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The following list of things to do in Aveiro is brought to you by Sydney from Alone and Abroad, an American living abroad! Read on for some of her top Aveiro must-dos.
About an hour south of Porto, is Aveiro, a small, unique Portuguese city built on canals.
I’m lucky enough to know someone who lives in Aveiro, so whenever I visit I have a local guide who can take me to his favorite sites and share some historical fun facts.
While it is possible to see the main Aveiro must-sees on a day trip from Lisbon, it’ll be a long day with lots of running around. If you’re hoping for a more leisurely visit, a weekend trip would be plenty of time to see everything on this list!
So without any further rambling, here are some of my favorite things to do in Aveiro, Portugal.
Save this List of Things to Do in Aveiro for Later!
You’ll be very glad you did.
1. Learn About the City’s History from Train Station Tiles
The train station itself is actually one of the top Aveiro sights. Built in the mid-1800s, it was recently (as in, within the last decade) restored to its former glory with all its original features.
Like the São Bento station in Porto, the station is covered in blue and white azulejos – hand-painted Portuguese tiles – that show the city’s history and local historical figures. If you look closely, you’ll notice workers on the salt flats, people collecting seaweed, and fishermen traveling up the city canals.
2. Take a Canal Ride in a Traditional Boat
And now we’ve reached the reason why Aveiro is sometimes called “the Venice of Portugal”. While Aveiro’s canal system is much smaller and less extensive than Venice’s, it’s easy to see where the comparison comes from.
Aveiro is a colorful fishing village; the canals were built to connect the city to the ocean after a massive storm wiped out the port. Fishermen ride on traditional Moliceiros – narrow boats similar to gondolas – down the main canals.
Today, the boats are mainly used for Aveiro tourism. If you book a tour in a Molicero, you can see the entire city center from the water.
Also – look closely at the designs on the front of the boats. Some of them have suggestive paintings and/or dirty jokes in Portuguese.
3. Try the Local Pastry
Most cities in Portugal have their own regional pastry. Pastel de nata is Lisbon’s, bolo de caco is Madeira’s, and ovo mole is Aveiro’s.
An ovo mole is a bite-sized treat made with egg yolk and sugar and shaped into a seashell, fish, or barrel. They’re a bit of an acquired taste, but no visit to Aveiro is complete without trying one.
Fun fact time: Ovo moles were declared a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Union, which means that like champagne or port wine, true ovo moles can only be made in Aveiro.
I visited Confeitaria Peixinho, the oldest Ovo Mole shop, on my last trip. When you step inside and are instantly hit with the smell of powdered sugar, you’ll know you’re in the right place.
4. Pose Next to the Ovo Mole Statue
The ovo mole is such a cultural institution in Aveiro that there’s even a statue of them!
The 12-meter-tall pastry statue is definitely one of the most unique things to see in Aveiro! It’s right next to the main canal, so you’ll get a good view of the statue on a boat tour.
5. Visit the Salt Flats
One of the best places to visit in Aveiro takes a bit of a walk to get to.
Salt production used to be one of the city’s main industries, but now the Aveiro Salinas are some of the few remaining salt flats in the city. Sometimes, you’ll be able to see little piles of fresh salt all throughout the salinas, but there were none when I visited.
If you can, try to reach the salt flats right before sunset when the sky turns the flats into gorgeous shades of pink and gold.
6. Learn How Fresh Salt is Made
Of course, there’s more to do at the flats than just admire the view!
If you can make it to the salt flats before 6:00 pm, swing by the Ecomuseu da Marinha da Troncalhada, a museum that shows the salt production process and how it impacted the city’s history.
The museum was closed on my last trip, but it’s on the top of my list of Aveiro things to do on my next visit.
7. Shop at the Forum
The Forum is the largest shopping center in Aveiro.
If any of these photos look like they were taken in the rain, that’s because they were! And then five minutes later it was sunny. And then five minutes later it was rainy again!
Weather in northern Portugal can be all over the place, but the Forum is one of the few indoor Aveiro tourist attractions where you can shelter when hit by a sudden storm.
Aside from being a good place to hide from the rain, there are cafes, restaurants, and outlet stores like H&M and Zara.
8. Taste Aveiro’s Second Local Pastry
Ovo mole’s forgotten younger sibling, tripa is another of Aveiro’s local pastries.
Tripa is a turnover with a dough similar to a thick crepe. A sweet or savory filling is added before it’s folded several times into a rectangle. Some of the common fillings are cinnamon and sugar, Nutella, and cheese.
On my last Aveiro visit, I had a ham and cheese tripa from Impar, and I will be back to try the Oreos and Nutella tripa.
9. Take Photos of the I Heart Aveiro Steps
Across the canal from the Ovo Mole statue, you can find the ‘I Heart Aveiro’ steps.
These steps are one of the most modern Aveiro attractions on this list; it was created in 2013 as a part of an international effort to get more young people interested in street art.
There’s not much to actually ‘do’ here, but it’s a good place to stop and take the obligatory photo proving that you visited Aveiro.
10. Walk Around the Largest Park in Aveiro
Parque Infante D. Pedro is the largest green space in Aveiro. It’s a beautiful park centered around a small lake, perfect for an afternoon picnic, a quiet break, or to let out your inner child.
It’s filled with tropical plants, a workout area, a playground with slides (that aren’t just for children, by the way), and a gazebo.
11. Visit the City’s Oldest Cathedral
Just a few blocks from the city center is the Cathedral of Aveiro. Founded in 1423, it is the oldest religious building in Aveiro.
It’s not the flashiest cathedral in Portugal, but it is decorated with azulejos and stone carvings that show different moments of Aveiro’s history.
12. Explore the Aveiro Museum
Just down the street from the Cathedral is the Aveiro Museum. Housed in a convent from the 1400s, part of its fame comes from its royal resident – the Portuguese Princess Joana – who lived and is entombed here.
The museum is part religious monument with a gold baroque chapel and part art museum. In addition to the displays of religious art, the museum shows the city’s history and the story of Princess Joana.
13. Take a Mini-Trip to Costa Nova
Day trips to Aveiro are usually combined with a stop at Costa Nova, a cute beach town just a short drive away from the city.
Costa Nova is best known for its colorful striped houses, surf camps, and quiet beaches. It’s also where you can find the tallest lighthouse in Portugal. For those staying longer than a day in Aveiro, you can rent kayaks, standup paddleboards, surfboards, and windsurf equipment!
14. Grab a Creative Ice Cream Sundae
If you’ve ever wanted an ice cream sundae that looks like it’s straight from a classic cartoon, listen up.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to Gelateria Milano, but a massive ice cream sundae shaped like a mouse definitely wasn’t it! The picture doesn’t really capture the true size of this ice cream – it’s probably the size of a human head! It’s a good thing it was as tasty as it was adorable.
15. Tie a Friendship Ribbon
I saved the best things to do in Aveiro for last. If you took a stroll along the canals, you probably noticed a few bridges that are covered in vibrant ribbons, right?
Each ribbon on the bridge was placed by friends or couples as a way to symbolize their close personal ties. You buy a ribbon from one of the nearby souvenir stores, write your names, and tie it to the bridge and feel like you’re living in an early-2000s rom-com. It’s like a lighter, colorful version of Paris’ (now lockess) love lock bridge!
Ponte Laços de Amizade is the main ‘ribbon bridge’, but there are several along the main canal you could tie it on instead.
Did I Miss Any of Your Favorite Things to Do in Aveiro?
Let me know in the comments!
