A coastal city with colorful boats and Art Nouveau buildings. Known for its canals, salt production, and nearby beaches. Rich in fishing heritage and Moorish history.
Aveiro, a city in central Portugal, is known for its network of canals and colorful moliceiro boats. In the city center, you'll find Art Nouveau buildings like the Art Nouveau Museum. Just a short trip away, Costa Nova beach has distinctive striped houses lining the shore. Aveiro's local cuisine includes fresh seafood and a sweet treat called ovos moles. The city's compact size and flat terrain make it easy to explore on foot or by bicycle.
Aveiro's Canals
Aveiro's canals are central to the city's character. You can take a ride on a moliceiro, a traditional boat originally used for seaweed harvesting but now repurposed for tourism. These vessels, painted with colorful scenes, travel through the city's waterways. During the 45-minute tour, which costs around €15, you'll see the architecture and daily life along the canals from the water.
Art Nouveau Architecture
As you walk through Aveiro, you'll notice many Art Nouveau buildings from the early 20th century. The city is part of the Réseau Art Nouveau Network, along with Barcelona and Brussels. You can see examples of this decorative style throughout the city, particularly along the main canal. Visit the Art Nouveau Museum, located in a restored building, to learn about this artistic movement and its influence on Aveiro. The museum displays original furniture, ceramics, and other decorative arts from the period, providing context for the city's architectural history.
Tasting Ovos Moles and Local Cuisine
You'll find ovos moles, Aveiro's signature sweet, in many pastry shops throughout the city. This delicacy consists of egg yolks and sugar encased in a thin wafer shell, often shaped like seashells or fish. For savory options, try the fresh seafood dishes in local restaurants. The Ria de Aveiro lagoon provides an abundance of fish and shellfish, making seafood a key part of the local cuisine. You might want to try caldeirada de enguias, a traditional eel stew, or enjoy grilled fish caught fresh from the Atlantic.
Costa Nova Beach
A short trip from Aveiro's city center takes you to Costa Nova, a beach known for its colorful striped houses. These structures, originally used by fishermen to store equipment, now serve as holiday homes and add character to the coastline. The beach has a long stretch of golden sand where you can sunbathe or take long walks. You can reach Costa Nova by taking a bus from Aveiro, which runs regularly and takes about 20 minutes. The beach area also has several restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood with views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Getting to Aveiro
Aveiro is well-connected to other major Portuguese cities. From Porto, you can take a train that reaches Aveiro in about an hour, with frequent departures throughout the day. If you're coming from Lisbon, the train journey takes about two and a half hours. The Aveiro train station, decorated with azulejo tiles, is within walking distance of the city center. If you prefer to drive, you can reach Aveiro via the A1 highway, about an hour's drive south of Porto. Once in the city, you can explore on foot or rent a bicycle, as Aveiro is relatively flat and compact.
