Aveiro is a city located on the west coast of Portugal along Ria de Aveiro Lagoon known as the "Portuguese Venice". This city is distinguished by its canals that are navigated by colourful boats which are traditionally used to harvest seaweed.
5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Aveiro
1. Explore “The Portuguese Venice”
Aveiro is called “The Portuguese Venice” as it is located along Ria de Aveiro, and it is distinguished by its canals that are navigated by colourful boats. My point is, you can still experience Venice while visiting Portugal.
2. Take A Boat Tour
The best way to explore Aveiro besides walking around; is by taking a boat ride! These boat rides are tailored for tourist so they will be talking and giving a lot of information about each place/location you pass by. Prices depend on the boat ride you take and the provider.
3. Cycle Around Aveiro
You can also explore Aveiro by cycling around, if you love cycling then you can get a BUGA bike and explore the city that way, these are free bikes as well and you will only need to provide an identification document and then the bike is yours for 2 hours for free within the city limits.
4. Try “Ovos Moles”
“Ovos Moles” is basically a local delicacy which literally translates to “soft eggs” and it’s made from egg yolks and sugar. The filling is soft due to the freshness of the ingredients, and it is a pastry made from wheat flour, which will give the sweets the typical shapes of clams, barrels, fish, and many more.
This delicacy dates back to the 19th century, as it was originally made by the nuns of the local convents there.
5. Museu De Arte Nova (Art Nouveau Museum)
Around the city centre of Aveiro; you will find a lot of historic buildings that are so beautiful, one of those buildings was then adapted into a multi-level museum and a tea house, it is known as 'Casa Major'. It has exquisite architecture that was possible thanks to two architects called Silvia Rocha and Ernest Korrodi. The interior is also beautiful as it shows the beautiful and traditional Portuguese azulejos which is breathtaking.
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How To Get To Aveiro
Aveiro is located between Lisbon and porto, so you can easily take a bus from one of these cities to get to Aveiro, but keep in mind that Aveiro is closer to Porto that Lisbon. A bus ride from Lisbon to Aveiro takes around 3h 30mins and it costs around 22€. A Bus ride from Porto to Aveiro takes around an hour and it costs around 12€.
You can also take the train from Lisbon which would take 2h 20 min and the ticket price ranges between 29 and 40€. As mentioned, Aveiro is closer to Porto so a train ride from Porto would take 1h for 3.55€. In Porto take the train from Campanhã or São Bento stations and take the yellow line, trains run every hour.
You can book your train through Omio, or you can do what I did which was to book a guided day tour to Sintra, and you can do so through GetYourGuide.
How To Move Around Aveiro
It is easy to walk nearly everywhere in Aveiro as everything is located near the city centre. The only things you will need to take the bus for are Costa Nova and Praia Da Barra, Or if you love cycling then you can get a BUGA bike and explore the city that way, these are free bikes as well and you will only need to provide an identification document and then the bike is yours for 2 hours for free within the city limits. Also, if you feel like it you can explore the city by booking a tuk-tuk tour.
Best Time To Visit Aveiro
The best times to visit Aveiro would be between March and September, the weather is nice and sunny during that period. You need 2 days to stay in Aveiro so it would be great if you want to go during the weekend. If you plan to visit between September and March, be aware that it gets cold at night in Aveiro as well as windy.
Accommodations In Aveiro
Aveiro has gained a lot of international exposure during the past few years, most options can be found in the city centre but keep in mind that most hotels as well as family-run housings are a bit overpriced. You can find a lot of great Airbnbs in Aveiro and that would be my favourite option, but in comparison to Lisbon and Porto, Aveiro is slightly more expensive.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.
Best Cafes & Restaurants In Aveiro
Cha & Bolachas (Gluten-free options, vegan friendly, Mediterranean cuisine)
M Bakery (Gluten-free options, vegan friendly, Portuguese cuisine)
Cais Do Pescado (Gluten-free options, vegan friendly, Mediterranean cuisine)
Musgo (Vegan restaurant)
If you wan to find more cafes & restaurants to try, then you can do so through TripAdvisor.
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