Home - Travel Destinations - Beautiful Boat Scenes in Aveiro Portugal – All You Need to Know – Quick Guide
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Home - Travel Destinations - Beautiful Boat Scenes in Aveiro Portugal – All You Need to Know – Quick Guide
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We link to affiliated partners at no extra cost to you.
Aveiro catches your eye almost immediately. Slim canals cut through the centre of town, lined with pastel buildings and bright moliceiro boats that glide past cafés and bridges. The air smells faintly of the nearby Atlantic, and everything feels calm, walkable, and pleasantly local. This is a place to slow down, sit by the water with a coffee, and enjoy a Portuguese town that feels cheerful without trying too hard.
Aveiro is in central Portugal, about 75 kilometers south of Porto. It sits right on the edge of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, with the Atlantic Ocean just a short drive away. Trains from Porto take around one hour, which makes Aveiro an easy stop or short stay along Portugal’s west coast.
Getting there: Direct trains from Porto take around 1 hour
Getting around: Flat, walkable city centre; free BUGA bikes available
You might think you’re looking at photos of Venice, Italy, but Aveiro on Portugal’s west coast has its own charm, with colourful canals, whimsical boats, and a quietly captivating atmosphere all its own.
Beautifully painted and full of character, the Barcos moliceiros are Aveiro’s signature gondola-like boats that glide gracefully through the city’s canals and across the surrounding lagoon.
Once used to harvest seaweed, today they carry tourists past pastel buildings, quaint bridges, and waterside cafés, their brightly coloured hulls and whimsical painted designs reflecting local life and tradition.
Riding a moliceiro is a peaceful, almost magical way to see Aveiro, offering calm water views, gentle breezes, and perfect photo moments at every turn.
• Try a moliceiro ride early: The colorful boats are quieter in the morning and the light is perfect for photos.
• Wander the canals: Skip the main streets for smaller lanes—cafés, local bakeries, and pastel-painted houses make every corner charming.
• Taste ovos moles: This treat, unique to Aveiro, is best from traditional bakeries near the canals.
• See the striped houses at Costa Nova: Rent a bike or drive 10–15 minutes to these iconic beach huts.
• Check out Praia da Barra Lighthouse: Climb it if you can—views over the Atlantic are spectacular.
• Relax at a café by the water: Watching boats drift by is one of Aveiro’s simple pleasures.
• Go early or late in summer: The city feels most peaceful outside peak tourist hours.
• Bring light layers: Coastal winds can surprise you, even on warm days.
WHY WE RECOMMEND: The location stands out first, with the canal right outside, the main sights close by, and restaurants and shops all within easy walking distance. Ready to book your stay? >>>
Aveiro is the perfect weekend getaway destination in Portugal. So you’ll need about 2 days to enjoy and explore the city.
The closest international airport is Francisco Sá Carneiro International (OPO) in Porto.
When booking one of these holiday packages you know almost everything is included. So you just have to book your flights. However you can decide if you want a private or small group, fully guided, partially guided or self guided and book what you love.
When you visit the Museu de Arte Nova, you can get a map of the Art Nouveau buildings in Aveiro, so you can do your own sightseeing.
Visit the Cathedral of Aveiro with its prominent bell tower and take a walk in the Parque Dom Pedro Infante: a beautiful city park and place where you can relax and enjoy nature.
The the 15th century Convento de Jesus is also a beautiful and very special place to visit. Definitely worth the visit.
TRAVEL TIP: Sightseeing in Aveiro is easy and budget friendly as you can borrow bikes for free from BUGA (made available by the municipality). The bikes are available at the BUGA shop in Manuel Firmino Market. You leave your identification card and take a bike and off you go. You can explore the whole city on a free BUGA-bike.
Need more inspiration? Discover Portugal | Travel Portugal >>>
