• Aveiro and Costa Nova

Aveiro is a small charming coastal town located 74 km south of Porto and 254 km north of Lisbon, known for its canals connecting the town and the Ria de Aveiro Salt Lagoon.
While in town TheTjoy.com recommends:

  • Take a traditional Moliceiros gondola boat tour and admire the early 20th century Art Nouveau buildings and facades along the canals.
  • Stroll the streets of the town center and enjoy the tiles decorations of the town small squares and buildings.
  • Visit the traditional fishermen’s quarter with its cobbled streets, the beautiful fishermen’s houses.
  • Enjoy the colourful and bustling fish market, Mercado do Peixe.
  • Visit the impressive and highly decorated 15th century Cathedral of Aveiro
  • The Aveiro Art Nouveau Museum located within a magnificent Art Nouveau building along the canal, is home to a collection of art nouveau artworks including paintings, furniture, textiles, and ceramics.
  • The Aveiro Museum, within the 15th century convent of Jesus, learn about the history of the town and the region with a collection of religious artifacts and artworks, and admire the gilded woodcarvings and colourful tiles’ murals in the convent’s Baroque chapel.
  • Visit the magnificent former railway station building, the Antiga Estacao, to admire the blue and white tile’s panels illustrating local characters and landscapes.
  • Take a boat tour to The Ria de Aveiro, the Aveiro Lagoon, to enjoy the tranquil boat ride in the lagoon, watching the Salt pans and learning about the Salt harvesting industry. Admir the rich birdlife and if you are lucky the Flamingos, and stroll the long wooden walkway, the Passadiços Ria de Aveiro, in the marshes.

There are few attractions outside of Aveiro including

  • The Vista Alegre Factory and museum in Ilhavo, 8 km south of town, where the finest porcelain in Portugal is made. Watch the porcelain painters and explore the museum on site.
  • 7 km west of the town center and south of the Aveiro Lagoon, consider spending time in Costa Nova with its beautiful Coloured wooden beach houses and charming harbour. Enjoy the beautiful coastline, the sandy beach stretch of Praia da Costa Nova and Barra Beach, the high surfing waves, rugged scenery, and the Barra lighthouse, the highest in Portugal.
  • Take a short ferry ride from Forte da Barra in Ílhavo, southwest of Aveiro center, to the secluded sandy beaches of the Sao Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve.
    Surf the high waves or enjoy the unspoiled sand dunes, the tranquil trails, the water ponds and the bird hides.

When in Aveiro do not forget to taste the local ovos moles, the sweet prepared by the nuns of the ancient Convents of Aveiro.

TheTjoy.com recommends spending half day to a day, or more, in this charming small town, traveling from Porto or Coimbra, or on your way from Lisbon to Porto.

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Aveiro Cathedral, Aveiro, Portugal

Aveiro Cathedral

Colorful striped houses called Palheiros with red, blue and green stripes. Costa Nova do Prado is a beach village resort on Atlantic coast near Aveiro, Portugal

Costa Nova