Aveiro, Bussaco and Coimbra
South of Porto to a hilltop castle, the canals of Aveiro, the striped houses of Costa Nova, the forest of Bussaco, Coimbra’s university and Roman Conímbriga.
- Distance
- 222 km (138 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 04 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Portugal
- Updated
- June 24, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 222 km (138 mi) with 9 stops, from Porto to Figueira da Foz. About 3 h 04 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Portugal
Route description
Leave Porto south on the A1 and turn off after about 30 km for Santa Maria da Feira, whose castle stands in a wooded park above the town. Then continue to Aveiro, a small city on a lagoon crossed by canals. Painted moliceiro boats, once used to collect seaweed, now take visitors round the canals, and the town is known for ovos moles, sweets of egg yolk and sugar.
From Aveiro cross the lagoon to the coast at Barra, with Portugal’s tallest lighthouse, and Costa Nova, where the old wooden fishermen’s houses are painted in bright stripes. Then drive inland, about 60 km, to Luso and the Bussaco forest on the ridge above. Cars pay an entry fee, motorhomes a higher one; the roads inside are narrow and shaded.
The forest was a Carmelite retreat and later the site of a battle against Napoleon’s army in 1810. Walk the stairs of the Fonte Fria and the Via Sacra to the Cruz Alta viewpoint. Coimbra is 30 km south-west. The university sits on the hill above the old town, with the baroque Joanina Library, which you visit on a timed ticket. Park below the hill and walk up, or take the lift.
Coimbra’s old town is steep, with the Romanesque Old Cathedral and the fado houses where students sing. The Roman town of Conímbriga is 15 km south, near Condeixa, with floor mosaics and a good museum. Finish at Figueira da Foz, a seaside resort with one of the widest beaches in Portugal, about 45 km west. The whole route is about 250 km on easy roads.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Porto
Portugal - 234 km
Santa Maria da Feira Castle
HistorySanta Maria da Feira, PortugalA well-preserved medieval castle with conical turrets on a wooded hill, the setting of a large medieval fair each summer. Car park at the foot of the hill.
- 341 km
Aveiro
Portugal - 411 km
Costa Nova
ViewsÍlhavo, PortugalA row of wooden fishermen’s houses painted in candy stripes between the Aveiro lagoon and a long Atlantic beach. Park along the lagoon side and walk the promenade.
- 552 km
Bussaco National Forest
NatureLuso, PortugalA walled forest planted by monks, with exotic trees, chapels, a fern valley and a neo-Manueline palace at its heart. Cars and motorhomes pay an entry fee; trails are short and shaded.
- 624 km
University of Coimbra
HistoryCoimbra, PortugalOne of Europe’s oldest universities on the hill above the old town, with the baroque Joanina Library and the Royal Palace halls. Library visits are timed; park below and walk up.
- 72 km
Coimbra
Portugal - 817 km
Conímbriga Roman ruins
HistoryCondeixa-a-Nova, PortugalThe best-preserved Roman town in Portugal, with floor mosaics, a bath complex and a stretch of wall. The site museum and car park are at the entrance; allow two hours.
- 941 km
Figueira da Foz
Portugal
FAQs
How long is Aveiro, Bussaco and Coimbra?
3-day road trip of about 222 km (138 mi) with 9 stops, from Porto to Figueira da Foz. About 3 h 04 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Aveiro, Bussaco and Coimbra?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 04 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Aveiro, Bussaco and Coimbra start and end?
It starts in Porto and ends in Figueira da Foz.
Which countries does Aveiro, Bussaco and Coimbra pass through?
Portugal.
