Discover Aveiro: canals, Art Nouveau and salt pans

Aveiro brings together canals, architecture and salt pans as distinct areas to explore. If you are looking for a hotel in Aveiro, you can first consider whether you would like to focus your itinerary on urban architecture, waterways or the Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada. The attractions reveal different sides of the city: from a historic building and an Art Nouveau route to an introduction to salt production.

Canals as a way to get around

Aveiro is crisscrossed by a network of canals used by moliceiro boats. The three Ria canals serve as landmarks and form a natural divide between older and newer districts. Thanks to its flat terrain, Aveiro is relatively easy to explore on foot. Moliceiros are also used for tourist trips today. The canals therefore serve both as landmarks within the city and as the setting for a tourist activity in their own right. If you plan a boat trip, check the operators and schedules in advance.

Art Nouveau and city history

The Museu de Aveiro / Santa Joana is housed in the former convent of the Dominican Sisters. The Museu Arte Nova is located in the former residence of the Mário Belmonte Pessoa family. The building was constructed between 1907 and 1909 and is classified as an “Imóvel de Interesse Público” (Property of Public Interest). At the museum, you can learn about the socioeconomic and cultural context of the Art Nouveau movement that became widespread in Aveiro.

Art Nouveau is also part of the cityscape: many buildings in this style are located along the main canal. You can therefore encounter the style both in the museum and in Aveiro’s architecture.

The Roteiro Arte Nova starts at the Museu Arte Nova and forms a walking route through the city featuring 28 elements. Another example of the city’s architectural design is the Antiga Estação da CP Aveiro. It is decorated with 59 azulejo panels depicting professions, local personalities, and landscapes from the city, the region and the country.

The Antiga Estação de Comboios de Aveiro is open to the public, including residents, visitors and tourists. Check the opening details before your visit.

Salt pans, nature and taste

The Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada explains how seawater is turned into salt in Aveiro’s salt pans. Visits also include identifying the salt pans’ plant and animal life. Tastings of salicornia and fleur de sel are also part of the visit programme. Check the booking arrangements before your trip.

The “Sabores com Tradição” gastronomic guide is available year-round; participating establishments may change.

Which highlights suit your stay?

For your plans, there are two ways to explore the architecture: you can focus on individual museums and the context of the Art Nouveau movement, or choose the route with its 28 elements. The Ecomuseum offers a different focus, combining an explanation of salt production with local plant and animal life and tastings. This lets you weigh up a cultural and historical activity against a visit centered on the salt pans.

Discover more destinations: Murtosa, Anadia, Monte, Espinho, Alvarenga, Vila Nova de Monsarros, Pedorido, Fermentelos

For the main travel overview: Aveiro.