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Aveiro, Cycle the 'Silver Coast'

North-west Portugal’s timeless Atlantic hinterland
 
Natural beauty | Discover abundant birdlife and serene landscapes.
Picturesque routes | Self-guided trails through tranquil lagoons and along coastline.
Maritime heritage | Explore the region’s fascinating seafaring culture.
Comfortable stays | Stylish beach-front hotels await.
Celebrated cuisine | Local dishes packed with traditional flavours.
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 1 dinner
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Aveiro, Cycle the 'Silver Coast'
    North-west Portugal’s timeless Atlantic hinterland
  • Capela do Senhor da Pedra
  • Colourful Costa Nova
  • Fishing boats on the Aveiro lagoon
  • Wooden cycle path
  • Local fishermen
  • Cycling beside the lagoons
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 1 dinner
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in Aveiro

You might not have heard of the Aveiro region of northern Portugal, but therein lies much of its charm.
Lying quietly between the cities of Coimbra and Porto, it has a proud maritime heritage, and a landscape – characterised by shallow lagoons, salt flats, lakes and traffic-free cycleways – that is a joy to discover on two wheels. Even the name  (from the Roman aviarium  – 'place of birds’) hints at the bird-spotting opportunities on offer, and the legacy of a nautical past – from seaweed harvesting in colourful wooden boats, to candy-striped former fishermen’s homes and tales of salt-cod-seeking derring-do across the Atlantic – makes this a compelling area to visit.

 

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 Praia de Mira
    Night 1: at Maçarico Beach Hotel (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.
  • Circular route from Praia de Mira: 21km
    After collecting your bikes, enjoy a warm-up circuit. You head inland along dedicated cycle ways via peaceful lakes which are home to a variety of species of bird (don’t forget to bring your binoculars!). You can then call in at the town of Mira for a spot of lunch before looping back to your hotel, perhaps to relax in the rooftop pool and take in some fine sea views before heading out for dinner.
    Circular route from Praia de Mira
  • Praia de Mira to Costa Nova: 22km
    Today you head north, perhaps diverting to the fabulous white-sand beach at Areão, then cycle alongside a narrow finger of the lagoon to reach Costa Nova and its eponymous hotel, for an overnight stay. Depending on what time you arrive, you could explore the renowned fish market facing the lagoon, or head to one of the fine beaches nearby.
  • Costa Nova to Aveiro: 26km
    Leaving Costa Nova, you make a short detour to visit the lighthouse at Barra – tallest in the whole of Portugal! – before meandering via another finger of the lagoon to Ílhavó, calling 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 continue to the Hotel Moliceiro in Aveiro itself, known as ‘Portugal’s Little Venice’ for its network of canals and small bridges. You could perhaps take a tour on one of the high-prowed moliceiros  boats 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.
    Barra lighthouse, on the route from Costa Nova to Aveiro
  • 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.
    Cycle from Aveiro to Furadouro
  • 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.
    Capela do Senhor da Pedra
 

Accommodation

Your four hotels are all located close to water, be it the sea, a lagoon or a canal.
 

Options to extend or shorten 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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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2025 - 31 July 2025, 01 September 2025 - 31 October 2025, 01 April 2026 - 31 July 2026 & 01 September 2026 - 31 October 2026

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Apr - 21 May 2025 £1035 £360
    22 May - 9 Jun 2025 £1069 £360
    10 Jun - 25 Jul 2025 £1139 £415
    1 - 11 Sep 2025 £1199 £425
    12 - 30 Sep 2025 £1159 £390
    1 - 25 Oct 2025 £999 £360
    1 Apr - 21 May 2026 £1095 £380
    22 May - 9 Jun 2026 £1185 £380
    10 Jun - 25 Jul 2026 £1255 £440
    1 - 11 Sep 2026 £1315 £450
    12 - 30 Sep 2026 £1280 £410
    1 - 25 Oct 2026 £1135 £380
    3rd & 4th person discount -£73 to -£75
    Single traveller supplement £73 to £75

    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.

    Electric bikes available: add £230pp in 2025 and £243pp in 2026

    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 2025 £19
    Deluxe with ocean view: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £19
    Deluxe with ocean view: 01 Apr - 31 Jul 2026 £20
    Deluxe with ocean view: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2026 £20

    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 2025 £101 £162
    01 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £114 £185
    01 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £114 £185
    16 Oct - 31 Oct 2025 £101 £162
    01 Apr - 31 May 2026 £107 £171
    01 Jun - 31 Jul 2026 £120 £195
    01 Sep - 15 Oct 2026 £120 £195
    16 Oct - 31 Oct 2026 £107 £171
    Furadouro Boutique Hotel Beach & Spa, Furadouro (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 05 Apr 2025 £119 £206
    06 Apr - 10 Apr 2025 £140 £252
    11 Apr - 14 Jun 2025 £119 £206
    15 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £140 £252
    01 Sep - 15 Sep 2025 £140 £252
    16 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £119 £206
    01 Apr - 05 Apr 2026 £126 £218
    06 Apr - 10 Apr 2026 £148 £266
    11 Apr - 14 Jun 2026 £126 £218
    15 Jun - 31 Jul 2026 £148 £266
    01 Sep - 15 Sep 2026 £148 £266
    16 Sep - 31 Oct 2026 £126 £218
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Porto
    ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT(S):
    Lisbon
    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 Lisbon

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Lisbon Oriente to Aveiro (2h), taxi station to hotel (0h30) £79-£82 1730
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to station (1h), rail Aveiro to Lisbon Oriente (2h) £79-£82 1230

    Connecting travel options - flying via Porto

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Porto airport to hotel (1h20) £117-£122 flexible
    rail Porto Campanha to Aveiro (0h30), taxi station to hotel (0h30) £64-£67 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Porto airport (0h45) £101-£105 flexible
    taxi hotel to Ovar station (0h15 + 0h15 to buy tickets), rail Ovar to Porto Campanha (0h40, pay locally) £15-£16 1100
 
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 13 reviews
  • CR
    07 October 2023

    We enjoyed time on all 3 beaches once we had arrived in the afternoons. The lagoon cycling was just beautiful, plenty of flamingos. My highlight was crossing the long bridges over the water whilst safe in a cycle lane. Some of the long road stretches were intimidating and I would have gladly cycled further to have a more rural or coastal route. 

  • Christine
    14 September 2023

    This route is an easy coastal scenic route. It's mainly by the sea behind the dunes and along the lagoons. It includes only a few sections on roads.

  • Mrs M Derlacki
    Sandhurst
    02 September 2023

    Beautiful, mainly traffic free routes. Welcoming hotels to return to each night. Good recommendations for stops and restaurants.

  • Mrs G Davies
    Chester
    22 June 2023

    Quiet roads, beautiful beaches, lovely fish restaurants.

  • Mr D Lewis
    London
    05 June 2023

    There were loads of highlights. Cycling in the forests, around lagoons and alongside the sea (especially on wooden slats) was absolutely delightful. We stayed extra days and devised our own routes to complement yours. We did the complete ride from Furadouro to Porto. At the end the ascent to General Torres Station was lengthy and vertical. We had to wheel the bikes and wished we had electric power for that stretch.

    All our main meals were at local restaurants. It was possible to eat meat but the meals were mainly fish, fish, or fish. Lots of variety, large portions and cheaper than UK. We did not have a bad meal.

  • Mrs H Craig
    Sudbury
    01 June 2023

    This was our 10th cycling holiday with Inntravel, so we sallied forth with confidence.  Once again, Inntravel didn't let us down.  We explored the Northern region of Portugal with ease, taking in different landscapes of marshland, pine forests and white, wind-swept beaches, mostly using safe cycle paths and boardwalks. We marvelled at the wildlife with a variety of birds, especially the storks perched on telegraph poles and some particularly verdant green, noisy frogs, found whilst watching the river flow by on a quaint wooden-covered bridge.  Our binoculars were a great help. Each night we re-fuelled with sumptuous sea-food.  What's not to like!

  • Dr S Harvey
    Kent
    25 May 2023

    Beautiful lagoons and stunning fish and seafood. We also loved the wild flowers and storks

  • Mr J Campbell
    Southampton
    21 September 2022

    Another wonderful trip from Inntravel with lots of peaceful off-road cycling, varied scenery and great food and drink. We opted to do the “Waterways of the Minho” tour followed by “Aveiro – Lagoons and the ‘Silver Coast’”, which worked well and provided interesting contrasts between the two regions. The routes on both tours were almost entirely flat, but the off-road sections with boardwalks, footpaths and occasional tree roots were sometimes a test of low-speed bike handling, especially with the 29”-wheel mountain bikes provided! We really liked Arcos de Valdevez and Viana do Castelo on the first tour and Costa Nova and Furadouro on the second. Staying at Quinta da Agra in the beautiful countryside near Ponte de Lima was the accommodation highlight.

  • Anon
    21 September 2022

    The hotels were very good. The cycle paths were excellent. The countryside was beautiful.

    It is breezy because the routes are near the sea ie Atlantic ocean

  • Anon
    20 September 2022

    we enjoyed it all despite issues with electric bike.  we were blessed with the weather bar the last day cycle ride to Furodoura when half way along the lagoon we were hit with gale force winds head on for the rest of the ride.  A day i actually used the electric motor for more than a brief minute, if going late September be prepared for the wind Despite the wind this was a fantastic ride very scenic and to see Flamingoes out on the lagoon pretty special.    each place was different and we loved all,the bike paths were varied and most off the road,  getting out and seeing the countryside and towns in our own pace with plenty of time to get from hotel to hotel even for a less experienced cyclist.  Allows you time to talk to locals.  
    The country is so clean no litter anywhere.

  • Anon
    14 September 2022

    Packed lunch on a lagoon dock watching Stork, crane, flamingo and egrets with fishing boats in distance was magical.

    Top tip for novice cyclists who don't want padded cycle shorts are the memory gel saddle covers from decathlon.

  • Mr B Linford
    Saffron Walden
    13 September 2022

    Flamingos!  Cheap metro/rail fares.  Friendly locals.  Empty white sand beaches beyond resorts.  Vibrant atmosphere on both banks of Douro in Porto.

    Friday night noisy in Aveiro (we had rear hotel room, not far from the noisy fishmarket party area), and your recommended restaurants excellent, but busy, and bookings could be advised at weekends.  Boardwalks north of Furadouro popular with walkers on Sunday, so we would have been better avoiding weekends at these busier locations.

  • Ms L Hanson
    London
    28 July 2022

    We visited Porto for two days as an add-on - definitely do it. The last day cycling into Porto was great. Flamingos in lagoon was an amazing site. 
 

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.
Price from
£999pp | 6 nights
Aveiro, Cycle the 'Silver Coast'. 6 nights
Price from
£999pp
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