ABOUT AVEIRO

Explore this section to learn everything you need to know about Aveiro (the so-called “Venice of Portugal”), including how to get there and what to do (and eat) once you are there.

GENERAL INFORMATION

TO HELP YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

How to get to Aveiro

Located right in the center of Portugal, Aveiro is an easily accessible city, both by air and by road. Famous for its unique lagoon and canals, Aveiro is served by high-speed trains and is situated at the intersection of several highways.

From Porto airport

This is the nearest airport to Aveiro, as it is located 80km north of the city. From this airport, the train is the best and cheapest way to get to Aveiro, as it takes you right into the center of the city. To get to the train, you can either take the metro or a taxi to the main train station in Porto (Porto – Campanhã):
A taxi costs about 25€ and takes about 25 minutes
The Metro (título Z4) costs about 2.60€ and takes 40 minutes to reach Porto – Campanhã station (Line E: Aeroporto – Estádio do Dragão)

When you get to Porto – Campanhã train station, you can take the train to Aveiro. You have several different options for trains:
High-speed Intercidades and Alfa trains take about 35 minutes to reach Aveiro, but are a bit more expensive
Local suburban trains offer a regular service throughout the day. The trip takes 50 minutes and costs 3.55€.

Alternatively, you can also hire a car at Porto airport and drive south to Aveiro. This is a 75km trip, mostly on the highway, and should take about one hour.

From Lisbon airport

The Portela Airport is located in Lisbon, about 250km south of Aveiro. As this is a long trip, it is advisable to take a train from Lisbon to Aveiro using an Intercidades or an Alfa train. To go from the airport to the main train station (Lisboa – Oriente), you can:
Take the Metro, using the red line to Oriente station. The ticket costs just 1.50€
Take a taxi, which costs about 10€ and takes around 15 minutes
Take the bus (5 and 44) to the bus station, which costs about 1.80€ You can buy your ticket inside the bus.

Alternatively, you can also hire a car at Lisbon airport and drive north to Aveiro. This is a 255km trip, mostly on the highway, and should take about 2h45.

By car

If you are coming from the North on the A1 highway, take the A25 exit to Aveiro. There are two possible exits to Aveiro from the A25: Aveiro-Norte (North Aveiro) and then a few km later, Aveiro. Choose the latter, as this is the quickest way. If you are coming from the South on the A1, take the Aveiro-Sul/Águeda (exit nº15) and turn right onto the EN235, which will take you directly to the UA campus.

GPS coordinates to the UA campus:

40º 37′ 53” N
8º 39′ 27” W

By train

Aveiro is situated on the main railway line that goes through Portugal – the northern railway line (Linha do Norte). Train timetables are available on the website CP – Comboios de Portugal.
There are several ways of getting to the Santiago Campus from the train station:
By bus (number 11)
On foot (a 20-minute walk)
By taxi (there is a taxi rank by the station)

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WHEN IN AVEIRO

The city of Aveiro sits on a landscape dominated by the Ria de Aveiro and the ocean. Aveiro has a population of about 78.000 people and hosts the headquarters of the Baixo Vouga Region (NUTS III), which gathers almost 400.000 inhabitants from eleven different municipalities.

Aveiro is surrounded by salt-flats, beaches, and lagoons, and its city center is crossed by water canals. It is in a strategic location between the two main metropolitan areas in Portugal (Lisbon and Porto), and also within the Aveiro-Madrid axis, with easy access due to railway and road infrastructures. Its port is also a very important piece in the regional development.

Nowadays, Aveiro is a modern administrative, seaport, industrial, university, and touristic urban center, with a steadily growing economy and population. In recent years Aveiro has been considered a digital cluster and a territory of innovation. It is home of one of the top 100, less than 50 years old, universities in Europe, and of several research and development centres for innovative firms, both in digital and traditional sectors. Once better known for its ceramic sector, Aveiro has since become the first “Digital City” in Portugal (in 2003), and it is currently involved in important projects in the fields of 5G and smart cities.

Ria de Aveiro

Ria de Aveiro (Aveiro lagoon) stretches for about 45km between Ovar (to the north) and Mira (to the south), reaching a width of about 10km at its widest point.

This lagoon is linked with the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow water channel known as the Barra. Ria de Aveiro comprises a large area of wildlife-rich wetlands, incorporating salt marches and scattering fishing villages nestling along its peaceful banks.

Ria de Aveiro has been the centre of the city’s prosperity and it has long been farmed for its iodine-rich seaweed – the moliço, used as a powerful crop fertilizer and traditionally collected in moliceiros (brightly-painted boats with flat bottoms and swan-like necks); its salt (the local salt industry also dates back many centuries); and its fish (bream, skate, mullet, shad, lampreys, eels, etc.), much of which is destined for the local restaurants.

Noveau architecture

Aveiro has a number of buildings in Art Nouveau style that are worth seeing.

Many are situated along the main channel, but there are some in other locations off the beaten track.

The location of the buildings is indicated in a guide available at the Tourist Office, and you can get to know this style even better if you visit the Museum dedicated to it.

Aveiro Museum | Saint Joana

Housed in the former Jesus Monastery, Aveiro’s fascinating municipal museum depicts the life of King Afonso V’s daughter, Santa Joana, who died there in 1490.

Since 2011, the monastery buildings have been a museum, both to show off their architectural majesty and to exhibit an array of religious art on its newer upper floors.

Nearby stands the 15th-century São Domingos cathedral and Carmelite Church, dating from the start of the 1700s.

Fishermen’s quarter
and Rossio area

Aveiro has a good nightlife, with most of its bars and clubs situated in the main square, called Praça do Peixe (fish market/square).

There are also several other nice spots spread around the city.

Ílhavo

The small town of Ílhavo is famous for its deep-sea fishermen, whose history is very well portrayed in the local maritime museum.

This museum pays tribute to the Aveiro region as one of Portugal’s primary ports for cod fishing, but also to the Aveiro lagoon and its salt harvesting industry and characteristic moliceiro vessels.

Ílhavo is also home to one of the most famous manufacturers of porcelain, Vista Alegre, renowned throughout the world for the high quality of its crockery since 1824.

The Vista Alegre porcelain factory and museum includes a 17th-century palace, a chapel, and an entire residential quarter built for workers that is completed with its own theatre.

Costa Nova

Just 11 km west of Aveiro lies Costa Nova, one of Portugal’s finest coastal villages.

Notable for its long row of brightly striped wooden houses adjacent to the ocean, this charming seaside resort has evolved from a huddle of fishermen’s huts into one of Portugal’s top beach destinations.

São Jacinto Dunes
Natural Reserve

North of Costa Nova (and a bit less accessible) lies the 600-hectare São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto), which comprises some of the best preserved dunes in Europe.

With several kilometres of walking trails, this reserve is home to over 100 species of birds and provides visitors with the chance to enjoy the wild and spectacular natural environment of one of Europe’s most unspoilt coastlines.

Gastronomy

Emblematic in the city are the sweets made with eggs and sugar – the ovos moles (soft eggs), which are sold in wooden barrels or wrapped in a crusty wafer in different shapes.

Before dessert, everyone can feast on the different delights offered by the sea, such as shellfish, codfish, grilled fresh fish, and eels, that are so characteristic of this region and are served casseroled or marinated.

Climate

Aveiro has a warm summer, influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

Summer temperatures average around 24°C in daytime – considerably lower than in inland areas. Please take into consideration that Aveiro in July can sometimes be windy and chilly in the late afternoon and evening hours.

ACCOMMODATION

July is usually busy in Aveiro. We recommend that you book your accommodation as soon as possible. Here are a few suggestions of Hotels and Hostels in Aveiro within walking distance from the University Campus (meeting venue). Make sure to refer you are participating in the SIBECOL/AIL meeting in reservation emails (or use promotional code when provided) so you can get discounts.

-> Hotel Moliceiro ****

Located in the city centre (fishermen quarter), next to city canals and a 20 min walk from the meeting venue

Single rooms from 125 €
Double rooms from 140 €

Reservations – email: info@hotelmoliceiro.pt (use promotional code HM22SIBECOL)

-> Meliá Ria Hotel & Spa ****

Located near the Cultural Center and the train station, within walking distance of the historic city center and 20 min walk from the meeting venue.

Single rooms from 87 €

Double rooms from 97 €

Reservations – email: melia.ria@meliaportugal.com

-> Hotel As Américas ****

Located in the city centre, 25-30 min walk from the meeting venue

Single rooms from 92 €

Double rooms from 129 €

Triple rooms from 156 €

Reservations – email: info@hotelasamericas.com

-> Hotel Aveiro Center ***

Located next to Aveiro University Campus and 5-10 min walk from the meeting venue.

Single rooms from 55 €

Double rooms from 65 €

Triple rooms from 85 €

Reservations – email: reservas@hotelaveirocenter.com

-> Hotel as Salinas***

Located next to Aveiro University Campus and 5-10 min walk from the meeting venue.

Single rooms from 55 €

Double rooms from 65 €

Individual Studio 60 €

Twin Studio 75€

Reservations – email: reservas@hoteldassalinas.com

-> Hotel Jardim***

Located in one of noblest areas of the city, only a few meters from the City Center, the city Museum, and 20 min walk from the meeting venue.

Single rooms from 54 €

Double rooms from 76 €

Reservations – email: info@hoteljardim.pt

-> Hotel Veneza***

Located in the city center 100 meters from the train station, a few minutes from the Cultural and Congress Centre, 30 min walk from the University campus and meeting venue.

Single rooms from 58 €

Double rooms from 70 €

Reservations – email: reservas@venezahotel.com

-> Hotel Imperial***

Located in the heart of the city of Aveiro, 300 meters from the “Central Canal of Ria de Aveiro”, “Santa Joana Museum”, 15 min walk from the University Campus and meeting venue.

Single rooms from 45 €

Double rooms from 60 €

Reservations – email: reservas@hotelimperial.pt

-> Abeiro Inn Hostel

10 – 15 min walk from the University Campus and meeting venue.

Single rooms from 37 €

Double rooms from 52 €

Triple rooms (suite) from 125 €

Reservations – email:reservas.abeiroinn@gmail.com

-> Aveiro Rossio Hostel

20 – 25 min walk from the University Campus and meeting venue.

Single and double rooms, dorms and apartment studios (prices from 30 €)

Reservations – email: aveirorossiohostel@gmail.com

-> Hostel cidade de Aveiro

15 min walk from the University Campus and meeting venue.

Single rooms from 34 €

Double rooms from 46 €

Family rooms (3/4 people) from 71 / 79 €

Reservations – email: info@hostelcidadeaveiro.pt

VISA

Letters of invitation that may be required to meet the administrative and legal regulations for visas are available to all participants upon written request. Please contact the Organizing Committee at: sibecol-ail-meeting2022@ua.pt

Visas may be required online or at the local/national Portuguese embassy or consulate.

For a complete list of countries whose citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter Portugal, please click on this list of countries.
Additional information is available at the website of the Schengen VISA: www.schengenvisainfo.com