4 towns in central Portugal you’ll love

March 5, 2021

We often hear about the north of Portugal, the south with the Algarve and the Lisbon region, but not often about the center of Portugal. Today, I’m taking you with me to this famous “center”. This region is actually quite vast, and includes many pretty towns. I’ve selected a few that I think you’re going to love… believe me 🙂 And don’t hesitate to share your favorite towns in central Portugal with me in the comments.

Note: this list is obviously not exhaustive 🙂

4 towns in central Portugal

Aveiro: the charming

Aveiro is a pleasant little town in central Portugal, 70 km south of Porto. This charming town will appeal to you on many levels. Here are a few must-sees.

> The moliceiros

First of all, you won’t want to miss the many canals and typical boats that run right through the heart of the city, earning Aveiro the nickname of “Portuguese Venice”. Moliceiros are the name of the boats used by seaweed fishermen in the past (” moliço” is a type of seaweed). These original boats have become the symbol ofAveiro and a must-see tourist attraction. Moliceiros are very long (around 15 meters) and often very colorful. At the front of the boat, there is always a painting depicting either a saint or a Portuguese celebrity, or sometimes a humorous or comical scene. It’s always a pleasure to take one for a spin when you’re in Aveiro.

> The palheiros

In addition to the canals and moliceiros, don’t miss the famous “palheiros” or “pyjama houses” in Costa Nova. These houses were once used to store fishermen’s equipment and salt from the “Ria”.

Aveiro’s palheiros

> Ovos moles

In my opinion, the best way to discover a region is through its gastronomy. Don’t miss out on some of Aveiro’s must-try dishes.

Ovos moles”, literally translated as “soft eggs”, are a kind of wafer filled with egg yolk and sugar. The shape of these sweet treats is often inspired by the marine world, in the form of shells or fish. Ovos moles are “protected” and can only be produced in the Aveiro region. It was the first Portuguese dessert to have its recipe protected. Aveiro’s “ovos moles” generate 5 million euros a year! The Confeitaria Peixinho, which has been producing them since 1856, is one of the best places to try them. To discover even more Portuguese desserts, take a look at my article 15 Portuguese desserts you absolutely must try.

Confeitaria Pexinho in Aveiro

> Tripas

I love “tripas”! Even if they are a bit unusual. It’s a kind of pancake, but very, very thick and not overcooked. It’s quite filling, I can’t deny it. Personally, I like to eat it plain with a little cinnamon (a spice that’s ubiquitous in Portugal), but for those with a sweet tooth, there are other, higher-calorie options available. In the “tripas”, you can melt any chocolate bar you like: Milka, Twix, Bounty, Kinder, Mars… If you’re looking for a good “tripa”, I’d recommend the tiny ” Tripas Tezero ” store, an institution located right in the center of Aveiro, near the canals. Otherwise, if you’re near the beaches, I like to pick them up in the little street kiosks near the beaches of Barra and Costa Nova, and then enjoy the tripa while it’s still warm, with my feet in the sand.

Aveiro’s tripas

Coimbra: the university

Coimbra is Portugal’s oldest university town, located in central Portugal, 120km from Porto (to the north) and 200km from Lisbon (to the south). Coimbra was the site of the country’s first university. It is also one of Europe’s oldest universities, alongside the Sorbonne, Bologna, Oxford and Salamanca. Here are a few must-sees in the heart of this student city.

> Queima das fitas

Queima das fitas is a celebration of the end of Portuguese university life, held in May at the end of the academic year. This tradition exists in almost every Portuguese city with a university, but the festivities in Coimbra, the Portuguese university city par excellence, are the oldest and most renowned. These university festivities normally attract thousands of spectators. The Queima das Fitas salutes students at the end of their university studies. A great opportunity to get to know this student city and discover yet another Portuguese tradition. To find out more about the symbols around this festival and the symbols around the ribbons, I invite you to read my article: Popular festivals in Portugal.

> The Coimbra library

The library is located in the famous University of Coimbra. Baroque in style, it was voted the most beautiful university library in the world in 2012, and you’ll soon understand why if you go there. Along with Porto’s Lello bookshop, Coimbra’s library is said to have inspired Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling to design the Hogwarts library. JW Rowling also drew inspiration from Portugal for the Hogwarts schoolchildren’s outfits, since if you look closely, the Harry Potter schoolchildren’s costumes bear a striking resemblance to those of Portuguese students. Black cape, white shirt, tie and black suit for the boys and black cape, white shirt, black jacket and skirt for the girls.

Coimbra Library

> Bats

To protect the library’s 200,000 books, an astonishing device has been put in place. The Joanina Library is populated by bats, whose mission is to chase away any insects that might enter the library and damage the books. Every evening, the reading tables are covered to protect them from bat droppings, and every morning the floor is washed after the bats have gone out for the night. To find out more about this phenomenon, read the article The surprising mission of bats in Coimbra.

Nazaré: the impressive

Nazaré is a small fishing village, yet it is world-famous for …. its waves. This town in central Portugal should not be confused with Nazareth! I often see the two towns confused, but no, they’re two completely different things, aren’t they? 🙂

> The waves

So, back to the point … my waves! The town of Nazaré in Portugal boasts some of the highest waves in the world. You’ve no doubt already seen some impressive videos or photos of surfers on these monstrous waves.

When I went there for the first time, I was very excited at the idea of seeing these buildings of water in front of me, and then… the shock… water of Olympian calm, not a single wave, not even a “ripple”. Had I been lied to? After talking to some Portuguese friends, I found out more. These huge waves occur in autumn; outside this season, the ocean is much calmer.

As the city is famous for its waves, surfers from all over the world flock here. In November 2017, it was in Nazaré that Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa broke the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed, taming a 24.38-meter wave. He then beat the record held since 2011 by American Garrett McNamara on a 22.77-meter wave, also in Nazaré.

> Fish sellers

Aside from the waves, Nazaré will charm you with its fish vendors. Historically, the town has been a major fishing port, and this activity remains a deeply rooted tradition. You can still see the fishermen and their wives, dressed in their traditional costumes with their many petticoats, gutting, drying and selling the fish on the beach. Zero intermediaries: from the ocean to your plate!

Fish sellers in Nazaré

> Le Sitio

Le Sitio is a promontory high above the sea. The view from here is exceptional, offering a magnificent panorama of the ocean and Nazaré beach. I strongly advise you to take the funicular or the road up to the promontory at the top of the town. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be disappointed by this breathtaking view.

The Sitio in Nazaré

Picturesque Óbidos

Between Lisbon and Porto, still in central Portugal, lies the small village of Óbidos, not far from Caldas da Rainha. Surrounded by imposing fortifications, the village’s main charm, in my opinion, lies in its houses. Whitewashed houses adorned with beautiful flowers and others with yellow or blue painted edges. The castle at the heart of the town is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. There are many reasons why this is one of my must-sees in Portugal. On your tour of Óbidos, don’t miss :

>The fortress

Cars are not allowed, so you can stroll around the fortress on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage. The narrow cobbled streets, charming houses and imposing medieval castle will captivate you, and you’ll have to go there to discover the special atmosphere of this place. A village set in the middle of a wall. Within the wall, narrow cobbled streets are interspersed with small houses of immaculate white with a touch of blue or yellow.

The narrow streets of Óbidos

>La ginginha

As you stroll along Rua Direita, the main street, you’ll see many shops serving ginjinha. This is an alcoholic cherry drink produced in the region. Often served in a small chocolate cup, it’s the second most popular drink in Portugal after port!

>Two events not to be missed .

The first event is perfect for those with a sweet tooth, as it’s the International Chocolate Festival (normally held around the end of April). The second is the well-known and unmissable Christmas festivities, when the decorations, lights and entertainment are a hit with Portuguese people all over the country.

In conclusion

4 cities with different assets, but all very charming and worth discovering, whether for a night or a lifetime. So, are you charmed by these must-see towns in central Portugal? Which one caught your eye?

If you’d like to find out more, I invite you to read the article: Why live on Portugal’s Silver Coast?

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