Ovos moles (“soft eggs from Aveiro”) and a ride on a moliceiro (a typical boat) in the Ria de Aveiro are probably the first things that come to mind when people think of the Portuguese city of Aveiro, but it has more to offer. Stay on that side and discover Aveiro in a day trip, with time for a jump to Costa Nova.
Why Visit Aveiro?
Aveiro is a top day-trip destination from Porto or Lisbon. Its highlights combine tradition, history, and natural beauty: canals, salt pans, bright façades, rich gastronomy, and nearby beaches. Whether you’re looking for cultural sites, unique food, or Instagram-worthy scenery, Aveiro has it all.
Best time to visit Aveiro
Aveiro is a delightful city to explore at any time of year, but we recommend a visit during the summer months. Nestled by the Atlantic coast, it enjoys pleasantly mild temperatures, often cooler than those found in other parts of Portugal, making it an ideal summer escape. If you’re visiting in a different season, try to choose a day without rain. Much of Aveiro’s charm lies outdoors, from its colourful canals to its elegant Art Nouveau buildings, and both rain and wind can make the experience less enjoyable.
Do keep in mind that Mondays are not the best day to visit, as most museums, along with some shops and restaurants, are closed. To experience Aveiro at its best, plan your trip from Tuesday to Sunday, when the city is at its most vibrant and welcoming.
How to get to Aveiro
To get to Aveiro, there are several convenient options depending on the starting point.
From Lisbon to Aveiro
- By train: Direct trains from Santa Apolónia or Oriente stations (≈2h15).
- By bus: About 3h30 from Sete Rios or Oriente terminals (cheaper option, tickets from €4 to €7, depending on the time and how far in advance they are booked).
- By car: 2h30 via highways A8 and A17.
From Porto to Aveiro
- By train: About 1 hour from Campanhã station.
- By bus: ≈50–60 minutes from Campanhã bus terminal.
- By car: 45–60 minutes via A1 or A29.
1-day Itinerary to visit Aveiro
We arrived in Aveiro around 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday and decided to begin our visit with the city’s most iconic experience, a leisurely walk along the beautiful Ria de Aveiro. It doesn’t take long to get your bearings here: the city center and the departure points for the traditional boats are immediately obvious as you arrive. Aveiro is compact and easy to explore, making it perfect to discover on foot or by bike. For an added perk, the city offers free bicycles, known as BUGAs, which you can conveniently pick up at the BUGA shop in the Manuel Firmino Market.
Ria de Aveiro Tour
The boat tour lasts about 45 minutes, costs €13, and can be enjoyed either on a traditional moliceiro or on a merchant boat. As you glide along the Ria, the tour offers a great overview of Aveiro’s main points of interest. A local guide accompanies the journey, sharing stories about the city and pointing out landmarks along the way. You’ll also pass under several bridges, each with its own unique design and character, the most famous being the Ponte dos Laços (“Ribbon Bridge”) and the Ponte da Amizade (“Friendship Bridge”).
Art Nouveau Museum (Museu Arte Nova)
At the end of the stroll along the Ria, as you head toward General Humberto Delgado Square, you’ll come across the Museum of New Art, housed in one of the city’s most beautiful façades. Admission is just €2 and includes access to both the permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as a visit to the charming Casa de Chá (tearoom).
Statues of the bridge
After visiting the museum, we paused at the bridge to admire the Statues of the Bridge, set on its four pillars. These sculptures beautifully depict the daily life of the people of Aveiro in times gone by. From the top of the bridge, another landmark immediately draws your eye, the Capitania of the Port of Aveiro, also known as the Casa dos Arcos. Today, this historic building serves as the City Council, but it still stands out as one of the city’s most striking architectural gems.
Fish Market
Before lunch, we made a quick stop at the Fish Market, a space dedicated exclusively to the sale of fresh fish and seafood. The market is open from Tuesday to Saturday, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Since our visit fell on a Sunday, we couldn’t go inside – but even from the outside, the building itself was worth admiring!
Restaurant O Legado da Ria
For lunch, we chose Legado da Ria, where we ordered Monkfish Rice and Squid Kebabs. Both dishes were absolutely delicious, and the restaurant quickly won our seal of approval. If you’re planning a trip to Aveiro, we highly recommend considering this spot for either lunch or dinner.
Aveiro Cathedral and Santa Joana Museum
After lunch, we took a short walk to visit the Cathedral of Aveiro and the Museum of Santa Joana, passing by the historic Church of Misericórdia along the way. The Cathedral, also known as Igreja de São Domingos, was originally part of a 15th-century Dominican convent and showcases beautiful Portuguese Baroque architecture.
The Museum of Aveiro, also known as the Museum of Santa Joana, is housed in the historic Monastery of Jesus, founded in 1458. Admission costs €4. Inside, visitors will find a stunning collection of sacred art, centered around the beautifully decorated Church of Jesus, famous for its dazzling gilded woodcarvings and exquisite Baroque interiors. The museum also includes other captivating spaces such as the peaceful cloisters and the elegant refectory. A fascinating historical tidbit is that the original recipe for Aveiro’s famous Ovos Moles (soft egg sweets) traces back to the nuns who once lived here, adding a unique cultural touch to the visit.
Ovos moles de Aveiro (“Soft Eggs” from Aveiro)
Back in the city center, no visit to Aveiro is complete without trying the famous Ovos Moles. We bought ours at Pastelaria Veneza, a charming local pastry shop located in Praça General Humberto Delgado. The soft egg sweets were absolutely delightful, and the bakery is well known throughout the city for this traditional treat. You’ll find Ovos Moles available at many pastry shops all around Aveiro, so be sure to try them wherever you go!
Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada
At the edge of the city, you’ll find the Troncalhada Marine Ecomuseum, an open-air museum with free entrance that offers a unique glimpse into the traditional artisanal salt production of Aveiro. Also known as the Salinas de Aveiro, this living museum allows visitors to explore the salt pans and learn the age-old methods of harvesting sea salt using wooden tools to preserve its flavor. Several informative panels guide visitors through the process, the local biodiversity, and the life of the salt workers, or “marnotos,” who still practice this craft. The museum’s natural setting changes with the seasons, offering a sensory and educational experience in a beautiful environment.
Costa Nova
Finally, we visited Costa Nova in Ílhavo, located just about 10 minutes from Aveiro. Costa Nova is famous for its charming haystacks – traditional wooden houses painted with colorful stripes. Originally built in the 19th century by fishermen as simple storage sheds for their equipment, these striped houses, locally called palheiros, have become an iconic symbol of the area. Their bright, vibrant colors were used to help fishermen identify their homes from a distance, especially on foggy days. Today, many of these haystacks have been transformed into charming vacation homes, and walking along the rows of perfectly lined colorful houses is a delight for any visitor.
Other places of interest
This was our itinerary through the Portuguese Venice, but the city has more places that you may want to visit. We leave below some more points of interest that you may want to visit:
- Chapel of São Gonçalinho
- Teatro Aveirense
- Aveiro Congress Center
- Vera Cruz Church
- Bairro da Beira Mar
- Republic Square
- Convento Carmelita
- I Love Aveiro
- Parque da Fonte Nova
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