Ceramic panel of a moliceiro collecting seaweed, Aveiro

I’m probably not the only one who felt slightly disappointed the first time they visited Aveiro but I’ve long since changed my opinion and now love this beautiful little city. My initial disillusion was largely due to the fact that it’s marketed as the Venice of Portugal but although the city centre has canals and pretty boats, the similarities end there.

Don’t get me wrong – the historical centre and nearby Ria de Aveiro lagoons are undeniably attractive and there are several things to do in Aveiro but I think it’s only fair to give you more realistic expectations.

TOP PICKS OF THINGS TO DO IN AVEIRO

Enjoy a ride through Aveiro’s canals in a traditional Moliceiro boat. LEARN MORE

Take a half day tour of Aveiro and Costa Nova. LEARN MORE

Tour the Vista Alegre Museum and discover art and wine. LEARN MORE

For many visitors, Aveiro is a day trip destination but it also makes a good base for exploring, especially if you enjoy nature reserves, beaches and watersports. See my Aveiro accommodation picks if you’re planning to stay overnight.

It’s also an overnight stop on my Lisbon to Porto Road Trip Itinerary.

Read on to find out what to see in Aveiro and the surrounding area.

1. Explore Aveiro’s canals and colourful boats

A few of the canals run through the heart of Aveiro’s historical centre. If you want to take a trip on one of the beautifully painted traditional boats (moliceiros), there are no shortage of tour operators willing to oblige.

Most will do a quick tour of the city canals but some boat trips will also take you out into the lagoons so check what’s included before embarking.

Note that this is a very touristy thing to do and, though relaxing, you could just as easily walk or use a bike (you can borrow free ones from a kiosk near the municipal market – take ID and your own lock) to explore the small city centre and its canals.

Tip: If you do decide to take a boat trip, there’s no shade so use sun protection on hot days.

Before carting tourists around, these moliceiro boats were originally used for collecting seaweed to be used as crop fertiliser or transporting other goods. Take a closer look at the colourful paintings at each end of these boats – some are rather saucy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Tip: A fun way to explore not just the canals but all of Aveiro is by bicycle. It’s easy to get around and due to the canals, flat. You can hire a cycle from this flexible, cost-effective bike rental service.

2. Learn about traditional salt production in Aveiro

The lagoons of Ria de Aveiro have been a major salt-producing centre for centuries. Back in the 12th century, they produced enough to supply the entire country as well as exports. Times change and new techniques introduced in the 20th century combined with environmental factors all but destroyed the salt industry in Aveiro.

Artisanal salt production still goes on and you’ll see evidence of this in form of prettily packaged top quality salt crystals and flor de sal that you can take home to flavour your dishes. It’s also possible to visit the salt pans and pyramids at the permanently open Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada.

Mike and I took a guided tour of the neighbouring Cale do Oiro pans and learned how the pools are organised to control the flow of seawater and filter out impurities before the Marnoto, the salt master, manages the harvest of the salt crystals. I was surprised at how the delicate flor de sal is made, and how greasy this thin film of crystals feels in the water.

Marnoto at work in the salt pans, Aveiro
Marnoto at work in the salt pans, Aveiro

3. Treat your skin to a salt spa

One of these salt pans has been transformed into an outdoor spa (seasonal). For 4 euros (or 7 with a guided tour) you can go for a dip and cover yourself with mineral-packed salty mud at Piscina e Spa Cale do Oiro in Marinhas Grã Caravela e Peijota (Tel: 234097573).

You have to scoop up wet mud from the base of the salt pan and pile it on the side so that you can plaster it over your skin (don’t wear your best swimming gear – it will get dirty). Then lie in the sun and let the mud dry before getting back into the water to rinse it off. Your skin will feel wonderfully soft.

I also enjoyed an exfoliating massage using salt crystals and other lovely products in a rudimentary shack overlooking the salt pans.

Salt pan mud spa, Aveiro
Salt pan mud spa. One of many things to do in Aveiro.

4. Admire Aveiro’s pretty pavements

As is the case in most Portuguese cities, Aveiro’s pavements are far from boring. Here, the black and white calçada take on maritime motifs, swirly circular patterns and geometric forms that will make your eyes go funny if you stare at them for too long.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

5. See Art Nouveau architecture in Aveiro

Aveiro must have been booming during the first part of the 20th century if the abundance of extravagant Art Nouveau architecture is any indication.

The beautiful blue building on Rua Dr. Barbosa de Magalhães is one of the best examples and is now home to Casa de Chá, a café with outdoor garden, and an Art Nouveau museum upstairs. To be honest, I wasn’t overly impressed by the museum; too much writing and not enough exhibits for my liking but it was only 1 euro to enter so don’t let me stop you from checking it out.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

6. Understand Aveiro’s culture through its ceramics

Another of Aveiro’s unavoidable decorative features is its ceramic art.

Spanning the traditional blue and white painted tiled panels that grace the train station and other buildings, a ceramic mural dedicated to the city’s fishing and salt-producing industries and contemporary ceramic objects in the craft and souvenir shops, there’s plenty to admire.

If you’re particularly interested in ceramics, see #12.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

7. See artistic treasures at Aveiro Museum

For me, the highlight of the Museu de Aveiro is the marble tomb built for Princess Saint Joana, who resisted various attempts to marry her off and devoted herself to religious pursuits. She lived in the 15th century Dominican convent in which the museum is housed. You’ll find several paintings of her in the museum as well as other artworks and artefacts.

Avenida de Santa Joana. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 18:00. Closed on Christmas Day, New Year, Easter and on May 1st.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

8. Things to do in Aveiro: Go shopping for crafts and produce

I’m not a fan of modern shopping centres but of all the ones I’ve seen, Aveiro’s appealed to me the most. Many of the shops are chain stores that you’ll find in any Portuguese city but the Forum complex is largely open air and built alongside one of the canals.

Far more interesting from my perspective are the contemporary craft shops, boutiques, themed cafés and gourmet stores that have cropped up in recent years. Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra and Rua do Principe Perfeito have several.

There’s also an outdoor craft market by the main canal next to Jardim do Rossio where you can see artisans at work and buy unique souvenirs.

If you’re a fan of local food markets, there are two places you should check out. One is the indoor market at Praça do Mercado, the other is the fish market in Praça do Peixe. Although I’ve been to Aveiro several times, I’ve never been there at the right time of day to witness the fish market in action but if you go in the morning, you should be able to see fishermen bringing in and trading their catch.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

9. Challenge your sweet tooth with ovos moles

One thing you won’t escape in Aveiro is the local delicacy, ovos moles. If you like heavily sugared egg yolks encased in rice paper, you’ll be in heaven. If not, I’d stick to having a nibble of one as they are rich and pack a serious sugar rush punch.

I was far happier to discover Gelados de Portugal (Ice creams of Portugal), a relatively new company making artisan ice cream from Portuguese flavours such as requeijão (ricotta cheese) and pumpkin jam or locally grown blueberries. The company now supply supermarkets and selected cafés in Coimbra and other cities so you can enjoy their ice cream even if you haven’t got time to visit Aveiro.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

10. Visit the picturesque fishing village of Costa Nova

While there are plenty of things to do in Aveiro, its attractions extend beyond the city centre. Just a few kilometres outside the city centre lies a charming fishing village called Costa Nova. If you take a guided tour to Aveiro, it will inevitably include a stop here. Otherwise, you’ll need to make your own way by car or bus.

What you’ll find is a sandy dune-backed beach, a fish market, lots of fish and seafood restaurants and brightly painted striped cottages.

Tip: The prettiest cottages are on the lagoon side of Costa Nova, just north of the fishing harbour on Avenida José Estevão.

Tip: Barra beach, just north of Costa Nova, has calmer water thanks to the jetty and a lifeguard.

This half day Aveiro tour from the Porto area includes time in the city centre, a journey through its scenic canals in a traditional “moliceiro” boat and a visit to Costa Nova.

You can also visit this charming village and beach on this Costa Nova and Barra Beach Tour, with pick up in Aveiro.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

11. Climb aboard a replica cod fishing ship at the Maritime Museum

Mike and I were both impressed by the Museu Marítimo in the neighbouring town of Ílhavo. Although there’s not a great deal of information in English, the displays are visual enough that you can learn a lot about Portugal’s traditional cod fishing industry. I had no idea that each fisherman had to leave the main ship and venture into the high seas to line fish. No mean feat!

There’s also a room with life size replicas of the different shaped boats developed to serve specific local needs, such as the moliceiros and salt boats, and lots of smaller models of all manner of boats.

An onsite aquarium contains live cod and other members of this fish family. The purpose-built museum building has won architectural prizes, although it spits you out in a different place from where you leave your car, which had us wandering around a housing estate until a man pointed us in the right direction.

Av. Dr. Rocha Madail 193, Ílhavo, Aveiro. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm on Sundays.

All aboard. Replica cod fishing ship, Maritime Museum, Aveiro
All aboard. Replica cod fishing ship, Maritime Museum, Aveiro

12. Visit the Vista Alegre Museum

I was unsure just how much fun a porcelain museum would be and delayed visiting the Vista Alegre Museum for several years. Having finally made the effort, I’d say it’s definitely worth it. The museum is housed within the village that was built for the workers.

Use the audio guide (one of the voices is unnecessarily annoying but the content is generally good) to get the most out of the experience and help you appreciate things like the huge kilns, the art school and the whole community, which even had its own fire brigade.

The chapel is only open for visits at set times – see the list on reception – and is in Portuguese. There is a leaflet in English that will give you some explanation of the exquisite artwork inside but if you want an actual guide in English, email the museum to organise this in advance: museu@vistaalegre.com.

Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm (7:30 in summer). Full details on the museum website.

You can visit this museum on this Half-day tour from Aveiro.

Vista Alegre Museum, Ílhavo, Aveiro
Vista Alegre Museum, Ílhavo, Aveiro

Top hotels in Aveiro

For a comprehensive view check out my post about the Best Places to Stay in Aveiro.

Here are just a few to recommend.

There’s a beautiful modern 5 star hotel at Vista Alegre, which overlooks the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and has both indoor and outdoor pools. You can now also stay in one of the old workers houses, choosing from one-bedroom to four-bedroom Apartments, Studios and Deluxe Rooms as well as the more traditional room types. See photos of the Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel and check availability

For a charming, centrally located hotel, you could try the 4-star Hotel Moliceiro. Rooms offer a range of decorative styles so pick one that suits your tastes.

Another 4 star option overlooking the central canal is the Aveiro Palace which has wonderful azulejos in the breakfast room. Check availability and current prices

Other reasonably priced options include the bright, modern Hotel do Mercado, which as well as having colourful murals in the bedrooms and friendly staff, also organises the salt pan tours. The standard room is a little small so try to get a deluxe or room with a balcony. See photos here.

Bedroom, Cale do Oiro, Aveiro
Bedroom, Hotel do Mercado, Aveiro

How to get to Aveiro

Aveiro is on the main train line that runs between Lisbon and Porto so there are many daily connections and the Rede Expressos coach company call in here. It’s also well served by motorways if you’re driving.

If you don’t fancy making your own way there, you can do a half day tour from Porto that includes a boat trip on a moliceiro as well as a visit to the colourful fishermen’s houses by the Costa Nova beach. If you have a day to spare and want to combine Aveiro with a trip to Coimbra, you could do a full day tour.

Gastronomy & Wine Meets Art goes to the Vista Alegre Museum as well as the underground art gallery and winery of Aliança and an actual above ground winery in Bairrada.

Lagoon And The Fishermen Villages takes you to Costa Nova as well as Aveiro historical centre.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Like what you see? Pin this for later

Things to do in Aveiro Portugal
Things to do in Aveiro

18 Comments

  1. Thanks for this Julie, we must go back! When we were there a few years ago, we drove round to the other side of the estuary to Sao Jacinto. A short distance north there is a factory building and repairing the colourful boats, all with “interesting” drawings and inscriptions on the bow, as you descibe! We got some lovely photos and I’d recommend it for a visit.

  2. On my recent trip to portugal (late June, 2019), I benefited from a number of Julie’s tips and blogs. I have an interest in ceramics and visited Vista Alegre porcelain factor which I wouldn’t have done without Julie’s description. I spent 2 nights/1 day in Aveiro. Although I enjoyed the visit and had excellent fish dinners, I left confused and feeling silly because when I took the local bus to Costa Nova, I did not find the beach with the sand dunes, only pavement??? I saw the striped houses. It started to rain, so I didn’t try asking where the sandy beach was. Now I am curious how I missed it or what I misunderstood.

    1. I’ve never taken the bus but essentially, Costa Nova is a village in between the lagoon and the ocean so you needed to walk through it, way from the lagoon, to reach the beach.

  3. Probably the best place to live in Portugal. A great blend of city life, beaches, nature, culture, great food and beauty. I’d swap Lisbon for Aveiro any day.

  4. For Art Deco read Art Nouveau, sorry!

  5. I don’t know about Aveiro’s own marketing strategies but the Centro de Portugal tourist board has been and still is plugging the Venice analogy for as long as I’ve been here (11 years and counting).

  6. My mouth is watering at the thought of this. Glad you had a wonderful meal, Sylvia.

  7. It was always my belief that although commonly and lazily referred to as “the Venice of Portugal”, Aveiro sensibly avoided the comparison. Has the town actually started to promote itself with this slogan now? It’s a lovely place anyway, with some Art Deco architecture unique in Portugal and some really good food.

  8. We went to a fantastic fish and seafood restaurant in the fish market, Cais do Pescado. We had massive tiger shrimps, stuffed crab and dory. The fish soup was world class. Downstairs is a cafe. If it hadn’t been recommended by the hotel we would not of gone there. Upstairs is a beautiful restaurant with very good service.

  9. I haven’t been to Aveiro for quite a few years, but it’s a town I enjoyed visiting.
    Those ice-cream flavours sound delicious.

    1. They’ve added more this year, too. Delicious

  10. Hi Julie, Robert, Frank, Margaret and Anita,

    I gess what Aveiro’s visitors are missing is its history, stories and tales: Did you know that liberal revolutions (1828) started there, so Aveiro is considered the Birthplace of the liberty in Portugal?
    Also one of the most significant figure of the carnation revolution (1974) Zeca Afonso was norn here and is music is all around.
    Can you imagine your life without salt and pepper? Its was “João Afonso de Aveiro” who presented that spice to Europe back in 1484
    There is so much to tell about how unique Aveiro really is…

    If you come to Aveiro, please don’t go away without geting aquainted to it.

    Cheers,
    Suzy

  11. Aveiro is also a great place to eat fish, incluing eels. We like “O Mercantel” which has first floorwindows onto the fishmarket canal, although the entrance is in a parallel street. Lively (if a bit noisy) and always full of locals. Friendly service and very reasonable prices. Also the small and intimate “Tasquinha do Confrade”, tucked away in a backstreet near the fishmarket.

    1. Author

      Thanks for the great tips, Robert. Will have to check them out next time 🙂

  12. Thank you, Julie, for this post since we are planing to spend a couple of days in Aveiro this Fall.
    Your article has served to outline our itinerary and found us a place to stay. Now, any good places to eat?

  13. Hi Julie,

    20 odd years ago I went to Aveiro and saw joiners making lovely wooden fishing boats. I haven’t been back since. Do they still make them there? I do hope so.

    Aveiro isn’t the only place to be compared to Venice and set people up for a bit of a disappointment. Birmingham – hard to believe – is another, though it does have more canals than Venice.

    I like Aveiro too and think it should stand on its own feet and market itself as a great Portuguese place to visit not as a pale reflection of an Italian city,

  14. Aveiro may not be Venice but it looks like there’s much to see and do. I love Art Nouveau architecture and would be happy to spend some time roaming around the streets and taking a boat ride. What fun! Anita

    1. Author

      I think you’ll really like it. It’s grown on me a lot since that first visit and I know lots of people are very fond of Aveiro, too.

Over to you. Please share your thoughts in a comment.