Costa Nova (Aveiro) from Porto: striped houses, train, bus and beach
Costa Nova is the fishing village on the Aveiro lagoon known for its "palheiros", wooden houses painted in red, blue, green or yellow stripes. From Porto the simplest way is the train to Aveiro (under an hour on a fast train to about 1 h 15 on the urban train, 3.95 € on the urban train according to fares seen in October 2026), then a bus or taxi of about fifteen minutes to the seafront. Allow half a day, or a full day with Aveiro. The village is prettiest in the morning, the beach in summer.
Highlights
The striped palheiros
Lined up along the lagoon quay (the "Canal de Mira"), these former wooden fishermen's huts are now holiday homes. The stripes photograph best in the morning, before the groups arrive. The houses are private: look from the street.
Costa Nova beach
A long ribbon of sand on the Atlantic, on the other side of the sandbar. The water stays cool even in August and the wind can rise in the afternoon.
The quay and the fish restaurants
Along the quay, restaurants serve grilled fish and seafood, as well as Aveiro's "ovos moles". Book on summer weekends.
Aveiro
15 minutes away: canals, moliceiro boats and Art Nouveau. See our page Aveiro from Porto.
Practical info
Tips
- Three ways to get there. 1) On your own: train from Porto São Bento or Campanhã to Aveiro (urban 3.95 €; Intercidades about 13 € according to fares seen in October 2026, check times and prices on the CP site), then bus or taxi (the taxi ride is about 15 minutes; we did not find an official bus fare, ask at the bus station). Buses can be full in summer, especially on the way back at the end of the day. 2) By bike: Aveiro lends municipal bikes, ask at the tourist office. 3) On a guided trip: the most booked day from Porto combines Aveiro, the moliceiro boat ride, Costa Nova and the Senhor da Pedra chapel (about 41 to 47 $ per person, rated 4.7 from more than 1,800 reviews according to the listing seen in October 2026). Some travellers feel too much time goes to Aveiro and too little to Costa Nova: if Costa Nova is your goal, the train alone lets you choose the schedule. For arriving in Porto, see from the airport to the centre.
How to get there
Train from Porto São Bento or Campanhã to Aveiro, then a bus or taxi of roughly 15 to 30 minutes to Costa Nova do Prado (Ílhavo municipality). By car, allow about an hour from Porto depending on traffic.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
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