Wanderyn
Costa Nova
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · PT

Costa Nova

Getting around: Costa Nova is about 10km from central Aveiro. Bus line 3 (Aveibus) connects them directly in around 25-30 minutes, or it's a 15-minute drive/taxi ride. Cycling is also popular along the flat coastal road.
Hours: Always open — it's a beach and village, not a ticketed site. Shops and cafés generally run from late morning to evening, with reduced hours outside summer.

Costa Nova is a small beach village on Aveiro's barrier coast, known for its palheiros — wooden fishing houses painted in bold horizontal stripes of red, blue, green, and yellow. Originally built to store fishing gear and later converted into homes, the striped houses have made this one of the most photographed spots in the region.

Beyond the photo backdrop, it's a genuine beach town: a wide Atlantic beach on one side and the calmer waters of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon on the other, with seafood restaurants along the main street. It gets busy with day-trippers and Portuguese summer tourists from June to September; outside that window it's a quiet, sleepy stop.

Costa Nova FAQs

How long should I spend in Costa Nova?

Two to three hours is enough to walk the striped-house streets, see the beach, and have lunch — most visitors treat it as a half-day trip from Aveiro.

Is Costa Nova good for swimming?

Yes, it has a proper Atlantic beach with lifeguards in summer, though the water is cool and can have strong currents, so check flags.

Can I combine Costa Nova with other Aveiro sights in one day?

Yes — a common day plan pairs a morning moliceiro boat ride in Aveiro with an afternoon in Costa Nova and Praia da Barra.

Are the striped houses open to the public?

Most are private homes; a few are now guesthouses or shops, but there isn't a museum house to tour.

When is Costa Nova least crowded?

Weekday mornings outside July and August, when it reverts to a quiet fishing-village pace.

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