Aveiro in 3 Days: Portugal’s Little Venice, Without the Crowds
I heard that people call it the "Venice of Portugal." I think that’s selling it short. I have a few friends living there, so I decided to visit them and see the place. Aveiro isn’t trying to be anything other than its own charming self. No gondoliers belting love songs, no overpriced tourist traps—just calm canals, candy-colored houses, and enough pasteis de natas to make your teeth hurt (in a good way. They're soft and flaky). I stood by the lady statue at the bridge. If you’ve got three days in your vacation and want to escape Lisbon’s buzz, let me share my itinerary on a quiet, beautiful, soulful trip to Aveiro.
Day 1: Canal City Calm
Hop on the train from Lisbon Oriente or Santa Apolónia station. In about two hours, you’ll roll into a town that feels like someone took all the chaos of city life and replaced it with water, wind, and light.
The first things you’ll notice are the canals. Wander around slowly. The Moliceiro boats—those long, painted boats once used to harvest seaweed—are now iconic and glide past with tourists and locals alike. You might catch a captain cracking jokes in three languages. People speak multiple languages, of course. I feel like I speak only half of these multiple languages.
Duck into the Aveiro Cathedral, a peaceful stop with understated Baroque beauty. Then stroll the Ria de Aveiro promenade, where the water seems to reflect every shade of the sky, especially in the late afternoon.
By now, you’re hungry. Skip the tourist menus. Look for a local spot with handwritten chalkboards and grab a plate of fresh bacalhau (cod fish) or caldeirada (fish stew). Don’t leave without trying the ovos moles—a sweet made of egg yolks and sugar that’s uniquely Aveiran. They're wrapped in rice paper shells shaped like clams and barrels. Odd? Yes. Delicious? Also yes.
Day 2: Stripes, Sand, and Sea at Costa Nova
Rent a bike or hop a cab to Costa Nova, the coastal escape about 15 minutes from the city. It’s one of those places that looks like it was built for postcards. The houses here wear vertical stripes like formalwear—red, green, blue, yellow—painted in bold strokes by fishermen to spot them from the sea.
Spend the morning on the beach. The Atlantic breeze has bite, but the sand is soft and the sun generous. It’s calm in the shoulder seasons—May, June, September—and gets festive in the summer.
My favorite lunch item is grilled seafood. Think sardines, seabass, or giant prawns served with lemon, salt, and olive oil—nothing fancy, just perfect.
The afternoon is yours: walk the boardwalk, pop into beach shops, or rent a paddleboard if the water calls to you.
Day 3: Museums, Parks, and One Last Cruise
Begin your final day with culture. Visit the Museu de Aveiro, housed in the old Convent of Jesus. You’ll find hauntingly beautiful religious art and tiles, plus the tomb of Princess Saint Joana, daughter of Portugal’s King Afonso V.
Next, take a breather at Jardim do Rossio, a leafy park ideal for a picnic or book break. Buy some fresh fruit from a local market and just sit for a while. We don’t do that enough. We rush around way too much.
Before you leave, take one last ride on the canals—this time a guided canal cruise. You’ll see how the architecture hugs the water, how the town changes from each bend of the boat. It’s a perfect farewell.
Happy travels!
Photo by Elliott Paige
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