Tours & Activities in Aveiro
Walking along the Azulejos!
Come walk with us, calmly, on an enlightening path through Aveiro's beating heart, guided by the azulejos scattered around the city. These painted tiles allow us to travel in time, explore the history and recognize different artistic movements and multicultural influences hidden in this centuries-old decorative tradition.
Book this tour and enjoy this amazing city with us 😊
TOURS IN PORTUGUESE, SPANISH AND ENGLISH !!
Living in the City Center since 2010, and working in the Moliceiros typical boats since 2017, now I would like to show you the City routes and roots in a walking tour in the avenues and alleys, in the past and in the present.
Itinerary:
We will meet almost downtown, at the end of Av. Lourenço Peixinho, where it meets Central Canal, and after a small introduction of me, Portugal and Aveiro, we'll start the tour walking in the higher part of city, where it was the old wall, and we´ll visit the south part of the city, where used to live those more connected with farming and animals, and were most of the official buildings.
After one of the best views over Central Canal, under Atlas Building, we'll go up, walking in the city center that was inside the Wall, with stops at Praça Marquês do Pombal and Praça da República, where we can see the Court, Teatro Aveirense, Carmelita's Church, Misericórdia's Church, Atlas Building, and more. We will go until the edge of the old wall, to see where the city has grown, and following the old wall will stop close to the Cathedral and St. Joana Museum (an old monastery).
Going down again what was the old wall, we’ll visit not only the oldest cemitery in Aveiro, but also in Portugal, that is from 1860, and crossing through Fórum Aveiro, the shopping center in the city center, we´ll reach Cojo Canal, with the ribbon brige´s. Walking alongside the Canal until Mercado Manuel Firmino, where we have the BUGA´s(bikes for free use) we´ll see the old industrial area in the of the canal, that now is one of the most exclusive residencial area in the city.
Returning to Avenida Lourenço Peixinho, we´ll go down until the original meeting point, visiting then the old downtown, the part connected with the canals of Ria de Aveiro, and where the fisherman, the people working in the salt fields, and the traders use to live. We´ll go until S.Roque Canal, the “border” between land and water, where we can see 2 of the most iconics bridge´s of the city, Carcavelos and Botirões bridges´, and in the heart of the neighboorhood will finish at the old Fish Market and S.Goncalinho´s Chappel, hoping that you have discovered some of the routes and roots of the city.
Ready to have an amazing time? Let's embark on my "Aveiro All-in-One City Center Tour" to explore the unique, romantic, salty and sweet Aveiro city. Some call it the Venice of Portugal, the capital of Art Nouveau in Portugal, or probably the most romantic place in Portugal. Well, there is some truth yo it but there is much more than that.
What makes this tour unique is that it's a blend of history, art, devotion, passion, deceit, tragedy, salt, and sweet. After living my life here and spending several years deeply studying Aveiro and what makes it special, I want to share with you what I've found and what you can't easily see out there.
Our tour takes place in downtown/old town area where we will see the main places but we will also go a bit beyond that to uncover the non-obvious, thus this is just not a touristic tour. It's something that I hope you can learn more from.
During our tour we will:
- Learn about the story of Aveiro, from the most remote times until today
- Find out what makes Aveiro people so special
- Discover Art Nouveau, how it flourished in Aveiro, and see some of its beautiful buildings
- See some impressive tiles
- See the typical and unique "moliceiro" and "mercantel" boats and discover their impressive details
- Remember forgotten heroes of the past and how they serve as all for inspiration for the future
- Find more about Princess Johanna and the São Gonçalinho worship and the popular tradition that brings thousands to Aveiro
- Learn about the tasty "ovos moles" dessert and why *everyone* loves them
- Learn more about some impressive stories
- Play some "games" / answer some challenges
- Find great places for amazing photos!
At the end I will provide tailored recommendations for you, depending on your available time and goals, so you can explore, learn, and experience more by yourself!
So, get ready to walk and don't miss the opportunity to know more beyond the obvious, in a fun, relaxed way!
We will meet up at a designated hour in the centrally located Joaquim de Melo Freitas town square, where our adventure begins.
We will stroll alongside Aveiro's idyllic canals where you will see the famous, traditional 'moliceiro' boats. These small colorful boats were once used for the transport of salt and seaweed. We will pass old warehouses and striking Art Nouveau façades, and cross pretty footbridges such as the Carcavelos Bridge.
We will also pass some of the city's most famous buildings. We will observe the elegant white and blue tile façade of the Misericordia (Mercy) Church and, close by, you will also see Aveiro City Hall and its municipal theatre.
We will also encounter the city's 15th-century Cathedral side-by-side with the Museum of Saint Joana, a princess that lived in the 15th-century aswell.
Itinerary:
- Aveiro's idyllic canals
- 'moliceiro' boats.
- Old warehouses
- Striking Art Nouveau façades
- Carcavelos Bridge
- Misericordia (Mercy) Church
- Aveiro City Hall
- Municipal theatre
- The Cathedral
- The Museum of Saint Joana
All the information I can provide, I will be glad to help you out: tips on where to eat, to have fun, to relax and to enjoy our beautiful city!
This kind of tours works exclusively for the tips I can receive from the attendees. At the end of the tour, it is up to you to decide how much the tour is worth.
Join me on my "Free walking tour of Aveiro city center" and you will be guided through this great city with a special guide who has traveled all over the world. This tour focuses on the city center and the old town and also shows you where everything you want to see is located. I will show you some amazing details only seen with a local venue and share many experiences. We will walk along the banks of the Aveiro canals and during the tour we will see the famous "Moliceiros" and "Mercantel", the typical local boats that were once used for the transport of salt and seaweed. You will fall madly in love with their shapes and decorations. Furthermore, we will discover old warehouses and Art Nouveau buildings with distinctive facades and cross several pedestrian passages such as the Carcavelos Bridge. Then we will see some of the most famous and historic buildings in the city. We will look at the facade of the Igreja da Misericórdia, which is characterized by the blue and white tiles that adorn it. In the same square as the temple is the Aveiro town hall and its municipal theater. We will meet "José Estevão", one of the most important guys in Aveiro. After an hour and a half of discovering Aveiro (always a little more..) we will end the free walking tour to return to the starting point so that you can explore the city on your own. There are many large traditional tiles near this large Catholic temple. And don't worry about the rest of your trip because I can give you some great tips for amazing food and many other amazing things to do in this city so you don't fall into the typical tourist traps. LIST OF LOCATIONS - Moliceiros boats, - Art Noveaux buildings - Coffee bars and cafes - Monument in honor of José Estevão - Old town, - Student night party - Fish market - Jose Estevão's birthplace - Fantastic places for services photos - Laço -Bridge - The historic Portuguese sidewalks - Love Bridge, - The typical fishermen's neighborhood - Church of Vera Cruz, - Palace of the former captain, - Town Hall - Homage to the Church of Misericordia - Statue in honor of José Estevão - View of the city - and much more! ...along with some hidden secrets..
Aveiro is essentially known for its colorful and traditional moliceiro boats. But there is much more to discover in this city where romanticism predominates. Lets start our route inside the old town - we used to have a wall surrounding this area and we will learn all about it. When possible, an amazing surprise awaits inside the old Carmelites convent. Be ready to be blown away. The churches in Aveiro present fantastic tile panels, which I will happilly show you, as long as they are open to the public.
Crossing the main canal to what used to be outside of the wall's limits, we will also learn about the most important architectural trend in the city: Art Nouveau. In the center of Aveiro we will find beautiful buildings and learn more about this style. Continuing our tour, we will see the famous moliceiro and mercantel boats and I will tell you all about their origin and for what task they were created for, initially.
Another highlight of Aveiro is its salt. This production dates back to the beginning of the 10th century and currently it is making its comeback, mainly due to tourism. We will not miss the old fishermen's quarter and its small colorful houses, passing by immense houses decorated by the beautiful and typical Portuguese tile.
Other considerations:
- the tour duration is approximately 2h, but in busier months it might take a bit longer;
- i will always reach out to you before the tour starts, via WhatsApp or private message on Guruwalk. Please make sure you have an internet connection so that you get important info;
- hat, water and sunscreen are highly advised, specially in summer months;
- there will be a stop mid-tour to go to a public restroom, when necessary;
- pets are (more than) welcome 🐶;
- families with baby strollers are more than welcome too;
- please ensure that you book the correct tour, as my tours are conducted exclusively in one language.
Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions and i will get back to you as soon as possible.
On this exciting two-hour tour I will take you through the most emblematic streets, squares and canals and we will review the history of the city, as well as its legends and traditions. Come with me to visit many of Aveiro's attractions, such as the Church of Misericordia, the Museum of Santa Joana, the Sé Cathedral and the Beira Mar neighborhood.
Discover with me one of the most beautiful cities in Europe!
Fall in love with Aveiro and discover it through the eyes of the inhabitants of Aveiro. In addition to the wonderful estuary with its moliceiros, you will also walk through some of the most emblematic places in the city without forgetting some anecdotes and curiosities that only Aveirenses know and that, thanks to this tour, you will have the opportunity to discover.
will you accompany me?
* The tour schedule may be modified according to the availability of the guides and weather conditions.
The tour will begin , at the obelisk of freedom , a tribute to the illustrious Aveirende José Estevão. In a relaxed and fun atmosphere, we will walk to the central canal , to understand why Aveiro is known as the Portuguese Venice , where we will admire the typical boats, the Molicieiros, with their curious designs, and the Mercanteis, both boats used in the activities of the region in the past, today totally linked to tourism.
We will discover the various designs of the sidewalk and their meanings , and we will visit the Municipal Chamber, the Santa Casa da Misericordia church , where we will appreciate its beautiful tiles and understand its meaning and importance. On the right street, we will visit the 2 oldest shops that sell soft eggs, the typical Aveiro sweet and where we will also see the tile murals on the right street and their meaning.
We will continue to the Aveiro forum , considered at the time the largest open-air shopping center in Europe, and we will also see the old captaincy , some buildings that represent the new artistic movement that characterizes the city. In one of the highlights of this tour, we will discover the second typical sweet of the region, the "tripa de Aveiro" and the bridge of the bonds of friendship, a colorful bridge full of feelings for the most romantic.
Back in the historic center , we will understand again why they call us the "venice of portugal", as we will see how the whole city was flooded in this historic center , also known as the "sides of the cagaréus", an old poor neighborhood part from the city.
We will visit the bohemian center of the city, where more than 15,000 students have fun and socialize with each other, in the area of bars and nightclubs, called fish square.
Then, we will visit the canal dos botirões where the most beautiful photo of Aveiro is taken , as well as in this tour, I will teach you how to take photos for social networks, namely instagram 🙂 .
The circular bridge will leave you dazzled, as it not only has a particular meaning, but its reflection in the water will leave room for more beautiful images of the city.
Finally, there will be the chapel of São Gonçalinho , patron saint of the coastal neighborhood, which gives rise to the funniest and "dangerous" party in the city. Tradition dictates that cavaca (rock-hard bread) is sent from the top of this chapel to those waiting below.
We will finish in the center of Praça do Peixe , the central place for student and bohemian parties, so you can go in any direction you want.
At all times I assure you that I have several surprises for you to make the most of your visit to Aveiro.
