How to Spend a Day in Aveiro

The thing you definitely have to do during a trip to Aveiro is take a trip on the colorful canal boats, otherwise known as “moliceiros”. A moliceiro trip through this quaint city will provide you with a unique viewpoint so you can admire the city from the water.

The tour guides (all of whom speak English, French, Spanish & Portuguese) will teach you fun and interesting facts about the city’s sites and history. The moliceiro rides lasts for about 45 minutes, taking you through the center, as well as to the outskirts of the city. 

Simply wandering through the quaint and colorful streets of Aveiro.

Each building is uniquely different from the next, and you can admire a wide range of tilework and color combinations through each tiny street.

Portugal is known for its tall and narrow buildings, and beautiful tilework, and Aveiro definitely holds true to that look.

Right in the center of town, there is a huge shopping area, filled with all of the European favorites- Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear… the list goes on.

The nearby beach town of Costa Nova is an easy taxi or bus ride away from the city center of Aveiro. If you would like to spend part of your trip in Aveiro at the beach, or experience a drastic change of scenery, then I would recommend that you check out Costa Nova. Costa Nova is known for its interesting architecture and striped houses. In addition to the quirky houses, the town is home to a variety of seafood restaurants, cafes, shops and beach bars.

Taxis or buses will drop you off along the main road of the town, and you can easily arrive at the beach in about five minutes by foot from there. There is a wooden walkway that stretches along the beach, which is dotted with a variety of places to grab a snack or drink.

The long stretch of sand provides endless places to settle into a good spot for suntanning, people-watching or picnicking. I loved zoning out, watching the waves and the surfers.