Sep 1 – 5, 2026 · 4nights

Aveiro

Painted canals, moliceiro boats & ovos moles

Overview

Aveiro at a glance

Attractions, hotels and restaurants — all on one map.

Attractions Hotels Restaurants Ice cream 🍦

Event Venue

Where the event happens — logistics, address, and access details all in one place.

University campus

📍 Address: DETI, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro — about 15-min walk south of the old town, or a quick Bolt · Open in Maps
📅 Dates: Sep 3 – 4, 2026 (Thu – Fri)
🕘 Hours: Typically 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily — confirm final schedule with organisers
🚇 Transit: Aveiro train station (~15 min walk to old town, then ~15 min walk to DETI) · Bolt is ~5 min from town · flat enough to cycle
🪪 Access: Bring government-issued photo ID for badge pickup. Registration desk typically opens before first session — arrive 30 minutes early on day one.
✉️ Contact: Conference info at pycon.pt · follow @pyconpt for updates

Day by Day

Day 10 Sep 1 (Tue)

Alfa Pendular Lisbon → Aveiro (~2 hrs 20 min), arrive mid-morning. Drop bags, grab lunch.
Moliceiro boat ride on the canals — €13 adult, €6 kids, 45 min — Aveiro's "Little Venice" claim Map
Wander the old town, buy ovos moles — the local egg-yolk-and-rice-paper sweet, shaped like little white shells
Dinner at Mercado do Peixe for fresh seafood Map

Day 11 Sep 2 (Wed)

Bus or Bolt to Costa Nova (15 min) — famous candy-striped fishermen's houses lining the beach Map
Morning beach time on the long Atlantic strand — manageable break, lifeguarded, full facilities. Atlantic is bracing but the kids will go in.
Lunch on grilled sardines or fresh fish at one of the beachfront tascas
Walk south along the boardwalk to Praia da Barra and the Farol de Aveiro — Portugal's tallest lighthouse (62m), open Wednesday afternoons for the climb Map
Late afternoon back to Aveiro for dinner. Get to bed early — conference starts tomorrow.

Day 12 Sep 3 (Thu)

PyCon Portugal Day 1 at DETI, Universidade de Aveiro (~15-min walk south of old town, or quick Bolt) ↗
Family day trip option: Coimbra (~30 min train each way, €5 pp) — Joanina Library, Sé Velha, lunch in the old town. Perfect for teenagers. Map
Ice cream selfie: Gelados de Portugal — try the ovos moles flavour by the canal, perfect PyCon selfie backdrop Map
5:30 PM — pre-dinner sunset at Costa Nova (15-min Bolt). Walk along the striped houses, watch the Atlantic light go gold.
8:00 PM — Anniversary dinner at Salpoente — converted salt warehouse on the canal, modern Portuguese, regularly Aveiro's #1 restaurant for occasions. Tasting menu ~€70 pp + wine. Tell them in advance it's your 20th — Portuguese restaurants take care of these things sweetly. ↗ Map
Backup if Salpoente is booked: O Bairro (modern Portuguese, intimate) or Ramona (creative, smaller)
Rest of the family: Tasquinha do Lagar (traditional, fun, casual) — different place so the evening is properly yours Map

Day 13 Sep 4 (Fri)

PyCon Portugal Day 2 at DETI ↗
Family beach option A: São Jacinto Dunes nature reserve — ferry across the lagoon + walk through wild dune beaches, the quietest beach near Aveiro Map
Family beach option B: longer day at Costa Nova / Praia da Barra if everyone loved it Map
Non-beach option: Salinas de Aveiro working salt pans — kids can do a guided tour and learn how flor de sal is harvested Map
Or BUGA bikes — Aveiro's free city bike system, perfect for flat canal paths Map
Ice cream selfie: Gelataria Italiana on Rua de Coimbra — group selfie with PyCon friends Map
Conference ends Friday — pack tonight, light dinner, early bed

Day 14 Sep 5 (Sat)

🚆

Sep 5 — 8:30 AM private van pickup → Porto Airport by 9:45 AM → 12 PM flight back to Vancouver.

Conference Tradition

A Mariatta tradition — at every conference, snap a photo with an ice cream. Here are the sweet spots scouted for this trip.

Rua João Mendonça, near Canal Central, Aveiro · Maps ↗

Try Ovos moles, pastel de nata, Portuguese-inspired flavours

Photo Canal-side setting with moliceiro boats in the background — perfect PyCon selfie spot

Rua de Coimbra, Aveiro · Maps ↗

Try Classic Italian-style gelato, pistachio, stracciatella

Photo Walking distance from the canal — great for a group selfie with PyCon friends

Aveiro city centre — check for exact location · Maps ↗

Try Seasonal Portuguese fruit sorbets, tart cherry, fig

Photo Colourful storefront — bold backdrop for a post-session photo