The City of Aveiro (Portuguese) has some of the best sandy beaches in Portugal. The climate is humid and comfortable with cooler summers and warmer winters than other non-coastal areas in the country. The rainy season lasts from November to January, and there are strong coastal winds through the fall and winter.

The Porto de Aveiro has many canals, giving it a unique character. The old quarter holds many whitewashed fishermen’s houses. In the early morning, the Mercado do Peixe is the scene of fish auctions for fresh fish caught the night before.

Surfing is popular at the Porto de Aveiro beaches, and wind surfing is popular on the river. The beach of Espinho is a popular spot. Figueira da Foz and Leiria are wide beaches backed by dunes and pine groves. Figueira da Foz offers an exciting nightlife as well. The beach at Sao Jacinto offers clear blue waters in the middle of the San Jacinto Nature Preserve that protects the dunes. Palheirao Beach is surrounded by Pine trees.

There are no beaches within the Porto de Aveiro, of two beaches are fairly pristine and easy to reach on public transportation. The beach of Barra is accompanied by some expensive lodgings, restaurants, and nightclubs, but it also has a public campsite. The beach at Costa Nova is charming for its traditional wooden houses painted in bright stripes. It is less commercial than Barra, but it has a campsite, a supermarket, and a disco. Both beaches offer many opportunities for water sports and facilities that support them. Costa Nova is especially popular with surfers and windsurfers.

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