Overview
Often nicknamed the “Venice of Portugal”, Aveiro is one of the country’s most charming small cities. While the comparison with Venice is a little exaggerated, there’s no denying that its network of canals, colourful moliceiro boats and elegant Art Nouveau buildings make it one of the prettiest day trips from Porto.
Aveiro has a completely different atmosphere to Portugal’s larger cities. Life moves at a slower pace here. Instead of climbing steep hills like in Porto or Lisbon, you’ll stroll along flat canals, watch traditional boats glide by, enjoy fresh seafood and finish the day with Portugal’s most famous sweet treat: ovos moles. The city is compact enough to explore in a day, but if you combine it with nearby Costa Nova and its famous striped beach houses, you’ll easily fill an entire day. If you’re spending several days in Porto, I highly recommend adding Aveiro to your itinerary.
Read my Ultimate Guide to Portugal
Is Aveiro Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially as a day trip from Porto. Although Aveiro is often marketed as the “Venice of Portugal”, I think that’s doing the city a slight disservice. If you arrive expecting miniature Venice, you’ll probably be disappointed. Instead, think of Aveiro as a relaxed coastal city with beautiful canals, excellent seafood and a unique architectural style all of its own. The biggest surprise for me wasn’t actually the canals, but nearby Costa Nova, whose colourful striped houses have become one of Portugal’s most photographed locations. I recommend visiting Aveiro if you:
- want an easy day trip from Porto
- enjoy walking around beautiful historic centres
- love seafood
- like photography
- want to combine city sightseeing with the beach
You can probably skip it if you’re mainly interested in hiking, dramatic scenery or medieval castles. In that case, I’d choose Arouca, Gerês National Park or Guimarães instead.
Read next: Best day trips from Porto
What to do in Aveiro
- 1 Walk along the canals
- 2 Take a Moliceiro boat ride
- 3 Visit Costa Nova
- 4 Admire Art Nouveau
- 5 Try Ovos Moles
1 Walk Along the Canals
The canals are the heart of Aveiro. Unlike many European canal cities, Aveiro feels surprisingly peaceful. The waterfront is lined with cafés, colourful houses and traditional moliceiro boats, making it the perfect place for a leisurely walk. The central canal is compact enough that you’ll naturally pass most of the city’s main attractions while exploring.
2 Take a Moliceiro Boat Ride
The colourful moliceiro boats are Aveiro’s most recognisable symbol. Originally, these long wooden boats were used to collect seaweed from the lagoon. Today they’ve become sightseeing boats offering 45-minute tours through the canals while guides explain the city’s history.
Are they essential? Not necessarily. Personally, I enjoyed simply walking along the canals just as much, but if it’s your first visit, the boat ride is a fun way to see the city from a different perspective.
3 Visit Costa Nova
If you only visit one place outside Aveiro itself, make it Costa Nova. Located about 10 km from the city centre, this small seaside village is famous for its colourful striped fishermen’s houses known as palheiros. Originally built to store fishing equipment, they have since become one of Portugal’s most photographed landmarks. Besides the famous houses, Costa Nova also offers a beautiful sandy beach, seafood restaurants and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. In my opinion, Costa Nova is just as much a highlight as Aveiro itself.
4 Admire the Art Nouveau Architecture
Aveiro experienced significant prosperity during the early 20th century, and many elegant Art Nouveau buildings still remain. As you wander through the city centre, you’ll notice ornate balconies, decorative facades and colourful ceramic tiles that give Aveiro its distinctive character. If you’re interested in architecture, consider visiting the Art Nouveau Museum.
5 Try Ovos Moles
No visit to Aveiro is complete without tasting ovos moles. This traditional Portuguese sweet is made from egg yolks and sugar wrapped inside delicate wafer shells shaped like shells or fish. It’s incredibly sweet, but worth trying at least once since it’s one of Portugal’s few desserts with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. Iconic Historic Confectioneries where you can try it:
- Confeitaria Peixinho | Established in 1856, Peixinho is the oldest pastry house in Aveiro. It is famous for its elegant Art Nouveau facade, chic interior, and an upstairs tea room where you can sample traditional shapes, ovos moles ice cream, or pastries topped with the sweet egg cream.
- M1882 – Ovos Moles de Aveiro | Operating since 1882, M1882 is widely considered by locals to serve the most authentic and traditional recipe passed down directly from the region’s conventual history. They have a factory shop locally known as “A Garagem” as well as a newer retail store.
- Doce Moliceiro | An artisanal shop open since 1943 that sits just a few steps from the canal. They have been awarded the “Ouro Qualifica” distinction multiple years in a row for their generational recipe and also offer creative iterations like Cornucópias filled with ovos moles.
- Salpoente | If you want to try ovos moles reimagined in a fine-dining format, this upscale restaurant incorporates the traditional sweet cream into sophisticated desserts combined with cinnamon ice cream, almond cakes (toucinho do céu), or wild berries.
How to get to Aveiro
By Car | Driving from Porto takes approximately 50–60 minutes via the A1 motorway. A rental car isn’t necessary for exploring Aveiro itself, but it becomes very useful if you’d also like to visit Costa Nova, Praia da Barra, or continue south towards Coimbra or the Algarve. Parking is available around the historic centre, although spaces fill up quickly on summer weekends. I recommend leaving your car just outside the centre and exploring on foot.
Guided Tour| If you’re staying in Porto and prefer not to organise transport yourself, several excellent day tours include Aveiro. Many tours combine Aveiro with Costa Nova, allowing you to see both highlights in one day without worrying about buses, parking or navigation. Some also include nearby Coimbra, making them a great option if you’re short on time. A guided tour is also ideal if you’d like to learn more about the city’s history and the famous moliceiro boats.
By Train | The train is the easiest and most convenient way to visit Aveiro from Porto. Direct regional and intercity trains depart regularly from Porto’s São Bento and Campanhã stations, reaching Aveiro in around 1 hour. The station is only a 10–15 minute walk from the historic centre, making it an excellent option if you’re planning to explore the city on foot. If you’re only visiting for the day and don’t plan to continue to Costa Nova or the surrounding beaches, this is the option I recommend.
Where to Stay in Aveiro
Most travellers visit Aveiro as a day trip from Porto, but spending one night here is a great idea if you prefer slower travel or want to enjoy the canals after the day-trippers leave. If you’re planning to explore Costa Nova, nearby beaches or continue south through Portugal, staying overnight also gives you much more flexibility. The historic centre is the best area to stay, as you’ll be within walking distance of the canals, restaurants and most attractions.
Best hotels in Aveiro
Veneza Hotel (budget) | One of the city’s best-value hotels, Veneza Hotel is located just a short walk from both the train station and the historic centre. It offers comfortable rooms, private parking and consistently excellent reviews, making it ideal if you’re arriving by train or rental car.
Aveiro Rossio Hostel (budget) | For backpackers or solo travellers, Aveiro Rossio Hostel is one of Portugal’s nicest hostels, with a fantastic location near the canals and a friendly social atmosphere.
Hotel Moliceiro (mid-range) | If waking up with canal views is high on your wishlist, this is my top recommendation. Located directly on the waterfront, Hotel Moliceiro offers spacious rooms, an excellent breakfast and one of the best locations in Aveiro. You can walk to virtually every attraction in just a few minutes, making it perfect for a relaxed city break.
MS Collection Aveiro – Palacete de Valdemouro (luxury) | Without question the city’s most luxurious hotel. Set inside a beautifully restored 18th-century palace in the heart of Aveiro, this elegant five-star hotel combines historic architecture with contemporary design. Expect beautifully decorated rooms, an excellent spa, outstanding service and one of the best breakfasts in the city. It’s an ideal choice for couples celebrating a special occasion.
Start planning
If you’re actively planning your trip, these are the tools I personally use and recommend to book safely, save money, and avoid unnecessary stress.
Start planning
If you’re actively planning your trip, these are the tools I personally use and recommend to book safely, save money, and avoid unnecessary stress.
Flights
Find any flight on Skyscanner or Expedia
Hotels
Booking.com and Agoda for hotels, Hostelworld for hostels
Tours & Activities
GetYourGuide, Viator and Klook are all reliable, with flexible cancellation
Transportation
DiscoverCars for car rentals. Omio (in Europe), BusBud and 12Go (globally) for trains and buses.
Money & Payments
A Wise card for free ATM, good FX rates and low fees
Where to next?
If this guide helped you understand what it’s really like to travel in Portugal, the next step is planning your route. Start here for a complete overview:
→ Portugal Travel Guide
(destinations, transport, costs, and practical tips)
Planning your itinerary?
These sample routes help you decide how much you can realistically see without rushing.
3-week Travel Itinerary: Explore Portugal at a relaxed pace.
2-week Travel Itinerary: The perfect first-time route covering Portugal’s highlights.
Traveling solo or want extra tips?
If this is your first trip to Portugal, these guides will help you feel prepared:
Best Time to Visit Portugal: Month-by-month breakdown, seasons, and when to plan your trip
Cost of Travel in Portugal: Realistic budgets, transport costs, and how to plan your spending
How to get around Portugal: How to combine transport options like a pro
Explore Portugal by destination
If you prefer to plan by destination, these in-depth guides cover some of Portugal’s highlights:
Algarve Travel Guide