Aveiro and Costa Nova Private Tour with Moliceiro Cruise
From€151
4 hours
Porto, Portugal
About this activity
Experience the charm of Aveiro and Costa Nova on a private half-day tour, featuring a traditional Moliceiro boat cruise and guided exploration of these picturesque coastal towns.
Highlights
- Explore Aveiro's picturesque canals
- Cruise on a traditional Moliceiro boat
- Discover Costa Nova's colorful beach houses
- Visit the historic Aveiro Cathedral
- Enjoy personalized insights from a local guide
Full description
Discover the enchanting coastal towns of Aveiro and Costa Nova on this private half-day tour from Porto. Begin with a guided exploration of Aveiro, often referred to as the 'Venice of Portugal,' where you'll navigate its picturesque canals aboard a traditional Moliceiro boat. Admire the unique Art Nouveau architecture and vibrant facades that line the waterways. Then, visit Costa Nova, renowned for its iconic striped beach houses and stunning ocean views. This personalized tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, all tailored to your interests. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Porto are included for your convenience.
Included / Excluded
- Private guided tour of Aveiro and Costa Nova
- Moliceiro boat cruise through Aveiro's canals
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Porto
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
1
Pass by: Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel/accommodation or meeting point and will drive you to Aveiro and Costa Nova. On your way to Aveiro, the guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
The first stop is Costa Nova do Prado beach, famous only by the name Costa Nova. The most picturesque aspect of Costa Nova is its coast road along which a line of wooden huts is painted in brightly coloured stripes alternating with white. Built by fishermen as shelters and equipment stores, the huts have now been converted into rather characteristic holiday homes.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3
Cruise Aveiro's dazzling canals on a classic Moliceiro (traditional boat) Relax and enjoy the landscape on this traditional boat, that once was used to collect seagrass in the lagoon.
Duration: 45 minAdmission: YES
4
The capital of the Ria, a vast lagoon where the freshwater of the River Vouga joins with the sea, Aveiro is intersected by canals, genuine streets of water, along which can be seen gliding the brightly coloured boats known as barcos moliceiros. Originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Aveiro is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast. Discover the history of this beautiful city and tasty the traditional pastry, "Ovos Moles".
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is private and can be customized to your preferences.
- Availability may vary; it's recommended to book in advance.
- The Moliceiro boat cruise is subject to weather conditions and may be rescheduled if necessary.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for coastal terrain.
- Bring a camera to capture the scenic beauty of Aveiro and Costa Nova.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly for the boat cruise.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- We pick up from any hotel in Porto or Gaia city center. In alternative, we can collect you from the Tourist Service/Living Tours located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 350, Porto - next to Porto - São Bento train station.
- Activity duration may vary due to traffic; avoid scheduling other plans immediately afterward.
- Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto
- Itinerary might be amended in case of need
Traveler reviews
4.8104 reviews
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Lots to see and little walking
If you want a tour where you’ll see a lot of stuff in a short amount of time, this is the tour for you. We paired it with a walking tour of Porto in the morning. This tour will take you briefly to a little beach town with striped colorful houses (Costa Nova) and then to a small and cute city (Aveiro) about an hour south of Porto. We got to try raivas (small biscuits that are sweet and salty) and ovos molhos (soft eggs is the translation, which is a sweet like the famous egg custard tart. Bruno Camposi was a really nice tour guide. He even ran to grab a jacket someone forgot on the boat tour in Aveiro. Rui was a good driver and kind.
christinaf628May 4, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Aveiro and beyond
Fred was our guide and very informative and engaging. He picked us up at the hotel and drove us to Aveiro. Fun time!
Nancy_CApr 27, 2026VIATOR
Meh
Christian and Rui were excellent guide/driver. Very informative and smooth drive. Aveiro boat ride was a disappointment. Not much to see. Aveiro is a quaint town. I would recommend taking the train from Porto and exploring Aveiro on your own.
marycM8090PZApr 16, 2026TRIPADVISOR
A grand day out in Aveiro
A lovely day out visiting Costa Nova, Aveiro and two other sites. The guide gave us plenty of time to explore each site.
PershoreRamblerApr 16, 2026TRIPADVISOR
The trip to the two cities was great.
Mario Pinto was great! He provided many historical facts.
Nora HApr 9, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
Children must be accompanied by an adult
We pick up from any hotel in Porto or Gaia city center. In alternative, we can collect you from the Tourist Service/Living Tours located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 350, Porto - next to Porto - São Bento train station.
Activity duration may vary due to traffic; avoid scheduling other plans immediately afterward.
Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto
Itinerary might be amended in case of need