Aveiro & Ilhavo Tours from Lisbon | Estrela d'Alva

Travelers departing Lisbon find an inviting day trip awaiting them with Estrela d'Alva Tours. This private tour leads you north to Aveiro, a city known as Portugal’s “Venice” for its distinctive canals cut through Art Nouveau architecture and colorful Moliceiro boats. Unlike typical crowded sightseeing routes, Estrela d'Alva offers personalized service and comfortable transport, catering to travelers seeking an intimate passage through these iconic waterways. Aveiro’s canals glisten with reflections of terracotta roofs and striped façades, setting the scene for a relaxing glide aboard a traditional Moliceiro. This slow cruise offers a chance to see the historic salt pans and vibrant Mercado do Peixe where locals gather fresh catch daily.

Beyond the waterways, the tour ventures to Ilhavo’s Maritime Museum, connecting visitors to Portugal’s seafaring past through exhibits on fisheries, navigational traditions, and boat-building techniques. The nearby Costa Nova Beach entices with its famous striped houses—a place where the Atlantic’s brisk winds meet golden sands, ideal for a seaside pause or a brisk coastal walk.

This private itinerary ending in Porto allows travelers to experience multiple dimensions of Portugal’s coastal culture without retracing steps, a notable advantage among tours. Estrela d'Alva Tours situates itself uniquely by blending cultural immersion, natural beauty, and history, highlighting northern Portugal’s charm with a local’s ease. Offering a balance of gentle activity and scenic exploration, the trip suits those eager to deepen their knowledge of the region’s heritage and landscapes beyond urban hubs. For visitors based in Lisbon, this tour is a gateway to a diverse coastal region that feels both intimate and expansive, revealing the enduring maritime spirit that shapes Portugal’s identity.