Aveiro holidays

How to reach Aveiro

Flight time: There are no direct flights to Aveiro. Flights to Porto airport take around 2 hours 30 minutes from London.

Transfer time:

• From Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, the most convenient way to reach Aveiro is by train or taxi.

• The metro takes around 35 minutes to Porto Campanhã station, where you can catch a train to Aveiro.

• The total journey takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.

• Taxis or private transfers from the airport to Aveiro take about 1 hour and are the most direct option.

Price:

• A metro ticket to Porto Campanhã costs around €2.

• A train from Porto to Aveiro is between €3.55 and €15, depending on the class and type of train.

• Taxis or private transfers will set you back between €70 and €90.

Best time to visit Aveiro

If you want to avoid the heat and crowds of summer, you might prefer to take your Aveiro holidays during late spring or early autumn; winter can also be lovely for a more cultural trip.

April to June:

• Spring is one of the best times to visit.

• Temperatures are mild, averaging between 18°C and 25°C, with 6–10 hours of sunshine daily and lower chances of rainfall (around 30–60mm).

• This is perfect weather for strolling along the canals, enjoying a moliceiro boat ride, or exploring the sandy beaches nearby.

July to August:

• Peak tourist season when Aveiro basks in the summer heat.

• Expect average temperatures of around 26°C, though the coastal breezes keep it comfortable.

• Rainfall is almost non-existent (5–10mm), and there are up to 11 hours of sunshine each day.

September to November:

• Average temperatures fall from 24°C in September to 17°C in November, with a moderate amount of rain (50–90mm).

• The weather is still pleasant, making it a great time for holidays to Aveiro if you want to avoid crowds while enjoying autumn sunshine.

December to March:

• Winter brings with it cooler, wetter days but Aveiro rarely gets that cold.

• Expect average highs between 13°C and 16°C and more frequent rain (80–120mm).

• It’s still a good time to explore the city’s art nouveau architecture, duck into cosy cafés for a pastel de nata or take a winter walk along the Ria de Aveiro.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

• Local habits and customs: Do respect the traditional siesta hours between 1 pm and 3 pm when smaller shops might close; otherwise, dining is a leisurely affair and often starts late, around 8 or 9 pm. There is no hard and fast rule for tipping, which is not really a Portuguese custom; that said, in a café, restaurant or for taxis, it’s customary to round up the bill to the nearest euro or, for big amounts, the nearest note.

• Currency: Portugal uses the Euro. ATMs are plentiful and most establishments accept major credit cards. For smaller purchases in markets or cafés, having some cash handy is a good idea.

• Getting around: Aveiro’s city centre is very walkable, but it’s also great for cycling – bicycles are available free from the green-trimmed “Loja BUGA” kiosk at the back of the Forum Aveiro shopping mall, just across the footbridge (in front of the old market). You will need to show ID to get a bike, but you get use of it for a whole morning or afternoon.

• Electricity and plug types: Standard continental 220 volts. UK travellers will need a two-pin adaptor.

• Time zone: Portugal is on Western European Time (WET), the same as GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed from late March to late October.

Best things to do in Aveiro

Nicknamed the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro has a compact centre of handsome buildings and open squares, though what strikes most are its canals, alongside a preponderance of Art Nouveau buildings and the nearby Vista Alegre factory.

The best districts

• Art Nouveau Quarter: The legacy of returning wealthy emigrants in the early years of the 20th century; at the top of the pedestrianised Rua Coimbra, Praça da República is flanked by the blue snowflake-design tiled facade of the 17th-century Igreja da Misericórdia and the Câmara Municipal, a century older.

• Beira-Mar: With its cobbled streets, traditional houses covered in azulejos and lively canals filled with colourful moliceiro boats, this is the city’s beating heart.

• Sao Jacinto: On the north side of the lagoon from Aveiro, and accessible by boat from Forte da Barra, this is a thriving little port with a handful of appealing dockside cafés and restaurants.

Museums

• Museu de Aveiro: A wonderful museum housed inside the 15th-century Convento de Jesus. Its finest exhibits all relate to Santa Joana, a daughter of Afonso V who lived in the convent from 1472 until her death in 1489. Her tomb and chapel are strikingly beautiful and there’s a fine collection of art and sculpture.

• Vista Alegre: Portugal’s celebrated porcelain works has a museum, the founder’s palace and a tiled and frescoed 17th-century chapel to visit, as well as a Vista Alegre shop (porcelain, crystal, silverware) and factory shop for seconds.

Historical monuments

• Aveiro Cathedral: Built in the 15th century, this largely Gothic church features a mix of Baroque and Renaissance elements, with stunning altars and intricate carvings inside.

• Aveiro train station: An unlikely contender, but the town’s small station sports some stunning azulejo tile panels depicting Aveiro’s maritime history and everyday life.

Day trips in the area

• Coimbra: Situated on a steep hill above the Rio Mondego, this is a wonderfully moody place of ancient alleys and lanes, twisting and climbing around the country’s oldest university. The presence of around 20,000 students ensures the city is well-stocked with good-value cafés, bars and restaurants, some playing Coimbra’s jaunty version of fado.

• Figueira da Foz: Central Portugal’s finest resort, boasting one of Europe’s widest beaches and some great local walks.

• Mata Nacional do Buçaco: Spend the day in the shaded Buçaco forest and then drop down into the neighbouring spa town of Luso for afternoon tea.

Activities for families in Aveiro

Aveiro is a family-friendly destination with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained, whether you’re exploring the city itself (preferably by moliceiro) or venturing further afield.

• Canal trips: Barcos moliceiros are traditional flat-bottomed lagoon boats with raised prows, colourfully adorned with paintings of flowers and scantily dressed women. Once used to transport kelp, they now almost exclusively serve as cruise boats and a trip on them is something of a must.

• Interactive museums: The Maritime Museum in Ilhavo features life-size boats, interesting maritime exhibits and a dedicated codfish aquarium perfect for curious young minds, while the Science Centre of Aveiro gives kids the chance to get hands-on courtesy of lots of interactive displays and fun experiments.

Free things to do in Aveiro

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Aveiro on a minimum spend, from lounging on the beach to exploring its pretty neighbourhoods by bike.

• Beaches: Aveiro’s nearest beach lies 9km west at Praia da Barra, a large, developed stretch of sand overlooked by the Iberian peninsula’s tallest lighthouse. There’s more of the same at Costa Nova, 3km south of Barra, though the development here is ameliorated by an attractive line of candy-striped wooden buildings facing inland over the lagoon.

• Cycling: Family bike ride? Bicycles are available free from the green-trimmed “Loja BUGA” kiosk at the back of the Forum Aveiro shopping mall, just across the footbridge. You’ll need to show ID to get a bike, but you get use of it for a whole morning or afternoon.

• Ria de Aveiro salt pans: While guided tours require tickets, walking around the salt pans at sunrise or sunset is completely free. Enjoy the views and look out for local wildlife, such as flamingos and storks.

Nature and outdoor activities in Aveiro

With its mix of wetlands, lagoons and coastline, Aveiro is the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Kayaking: Take a gentle paddle down the meandering and picturesque Rio Mondego between Penacova and Coimbra.

• Birdwatching: The São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve is home to more than 100 bird species, including goshawk, teal and widgeon. You can pick up a free map from the visitor centre for a self-guided 7km walk through the reserve, which takes around two and a half hours.

Local dishes in Aveiro

One of the highlights of holidays to Aveiro is its rich cuisine; it has some excellent restaurants that serve local specialities such as eels and shellfish from the lagoons, usually served fried with rice (arroz), or as a stew (ensopado), and accompanied by powerful Bairrada wine.

Some typical dishes

• Bacalhau: Pretty much the national dish, this dried, salted cod reputedly has 365 different ways of being prepared: the best for first-timers to try are bacalhau á bras (fried with egg, onions and potatoes) and bacalhau com natas (baked in cream).

• Caldeirada de enguias: Eel stew – the eels harvested from the local lagoons – flavoured with onions, garlic, peppers and spices.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Arroz de marisco: Seafood rice dish featuring prawns, clams and mussels cooked in a tomato and herb-infused broth.

• Polvo à lagareiro: Octopus drizzled with olive oil, garlic and herbs, served with roasted potatoes.

Sweets and desserts

Aveiro is famous for its ovos moles, a confection of heavily sweetened egg yolk cream in a wafer shell, normally in the shape of seashells and fish. This sweet delicacy has deep ties to Aveiro’s convent traditions and can be found in bakeries across the city.

Local drinks

• Bairrada wines: Aveiro sits close to the Bairrada wine region, known for its sparkling wines and robust reds made from the Baga grape.

• Licor Beirão: A sweet, herbal liqueur that’s popular throughout Portugal, often enjoyed as an after-dinner digestif.

• Coffee: Coffee culture is strong in Aveiro, so do as the locals do and enjoy a quick espresso or a galão, Portugal’s take on a milky coffee.