15 best Instagram spots in Aveiro, Portugal

Looking for the best Instagram spots in Aveiro, Portugal? With its scenic canals, colorful houses, and charming streets, Aveiro is easily one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. Read on to discover the most Instagrammable places you should visit in the famous “Venice of Portugal”!

We spent a whole week in Aveiro, exploring every corner of the city (and beyond) to find the best photo-worthy spots. In this blog post, you’ll find all the top Instagram spots in Aveiro with photos, descriptions, and Google Maps locations. Happy exploring!

Read more » Venice of Portugal: 21 things to do in Aveiro, Portugal

1. One of the most famous Instagram spots in Aveiro: the candy-striped houses at Costa Nova!

These candy-striped houses are among the most famous Instagram spots in Aveiro—and even in Portugal. In fact, I initially wanted to visit Aveiro just to see these iconic houses, and only later did I decide to explore the city.

It turned out to have so many interesting places, by the way!

Costa Nova is Aveiro’s coastal village located just 10 kilometers from the city center. You can get there by taxi, by bus, or by car from Aveiro. We went by our rental car and parked right in front of these houses without any problems (location below).

These houses are actually called ‘palheiros’ and were originally built by local fishermen as warehouses to store their fishing gear. Later, these storage places were redesigned, and today, some have been converted into restaurants, while others remain residential properties.

Visiting these houses was one of my favorite things to do in Aveiro! They really look like a movie set for a cartoon or a scene from a fairy tale, haha! Just walk around and choose the best photo spots! They are the cutest houses you will ever see!

Location: Fishermen’s houses at Costa Nova – Parking at Costa Nova

2. The iconic Friendship Bridge with colorful ribbons

Costa Nova striped houses are not the only colorful place in Aveiro city. One of the most unique bridges in Aveiro is called the Friendship bridge or ‘Ponte do Laços de Amizade’ in Portuguese, and it definitely is even more colorful than the houses.

The most unique thing about this bridge that you will immediately notice is that it is covered by countless ribbons in different colors. These are friendship ribbons put there by friends and couples. They are a simpler alternative to the usual padlocks.

The bridge is located in the very heart of the city next to the Forum Aveiro shopping mall. The bridge is the perfect place for watching Barcos Moliceiros boats passing by the canal and under the bridge.

If you can catch one of the colorful gondolas when it fits inside the frame together with the Friendship bridge, you will catch one of the most iconic photos you can get in Aveiro. Luckily, those boats are cruising there quite often!

If you wish, you can tie a ribbon yourself! You can buy these ribbons in vibrant colors in many stores in the city – normally they hang them outside next to the windows so that you can see that they have them. You then have to write your names on it and tie it to the bridge.

Although this tradition started with one bridge, today there are already a couple of bridges decorated with these ribbons. If you visit Aveiro with your loved one or friends, then this cute tradition should be on your bucket list things to do in Aveiro for sure!

Location: Friendship Bridge in Aveiro

3. The photo-perfect ‘I love Aveiro’ stairs

One of the best Instagram spots in Aveiro is the ‘I Love Aveiro’ stairs. They are located just a short walk from the historic center, following a scenic path along one of the city’s canals (the one with the Friendship Bridge).

The bold, eye-catching phrase painted on the massive stairs is impossible to miss—everyone loves Aveiro! You’ll spot the artwork from afar due to its large size. While there’s not much else in the immediate area, it’s definitely worth visiting even for a quick photo.

Location: ‘I love Aveiro’ stairs

4. The iconic Aveiro gondolas – Barcos Moliceiros

Aveiro, Portugal, is often called the “Venice of Portugal” for one main reason—its network of canals winding through the city, where colorful boats known as Barcos Moliceiros glide along the water, much like the gondolas of Venice.

These Moliceiro boats were originally used for harvesting seaweed (moliço), but today, they primarily serve as a popular tourist attraction. The most common boat tour in Aveiro takes visitors along four urban canals: Canal Central, Canal da Pirâmides, Canal do Cojo, and Canal de São Roque.

The tour is very entertaining, with engaging guides who share fascinating stories about the city. Along the way, you’ll pass by stunning Art Nouveau buildings, salt marshes, and historic fish warehouses, while also gliding under several charming bridges.

Taking a photo next to the canal with the iconic gondola-like boats—or even inside one if you go on a tour—is a must! If you don’t have a photo of these colorful boats, have you really been to Aveiro?

Head to the central canal, preferably in the morning before the crowds arrive, and capture that iconic shot! And if your itinerary allowed it, go on that Moliceiro boat ride, too!

Location: Moliceiros Pier – Canal Central

5. The stunning Old Aveiro Railway Station

Inaugurated in 1856, Old Aveiro Railway Station is probably the most beautiful building in Aveiro and one of the most beautiful train stations in Portugal as well! This was, without a doubt, one of my favorite places to visit in Aveiro!

This snow-white building with traditional blue tile illustrations is a true hidden gem you must see during your trip to Aveiro. This building is very Portuguese and makes for some of the best Instagram spots in Aveiro.

It was built as one of the stops on the Lisbon-Porto railway line. The facade of the building is covered with 59 tile panels, so definitely walk around and check out all the different artworks on these tiles!

The illustrations include traditional activities, local landscapes, and representations of local figures. This was one of the best places to visit in Aveiro and one of my favorite places for sure!

Location: Old Aveiro Railway Station

6. Ponte dos Carcavelos – one of the oldest bridges in Aveiro

There are many bridges in Aveiro, but only a few are more special than others. One of those was the aforementioned Friendship Bridge, but there is one more special bridge that deserves to be mentioned amongst the best Instagram spots in Aveiro.

Ponte dos Carcavelos might be one of the many bridges in Aveiro, but this is definitely a special one. Built in 1953, it is one of the oldest bridges in Aveiro. And, honestly, it might as well be the most beautiful bridge in the city (in terms of architecture)!

Painted in a vibrant yellow with elegant white balusters, this bridge also features a striking green coat of arms of Aveiro, adorned with an eagle—the city’s symbol. It was built to replace a previous bridge that collapsed 11 years earlier.

Spanning the São Roque canal, the bridge is located slightly outside the heart of the Old Town, meaning it attracts fewer visitors. This makes it a perfect, lesser-known Instagram spot in Aveiro where you can capture stunning photos at any time of the day!

Location: Ponte dos Carcavelos

7. The Art Nouveau facades on the riverside

Aveiro is known for another iconic feature—the beautiful Art Nouveau architectural style. Many buildings throughout the city showcase this elegant design, and Aveiro is even part of the Réseau Art Nouveau Network, a group of European cities with a rich Art Nouveau heritage.

Aveiro experienced a big boom during the 19th and 20th centuries with the expansion of the transportation network and the opening of artificial canals in the city, which resulted in economic growth and an increase in population in later years.

In the 20th century, many of Aveiro’s beautiful Art Nouveau buildings were constructed by wealthy families who wanted to showcase their status.

You can see some prominent examples along the promenade that runs alongside the central canal. The whole canalside looks like an open-air museum!

However, there is an actual Art Nouveau Museum (Museu de Arte Nova) too located inside one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in Aveiro.

You can take beautiful photos by sitting at the riverside and choosing different angles with all the buildings behind you, or simply choose the most beautiful building and snap a photo there!

Location: Art Nouveau Museum

8. The statues of traditional figures on the bridge

Right next to the Friendship bridge, there is a big square – General Humberto Delgado Square. It also serves as a bridge over the central canal. Boats are sailing right under the bridge while cars are driving over the bridge.

The unique thing about this central square is that in each of its four corners, there is a bronze statue dedicated to traditional figures from the history of Aveiro. Their names (or rather – professions) are – A Salineira, O Marnoto, O Fogueteiro, and A Parceira do Ramo.

A Salineira is a woman whose job was transporting the salt in wicker baskets from the boat to the warehouses. O Marnoto was the man responsible for extracting artisanal salt using wooden tools. Which was a physically demanding job.

O Fogueteiro and A Parceira do Ramo come from entertainment traditions. O Fogueteiro was the one who launched fireworks during festive days in Aveiro, but A Parceira do Ramo wears traditional clothes on festive days and gives flowers to the new butlers.

These statues represent the history of Aveiro and the traditions locals had since ages ago. Choose your favorite statue for an Instagrammable shot! You can get some photos with the famous boats and the canal in the background – that would make the photo even more iconic!

Location: General Humberto Delgado Square

9. The iconic pink café – M Bakery Aveiro

M Bakery Aveiro is definitely one of the most Instagrammable places in Aveiro. Every detail including cakes, desserts, forks, spoons, chairs, and tables is well thought out. If you are a fan of pink, then this is the place to go!

We visited this café twice during our stay in Aveiro – for breakfast and for lunch. Both times food was great and I would go the third time if we stayed longer. There are tables inside and also outside. You can order food from the menu or buy pastries and cakes for takeaway.

There are many Instagrammable corners in this café. Probably the flower wall with ‘Enjoy life, eat cake’ letters could be the best spot, but you should see for yourself! Grab a coffee and a cake and explore around! Even if you don’t want a photo, the food is also worth a visit!

Location: M Bakery Aveiro

10. Colorful tile murals in the streets of Aveiro

Portugal and tile artworks is a match made in heaven. Their art never ceases to amaze me, and it is always worth taking a look at some of the best tile artwork examples you have around wherever you are in Portugal.

There were two places that I liked the most in the city – one of them was right in front of the city canal next to all the boats. There was a long wall of tile illustrations depicting moments from the daily lives of people who lived here, including salt production and fishing.

Another one of my favorites was the ceramic mural located next to Praça da República Square along Rua de Coimbra Street. The wall had lots of different colorful tiles with symbols. I did not investigate more closely what those were tho, but it looks great!

Location: Ceramic Mural – Riverside wall of tile illustrations

11. The historic salt fields at Salinas de Aveiro

Salt exploration in the Aveiro region dates back to the times when the city didn’t even exist yet. This tradition is the essence of Aveiro and has been a part of their daily lives since the very beginning.

If you can buy one souvenir from Aveiro, then local salt is definitely one of the best things to buy. However, if you have time, you can visit the salt flats and walk around the salt pans on your own. And don’t forget to snap a photo while there! Looks cool!

We did not walk around, but we did stop at the salt flats to take a look at this historic tradition and place. You can very well see the mountains of extracted salt and all the salt ponds reflecting the light in different shades.

Location: Salinas de Aveiro

12. Agueda – the City of Umbrellas

Agueda is a city in the Aveiro district just a 30-minute drive away from Aveiro. It is one of the hidden gems in Portugal and one of the best Instagram spots to visit in the Aveiro district if you time it right!

During the summer months, the streets in this city are turned into a carnival of umbrellas. I counted about five colorful streets covered with vibrant umbrellas or other decorations. Some walls of houses and shops also had umbrellas on them.

There were colorful benches, a decorative car on one of the streets, and various other vibrant decorations. Luckily, we visited this place at the end of August, when everything was in full swing. Águeda is the perfect destination to include in your Portugal road trip!

The best streets to go to see the umbrellas are Rua Luís Camões, Rua José Maria Veloso, Rua Jornal Soberania do Povo and Rua Vasco da Gama. I also saw colorful decorations on Rua São Bento Street.

Important! These decorations are part of the Umbrella Sky Project – an international initiative that takes place in many different cities around the world. In Agueda, this project can be seen from 1st July to 30th September when they take it down.

They also create a special Christmas project that you can visit during December when the umbrellas are decorated with Christmas lights. If you want to be sure before you go, I recommend contacting Umbrella Sky Project on Instagram.

Location: Umbrella Sky Project in Agueda

13. Portugal’s most colorful church: Igreja Matriz de Válega

Honestly, Igreja Matriz de Válega is not only the most colorful church I’ve seen in Portugal, but it is the most colorful church I have seen in the world. And I’ve seen a considerable number of churches while traveling around the world!

This unique church is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Portugal, and one of my favorite Instagram spots in Aveiro (or near Aveiro).

Both, exterior and interior of this church are covered with colorful tiles depicting different biblical illustrations. The best part? You can visit this absolute marvel for free!

The church is located in Válega, a small town in the Aveiro district, not really known to the regular traveler. It is only a short drive from Aveiro, making it a must-visit place when you’re visiting the town.

Do you think this church is a good reason to make a stop in this town? I definitely do.

While this church dates back a thousand years, the construction of Igreja Matriz de Válega, as we see it today, started in the middle of the 18th century and lasted for a hundred years.

However, the colorful tiles were added back in the middle of the 20th century. They cover the whole church, but the colorful part is on the main facade as well as inside it.

The church is freely accessible, and you can even visit the interior during its working hours. But even seeing it from the outside is a whole experience!

The sides of the church are covered with typical blue and white tiles. There is also a small cemetery right next to the church. See if it is open, you can quietly observe some beautiful architecture there as well!

Location: Igreja Matriz de Válega

14. Stunning blue-tile church: Igreja Paroquial de Cortegaça

Located in the village of Cortegaça in the Aveiro district, this stunning sight is one you will remember forever—the breathtaking Igreja Paroquial de Cortegaça. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful churches in Portugal.

The building we see today was completed in 1918, replacing a temple that dated back to the mid-12th century. With its intricate design and striking beauty, it is one of the most picturesque Instagram spots in the Aveiro district and a must-visit destination!

This striking church is located in a square at the end of an alley of palm trees. The incredible facade was covered with tiles between 1921 and 1923 and depicts religious figures. The church has two flanking towers topped with spires.

The pediment in the middle part is topped by three sculptures. I could only silently admire everything I saw here – it was magical. This church is definitely one of the most exquisite examples of Portuguese tile artworks, and you must see it!

Location: Igreja Paroquial de Cortegaça

15. The hidden gem in Aveiro: Palace Hotel of Buçaco

Located in an old, lush forest, the Buçaco National Forest, is a wonderful gem – the Buçaco Palace. While it looks like a palace, it actually is a former convent, and today it houses a luxury hotel.

However, in order to visit the palace, you don’t have to book a stay there – the property is accessible to the public for free, and we used this opportunity to explore this architectural marvel.

The forest and the beautiful palace are located just a 50-minute drive from Aveiro, so I highly recommend planning a visit to this special place in the Aveiro district. It is one of the most picture-perfect places near Aveiro!

This secret convent, along with the luxurious garden with countless species of trees, was built in the 17th century. Part of that convent, as well as a church, is still preserved beside the palace to this day, but much of it was rebuilt.

The Palace Hotel of Buçaco, as we see it today, was finished in 1907. The palace proudly boasts a Neo-Manueline architectural style (a style born in Portugal). It is definitely one of the most beautiful buildings in Portugal!

You can freely walk around the surroundings of the palace, the spectacular garden, and the forest with its 250 plant species. It is also possible to peek inside the palace, however, we did not have time to do that.

Adding to a long list of iconic staircases in Portugal, Buçaco National Forest also hosts a 19th-century stairway right by the Fonte Fria cold water fountain. By the way, this area also sources my favorite water brand in Portugal – Luso (Luso town is next to this forest).

I loved exploring this place! The ancient arboretum with its thick vegetation, pathways, stairs, and fountains only added to the beauty of the palace hotel. If you are in the area, definitely stop by this hidden place!

Location: Buçaco Palace – Fonte Fria fountain