Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride
Badge of Excellence
Porto, Portugal
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Avoid the hassle of renting a car to explore outside of Porto when you book this half-day tour to the "Venice of Portugal." Journey to Aveiro, where you’ll glide through its romantic canals in a traditional “moliceiro.” Admire the colorful tiled facades on the local Costa Nova buildings and learn about how this postcard-perfect village came to be from your guide. You’ll even get to try the “soft eggs,” a local dessert.
- Glide through the picturesque waterways in the Venice of Portugal
- Admire the unique tiled buildings of Costa Nova
- Take advantage of plenty of great photo ops
- Choose from morning or afternoon departure
What's Included
- Guide
- River cruise in the traditonal "Moliceiro boat" : unique in the world
- Private transportation for the group
- Small Group Tour (Minivan up to 8 participants or Minibus up to 27 participants)
- Porto City Walking Tour (available from the day after your experience)
- Food and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Hotel Pick up & Drop Off Not included
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Calçada de Vandoma, 4000-165 Porto, Portugal
Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto. Pick up & Drop Off service not available
End point
- Rua de Alexandre HerculanoR. de Alexandre Herculano, 4000-053 Porto, Portugal
Itinerary
Porto (Pass By)
1
Aveiro
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Ria de Aveiro
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Praia da Costa Nova
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- The cruise is under the responsibility of the cruise operator (subject to weather and navigation conditions)
- Tours are usually in one language, but a second language may be used.
- Group size maximum capacity is 27 people.
- Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto
- Pick up & Drop Off service not available
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 1,725 reviews
Patricia_A, Apr 2026
Very touristy. Did not realize tour was both in Spanish and English, which meant that your guide only spent half of time talking to us.
Lynn_R, Apr 2026
The tour was great topped with marvellous weather. It was a good exposure to the area outside of Porto.
Benny_M, Apr 2026
Half day tour to Costa Nove and Aveiro with a boat trip on the canals of Aveiro. Well worth the money for a senior out of Porto.
John_D, Apr 2026
1 hour bus journey Very entertaining afternoon Both guides were excellent good homoured but informative
Karenina_A, Apr 2026
The guides were kind enough and not their fault. The tour simply wasn’t worth it. The way the tour was made, it sounded like it would be a ride thru beach town with the colorful houses. Maybe I didn’t look into the cities enough so that’s my fault, too. Save your money. Only worth driving through Aveiro and Costa Nova.
Stefi_F, Apr 2026
Excellent guide, driver, place, couldn't fault it in anyway, had a fabulous afternoon in one of the loveliest towns I've visited .
Stephen_J, Apr 2026
Very friendly guide Aldrin (The Voice) and driver Joel, very informative, we loved this trip and we did learn alot, would highly recommend it
Liza_B, Apr 2026
Great trip to Aveiro and Costa Nova. The boat ride was excellent. Nice way to end a vacation. Tried the egg dumpling and it was interesting taste but a great experience
Gina_C, Apr 2026
Wonderfully organized relaxing enjoyable experience! Guide Christian was knowledgeable, sweet and very helpful, highly recommend boat tour to go along with the bus tour!
Eirini_M, Apr 2026
I booked a halfday tour with Viator in Costa Nova, and overall it was an excellent experience. The guide was great, and the staff on the boat were friendly and welcoming.
However, there were a couple of downsides. Although they sent two emails with the meeting point, when we arrived, there was no one there. With time running out, I went into the travel agency, where I was told that the actual meeting point was about a 500-meter walk uphill !!
In Costa Nova, we also had very limited time to explore the promenade and enjoy the beautiful fishermen’s houses. Additionally, the only café available was disappointing, quite outdated and overpriced, charging €7 for a takeaway cappuccino.
On a positive note, Aveiro was wonderful, and I didn’t mind the rain at all. Overall, despite a few inconveniences, it was a very enjoyable tour.
Dominick_C, Apr 2026
We loved this tour! The guide and our driver made for a wonderful experience. They gave just enough info to keep you interested, instead of boring you with too much info. The Aveiro and Costa Nova were stunning. Definitely recommend this tour!
Leah_T, Mar 2026
Seeing Costa Nova and Aveiro was lovely. I think this tour needs extra time added so people can have a little more time . We only really got about 20 ish minutes in each place. Just enough time for photos.
Annemarie_L, Mar 2026
Very good balance for a half day trip. The organisation for pick up points was clear and easy to follow. Very personable and helpful guide.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Good morning from Living Tours,
We appreciate you taking the time to write your feedback on your experience with us. We are glad you had a great day.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to see you again soon.
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Nancy_S, Mar 2026
Two very unique and beautiful places, worthwhile seeing. So many surprises on this adventure, and the guide was great. Enjoyed the boat ride and the colorful houses
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Good afternoon from Living Tours,
We appreciate your feedback! We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed your experience with us.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
JC_M, Mar 2026
This was a pleasant afternoon down the coast. Diego was a great guide who told us a lot about Porto and the sights we passed on the way down. The boat ride up and down the canals in Aveiro was fun, and our guide on the boat, an expert polyglot, was quite engaging and amusing.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion regarding your experience with Living Tours and our team. We are happy you had a great time.
Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
NormaI_C, Mar 2026
Our tour guide was Johnny with Carlos behind the wheel. Two great gentleman who made sure we spent a wonderful morning exploring the area of Aveiro. Very good commentary, explaining the significance of the area.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion regarding your experience with Living Tours and our team. We are happy you had a great time.
Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Margaret_B, Mar 2026
No toilets open at Aveiro you have to buy a coffee at a cafe to use facilities and not enough time to enjoy the place
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Good morning from Living Tours,
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your feedback.
We regret to hear that your experience in Aveiro did not fully meet your expectations.
Local facilities and the time available at each stop can sometimes be influenced by external factors beyond our control, but we truly appreciate you sharing your comments.
Your feedback is valuable and will be taken into consideration as we continue working to improve our tours.
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Barbara_T, Feb 2026
Such a fun trip! Our tour guide, Suzanne made the trip fun by being kind and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Good morning from Living Tours,
We appreciate you taking the time to write your feedback on your experience with us. We are glad you had a great day.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to see you again soon.
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Bonnie_D, Feb 2026
Wonderful guided tour with Jonatas! He was a great guide. Aveiro was a beautiful town and the boat ride was very enjoyable Highly recommend this company.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion regarding your experience with Living Tours and our team. We are happy you had a great time.
Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Ruben_H, Feb 2026
Service was great and the itinerary was on time. After traveling in Portugal and many countries in Europe and other geographies my personal point of view is that the locations are not at level of expectation we deserved. Considering that you are losing one day in a international travel when you could spend that time in Porto or other tours. I hope my honest opinion could help other travelers.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Good morning from Living Tours,
Dear Ruben,
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. We’re pleased to hear that you found the service great and the itinerary punctual.
We understand that each traveler has different expectations and interests. Our tours are designed to offer a balanced overview of each location.
Kind regards,
Living Tours Team
Okkes_D, Feb 2026
It’s a nice tour with a lot of variations. Bus, boat, walking, informative and funny instructor. A packed but great program. Highly recommended
Gina_L, Feb 2026
This tour felt a little bait and switch. The pictures are very misleading. You drive 1 hour in a bus to Costa Nova and have 10 minutes to get out and take pictures. That's it. Then drive another 15-20 min to Averio and take a motor powered gondola ride through the 'city' (35-45 min). Honestly, not very exciting or romantic as I thought it would be. The tour was very rushed and we instructed to go into a shop after the boat ride and the Living Tours tour guide came into the shop and said 'what happened? The tour ended 5 min ago'. When literally everyone in our tour was just in the shop buying some souvenirs. I think this tour could be improved a lot more with more information about the cities and actually give dedicated time to each stop that makes it more fun.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Good morning from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for your comment. Your comments are crucial for us to continue offering an excellent service.
The Aveiro & Costa Nova Tour is a half-day experience, as noted on our promotional materials, totaling approximately four hours. This timeframe includes travel to and from Porto, the visits to Costa Nova and Aveiro and the boat cruise. Given the nature of the itinerary, time at each destination is understandably limited to ensure that all aspects of the tour can be enjoyed within this timeframe.
The tour is designed to offer a glimpse of these beautiful locations, and while you are welcome to visit the both locations, the schedule does not allow for an extended stay.
The boat trip takes place on an old traditional boat so that you can have a more genuine experience.
We hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Cathy_L, Jan 2026
An enjoyable experience despite the weather. It was raining the entire day and on the drive from Porto to Aveiro. However, we're lucky to have a break of 30 minutes when the rain stopped and the sun came out for our boat ride. Our guide, Helder, was very informative and flexible. Would recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion regarding your experience with Living Tours and our team. We are glad you had a great time.
We hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
margaretgroh, Jan 2026
The tour is transportation on a large bus. The tour guide told us where we were going but no insight on the destinations. At the end, he asked for tips for him and the bus driver, which was ironic since tips are always optional and for excellent service.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Greetings from Living Tours
Thank you for taking the time to write this review.
This tour lasts four hours, so information about Aveiro and Costa Nova is provided during the trip so that our guests can make the most of their time at each destination.
Your comment will be taken into consideration.
We hope to see you again soon.
Best regards,
The Living Tours Team
Anonymous, Jan 2026
The old fisherman’s village in Aveiro is a great place to visit for a little while. Beautiful striped houses. The weather was nasty the day I was there so it was kind of difficult to tell how nice it would be to experience on a pretty day. It was raining and a little windy during the gondola ride, but again I think it would’ve been nice on a pretty day. Not a whole lot to see from the gondola ride. Our tour guide Pedro was great.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience.
Costa Nova is indeed a charming former fishing village, well known for its iconic striped houses. We understand that the weather can greatly influence the overall experience, and unfortunately it was not at its best on the day of your visit.
We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the gondola ride despite the conditions, and especially that Pedro made a positive impression—he will be very happy to receive your kind words.
We hope you’ll have the opportunity to visit us again on a sunnier day, so you can fully enjoy the beauty of the area.
Kind regards,
Living Tours Team
Shuba_G, Jan 2026
Planned this trip with family and friends. Definitely one of the best towns to visit . The guide was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Greetings from Living Tours,
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion regarding your experience with Living Tours and our team. We are happy you had a great time.
Thank you for your recommendation and we hope to see you again soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Imelda_R, Dec 2025
Wonderful half day trip. The boat ride was amazing. Or guide Maria was phenomenal and so informative. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Good morning from Living Tours,
We appreciate you taking the time to write your feedback on your experience with us. We are glad you had a great day.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to see you again soon.
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Karen_P, Dec 2025
Magical place well worth a visit. Tour great value. Carlos our guide very informative and flecible with options
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Good afternoon from Living Tours,
We appreciate your feedback! We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed your experience with us.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
Yaneli_M, Dec 2025
There were a few things that went wrong with this tour.
1. We arrived 20 mins early to the pick up time only to not find a bus or contact person. The meeting location listed in the Viator app, website, and printable ticket for incorrect. It sends you to the tour company's sales office. This was an early tour and the office lady said the office was closed. We asked for thr tour pick up location and she said it was up the street. Up and down the street on the hill we went with no sight of anything. Contacted the tour company and Viator via the app to figure out the correct location. Finally, got a call from the tour company who said the pick up location was by the cathedral (not what was listed and directly across from the hotel we were staying). Once we arrived to the bus the guide advised us we were late and I explained the situation and her response was "oh Viator is still listing it wrong". So a problem they're aware of but don't seem to be correcting. 4 persons missed the tour for unknown reasons but maybe they couldn't find the pick up.
2. Both towns they take you to was closed for season. In first town only a few cafes were open for pastries and coffee but that's it. The second town had nothing open. We asked the guide what was the reason and he said its the low season and most people are on vacation.
3. The boat ride was ok at best but there is nothing to see from the boat and mostly a waste of time. It was raining heavily and I thought the boat portion might be canceled, but if they cancel the boat ride this tour would be left with nothing else.
Maybe during a different time of the year this is a better tour but not in December, which is why i gave this 2 stars in hopes it might be better during another time. But it makes you wonder why the tour company still offers it during this time if they are aware of the situation. Maybe they just was tourists money and don't care about the experience for the tourist.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Greetings from Living Tours,
We regret to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations.
While many of our guests cherish their time with us in this beautiful region of Portugal, we understand that every perspective is unique, and we value yours.
Please know that your feedback will be carefully considered as we continue to improve our services.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the near future and provide you with a more enjoyable experience.
Warm regards,
Living Tours Team
Eleonora_E, Dec 2025
Amazing your! Loved Aviero and Costa Nova! Great boat tour, amazing desserts. Perfect half day tour from Porto
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Good afternoon from Living Tours,
We appreciate your feedback! We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed your experience with us.
Thank you for choosing Living Tours, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Best regards,
Living Tours Team
From $54.99
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