Aveiro

Aveiro is the provincial capital city of Beira Litoral province, nestled next to a ria, (a salt water lagoon) and the Vouga River delta on the Atlantic coast of Central Portugal. Its origins go back to pre-Roman times. From the 8th until the 11th century, the region was under Muslim control. The charter elevating the town to city status was conferred in 1759 by King João I.

Understand

Aveiro (ah-VAY-roo, /ɐ.ˈvɐj.ɾu/) was already a major salt producer in Roman times and continued to be so until the 1970s, mainly due to the age-old salt cod industry. It also played a major role in ceramics, ship building, metal working and machinery manufacture, as well as being a natural shipping port for centuries. Next door to Aveiro, the city of Ílhavo still has remnants of the cod fishing and salt cod industry. A famous porcelain and cut glassware factory was established there in the early 1800s and is still in operation today (guided tours are available).

A canal in Aveiro

Riverfront buildings in Aveiro

Aveiro is 68 km (42 mi) to the south of Porto and 58 km (36 mi) north of Coimbra, straddling the Ria of Aveiro and the River Vouga a few kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, where you can easily reach by car (5 minutes) or by bus (every hour). The city of Aveiro has a population of approximately 80,880 inhabitants (2021 preliminary), of which 12,500 are students at University of Aveiro, one of the most important Portuguese universities. Aveiro is at the center of the Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Aveiro (Aveiro Regional Intermunicipal Community), encompassing over 370,000 inhabitants.

The late poet, musician and teacher Zeca Afonso and the late physicist Dr. Mário Sacramento are both famous anti-fascist activists from the city. Overall the atmosphere is rather laid back and relaxed while some students are foreigners, lending it a somewhat cosmopolitan feel.

Architecturally, the CBD and "centro histórico" are characterized by some excellent examples of 15/16th century, Belle Epoque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Estado Novo buildings, while parts of the city are intersected by canals with picturesque bridges and navigated by brightly painted boats called moliceiros, similar in profile to the gondolas of Venice. Originally the moliceiro was a working boat and the name derives from moliço, a type of sea weed abundant in the lagoon and formerly harvested to be used as fertilizer in the agricultural fields of the region. Although an exaggeration, the city is called the "Portuguese Venice". The real charm of Aveiro's lifestyle lies in its coast, with its fantastic sandy beaches of São Jacinto, Torreira, Barra and Costa Nova. This local coast is branded as Costa da Prata or the Silver Coast.

Historically, the importance and prestige of Aveiro grew with the arrival in the 15th century, of princess Dna. Joana, daughter of King Afonso V, to join the sisterhood of the Monastery of Jesus. Upon her death, she bequeathed her vast wealth to the benefit of the town. Her intricately carved and decorated tomb in the monastery constitutes a singular example of fine arts of the period. In the 17th century she was canonised, thus becoming Santa Joana. By the 19th century, local parliamentarian José Estevão propelled Aveiro to the fore of industrialization by spearheading the redevelopment of the harbour facilities and city canals and the arrival of the railways, sowing the seeds for an economic boom.

Today however, the best-kept secret of its attraction apart from the extensive soft sand beaches that reach from Mira in the south to Espinho in the north is the relative authenticity and less costly accommodation and food when compared to Alentejo and the Algarve. The summer months of June to August are the busiest with holiday makers. Also, easy access to major road networks and railways make it easy to take day trips to popular destinations such as Porto, Espinho, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, Viseu and Serra da Estrela. The Beirão people are well known for being hospitable and helpful towards anyone who is polite.

Aveiro has a humid, temperate climate in summer and a not-so-cold but wet weather in winter. November, December and January make up the rainy season, while July and August are the driest months. Autumn and Winter tend to have strong coastal winds, excellent for kite or wind-surfing, as well as for sailing.

Of later times, the primeiro banho do ano or the first sea dip of the year, has become an annual local tradition in the early hours of every New Year's Day with hundreds of participants vying for the T-shirt given to confirm the feat.

Visitor information

• 1 Turismo Centro de Portugal (Central Portugal Tourism), Rua João Mendonça 8, ☏ +351 234 420 760, geral@turismodocentro.pt. (updated Sep 2021)

Get in

By car

The city is connected to highway A1 which is the main north–south axis road of the country, but also a toll road.

You can easily reach Aveiro through highway A17, which is linked to highway A8 from Lisbon and the west–east axis highway A25, linking central Portugal via Vilar Formoso to rest of Europe through Spain.

By train

The historic train station building with the new one in the background

• 1 Estação Ferroviária de Aveiro (Aveiro Railway Station), Largo da Estação dos Caminhos de Ferro. 05:45–21:25 daily, Alfa Pendular & Intercity timetable, Regional timetable, Suburban timetable, Vouga Regional timetable. The new modern design central train station is positioned in stark contrast next to the azulejo-decorated old station (there's talk of converting the classic building into a museum and/or regional info office), near the center of the city. Aveiro railway station is on the main Linha do Norte (Northern Line) providing access to national trains from all major cities and regions (Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Lisbon and destinations south of the Tagus River). The station is a served by Alfa Pendular high-speed, intercity, interregional, regional, and suburban trains. There's also service on the Linha do Vouga line from Espinho, although a portion of the line involves a non-railway connection. You can walk through Avenida Lourenço Peixinho for 10 minutes and you are on the main central spot of Aveiro - The Rotunda das Pontes. (updated Sep 2021)

By bus

• 2 Terminal Rodoviário de Aveiro (Aveiro Bus Station, Centro Coordenador de Transportes de Aveiro), Rua Artur de Almeida Eça. Long-distance, intercity, and international buses. There are coaches that connect Aveiro to many Portuguese cities and also cities in Spain. Major providers include Rede Expressos. (updated Sep 2021)

And also by the main canal in Rua do Clube dos Galitos near the moliceiro embarking jetty by the Rotunda das Pontes. If confused, just go inside any business near the railway station and ask, Onde é a estação dos autocarros regionais? ("Where's the regional bus station?")

By plane

Colorful houses in Costa Nova

The "Aeródromo Municipal de Aveiro" is actually the former military airbase of São Jacinto, and is planned revert to civilian use, pending certification. As of May 2018, this has not happened yet, because of bureaucratic minutiae. Its 1,372-metre runway and buildings serve private pilots and house small aircraft and the Aveiro Aeroclube.

Get around

On foot

Aveiro is easily navigable on foot. The local bus terminal can be found about 15 minutes walk from the canal zone.

By bicycle

Aveiro is a cyclist friendly city. There are many exclusive cyclist dedicated paths throughout the city and connecting all the way from the city to the beach areas.

A very convenient way to see Aveiro if you like to go cycling but don't have a bicycle, is to use the BUGA (Free-use Bicycles of Aveiro) service. There are 2 BUGA shops (lojas) spread about the city. If there are bicycles available, you simply have to give to the BUGA shop employee your ID and you'll have a bike to take a free ride.

Bikes can be used within a certain BUGA area of the city, delimited by signs. When you are finished with the bike, just return it to the shop (loja) and take your ID back. You have until 19:00 to return your bike to the BUGA shop you took it from, nice, free and easy!

By bus

Casa do Major Pessoa, one of the most splendid examples of art nouveau in Aveiro

The city of Aveiro has thirteen bus lines operated by Aveiro Bus, who have no English website. That said, the buses are of little use to tourists as most points of interest are easily within walking distance in Aveiro. However, if you plan to spend your summer holidays in the area and only find accommodation in Aveiro city, it may be worthwhile getting a multi-trip or seasonal bus pass to get to the beaches at a low cost. Transdev Portugal operates longer-distance services. Of note are especially the lines that go from Aveiro to the beaches, including Barra and Costa Nova.

By car

Road traffic in the Aveiro area is relatively easy to negotiate, though you may experience slight delays at rush hours. Street parking spaces are at a premium and metered, but there are some well positioned underground parkades at the Forum and Av. Lourenço Peixinho near the Great War Combatants Monument. Generally, access to major national roads is well signposted, but outside the city limits, driving on municipal/local roads may require a map. In the summer, beach traffic can grind things to a near standstill.

Aveiro has several car rental agencies. The best policy is to prearrange everything via internet before arrival, including insurance, as this will save you a lot of money.

See

Aveiro Cathedral

Câmara Municipal (town hall) of Aveiro

Antiga Capitania

Igreja da misericordia (left)

• 1 Aveiro Cathedral (Sé de Aveiro). An example of unique Portuguese baroque architecture. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Museum of Aveiro (Museu de Aveiro), Avenida de Santa Joana, ☏ +351 234 423 297, museucidade@cm-aveiro.pt. Tu–Su 10:00–12:30 & 13:30–18:00, closed M. In the former Convento de Jesus. (updated Sep 2021)
• 3 Edifício Paços do Concelho (Câmara Municipal), Praça da República. Aveiro's city hall. (updated Sep 2021)
• 4 Antiga Capitania do Porto de Aveiro (former capitanate of the Aveiro harbour). Now converted and utilized as the new Municipal Assembly Hall. The harbour complex is quite large and spread out on the "ria", offering views of the various inshore individually specialized areas handling different types of cargo. Near the main harbour entrance, is the Jardim Oudinot with a permanent museum ship exhibit, where the former "bacalhoeiro" (cod fishing ship) Santo André is open to visitors, several sports grounds, jogging and cycling paths, picnic areas etc, further along, is the old fort of Aveiro, the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of Sailors) chapel, a café, a tavern, a hotel or two, the yacht marina and club house. Continuing along, one gets to the ferryboat berthing harbour for São Jacinto and fisherman village in the north shore. The area has seen a revival with restaurants and snackbars offering a great option to end off a nice nature day trip. 
• 5 Church of Saint John the Evangelist (Igreja de São João Evangelista), Praça Marquês de Pombal. 18th-century Baroque and Rococo church, a national monument. It was part of a Carmelite convent. (updated Sep 2021)
• 6 Dom Pedro Children's Park. 
• 7 Praça do Peixe (Fish market), Largo da Praça do Peixe. Tu–Sa 07:00–18:00, closed Su M. (updated Sep 2021)
• 8 Igreja da Misericórdia.  
• 9 Santo António Park. 
• 10 Capela de São Gonçalo (Saint Gundisalvus Chapel), Largo de São Gonçalinho 6. 18th-century hexagonal chapel.  
• 11 Salineira Aveirense (Salt pans), Antigo Cais de São Roque 79, ☏ +351 234 423 739. M–F 09:00–12:30 & 14:00–19:00, closed Sa Su. As salt production for many centuries played such a big part in the importance of Aveiro in pre industrial times, it's quite surprising today, to still see remnants of that manual labour activity. As one leaves the city to join the freeway towards Barra and Costa, stay on the right hand side local road that runs roughly parallel with the canal and travel some 300 m alongside the canal and the remaining "salinas" come into view. Sometimes, depending on the season, one can see how the salt water is trapped in the rectangular basins for saturation and evaporation. Later on, it is harvested and made into conical mounds. Locally produced salt is sold at certain shops. There is the "Flor de sal", in the purest form, and the cheaper "sal de Aveiro". (updated Apr 2021)

Do

• 1 Centro de Congressos de Aveiro (Aveiro Conference Centre), Cais da Fonte Nova, ☏ +351 234 406 370, ccongressos@cm-aveiro.pt. The attractive 1914 face-brick industrial design ceramics factory building of Fábrica Jerónimo Pereira Campos at the end of the Canal do Côjo was repurposed in 1995 to provide the backdrop for Aveiro's convention center. The facilities are used for a variety of presentations, talks and shows such as TED, National Geographic, exhibitions, stand up comedy, and symposiums. If in town, enquire at city hall for the current program. (updated Sep 2021)
• Surf at Costa Nova and Barra Beach - You can rent a wetsuit and a board on local surf shops.
• Windsurf and Kytesurf on the river and on the sea - You can rent this material on local windsurf shops.
• Moliceiro tours - leaving from the central canal.
• Salt pans and bird watching tours at the Special Protection Zone of Ria de Aveiro, for a chance to meet the salt worker Marnoto in person and spot the many bird species that inhabit the lagoon. geral@salinasaveiro.com (☏ +351 234 056 149)
• Sailing at Costa Nova Beach - There's a local Sailing club - CVCN - where you can find sailing lessons.
• Kayak at Ria de Aveiro or Rio Vouga - It is quite easy to find local guides that takes you for a different afternoon experience.
• Walking tours - There is a local walking tour shop that has 3 way-outs every day.
• Take some sun at Costa Nova and Barra Beach
• 2 Hiking in the Dunas de São Jacinto (Take the bus to Forte de Barra and then the ferry). There are four different paths through the woods. You can see the Atlantic and the some lakes.
  Teatro Aveirense This is the city theatre venue, where seasonal pieces are staged as well as one off productions.
  S.C. Beira Mar It was a regular Primeira Liga football team, but due to financial hardships the club was administratively relegated in 2015 and now plays in Serie C of the Campeonato Nacional de Seniores. Nevertheless, on home match days the club ground is the 32,000-seat Estádio Municipal de Aveiro in Taboeira parish and offers good entertainment. On occasion, the Aveiro Municipal Stadium also hosts top notch games between Portuguese top national league sides and sometimes international matches.
  Jardim Oudinot, the Park Oudinot is along the left hand side of the main road leading to the harbour complex. It has pathways, sports grounds, children's play areas, the Santo André museum ship and various other facilities.
  Clube dos Galitos founded in 1904, is an eclectic culture and sports club with long traditions in rowing, counting several Olympians amongst its past athletes. It also offers swimming, chess, basketball, mountain biking and a philatelic section. It organizes a keenly attended local annual open mountain/off road biking event. 

Buy

A Vista Alegre porcelain plate

Regional products

• Ovos moles and Pão de ló - These two sweet tooth musts are widely sold at most pastelarias and cafés in the city.
• Salt from Aveiro is sold at the EcoMuseu Marinha da Troncalhada by the salt pans and some regional products shops.
• Souvenirs - A variety of local themed miniatures like boats, dolls, and other objects are available throughout shops in the old city center.
• Vista Alegre - Famous tableware ceramics and cut glass factory. Prices range from affordable to high end and items can be purchased at the factory shop, while tours inside are possible upon request. The Vista Alegre factory and workers village is in the neighboring municipality of Ilhavo, 10 km away.

Shopping venues

Forum Aveiro is a semi-covered arcade in the very centre of the city

• 1 Forum Aveiro (downtown near the canals). Open daily until 23:00. the central upmarketish shopping center and multiplex cinema venue. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Glicínias Centro Comercial, EN 109 (not far from the Aveiro University Campus). With ample free parking available, it has a cinema multiplex, a large chain supermarket, a food take-way or eat-in hall and a plethora of shops from computer repairs and footwear to clothing shops, 24-hr clothes alterations and shoe repair shops etc etc. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Mercado de Santiago, at the end of Rua Nova (next door to the Aveiro University Campus), ☏ +351 924 406 270. This is a local produce market that offers fresh produce, fruit, butcher supplied meats, dairy products, cold meats and charcuterie, regional breads, and confectionary, directly from farmer or producer to the consumer. Many products are organically produced. (updated May 2018)
• 4 Grupo 3 Metades, Rua José Estêvão 82 (near the Igreja da Vera Cruz). Organic shop with traditional bread and rolls, which are much more tasty than the normal industrial bread you get in Portugal. 
• Rua dos Combatentes da Guerra and Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho are the main shopping streets in downtown CBD.

Eat

• Ovos moles - A traditional sweet speciality made from egg yolk. Sold at most of the local bakeries.
• Pão de Ló - A traditional baked cake available in several "pastelaria" establishments throughout the city.

The city is doted with many eating places ranging from local inexpensive "snack-bars", "pastelarias" and small neighbourhood restaurants to fancy and upmarket eateries. The Forum and Glicīnias shopping centres have food courts serviced by various cheap to reasonable priced fast food outlets specialising in different types of cuisine. Some global fast food brands are also available. The area with the most restaurants is found between the Old Neighborhood (Bairro Antigo) and the fish market plaza (Mercado do Peixe). There are also some decent restaurants and seafood places at Barra, Costa Nova and Vagueira.

Budget

Lighthouse of Forte de Barra

• 1 Porta 35, Rua do Tenente Resende 35, ☏ +351 911 532 016. 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–22:30 daily. Tasty burgers (from €5), best craft beer from Aveiro, English-speaking friendly staff. €5-15. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Pizzarte, Rua Engenheiro Von Haffe 27, ☏ +351 234 427 103, pizzarte@pizzarte.com. F Sa 12:00–01:00, Su–Th 12:00–00:30. Pizza shop decorated with chess pieces. Among the best pizza place in Aveiro and mean cocktails. Good vibe, popular with the young set. Have a glass of champagne with your pizza - meal for €7. €10-25. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Cervejaria Restaurante Rossio "O Augusto", Largo do Rossio 8, ☏ +351 234 424 576, zeagrocha@gmail.com. Tu–Su 10:30–02:00, closed Su. In the main central area of Aveiro you can find an amazing steak or just some special of the day dishes (especial do dia) for about €5. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Restaurante Ferro, Rua Tenente Resende 30 (also Rua dos Marnotos 41), ☏ +351 234 040 721, restferro@gmail.com. Tu–Fr 18:30–21:45, Sa Su 11:30–14:30 & 18:30–21:45. Very close to the fish market, this place serves meat and fish dishes at affordable prices. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Galetos Dourados, Rua Engenheiro Von Haff 7B, ☏ +351 234 427 401, geral@galetosdourados.pt. M–Sa 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–00:00, closed Su. Brazilian-style chicken restaurant. (updated Apr 2021)
• 6 Cafe Zig-Zag, Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho 94, ☏ +351 234 422 970. 08:00–23:00 daily. Good cafe for a quick lunch. Standard menu with daily specials. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Trincaxá, Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra 44, ☏ +351 234 062 393, trincaxa@trincaxa.pt. Café/takeaway that caters for vegetarians and vegans. The menu has delicious offerings at affordable prices. €5-15. (updated Apr 2021)

Mid-range

• 8 La Mamaroma, Cais do Alboi 21, ☏ +351 234 384 586. W–Sa 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–00:00, closed Su M. Italian restaurant with a wood-fired oven. One of the house specialties is a stone-cooked fillet—an enormous beef fillet cooked slowly on a hot stone. (updated Apr 2021)

Splurge

• 9 Restaurante Mercado do Peixe, Largo da Praça do Peixe 1 (fish market plaza), ☏ +351 234 351 303, mercadopeixe@hotmail.com. Tu–Sa 12:00–15:00 & 19:30–23:00, Su 12:00–15:00, closed M. Situated in the upper part of the fish market, this place specializes in fish. (updated Apr 2021)
• 10 Adamastor - Cervejaria do Povo, Travessa do Lavadouro 1. 10:30–02:00 daily. Fish and seafood in the fish market. €10-30. (updated Apr 2021)
• 11 Restaurante O Moliceiro, Largo do Rossio 6, ☏ +351 234 420 858, restauranteomoliceiro@gmail.com. F–W 12:00–15:30 & 19:00–22:30, closed Th. Fish, regional stews, meat. (updated Apr 2021)

Drink

Praça do Peixe

Moliceiros moored at canal quay at dusk

The most famous area for night bars is Praça do Peixe (fish plaza).Here you will find a good variety of bars typically open til 03:00 in winter, and 04:00 in summer. Note that all the bars in Praça do Peixe have free entrance. Clubs are best on Friday and Saturday nights from 01:00 to 05:00. Women usually pay no admission fees, but for men it is usually around €5. Drinks are fairly cheap, around €4 or €5. Try a caipirinha with strawberries (morangos).

• 1 Estação da Luz, R. da Fonte, ☏ +351 234 943 979. Somewhat outside of town, this is the dance club preferred by the locals. House with some mainstream pop as well. One of the smaller dancefloors/bars features salsa music. It is somewhat selective, so it is possible that tourists are sometimes denied entry. 
• 2 Mercado Negro, R. João Mendonça 17 2º (near Praça do Peixe). Tu–Su 14:00–23:00, closed M. An alternative space with a bar, good music, an auditorium that usually hosts both national and international independent artists' concerts, and modern design in an old art nouveau building. (updated Apr 2021)

Nightlife

As a result of Aveiro University founding in the 1970s, Aveiro's nightlife has developed an eclectic and colourful mix of establishments to rival the best nationwide. Centered around areas like, Praça do Peixe, Alboi, Rossio and the Zona dos Armazéns de Sal (the salt warehouses zone) alongside the Canal de São Roque, with affordable night-clubs, bars, snack-bars, restaurants, discothèques, pubs and the red light district not far away. DJs, bands and solo acts provide all types of good live music from a wide range of establishments. Praia da Barra has plenty to choose throughout the area with some establishments on the beach itself. If summer is hot, the night-clubs are hotter. Be prepared to burn the midnight oil and dig the graveyard shift all rolled into one. Turn your ear to the wind and follow the sounds. The club partying usually starts around 23:00 and lasts 'til 06:00 or 07:00.

• 3 Maravilhas Café, Praça do Mercado 4, ☏ +351 234 062 720, maravilhascafe@gmail.com. Su–F 09:00–02:00, Sa 09:00–06:00. A former games arcade turned live music venue with a good vibe and frequented by an easy going crowd and a barman that can put up a show sometimes. Some proper pool tables and game machines are still present in the back room. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 Casa de Chá, Rua Dr. Barbosa Magalhães 9, ☏ +351 234 043 684. Tu–Su 10:00–23:00, closed M. Not only tea, on Friday nights the place metamorphosis with DJs and cocktails. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Estação da Luz, Rua Direita (EN335)/Rua da Fonte, Quintãs, ☏ +351 234 943 979, mecoestacaodaluz@gmail.com. W–Sa 23:00–06:00. One of the older nightclubs in existence and still one of the better spots to go out have fun with a group of friends. But being not so near Aveiro center, may be inconvenient for some visitors. (updated Apr 2021)

Sleep

Ponte dos Carcavelos

Armazéns de sal - historic salt storage

Budget

• 1 Aveiro Rossio Hostel, Rua João Afonso de Aveiro 1 (Largo do Rossio), ☏ +351 234 041 538, aveirorossiohostel@gmail.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. The only hostel in the city. It is run by a local Portuguese couple who are extremely accommodating and helpful. The hostel is very modern with a kitchen, terrace area, cable TV, free breakfast, free Internet and Wi-Fi. Private rooms are available. €34-86. (updated Sep 2021)

If you are a camping or caravanning holiday maker, the Barra and Costa Nova camping grounds are a short walking distance to the beach, offer well serviced secure plots with controlled access. Summer season rates are costlier and may require advance booking.

Mid-range

• 2 Hotel Afonso V, Rua Dr. Manuel das Neves 65, ☏ +351 234 425 191, info@hotelafonsov.pt. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Three-star, 70-room hotel 10 minutes on foot from the town centre with a good quality-to-price ratio. The hotel has two annexes, one of which is a little older with cheaper and more simple accommodations. €43-61. (updated Sep 2021)
• 3 Hotel Imperial, Rua Dr. Nascimento Leitão, ☏ +351 234 380 150, reservas@hotelimperial.pt. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Three-star, 100-room downtown hotel with restaurant, bar, room service, and free Wi-Fi. €27-60. (updated Sep 2021)

Splurge

• 4 Hotel Moliceiro, Rua João Mendonça/Barbosa de Magalhães 15/17 (directly in front of the Praça do Peixe (fish market) a few doors down from the tourism office), ☏ +351 234 377 400, hotelmoliceiro@hotelmoliceiro.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 13:00. Four-star, 49-room hotel in central Aveiro with bar, room service, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. €83-134. (updated Sep 2021)
• 5 Hotel as Américas, Rua Eng. Von Haff 20, ☏ +351 234 346 010, info@hotelasamericas.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Four-star, 68-room hotel close to the train station and 15 minutes from the city centre. Amenities include bar, room service, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. €82-121. (updated Sep 2021)
• 6 Meliá Ria Hotel & Spa, Cais da Fonte Nova 5, ☏ +351 234 401 000, melia.ria@meliaportugal.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Four-star, 128-room hotel a 10-minute walk from the center. Spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, restaurant, room service, bar, good breakfast and free Wi-Fi. €70-129. (updated Sep 2021)

Go next

Street art in Aveiro

The best kept secrets are the extensive soft sand beaches that reach from Mira in the south to Espinho in the north, coupled with the less costly accommodation and food when compared with further south Portugal and the Algarve, this unique environment tucked between the Ria and the Atlantic has well kept amenities to do water sports, sunbathe, swim, enjoy fresh fish, and seafood meals, bicycle or stroll along and watch wonderful summer sunsets from Costa Nova and Praia da Barra with its imposing lighthouse dominating the horizon or take the ferry boat across the Ria to explore the São Jacinto dunes and Torreira beach town.

Further inland, one can also enjoy a short trips to local towns and villages that have quite a bit to offer in terms of authentic local gastronomy and sightseeing outside the usual "tourist trap" offerings in major centers. Go to Angeja, to savour their special enguias (eel dishes) or rojões (tender and lean pork chunky cutlets), or Anadia among others and Bairrada, with their wines and leitāo assado (roasted piglet). These trips can also be done by using several regional bus services based not too far from Aveiro railway station.

• Coimbra — home to Portugal's oldest and most prestigious university
• Fátima — Catholic pilgrimage sight known for its 1917 Virgin Mary apparitions
• Figueira da Foz — popular oceanside beaches
• Luso — spa town in Mealhada municipality
• Porto — Portugal's second metropolis
• Serra do Buçaco – a mountain range in Mealhada, Mortágua, Penacova municipalities
• Viseu — charming hilltop city in Beira Alta province

Routes through Aveiro

Porto ← Santa Maria da Feira ←

N  S

→ Mealhada → Coimbra