Private tour Aveiro Coimbra from Porto

Aveiro is an unusual and remarkable town. Its economic growth has been driven by the surrounding salt pans and the shallow coastal lagoons. There is a lot of love for this prosperous town, known as the Venice of Portugal. It is a city that is an absolute pleasure to visit, with its youthful, energetic buzz and its narrow streets and typical colourful houses. But what makes it so fascinating is its uniqueness, characterised by its bold, Art Nouveau buildings, picturesque water canals and its pretty boats, all of which are now adapted for tourism. If you have not been already, Aveiro is certainly a place that should be visited during a longer stay in the Porto region.

Boat Trip in Ria de Aveiro : 1H
The thing you definitely have to do during a trip to Aveiro is take a trip on the colorful canal boats, otherwise known as “moliceiros”. A moliceiro trip through this quaint city will provide you with a unique viewpoint so you can admire the city from the water. The tour guides (all of whom speak English, French, Spanish & Portuguse) will teach you fun and interesting facts about the city’s sites and history. The moliceiro rides last 45 minutes, and will take you through the center, as well as to the outskirts of the city.
Extra costs: 10 € Per Person

Visit the Typical house of Aveiro and Salinas Here you have the opportunity to relax, having the sea as landscape, or to practice some kind of water sport. At ‘Praia da Barra’ you will find the oldest lighthouse of Portugal and at ‘Praia da Costa Nova’ you’ll have the opportunity to visit the typical houses with colored stripes. The exploitation of salt in the Aveiro region dates back to a time before the very existence of the Ria. The first written document about Aveiro salt is older than the founding of Portugal. The saltpans are part of a set of ditches, canals, ponds and evaporation ponds separated by dikes, embankments and pan walls colonized by the typical vegetation of the marshes.

Coimbra has a rich past and is home to one of the oldest Universities in the world, being also home to a lively community with its own art, tradition and culture. If we add that the city in a beautiful natural setting marked by the presence of the poetic Mondego River, you’ll know there is plenty to be visited and done around here. Don’t worry, we are happy to have you here and will be even happier to help you discover our city. Coimbra is the “City of Students”, the land of love, the World Heritage Site. It’s like a paradise, halfway between Porto and Lisbon. Discover now the best places and emblematic sites to visit in Coimbra, the ancient city!

Visit to University of Coimbra “World Heritage” and Library “The Most Spectacular in the World” This University is not only the oldest in Portugal as it is also the oldest in the world. Built in 1290, this same University started to work in Lisbon, but in 1308 was transferred to Coimbra, being only settled in the city in 1537. The University is highly connected to intellectuals devoted to all kinds of sciences, it’s part of the Portuguese culture and it’s also important in politics. If you study here, you’ll be recognised. Situated on the hill of the city, the University of Coimbra was the former Royal Palace in Portugal, where many important moments in the History of Portugal happened, including the birth and home of the first Kings of Portugal.

Old Convent of Sta Clara This fine Gothic church, where the remains of Inês de Castro rested before being transferred to Alcobaça, has been gradually reduced to ruins by the Mondego sands. Where sand was cleared the foundations of the cloister, nave and chancel were found. An interpretation centre charts the history of the building and how it was saved, as well as the daily life of the nuns of the Order of St Clare who lived within these walls from the 14C to 17C.

The Old Cathedral is one of the romantic style buildings most important of Portugal. The Sé Velha (Old Cathedral) in Coimbra was the first cathedral built in the town in the 12th century when Coimbra was the capital of Portugal. The Sé Nova (New Cathedral) was so designated in the 18th century. The Sé Velha was built in the Romanesque style when the Portuguese were still battling the Moors. The design thus resembles a fortress with its narrow windows and battlements. The church was designed by the French architect Master Robert and was completed between 1162-1184. It was financed by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.