Thinking of spending a day in Aveiro? This guide and itinerary covers the highlights and hidden gems in this unique Portuguese town!
Aveiro, often referred to as the ‘Venice of Portgal’ is a compact coastal city, where vibrantly coloured boats glide along the canals through the downtown area. Offering a mix of Portugese tradition and laid-back coastal atmosphere, Aveiro’s streets are lined with some of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Portugal.
I visited Aveiro as a stop-off on my Portugal road trip, slowly making our way from Porto to Albufeira in the space of a week. We’d spent the previous day in Porto, exploring the city, and planned to add a couple of stops on our road trip route down to Lisbon. Only an hour’s drive away, Aveiro is an ideal day trip from Porto.
And I’m a sucker for a good canal.
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One Day in Aveiro: Travel Guide
- Language: Portugese, with a good level of tourist-friendly English is widely spoken
- Currency: Euro. Most places accept card payment and there are ATMs in the city centre
- Weather: Warm throughout the year, with average high temperatures of 22-25°C in summer and 14-17°C in winter.
- Time Zone: GMT+1
- Emergency number: 112
How long should I spend in Aveiro?
One day in Aveiro is more than enough time to explore the highlights at a leisurely pace. If you’re short for time, you can tick off the main sights in as little as 3-4 hours. You could also incorporate a visit to the colourful coastal village of Costa Nova, and relax on Praia da Barra – a popular Porgual beach destination.
If you’re travelling further south, it works well as a stop-off point to spend the night.
When’s the best time to visit Aveiro?
If you’re looking for good weather, the hottest months in Aveiro are from June-September, with average high temperatures of 22-25°C. The shoulder seasons of March-May and October-November are often still warm, and it’s less busy at these times than in the summer months. We visited in mid-September, and enjoyed a moderately sunny day, with some cloud cover.
If you’re thinking of visiting on a Monday, note that most museums and some restaurants and shops will be closed. To get the full Aveiro experience, I’d recommend timing your day trip between Tuesday and Sunday.
Getting to Aveiro
By car:
Aveiro is around 50 minutes’ drive from Porto, with the majority of your journey along the A1 highway. Driving from Lisbon takes around 2hrs 40mins.
Aveiro has plenty of parking for visitors, both paid-for and free.
There are multiple free parking lots around Aveiro train station and in the surrounding area. We left our car at Parque Estacionamento Nossa Sra Aflitos, a free car park less than ten minutes walk from the centre of town. We arrived early and found a space, but if you’re arriving later during peak times, it does fill up throughout the morning.
You can also park at Mercado Manuel Firmino’s underground parking garage for around €6 per day.
Compare car rental prices in Portugal, and read more about driving abroad for the first time.
By public transport:
From Porto: A direct train service runs from Porto Campanhã Railway Station to Aveiro. The average journey time is between 40-50 minutes, costing from €22 for a return journey.
The cheapest way to get to Aveiro from Porto is with a Flixbus coach. The journey takes around an hour and a single journey costs as little as €3.
From Lisbon: A direct train service runs from Lisbon Oriente Station to Aveiro. The average journey time is between 2hrs and 2hrs 20mins, with return journey prices starting from €42.
(Flixbus operate a coach service from Lisbon to Aveiro, however with a journey time of at least three hours, I wouldn’t recommend this for a day trio to Aveiro from Lisbon unless you’re continuing your journey further north afterwards.)
P.S… If you arrive in Aveiro by train, make sure you take some time to check out Estação de Aveiro, the city’s old train station. The building that houses the station is a charming example of traditional architecture, with a beautiful blue and white tiled facade.
On a guided tour:
If you’re looking to visit Aveiro from Porto as easily as possible, this half-day guided tour from Porto includes transport and a canal boat ride, plus free time to explore.
If you’re planning to take a full-day trip most guided tours from Porto to Aveiro incorporate visits to other nearby places of interest:
Where to stay in Aveiro
If you’re planning to make the most of your day trip to Aveiro by adding in an overnight stay, there are plenty of hotels available for a range of budgets.
For budget travellers, the Aveiro Rossio Hostel (€) is centrally located in downtown Aveiro, offering budget and superior mixed dorm rooms, with breakfast included.
Hotel de Salinas (€€) is ideal for affordable mid-range travellers, with simple, comfortable rooms in a city centre location. For light and airy rooms with personality, check out Hotel do Mercado (€€).
Want to wake up to views over the ‘Venice of Portugal’? Book a river view room at Hotel Aveiro Palace (€€€).
The 5* MS Collection Aveiro Palacete Valdemouro (€€€€) is the top pick for luxury, with outdoor and indoor swimming pools and sleek, stylish interior decor.
Aveiro One Day Itinerary: Morning
Welcome to Aveiro! The ‘Venice of Portugal’ awaits. After you’ve grabbed a delicious pastry for an on-the-go breakfast (Pastelaria Veneza is a great spot for this), it’s time to explore. Downtown Aveiro is a compact, charming area, brimming with art nouveau architecture, intricately tiled town squares and colourful canal boats.
Speaking of the latter…
Moliceiro Boat Ride
If you do one thing with your day in Aveiro, make sure you take a cruise along the city’s scenic waterway aboard a traditional Portugese Moliceiro Boat.
Moliceiros are similar to Venetian gondolas, decorated with colourful drawings that depict historical events. Their original purpose was to collect algae in the Ria de Aveiro, however they’re now primarily used for tourist boat trips.
Heading through the city centre, the scenic boat ride under cute little bridges, including the colourful Ponte Laços de Amizade, where visitors leave ribbons to commemorate their trip. As the boat makes its way along R. João Mendonça, feast your eyes on the beautiful art deco facades that line the canal.
Museu de Arte Nova
Once you’re back on dry land, drop into one of Aveiro’s most notable buildings!
Aveiro’s Museu de Arte Nova (Art Nouveau Museum) is housed in a charming white and blue fronted building alongside the canal.
Inside, you can explore the history of the Art Nouveau style in Aveiro. The museum was established in 2008, but the building itself dates back to the early 20th century. The distinct architectural style was designed by Portugese architect Francisco Augusto da Silva Rocha, incorporating works by sculptor Ernesto Korrodi.
Inside, you’ll see an array of Art Nouveau pieces including ceramics, textiles, furniture and paintings. Alongside these permanent exhibits, temporary exhibitions bring in works from local and international artists.
Opening Times: Tue-Sun 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm
Admission Fee: €3
Lunch in Aveiro
Aveiro isn’t short of places to eat, whether you’re looking for Portugese cuisine, fresh seafood, or rich Mediterranean flavours. These are some gems to check out for a lunch stop in Aveiro:
Green City Quiches & Saladas (€) – freshly made quiches and salads at an affordable price
MUSGO – Restaurante Vegan (€€) – fresh, homemade vegan dishes including burgers and bowls.
Alicarius (€€) – Portugese restaurant serving franceshinas, a traditional sandwich from the Porto region layered with meat, bread, cheese and beer sauce.
Flower Garden (€€€€) – upmarket European dishes in a floral-decorated dining room.
Try out a local specialty, Ovos Moles
Lunchtime is also the ideal time to check out a local delicacy that divides opinion with those who give it a go!
Ovos Moles are a geographically protected local pastry, meaning they can only be made in Aveiro. Consisting of an egg yolk and sugar mix served inside a rice paper casing, they were first made by nuns in the local convent over five centuries ago.
We picked up a couple from one of the many stores alongside the canal selling them. If I’m honest, they weren’t to my taste – but worth spending a couple of euros on for an authentic taste of Aveiro.
(if you really like them, you can join an Ovos Moles workshop to make your own!)
Aveiro One Day Itinerary: Afternoon
For your afternoon in Aveiro, check out this list of things to do in Aveiro, including museums, churches and attractions. Or, if you prefer, spend some time walking the streets and simply taking in the ambience.
Explore religious history and art at Aveiro Museum
Housed in a former 15th century convent building, the Aveiro Museum features a collection of fine art and religious objects, including paintings, sculptures and jewels.
The building itself is absolutely worth visiting for, featuring the tomb of Saint Princess Joana – a king’s daughter who entered the convent in the 1400s. The intricate golden woodwork of the chapel in the Church of Jesus is a stunning example of baroque architecture.
Opening Times: Tue-Sun 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm
Admission Fee: €4
Marvel at the interior of Igreja de São João Evangelista
Close to the Aveiro Museum, this small but awe-inspiring church may not look like much from the outside but it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Built in the 18th century, the Igreja de São João Evangelista was declared a national monument in 1910. The interior chapel is strikingly adorned with gold woodwork, intricate religious paintings and tilework.
Opening Times: Tue-Sun 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm
Admission Fee: Free
See traditional tilework at Church of Aveiro’s Mercy
This Catholic church building is an impressive example of traditional Portugese azulejos tilework. Intricately designed blue and white tiles stretch from floor to ceiling, inside and out.
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sun 10.30am-1pm
Admission Fee: Free
Get hands on with science at Fábrica Centro Ciência
This interactive science museum features hands-on exhibits including chemistry, food science, robotics and more. If you’re looking for something to do with kids in Aveiro, this is the perfect place to entertain them, with family friendly activities and workshops on offer.
Opening Times: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Admission Fee: €7 (adults), €5.50 (children), €15 (family ticket)
Enjoy the scenery at Aveiro’s city parks
For a relaxing walk in the great outdoors, head to this pair of scenic city parks located beside each other on the south side of Aveiro’s city centre. Both feature expansive green space, and Infante Dom Pedro City Park has some beautiful bridges across the lake.
Discover how salt is produced in Aveiro
The Ria de Aveiro is a large lagoon just off the Atlantic Ocean, where the region’s salt production takes place. At the Aveiro Salt Flats, you can take a walking tour to discover the process behind salt-making while enjoying the beauty of the salt pans and the area’s birdlife.
Book a guided tour: Guided tours take place at 11am and 4pm daily and take around 45 minutes. More information on how to book can be found here.
Summary: Is Aveiro worth visiting?
If you’re planning a road trip along the Portugal coastline, or looking for a charming day trip from Lisbon, Aveiro is a wonderful compact city with laid-back vibes and beautiful architecture. Although the Venice comparison largely stops at the canals, Aveiro is definitely worth visiting on its own merit.
