Aveiro, Portugal
The 5 best boutique and luxury hotels in Aveiro, Portugal
The curated list of best hotels in Aveiro
Aveiro’s canals and colourful moliceiro boats hint at a city where history and creativity flow hand in hand. Set between the silver sweep of Portugal’s Atlantic coast and the calm lagoons of the Ria de Aveiro, this small city in the Centro region has earned its reputation as the Portuguese Venice – though there’s far more to it than canals and candy-striped houses. Here, you won’t find generic chain hotels but properties with stories. And if you’re the kind of traveller who loves a hotel with personality, design clout and a strong sense of place, you’re in for a treat. We’ve handpicked the boutique and luxury hotels that capture Aveiro’s gentle eccentricity.
Top photography courtesy of MS Collection Aveiro
01
MS Collection Aveiro
MS Collection Aveiro occupies an 18th-century townhouse that once belonged to novelist Eça de Queiroz, and traces of his legacy are folded subtly into the space – from the curated library to design details that nod to the building’s literary past. In 2021, MS Collection transformed it into a 17‑suite hotel, preserving original marble foyers and walnut-panelled ceilings. Each suite bears the name of one of Eça’s works – O Primo Basílio, Os Maias – and features Art Deco lighting salvaged from Porto and custom‑designed writing desks referencing period typewriters. The central cloister, once a service courtyard, now houses the Moments Spa, where treatments incorporate locally sourced sea salt. Right outside the palacete, you can board a traditional moliceiro boat for a private canal tour.
MS Collection Aveiro
R. José Estevão 50
Aveiro
Portugal
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Photography courtesy of MS Collection Aveiro
02
1877 Estrela Palace Hotel
At 1877 Estrela Palace Hotel, once the residence of a prominent merchant family on Rua José Estêvão, the building’s layered history is felt in the high ceilings, grand staircase and sense of permanence that hangs in each room. Restoration in 2020 uncovered original fresco fragments in the grand salon, which now serves continental breakfasts featuring Casa do Doce’s ovos moles. Suites retain the palace’s signature herringbone parquet floors and original brass door handles and bathrooms are lined with locally fired azulejo tiles depicting maritime motifs. The rooftop terrace, supported by wrought‑iron trellises from the 19th century, offers unobstructed views of the central canal and the city’s greenbelt. Here, mornings begin with a spread of artisanal breads and local cheeses, enjoyed in a sunlit lounge and afternoons are spent on the rooftop terrace, with a cocktail in hand.
1877 Estrela Palace Hotel
R. José Estevão 4
Aveiro
Portugal
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Photography courtesy of 1877 Estrela Palace Hotel
03
Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel
Set within the 19th‑century Vista Alegre porcelain complex, Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel occupies two historic wings – the Founders’ Palace and the Master Painters’ Palace. In 2018, they added two minimalist wings, connected by glass‑walled walkways. Across 162 accommodations – from studio apartments to grand suites – you’ll spot subtle porcelain motifs nodding to Vista Alegre’s two‑century legacy. The outdoor pool floats beside a grove of olive trees and the spa occupies a former artisan workshop, complete with exposed beams and terrazzo floors. At the Vista Alegre Restaurant, they serve Central Portugal specialities on fine china. Our favourite touch – the Bar da Ria’s panoramic views, perfect for sipping gin and tonics framed by factory chimneys turning into glowing reflections.
Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel
Lugar da Vista Alegre
Ílhavo
Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel
04
VIC Aveiro Arts House
Once the private home and atelier of artist‑turned‑designer Vasco Branco, the five‑storey VIC Aveiro Arts House embodies Aveiro’s creative undercurrents. Designed in the late 1950s by Victor Palla, its façade hints at mid‑century innovation. Inside, each room feels like a gallery space, where vintage furnishings meet original artworks. Hugo Branco and his team have preserved clandestine cinema vaults and carved out a small gallery for rotating cultural exhibitions. Nine rooms display rotating works by Portuguese painters and sculptors. The underground vault, once storage space, now hosts independent film screenings on a restored 1960s projector, while communal lounges offer a curated library of design publications.
VIC Aveiro Arts House
R. do Principe Perfeito 14 RC
Aveiro
Portugal
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Photography courtesy of VIC Aveiro Arts House
05
Hotel Moliceiro
Mirroring the Art Nouveau façades that line Aveiro’s Central Canal, Hotel Moliceiro is all about 1970s vintage flair with just the right amount of contemporary luxury. Curved cornices, the original glass entrance canopy and decorative cast-iron radiators coexist with underfloor heating and frameless glass showers. Headboards and lobby murals feature hand-painted wooden motifs that pay homage to the region’s moliceiro boats. Breakfast is served in a former stables area, where vaulted brick ceilings and wrought‑iron lanterns nod to the building’s agricultural origins. And we love that the nearby moliceiros pier places canal tours just steps away.
Hotel Moliceiro
R. Dr. Barbosa de Magalhães 15/17
Aveiro
Portugal
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Photography courtesy of Hotel Moliceiro
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