The 10 Best Things to See and Do in Aveiro, Portugal

There’s no doubt that a highlight of visiting Aveiro is a ride on the gondola-like boats called moliceiros. Traditionally used for gathering seaweed that was used as a local fertilizer, they are larger than their Italian counterparts and today are available year-round to entertain visitors. Not only is scheduling a moliceiro ride an iconic activity, but it’s also a budget-friendly one that costs less than 10€ per person (normally around €7) and can be booked on the spot.

Although Aveiro is known as a summertime destination, the city is not actually located on the coast, and the beaches are approximately ten kilometers away. The two beach “towns” are called Barra and Costa Nova, the latter slightly further away along the peninsula. They are easy to reach by public transportation, however, and the daily bus route keeps the traffic flowing into and out of this sandy stretch. Not only are they excellent spots to enjoy sunbathing and water sports, but the restaurants are known for serving fresh catches and traditional local dishes.

Both Barra and Costa Nova are worth visiting, but the latter may be a little extra special due to the rainbow-striped fisherman cottages in the “downtown” area. Reminiscent of dollhouses, these beautifully charming buildings were once used to store fishing gear, but some are now used as accommodations. Visitors are commonly seen snapping photos of (and with) these unique buildings.

No matter where visitors go in Portugal, sampling the local cuisine is among the top activities and on the coast it is heavily characterized by fish and seafood. One local favorite in Aveiro is feijoada de búzios, a comforting bean stew filled with sea snails similar to “whelk” in English-speaking countries. Other local favorites are arroz de marisco (seafood rice) and a number of eel-based recipes like caldeirada de enguias (eel stew).