A Moliceiro Ride Through the Canals in Aveiro, Portugal

One of the many activities we were looking forward to in Portugal was a Moliceiro Ride through the canals of Aveiro. This is actually what brought us to Aveiro on our May 2024 trip. A Moliceiro is a traditional colorfully painted boat which transports people through the canals of Aveiro. It is a flat bottomed boat with a tapered hull. Its design allows it to maneuver with ease through the shallow canals. The boats all have different designs and scenes painted on them, some of the scenes are abit races but I guess they have tamed them down over the years. Some call Aveiro Little Venice or the Venice of Portugal. I have never been to Venice so I do not have a comparison.

Aveiro, Portugal

We arrived in Aveiro in the evening, coming from Odibos where we had enjoyed exploring the fortified town. After a bite to eat we roamed around a bit. We then retired to bed early as our long overnight flight was taking a toll.

Moliceiro Ride

After a delicious first breakfast in Portugal we walked to the canal and hopped on one of the Aveiro moliceiro boats. We were ready to cruise through the canals. Riding on the moliceiro was even more fun than we thought it would be. We rode with the company Aveiro Moments and they were fantastic. Our guide was informative and also a lot of fun. I highly recommend this group. Check out their website here at Aveiro Moments. Our ride was about 45 minutes at just the right speed. A moliceiro boat is great way to see Aveiro. If you prefer booking through Viator, you can click here to view their Moliceiro Ride.

Some of the walking bridges over the canal are covered with colorful ribbons. People write names of their loved ones on the ribbons and attach it to the bridges signifying their bond.

Wandering Through Aveiro

If you follow us, you know by now that we like to wander through whichever town or city we are in. Aveiro was no different. Aveiro is a really nice, clean town and we definitely should have allotted more time here as we could have spent all day roaming the streets. I absolutely love all of the tiled fronts on the buildings and also the tiles on the streets.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Aveiro Palace Hotel and were quite pleased with it. Situated along the main canal, this location was perfect for us as it was in the area we planned on exploring. We stayed in the Junior Suite with Balcony Room. Our room was a two room suite with floor to ceiling windows along two walls with French door exits to the balcony from both rooms. Maybe a bit dated but very comfortable. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Breakfast in the morning was delicious with plenty of choices. The cheerfully designed breakfast dining area included many traditional Portuguese tiles. It was our first taste of Portuguese orange juice and it was love at first sip!

Where We Ate

As we arrived in Aveiro later in the day, after cleaning up, we were ready for dinner. We found a nice spot though called Taberna Portuguesa. Both food and service were good. Steve enjoyed the Bacalhau which is reconstituted codfish and as a matter of fact, quite popular in the area. I ordered the traditional Bifanis sandwich consisting of seasoned pork and although it is served traditionally with cheese and mustard I ate it plain. We also shared cheese with marmalade as an appetizer, roasted potatoes as a side, and creme brûlée for dessert.

Conclusion

All in all we absolutely loved Aveiro, Portugal and especial our Moliceiro ride through the canals. Our only regret is we did not spend two days in this charming town instead of one day.

Diary of a Gen-X recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences. We do not receive compensation for recommending at any of these nor are we affiliates of any hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companines. My husband and myself take all the photos unless otherwise noted.

Planning

I do a lot of research before a trip and below are some of the items I use to help plan. I also use these items throughout my trip and they have all been a good resource.

My favorite travel guides are the DK Eyewitness guides. These books are smaller and fit nicely in your bag, come with a removable map, are durable, sort the information in a logical way, and easy to read. While they just give a brief synopsis of each area, I find areas I like and then google or search for more information.

I also like a map when I travel because you never know when you will loose GPS. We have many times had to rely on the old fashion method of pulling out a map. I have found the National Geographic Maps to be very useful. The ones I have used have been accurate, durable, and easy to follow. You can click on an Amazon link to a map here https://amzn.to/4dRJNqQ

We are an Amazon affiliate so if you purchase the tour guides or maps we do get a small commission at no cost to you.

Follow Me on Instagram !!!

Check out my other Portugal Posts!

Exploring Lisbon,Portugal-A Self Guided Tour -May 2024

Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal-May 2024

Exploring the Castle of the Moors, Portugal May 2024

Hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, Portugal May 2024

Kayaking to Benagil Caves, Portugal, May 2024

Castle of Silves, Portugal May 2024

Cromlech of Almendres, Portugal May 2024

Evora Portugal and the Chapel of Bones, May 2024

Arraiolos Castle, Portugal May 2024

Knights of Templar, Portugal May 2024