 13, 3800-198 Aveiro, Portugal
🕰️Mon-Sat 12p-2:45p, 7p-11p, Sun- 12p-2:450
💶€€
This Aveiro restaurant comes highly recommended from a local tour guide (and fellow foodie). Toted as a “true culinary gem”, Bacalhau & Afins offers delicious bacalhau dishes and wine pairings, with a traditional-meets-modern vibe in both the space and food offerings.
Getting to Costa Nova from Aveiro
Costa Nova is a picturesque coastal town in central Portugal, near Aveiro, famous for its brightly striped, traditional fishermen's houses called palheiros. It offers a beautiful beach with golden sand, a promenade lined with restaurants and cafes, and is popular for water sports like surfing, while the nearby lagoon provides calmer water activities.
Costa Nova is the perfect addition to a day trip to Aveiro. This quaint coastal town is famed for it’s brightly striped houses. Here you will find fish markets, restaurants, cafes, and lovely coastal walks.
Here is how to get to Costa Nova from Aveiro:
🚌The most common way to get between Aveiro and Costa Nova is to take the bus. Busway Line 36 takes approximately 45 minutes, and costs 2€. The bus originates at Aveiro - CTT and takes you to Costa Nova - Largo Arrais Ançã.
🚕Taxi, Uber or Bolt will get you to Costa Nova in under 15 minutes and will cost around 10-15€ depending on time and demand
🚗Costa Nova is a quick and easy drive from Aveiro, and takes about 10-15 minutes.
🅿️Free parking spots are available on the main road (Avenida José Estevão). There are both free and paid parking areas behind the dunes near the beach
Whether you visit Aveiro as a full day trip, stay overnight, or just give it a few hours on your way to visit another city or town in Portugal, you will love all the vibrancy and colors of this Portuguese coastal city.
From the Moliceiros to the museums, unique Art Nouveau architecture to the regional cuisine, Aveiro is packed with unique Portuguese tradition and history.
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