Aveiro is known as the Venice of Portugal — a charming city on the country’s central coast, south of Porto, whose network of picturesque canals, colourful moliceiro boats (traditional flat-bottomed vessels once used for harvesting seaweed, now converted to gondola-like tourist boats), and elegant Art Nouveau architecture make it one of the most photogenic small cities on the Iberian Peninsula. Aveiro’s compact, walkable centre, its beautiful beaches at nearby Costa Nova (famous for its striped wooden beach houses), and its reputation for the best ovos moles (sweet egg-yolk pastries) in Portugal make it a delightful stop on any Portuguese itinerary.

Quick Facts: Aveiro, Portugal

• Best time to visit: April–October; summer for the best weather and the beaches at Costa Nova; Aveiro’s canals and Art Nouveau buildings look their best in spring sunshine
• How to get there: ~45 minutes from Porto by train (frequent regional service); ~1 hour by car
• Top experiences: A moliceiro boat tour on the canals (~€13, 45 min), the Aveiro Museum in the former Convent of Jesus, and the Costa Nova striped houses (10 min by car)

Aveiro is a city in Portugal, located in the northwestern part of the country, in the region of Centro. Today there live about 55 000 inhabitants. Aveiro attracts visitors due to its unique atmosphere.

Aveiro is often called as the Venice of Portugal. Water is the main feature of the city and its surroundings. Typical sign of Aveiro is also contrasting colors, white houses are decorated differently, and the blue lagoon is dotted with colorful boats known as moliceiros. Here you can see the snow-white salt mines. Interesting environment is enhanced by the nearby nature reserve of São Jacinto, which consists of several small islands, sand dunes and abundant vegetation. Those who love the sea and beaches, can go to a nearby popular sandy beach Costa Nova. It is also a popular destination for surf lovers.

In Aveiro there is a number of local historical buildings, such as a former Dominican monastery Convento de Jesús from the 15th century, in which the renowned museum is located, or the Cathedral of Sao Domingos from 15th century as well. A popular tourist destination is also Ílhavo maritime museum, located just a few kilometers away and factory, which produces the famous Portuguese Vista Alegre porcelain. You can also visit nearby lighthouse, which is the highest lighthouse in Portugal and even in the entire Iberian Peninsula.

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Have you ridden a moliceiro boat through Aveiro’s canals or discovered the Venice of Portugal? Share your Portuguese canal-city discoveries in the comments! ⛵

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