Located in the northern part of Portugal, about an hour from Porto and two and half from Lisbon, Aveiro is a city with a very rich cultural heritage that combines tradition with modernity as well as nature. It’s formed around a lagoon, or Ria de Aveiro, giving it unique characteristics.

The city of Aveiro dates back to, at least, the 10th century, with roman occupation for the salt exploration and trade center through the middle ages, but human presence in the region can be traced back to prehistoric times. The city gets its name from the latin Alavário, meaning “where birds gather”, due to the lagoon’s perfect conditions.

In modern times, Aveiro is often considered “The Portuguese Venice” due to its water canals and traditional boats (Moliceiros), resembling its italian counterpart. The region is well known for its fish, eels and conserves, but also for its traditional sweets, Ovos Moles, made with egg yolk and sugar (like many other portuguese desserts!) and Pão de Ló.

With around 78 thousand inhabitants, it has the infrastructures and services that can be found in a larger city, and the safety and quiet of a small city, making it a very pleasant place to live and work.

The Nightlife is definitely present here as well, with most of the bars and clubs situated in the main square, the “Praça do Peixe” or Fish Market/Square, but you will also find many other places around town.

The city’s situation on the Atlantic coast gives it a typical coastal climate, where you can definitely feel the breeze as well as the strong wind, but also presents you with extensive white sandy beaches, mostly natural and untouched. Some of the best beach locations are only a few minutes away, with the beaches of Barra and Costa Nova accessible by car, bus and even bicycle. 

Due to the city’s and inhabitants' close proximity to the lagoon, be it as a form of sustenance and livelihood or for fun, it definitely is one of the most important marks of the region. You are able to practice a range of aquatic activities and sports such as sailing, surfing or kitesurfing. However, there is also a deep connection to the inland part, with the Arouca Geopark as well as other mountain ranges (Freita, Caramulo, Buçaco mountain ranges) being close by.