Aveiro Travel Guide — What To Do On A Day Trip To Aveiro, Portugal

Aveiro, Portugal: A Perfect Day-Trip, Via A 1-Hour Train Ride From Porto

I’m not big on day trips, since I think most places deserve at least a full 24-hours to really get to know. You know, a full cycle of the sun so that you can experience an evening under the stars as well as feel the morning light and the start of a new day. That said, sometimes it’s just not possible to do an extended trip. So I made the most of the 6 hours I was able to spend in Aveiro, Portugal. 

Aveiro is small, and only about an hour from Porto or two hours from Lisbon by train or bus. There aren’t a lot of big churches or museums, just a handful of small ones. But that’s part of the charm of Aveiro, especially coming from one of the busier cities.

Things are smaller, closer, and by default more intimate in Aveiro, Portugal. Throw in something truly unique…like the fact that Aveiro has a maze of canals running through it…and you have a perfect place to spend a day. 

Another thing I love about Aveiro is the extremely visible Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts influence. You can see the floral and botanic forms all over the city, in the architecture and embellished wrought iron railings and balconies. Contrast that with some of the new art and architecture and it’s a nice conversation between the past and the present influences. 

The Best Things To Do In Aveiro, Portugal – My Top 5 Recommendations

Check Out The Canals And Take A Boat Ride In A Moliceiros

Since it’s regarded as the “Venice of Portugal,” no Aveiro travel guide would be complete without pointing you towards the network of canals through the city. In reality, you literally can’t walk far without encountering the canals around one turn or the next. Near the central canal, you’ll find the shores lined with Moliceiros; long slender canal boats. Choose to spend the €10-15 euros per person and take an hour to enjoy the views from your water tour.

Bonus points if you’re there in the evening so you can see the canals of Aveiro under moonlight. 

You’ll also travel under the Ponte Laços de Amizade, which is covered with ribbons commemorating people’s trips and “undying love” for their companions. I’m not a big fan of these somewhat wasteful shows, but I do have to say they’re colorful and pretty!

Take A Quiet Walk Through The Cemitério Central De Aveiro

If you’ve been paying attention, you know that I love a good cemetery or graveyard. One of my favorites isn’t far north of Aveiro in Porto. Aveiro has a really beautiful small but unique cemetery, Cemiterio Central de Aveiro, which is definitely worth a stroll through. There’s something really contrasting about these quiet places of remembrance set up against the backdrop and completely surrounded by a thriving cityscape. 

Visit The Museu De Aveiro Santa Joana And Many Other Museums In Aveiro

Aveiro is pretty tiny compared to Porto or Lisbon, especially when comparing major art museums or galleries. That said, there are still some really great museum opportunities worth your time and the small entrance fee in Aveiro. Paramount to see is the Museu de Aveiro which also houses the Convento de Jesus em Aveiro. I was so surprised by how ornate and detailed the entire church/museum is, and even more surprised by how close you can get to some of its religious relics. Truly crazy to see some of the details. And the organ overhead is off the hook!

The great thing is that the city of Aveiro has a pass that allows you to get into four museums for one price of only around 5 euro.

That includes the Museu de Aveiro Santa Joana, is The Museu de Arte Nova (Art Nouveau Museum), Museu da Cidade (Aveiro City Museum), and the Ecomuseu Narinha da Troncalhada. Spoiler alert; the Art Nouveau Museum was a little underwhelming, but for such a low fee for all of the museums, if you have the time, look into them all!

Protip: Check out the free guided tours at B-MAD, the Art Deco Museum in Lisbon for more amazing examples of Art Nouveau than you’ll find in the Aveiro Museu de Arte Nova.

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Peak Inside The Tiny But Overwhelming Igreja de São João Evangelista / Igreja Carmelita de Aveiro Church

This church was so unsuspecting from the outside but extremely overwhelming when you step through the doors. It’s only about 20 feet wide and maybe 50 feet deep, with pews that might fit 40-50 people. But every surface of the church is insanely detailed with either gold-gilded wooden religious ornamentation or beautiful azulejos tile depictions.

The fact that you can literally step within feet of all of it can give you such a better appreciation for how detailed the artisans and craftspeople had to be when they were creating these spaces.

Gets Stuffed On Some Delicious Quiche And Vegetarian Food In Aveiro

I’m totally not scared to include this in my top five. Hey, you gotta eat! No, this isn’t Portuguese cuisine, it’s just damn tasty, inexpensive, and will give you enough food to go a good 6-8 hours before you need to eat again. Green City Quiches & Saladas has about a dozen different kinds of freshly prepared and extremely fulfilling quiches onhand until they’re sold out, which seems to be by early afternoon, FYI.

They then heap on top your choice of 3 different helpings from a dozen or so other vegetarian salads and side dishes. Oh, then give you a fresh-squeezed drink…all for under/around 10 euros. With hundreds of 5-star reviews, you don’t have to take my word for it. Thank me later. 🙂

Aveiro Travel Guide – More Things To Do In Aveiro, Portugal

Search For Some Artwork & Murals Around Aveiro

I found that there were pieces of public art projects littered all over Aveiro. From the moment I got off the train, the paved footpaths leading towards old town had all sorts of unique things to spot. From contemporary statues and bridge architecture to murals, there are plenty of urban art examples to keep an eye out for while you’re walking around Aveiro.

Walk Through Parque Dom Pedro Infante Or One Of The Many Parks Around Aveiro

Especially if you get a bit overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of city life, like I sometimes do, finding a park to chill at is mandatory even on a day trip. Aveiro has some really unexpected park areas centered around Parque Dom Pedro Infante. You’ll find paved and dirt paths meandering around and over a pond filled with ducks and other wildlife. Then there’s the beautiful covered walk, which surrounds you with blooming vines and plants in the summer months.

Getting Around Aveiro And Traveling Around Portugal

As mentioned earlier, Aveiro is an easy train or bus from either Porto in the north or Lisbon in the south. Honestly though, if you’re doing a day or overnight, it makes more financial sense to come from Porto or stop as you’re heading to Lisbon or vice versa. From Porto a roundtrip bus runs about 5-15 euros and a train about the same. The Comboios de Portugal train system is really easy to use though, and typically nonstop, so I suggest that for ease and budget. 

Typical Spending Costs, Travel Styles and Budgets for Travel In Aveiro And Throughout Portugal

I’m a budget travel nerd and tend to target traveling internationally for an average of about $30-60 a day, all in. Of course, you can travel cheaper than that, or the sky’s the limit. I was able to average about $50-60 a day in Portugal, and smaller places like Aveiro tend to be a little cheaper than the bigger cities of Porto or Lisbon.

Beds in a 4-6 bed hostel dorm run typically run about €15-25 euros. Fantastic sit-down meals at most non-bougie restaurants run €7-15+ euros. And a glass of port, table wine, or draft beer at those restaurants usually starts around €2 euro. Credit cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for the smaller joints, especially in Aveiro. ATMs are readily available, but make sure they’re attached to a reputable bank and not a Euronet ATM.

Glass of cheap wine or beer while out in Aveiro	€2-3 euros
Hostel bed in 4-6 person dorm	€15-25+ euros/night
Local bus or around Aveiro	€1-3 euros
Simple sit-down dinner w/ wine/beer	€7-16 euros
Church or Museum entries fees	€3-5 euros (or free)

The Hostels In Aveiro

There are actually very few hostels in Aveiro, but one seems to be extremely highly rated and pretty tough to get into on short notice. That’s actually why I only did a day trip; couldn’t get a room! This hostel also comes at a bit of a higher cost because it’s pretty boutique and in demand. But if you’re on the fringes of trying hostels and want a nicer one to get your toes wet, check it out!

There are hundreds of hostels throughout Portugal. You can filter by rating, location, amenities, cost, etc., here.

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Staying Safe While Traveling In Aveiro…Or Portugal In General

Honestly, there wasn’t a moment when I was wandering around Aveiro when I felt unsafe. That said, you should always take some necessary precautions when you’re traveling. Explore with a friend or two if possible, and consider staying out of the dark corridors at night if you’re solo. Yes, they’re kind of magical at night, but just be cautious.

Essentially, use common sense and go with your gut if you feel unsafe or concerned. I also suggest wearing clothing that allows you to zip or button up your wallet, phone, etc., as most of the time the biggest concern in bigger, tourist-heavy cities is pickpockets in dense areas. If someone else is an easier target than you, then your odds of trouble are reduced! (You don’t have to run faster than the bear…)

Share This Aveiro Travel Guide With A Friend!

If you’re wanderlusting about travel to Aveiro, Porto, or anywhere in Portugal, please share this article on social and with your travel ride-or-dies. Then connect with me over on Instagram or subscribe on YouTube, since I talk about a lot of these logistics and how things are going along the way!

Happy Travels. Cheers!
— Jason