HOW TO GET TO AVEIRO
Departing from Lisbon
The road distance between Lisbon and Aveiro road section is 254 km, and there are 3 options available to travel from one city to another: trains, buses and cars.
Train
Train tickets can be purchased through the CP – Comboios de Portugal website, application or directly at the stations where trains depart in Lisbon: Oriente or Santa Apolônia stations. The price of tickets varies based on the duration of the trip and the class chosen. The fastest options take around 2 hours while the slower ones can take up to 4 hours. The fastest trips can cost between €29.50 (2nd class) to 42.30 (1st class) while those lasting 4 hours can be purchased for €17. The golden tip is to buy tickets in advance. This way, it is possible to get interesting discounts.
Another important piece of information is that Aveiro train station is very close to the city center, where you can find various souvenirs and some of the main tourist attractions in the city.
Bus
The trip from Lisbon to Aveiro by bus is operated by two companies: Rede Expressos and FlixBus, taking between 3h15, the fastest options, and 4h, the longest. Tickets can be purchased through the companies’ applications, website or directly at Sete Rios station (Rede Expresso tickets only).
Rede Expressos buses depart from Sete Rios Station and tickets cost, on average, €17 and can be purchased on the Rede Expressos website or directly at the station.
FlixBus, in turn, only operates from Estação do Oriente and tickets can only be purchased through the company’s website or application. Ticket prices range from €7 to €17 and the average trip time is 3h to 3h30.
Just like train tickets, purchasing in advance usually guarantees discounts on the charged prices.
Car
Driving from Lisbon to Aveiro can be an interesting alternative for those who want to visit other cities along the way. Some interesting suggestions are Óbidos, Alcobaça, Batalha, Fátima, Nazaré, Coimbra and Tomar. The trip takes, on average, 2h40.
The access road is the A1, and there is a toll charge of €18.45.
On the Europcar website, the daily price for an economy car is approximately €46.
Departing from Porto
The distance between Porto and Aveiro is 75 km, and the trip can, similarly to Lisbon, be made by trains, buses or cars.
Train
Train tickets can be purchased through the CP – Comboios de Portugal website,app or directly at the São Bento or Campanhã stations. The trip takes approximately one hour. The price of tickets varies depending on the class (could be first or second class) and the speed of the train, ranging from €3.80 (sections lasting 1h07) to €16.10 (sections lasting 40 minutes) .
Trains depart from São Bento and Campanhã stations.
Bus
Car
The trip takes approximately 45 minutes and the access highway is also the A1. There is a toll charge of €4.5.
On the Europcar website, an economy car costs approximately €27 per day.
GET TO KNOW AVEIRO
Moliceiros were historically used to collect algae or molices (hence the name). The moliceiro tour offers a type of guided city tour, showcasing some of the main tourist points of interest in the city along its approximately 45-minute route. Tickets cost around €15 and can be easily purchased at sale points along the stretch of the ria in the city center. Through the Zeca website it is possible to reserve the tour.
To learn even better about the city’s history, we suggest a visit to the Aveiro City Museum, located a few meters from the moliceiros arrival and departure points. The visit costs €7. Next to the City Museum is the Museum of New Art, based in one of the most emblematic buildings of this artistic movement.
The historical-religious heritage is in the Santa Joana Museum, a former Dominican monastery founded in 1458, known for its beautiful collection of sacred art. Legend has it that the original recipe for Aveiro’s famous ovos moles came from the hands of the nuns who fulfilled their vows there.
The salt flats are an important part of the city’s history and there are some very close to the center that are worth visiting, such as the Ecomuseum Marinha da Troncalhada and Marina da Noeirinha. The variety of salts they produce i salso valuable for their mineral richness and various health benefits.
Other points of interest include the Manuel Firmino Market, where, in addition to fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seafood, you can find various souvenirs and even choose terraces for a coffee or a fine meal in the afternoon. We recommend the homemade food at Ramiro’s restaurant and a stop at Maria Lounge Bar, which is on the upper floor of the market and offers a pleasant view of the city and the Aveiro ria.
Other central points of interest that are worth visiting are Praça da República, Igreja da Misericórdia, Aveiro City Hall, Teatro Aveirense and the Liceu. All these points are very close to each other and can be visited in a few hours. Nearby is Confeitaria Peixinho, a paradise for lovers of “ovos moles” and the deliciously pink M Bakery Aveiro, a must-see. Aveiro’s confectioney, however, goes beyond “ovos moles”. Also, try the “raivas”, “broas” or almond cookies, “amores de cúria” and “tripas de Aveiro” (there is a strategic sales point of “tripas” in front of the Fórum de Aveiro shopping center).
WHERE TO EAT
Typical Portuguese taverns
In the heart of Beira-Mar are the iconic Picota, Zico and Zeca Taberna Portuguesa. In all these restaurants there are countless options to try famous dishes such as “bacalhau à Brás”, octopus rice and, in the case of Zico, a variety of meat options (steak with garlic sauce being its specialty).
Vegan options
Good vegan and vegetarian options are Musgo and Raiz, the latter being more elegant. Both are in the heart of Beira-Mar and are super worth a visit!
Michelin Star and Traditional Cuisine
Some of the most sophisticated options in the city are the starred Salpoente (Michelin Guide) and FAMA by Luís Lavrador. Their proposal is to present contemporary cuisine that combines tradition, innovation and art. Vegetarian options are also found at Salpoente.
See other interesting options on TheFork website or application.
SUGGESTED DAY TOURS FOR THOSE WHO STAY IN THE CITY FOR LONGER
Barra and Costa Nova beaches
The beaches are located in the parishes of Gafanha da Nazaré (Praia da Barra) and Gafanha da Encarnação (Praia da Costa Nova), approximately 11 kilometers away from the city center. Access to both beaches can also be made by buses departing from Aveiro train and bus stations.
Barra beach is famous for its monumental Lighthouse and Costa Nova for the iconic striped and colorful façades that adorn and characterize some of the local buildings. Both beaches have excellent bars and restaurants with good cuisine and pleasant terraces that justify a few extra hours of strolling. Examples include Restaurante D. Fernando and Bronze Seafood & Lounge Bar on Costa Nova beach.
Ílhavo
Known as the Portuguese capital of codfish, Ílhavo is just a few kilometers from the center of Aveiro. In the city, it is worth visiting the Ílhavo Maritime Museum and the Jardim Navio Museu Santo André, a codfish vessel transformed into a museum.
Vista Alegre Factory and Museum
The Vista Alegre Factory and Museum offer a journey into the world of porcelain.
Renovated between 2014 and 2016, the Vista Alegre Museum presents the history of the oldest porcelain factory in the Iberian Peninsula, the aesthetic evolution of porcelain production, and its importance in Portuguese society in the 19th and 20th centuries through one of the most complete museum collections of the genre. In addition to the renovated exhibition rooms, you can visit, integrated into the Museum circuit, the Chapel in Honor of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França and the Manual Painting Workshop of the Vista Alegre Factory, where you will have the opportunity to observe and produce ceramic painting works.