Aveiro and Costa Nova from Porto
Aveiro and Costa Nova from Porto: the train, moliceiro boats, ovos moles, Art Nouveau, the striped houses of Costa Nova and how long to stay.
January 6, 2026 • 5 min read
Aveiro and Costa Nova from Porto
Aveiro at a Glance
How to Get from Porto to Aveiro
By Urban Train
The easiest option for a day trip is the urban train from São Bento, in central Porto, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Tickets are valid on any departure, so you do not need a reservation, and there are at least two trains an hour on weekdays and at least one an hour on weekends and holidays. Validate your card at the yellow machines before boarding.
By Alfa Pendular or Intercidades
The fast trains leave from Campanhã, so from the center you first take a connecting train. Including the change, the trip takes about 54 minutes to 1 hour. These trains need a seat reservation.
Aveiro station is about 1 km east of the historic center. Next to the modern station, the old station building is decorated with azulejo tile panels, worth a look before you walk into town.
By Car
A car is the fastest way, and it makes it easy to add Costa Nova, the Barra lighthouse and the Vista Alegre porcelain factory in Ílhavo. Park in one of the underground car parks near the center, as street parking is limited.
What to See and Do in Aveiro
Ride a Moliceiro
Aveiro's high-prowed moliceiro boats were designed locally in the 19th century to gather seaweed from the Ria de Aveiro lagoon. Today they take visitors along the city's canals, usually on trips of about 45 minutes. Only a few workshops still build them, and in 2025 the moliceiros were nominated to UNESCO's list of intangible heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
Art Nouveau Aveiro
Aveiro is known for its Art Nouveau facades, a style that arrived in the city in the early 1900s. The Art Nouveau Museum is in the Casa Major Pessoa, one of the most striking buildings, and its tea room courtyard is a good place for a break.
Museu de Aveiro
Inside a 15th-century Dominican convent, the Museum of Aveiro has a gilded chapel, cloisters, tiled rooms and the baroque marble tomb of Saint Princess Joanna. Allow about an hour.
Try Ovos Moles
Ovos moles, "soft eggs", were created in Aveiro's convents: sweetened egg yolk wrapped in thin shell-shaped wafers. Buy them in the old pastry shops of the center.
The Salt Pans
Salt has shaped Aveiro since Roman times. Visit the salt pans of the Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada, near the center, and come between about March and September to see the salt-making season.
Costa Nova and Barra
A short drive or bus ride from Aveiro, Costa Nova is known for its palheiros, old fishermen's houses painted in bright vertical stripes, facing the lagoon on one side and the Atlantic beach on the other. Nearby, the Barra lighthouse is the tallest in Portugal, with a 62-meter tower, first lit in 1893.
Without a car, check the bus times between Aveiro and Costa Nova before you go.
Vista Alegre
In Ílhavo, between Aveiro and Costa Nova, the Vista Alegre porcelain factory became a royal factory in the 1820s. Its museum, chapel and outlet are worth a stop if you have a car, and painting workshops can be booked in advance.
A Day in Aveiro and Costa Nova
- Morning: urban train from São Bento, the old tiled station, then a moliceiro ride on the canals.
- Late morning: the Art Nouveau facades and the Art Nouveau Museum.
- Lunch: seafood near the Praça do Peixe, the old fish market square, and ovos moles for dessert.
- Afternoon: Costa Nova for the striped houses and the beach, with a stop at the Barra lighthouse.
- Evening: sunset over the lagoon, then the train back to Porto.
If you prefer a slower day, stay the night in Aveiro or Costa Nova, or stop here on a road trip between Porto and Lisbon, as Coimbra is about an hour away.
