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Aveiro – Portugal’s ‘Little Venice’

Lagoons & beaches of north-west Portugal
 
Enjoy traffic-free cycling close to the Costa de Prata, through a splendid natural habitat with abundant birdlife. Explore its fascinating maritime culture as you cycle self-guided, with luggage transported, by day, and relax in stylish, 4-star hotels by night.
Aveiro – Portugal’s ‘Little Venice’. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Aveiro – Portugal’s ‘Little Venice’. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A short cycling break in Aveiro

It’s hard to avoid being seduced by Aveiro. Not for nothing is it known as ‘Portugal’s Little Venice’ – its streets of painted Art Nouveau houses are intersected by canals and waterways plied by vibrantly coloured boats with high, curved prows – and it sits on a large, languid lagoon that is a haven for a wide variety of birds (‘Aveiro’ is derived from the Roman aviarium, meaning ‘place of birds’).
The Costa da Prata (Silver Coast), with its vast expanses of sand, is equally seductive. Its name has nothing to do with the precious metal, and everything to do with the way the sun shimmers on the Atlantic, making it look silver rather than blue.

Our easy-going break explores Aveiro, its lagoon and sections of the coast, featuring stylish, high-quality hotels and ample time to relax by the water.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

We have not provided elevation profiles for any of the routes on this holiday because it is largely on the flat.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 14 15 17 19 20 22 23 23 23 21 17 14
    mm 142 127 81 93 77 40 12 16 53 114 138 134
  • Arrival in Aveiro
    Night 1: at Hotel Moliceiro (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.

    Depending on the time of your arrival, you could perhaps take a boat ride on one of Aveiro's high-prowed moliceiros  before dinner. Suckling pig is worth seeking out among the many good restaurants here, as is the deliciously delicate egg-yolk-and-wafer confection, Ovos Moles de Aveiro.
  • Circular route from Aveiro: 43km
    Our suggested cycle ride starts by heading southwards to Ílhavó, with the chance to call in at Vista Alegre, whose stunning surroundings are as beautiful as its celebrated porcelain. It is also worth pausing at the Maritime Museum, where you can learn about the hardships endured aboard long-line cod-fishing boats. You then head west to meet a finger of Aveiro’s lagoon before continuing to the delightful town of Costa Nova, where you can admire the former fishermen’s houses – a riot of candy-striped red, blue and yellow – and relax by the beach before heading back inland to Aveiro.
    Cycle to Costa Nova
  • Aveiro to Furadouro: 40km
    The day begins with a short train ride (pay locally) to Salreu, from where you pedal along quiet roads, cycle ways and dirt tracks to reach the lagoon once more. Here you loop languidly along its edge, as an Arcadian tableau unfolds before you, dotted with flamingos, egrets and the occasional patient fisherman. Your destination is Praia do Furadouro, where you can admire the expansive golden-sand beach before checking into the Furadouro Boutique Hotel for your last two nights.
    Picturesque routes skirt the region's lagoons
  • Circular route from Furadouro: 47km; shorter option: 35km
    Your last cycle ride takes you north along the ‘Silver Coast’ and is a real highlight – offering fabulous sea views and the chance to visit Porto, picturesque capital of the Port-wine trade. Take your time to explore the iconic Port houses, perhaps even venturing inside one for a tour and tasting, before catching the train back to Furadouro. Be sure to stop off at the iconic, ocean-facing Capela do Senhor da Pedra (Chapel of the Lord of Stones) along the way – the chapel's long history of worship makes it an ideal spot to reflect on the subtle charms of this quietly evocative corner of Portugal.
    Follow dedicated cycling paths along the coast
 

Accommodation

You stay in two delightful hotels, one on a canal, the other by the sea.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 4 nights: 01 April 2024 - 31 July 2024 & 01 September 2024 - 31 October 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Apr 2024 £840 £303
    1 - 31 May 2024 £885 £325
    1 Jun - 27 Jul 2024 £930 £380
    1 Sep - 14 Oct 2024 £930 £380
    15 - 27 Oct 2024 £885 £325
    3rd & 4th person discount -£155
    Single traveller supplement £155

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: return travel from Porto (but you'll need to pay locally for a taxi from Aveiro railway station to the hotel; see 'connecting travel' for more details)

    Electric bikes available: add £110pp

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Furadouro Boutique Hotel Beach & Spa, Furadouro
    Deluxe with ocean view: 01 Apr - 31 Jul 2024 £18
    Deluxe with ocean view: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £18

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £44pp per day.
    Hotel Moliceiro, Aveiro (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 May 2024 £103 £162
    01 Jun - 31 Jul 2024 £117 £185
    01 Sep - 15 Oct 2024 £117 £185
    16 Oct - 31 Oct 2024 £103 £162
    Furadouro Boutique Hotel Beach & Spa, Furadouro (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 05 Apr 2024 £121 £205
    06 Apr - 10 Apr 2024 £141 £249
    11 Apr - 14 Jun 2024 £121 £205
    15 Jun - 31 Jul 2024 £141 £249
    01 Sep - 15 Sep 2024 £141 £249
    16 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £121 £205
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Porto
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Porto or Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Porto (via Paris CDG) Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Lisbon easyJet 
    Birmingham - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Lisbon easyJet 
    Bristol - Porto easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Porto Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Glasgow - Porto easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Leeds Bradford - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Lisbon easyJet 
    Liverpool - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Lisbon TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Lisbon Air Europa,  Azores Airlines (SATA),  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Gatwick - Porto British Airways,  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Gatwick - Porto (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Lisbon Azores Airlines (SATA),  British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Heathrow - Porto British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Heathrow - Porto (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Lisbon easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Luton - Porto easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Stansted - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Manchester - Lisbon (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Porto easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Manchester - Porto (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Manchester - Porto (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Porto (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Paris CDG) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Norwich - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Porto or Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Porto

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Porto airport to hotel (1h) £72 flexible
    rail Porto Campanha to Aveiro (0h30), taxi Aveiro to hotel (0h10, pay locally) some elements included 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Porto airport (0h45) included flexible
What is included
  • 4 nights
  • 4 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • rail travel from Porto to Aveiro
  • taxi from last hotel to Porto airport
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 11 reviews
  • Mrs C Kent
    Trowbridge
    20 September 2023

    We enjoyed it all and loved the freedom of cycling along the very good cyclepaths and boardwalks. The views of the lagoon and then the sea were wonderful. 

    I'm an occasional cyclist so I was very glad I had an electric bike which meant I could keep up with my husband, who cycles a lot.

    My padded shorts helped for comfort as well!

     

  • Mrs P Woodruff
    London
    26 June 2023

    HIGHLIGHTS: Seeing storks and flamingoes in their natural habitat, the Vista Alegre pottery was excellent, the stripy houses in Costa Nova, the fishermen in the lagoon, the pine forest and the beaches in Esmoriz. 

  • Mrs C Coughlin
    Dorking
    08 October 2022

    This was our first time we had done a self guided cycling holiday, company having been recommended. The bikes, directions and transfers and hotels were all really good. Personal highlights were the board walks along the Atlantic coast and cycling the headland into Porto. Really enjoyed the holiday and thinking of a longer trip next time. 

  • Joseph, Dublin
    09 September 2022

    This is a nice, not too strenuous, cycling trip. I would suggest avoiding extra time in Furadouro as there is little to do and limited dining options.

  • Anon
    03 September 2022

    We had a great time in Aveiro, exploring the canals and the Art Nouveau buildings.  It was well worth having an extra day there.  

    We were disappointed with the town of Furadouro.  The recommended restaurants were closed for the holidays. However, we did find an excellent restaurant on the beach, almost opposite the hotel.  The Bamboo Bar was open for both lunch and dinner.

    The train service is good and we went to Porto on the suburban service one day.

  • Joss
    12 July 2022

    This is our fifth holiday with Inntravel and once again we were not disappointed. Inntravel always find the good hotels to stay after a day in the saddle. Definitely recommend getting the deluxe rooms with ocean view at the Furadouro Hotel as the rooms facing onto the back did look rather rundown and awful views from the windows.

    Great restaurants in both areas and we always use Inntravel's recommendations.

  • Mr D Owen
    Carnforth
    10 July 2022

    With regards to accuracy, it's arguably not your fault that the Furadouro Boutique Hotel is described as "boutique" because that's how they escribe themselves. This is inaccurate as a boutique hotel should be very individual and probably a lttle quirky. The Furadouro is a very good modern hotel but definitely does not fit the description of boutique.

    Im a lifelong cyclist with a very good level of mechanical ability so no problem for us but there wasn't anyone to run through the operation of the E-bike at the hotel. No one volunteered to do it. That didn't cause any problem for us but someone new to E-bikes in particular might have been a bit phased by it to start with.

     

     

    Inntravel
    response

    The bikes are delivered on the evening of arrival, making a personal handover feasible in the majority of cases, but we are in discussion with our cycle hire provider regarding instructions for e-bikes should a personal handover not be possible.

  • Mrs V Watts
    Worthing
    16 June 2022

    Portugal is very cycle friendly with lovely cycle paths, courteous drivers when we were on the roads and friendly helpful staff on the trains, especially as we were a group of 10! Loved the different coastal scenes and especially the Porto add on. We have used Inntravel on a number of occasions and always find the holidays well planned, good choice of accommodation and excellent value for money. Looking forward to the next trip.

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE:  Customers added on a 2-night stay at Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto in Porto after their cycling trip.

  • Sue & Sally
    06 June 2022

    We loved Aveiro & would recommend an additional day there as so much to see & do.
    All restaurant recommendations were spot on & being a fish lover, all meals were wonderful.

    We treated ourselves to a wonderful massage at Furadouro Boutique Hotel, excellent value & fantastic after all that cycling.

  • Anon
    28 May 2022

    We have tried a number of Inntravel walking and cycling holidays and all have been excellent. We really like your formula. This holiday is one of our favourites as the cycling is easy with lots to see and do along the route and the two nights in Porto added on were very special.

  • Rory and Vanda Duff, Stirling, Scotland
    19 May 2022

    The highlight of the 3 days was cycling alongside the Douro, then along the Atlantic coast and through the forest back to Furadouro.  We stopped for lunch in a lovely beachfront restaurant the highlight of our lunch stops. Another highlight was our visit to the Vista Alegre Porcelain factory on Day 1. Aveiro is a very pretty place to stay. The cycle paths were excellent and we always felt very safe.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a bike with 21 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; pannier/saddlebag; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our cycling holidays in Europe page.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Euro. Portuguese time is the same as GMT/UTC. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on the same time as BST.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
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