If you started by reading our Ultimate Aveiro Travel Guide, you know that we’re not writing for a basic tourist experience in the city. If the first part was an in-depth guide about what to see and do in Aveiro, this second part is all about accommodation, typical foods, cafes, and nightlife.
All spots mentioned in this post are marked on the map below by the green pins
Everything is also marked on Maps.me. You can download the app for your smartphone.
Accommodation in Aveiro
Due to the international exposure that Aveiro has gained in the last couple of years, hostels and guesthouses have multiplied tenfold. Most options are located in the city center, around the Rossio area and Lourenço Peixinho avenue.
Still, and even without knowing how much you’re willing to spend on a room, we want to tip you off to the fact that most hotels and family-run housings in Aveiro are ridiculously overpriced. Sleeping in Aveiro is not exactly cheap when compared to other big Portuguese cities like Lisbon or Porto.
When Nuno and I travel we pick our accommodation based on price, proximity to the city center, and the reviews and comments on booking sites. Therefore, those were the criteria for our following selection:
Ponto de Abrigo: www.facebook.com/pontodeabrigo
Aveiro GuestHouse: www.facebook.com/aveiroguesthouse
What to Eat in Aveiro (typical food)
You can try many recognizable Portuguese flavors in restaurants across Aveiro. However, the secular connection its people have with the sea enriched the local cuisine with unique dishes.
Fish
There’s quality fresh fish everywhere in the city, but Maré Cheia is popular for knowing how to cook it well. Try the grilled fish, the fish stews, and the typical eels stew.
Dishes start at €16.
Closed on Wednesdays.
Meat
For traditional Portuguese meat dishes, we recommend 2 Duques (Closed on Sundays), Snack bar Picota, andEvaristo (Closed on Saturdays). They serve delicious homey food in generous portions, with prices starting at 7€.
At Cervejaria o Augusto in Rossio, try the bifana—an old-school Portuguese snack of fine pork steak in a loaf of bread.
On the outskirts of Aveiro, on Bairrada, the roasted suckling pig is one of the most appreciated dishes. It can be a pricey meal (that we suggest you eat only when you visit Bairrada) but to have an idea of what it tastes like, eat a sandes de leitão (piglet sandwich) for €4,50 at Tasquinha do Leitão, in Praça do Peixe.
Burger Joints
If you’re in the mood for a good burger, go to Revolta Hamburgueria, or to Porta 35 (a convenient option due to its location right in the Praça do Peixe).
Cafe Ramona serves the most famous burgers in town, but getting a table around here on Fridays and Saturdays can be tricky. Closes on Sundays.