Ria de Aveiro
Ria de Aveiro
4.5
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Best nearby
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368 within 3 miles
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90 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
2,128 reviews
Excellent
1,038
Very good
769
Average
232
Poor
52
Terrible
37
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RobertJE
London, UK532 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
There are some very nice Art Neuveau buildings along the Rio and the canal in the central area is nice. However, Aveiro is not the picturesque little town I'd imagined it would be - it's actually quite grim in places. The boats look nice enough and the larger ones go not just up the canal to the turnaround by the old porcelain factory but out to the old fisherman's quarter (which looked quite shabby). 45 minutes though is more than enough and I would happily have got off after 25 minutes when heading past our initial starting point. Fares are now up to €13 per person and whilst the guides and driver have to be paid and the boats kept in shape it is in my view far too expensive for what is on offer. Maybe it is much better in the warm summer sunshine than on a cool, breezy February day.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alohatripper
Honolulu, HI1,746 contributions
May 2022
When I went for the free breakfast at Hotel das Salinas in Aveiro, I noticed a "Rube Goldberg" orange juicer. Shaped like a Ferris wheel, whole oranges were fed from a hopper into a circular wheel with holding spots. I've never seen such a machine.
In front of the hotel is the canal with several vendors offering short cruises. We hired one at 10E pp (senior's price) with operators Antonio and buxom Febriana. Ours was the first outing of the day.
They tried their best to make the 30 min cruise interesting, but this attraction is nowhere close to the Venice experience. They encouraged us to tip. We did especially for the enthusiastic commentary.
In front of the hotel is the canal with several vendors offering short cruises. We hired one at 10E pp (senior's price) with operators Antonio and buxom Febriana. Ours was the first outing of the day.
They tried their best to make the 30 min cruise interesting, but this attraction is nowhere close to the Venice experience. They encouraged us to tip. We did especially for the enthusiastic commentary.
Written June 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurgen V
Dendermonde, Belgium100 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
A boat ride on a motorized gondola on the Ria de Aveiro cost 15 euros per person. It takes about 40 minutes and a Guide occasionally gives some explanations (the Guide also spoke some English and French) or plays a Portuguese folk song. Only a few historic buildings can be seen during the cruise. You sail under a number of bridges that are colorfully decorated so you still get a bit of a 'Venetian' feeling. There are a lot of gondolas on the canal and therefore it can also be busy in some places (transit). Is it an unforgettable experience? Not that but regret that I spent money on this is not there either. It is a nice change between the other visits.
Automatically translated
Written August 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatriz M
Düsseldorf, Germany5,677 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We enjoyed the boat trip even though some family members said it was cringe but if you are in Aveiro, what else are you going to do? It is a must. It lasts around 45 minutes and you get to hear some interesting information about the city so why not. We paid 13 euro per person.
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joao T
Montijo, Portugal119 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
13€ a person + 6€ per child
45’ ride
Several options but they do the same price.
Different view from “Veneza/Amsterdam” from Portugal and a little explanation about Aveiro.
Will also be able to see how clean it’s the water and know why.
Have fun!
45’ ride
Several options but they do the same price.
Different view from “Veneza/Amsterdam” from Portugal and a little explanation about Aveiro.
Will also be able to see how clean it’s the water and know why.
Have fun!
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
STvl16
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
You can really skip this place in your road trip because you won't miss anything. We did a boat trip and the guide and mate were super sweet, but that boat trip was really about nothing. It is not even possible to sail a circle, so you sail into a canal 3 times and always have to turn around at the end and sail back again. They manage to stretch this to 40 minutes. Because the guide had nothing more to say in the last 10 minutes, he started singing a well-known Portuguese song and we had to clap along. This was it. We thought this was the least enjoyable place we visited during our 17-day road trip in Portugal.
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rschagrin
Delray Beach, FL15,575 contributions
Nov 2022
The Ria de Aveira runs right thru the middle of Aviera. There are several interesting bridges on the river.
We really enjoyed the canal cruise in a Traditional Moliceiro Boat. Each boat has a naught painting on it's bow .
The cruise lasts about 1 hour going from the end of the river to almost the Atlantic Ocean. There is a narrative tape in several languages explaining the sites and history.
We really enjoyed the canal cruise in a Traditional Moliceiro Boat. Each boat has a naught painting on it's bow .
The cruise lasts about 1 hour going from the end of the river to almost the Atlantic Ocean. There is a narrative tape in several languages explaining the sites and history.
Written November 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,004 contributions
Jun 2022
Aveiro is a cute and charming town and that's it. It's enough to spend 3-4 hours here, half day max, ride the gondola if you like, walk the historic center,... .
It has its canals and colorful gondolas, which are nice in design.
By no means it's the Venice of Portugal - canals are much wider, architecture incomparable, gondolas motor powered,...etc.
I really hate that tourism platitude Venice of east, of north, Little Venice,....etc for every city that has canals or lies on water.
It has its canals and colorful gondolas, which are nice in design.
By no means it's the Venice of Portugal - canals are much wider, architecture incomparable, gondolas motor powered,...etc.
I really hate that tourism platitude Venice of east, of north, Little Venice,....etc for every city that has canals or lies on water.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JuKa63
Clermont-Ferrand, France2,610 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
The moliceiro ride on the ria has the merit of being folkloric and the boat is pretty. Otherwise the route followed is of no tourist interest, nor are the comments of the "guide" and his lack of enthusiasm almost makes you doze off. Expensive for what it is. And yes, the comparison with Venice stops at being able to say that it is a city with canals.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
suntan47
Chelmsford, UK1,043 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Came with a group from our cruise ship, we visited on a cloudy, chilly & damp Wednesday afternoon. Apparently the “ season “ hadn’t really stared so many of the shops , cafes & restaurants were closed.
Sadly our guide wasn’t great either . Not organised & very vague as to bathroom locations , coffee shops etc
Our Gondola ride was ok , with the “ captain “ telling funny stories and pointing out items of interest, not that there were many .
We had an hours drive to get here & almost two to return to our ship due to traffic & roadworks .
I am sure on a hot sunny day in the middle of the season with lots of people it would have been fun .
Our visit wasn’t.
Sadly our guide wasn’t great either . Not organised & very vague as to bathroom locations , coffee shops etc
Our Gondola ride was ok , with the “ captain “ telling funny stories and pointing out items of interest, not that there were many .
We had an hours drive to get here & almost two to return to our ship due to traffic & roadworks .
I am sure on a hot sunny day in the middle of the season with lots of people it would have been fun .
Our visit wasn’t.
Written June 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a dog friendly restaurant in town ? Is there a dog friendly hotel in town ?
This place seems a rather short sight city when it come to accommodate our best friends - terrible ! Learn and analyse- you can make money out of people who are prepared to pay for their pets ! I am and I have been for many years
Written July 23, 2019
is there a football stadium in aveiro? if so....is it touristeable?
Written February 25, 2019
There’s a cool looking stadium you can see as you drive into Aveiro from Porto, close to the highway. We just saw it from a distance. Looks big; interesting architecture. No clue about access or tours of the building
Written September 26, 2019
i will go with my parent to aveiro in july, but i am worried as i am a wheelchair user....i travel a lot, went to venice in 2018 and was ok, except for the many stairs at the enrtannce, but after that once we found plain road and the vaporetto.....what can i expect in aveiro? thank for the answers
Written February 21, 2019
Aveiro presents fewer challenges than Venice. The sidewalks are standard size and the canals aren’t nearly as omnipresent and there are nearby beaches to enjoy.
Written February 22, 2019
Hi, we would like to stop at Aveiro for a few hours on our way to Lisbon from Porto. Does anybody have advices where we can park the car (walking distance to the boats)? Price would be nice too. Thank you!!!
Written September 9, 2018
you can park the car in the parking lot of the shopping center and to take the boat along the dock and compare prices you will be spoiled for choice but you will see many walking around
look especially at the boats' prows they are superbly decorated
Written September 27, 2018
Hi, we would like to stop at Aveiro for a few hours on our way to Lisbon from Porto. Does anybody have advices where we can park the car (walking distance to the boats)? Price would be nice too. Thank you!!!
Written September 9, 2018
Bonjour
Parking gratuit le long du canal
Longeant autoroute.le centre-ville est à 10mn à pied
Written September 11, 2018
Obrigado a todos. Saiu a €10 por pessoa. Passeio de barco apenas. São 45 minutos. Valeu muito a pena, melhor do que gastar uma fortuna para dar uma volta no quarteirão Veneza.
Written September 2, 2018
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