DominguesOvar is increasingly known for its azulejos, which cover the façades of many of the buildings in its historic center, as well as some of the churches. Ovar’s churches, in particular, are one of the municipality’s main attractions, especially the churches of Válega and Cortegaça, which for many visitors are among the top most beautiful churches in Portugal.
If you’re looking for good beaches, Ovar also has a few to choose from, including Furadouro beach and Esmoriz beach. Next to the latter, it’s unthinkable to ignore the Paramos lagoon and the Barrinha de Esmoriz walkways.
There’s also Ria de Aveiro, which you shouldn’t miss. In this article I’m going to give you an itinerary of the main quays of Ria de Aveiro in this region, so that you can set off to discover incredible landscapes.
Want to know everything there is to see and do in Ovar? Then read on.
Where is Ovar located, in Portugal?
Ovar is located in the northern part of Ria de Aveiro. It is a municipality bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, on the coast of Portugal, and also borders Espinho, Santa Maria da Feira, Oliveira de Azeméis, Estarreja and Murtosa.
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How to get to Ovar?
It’s very easy to get to Ovar, as the coastal area of the country has excellent transport infrastructure. You can take the train, for example, which connects Aveiro to Porto. You can also choose to take a car, and for this I suggest renting one with Discover Cars, if you don’t have your own.
When to visit Ovar?
You can visit Ovar at any time of the year, without exception. There are lots of things to do in Ovar, and summer is only advantageous because of its longer days, as well as the possibility of enjoying the beaches and doing some water activities in Ria de Aveiro.
When it comes to festivities and events not to be missed in Ovar, consider the following:
- The Ovar Carnival, which is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most traditional in Portugal. I’ve been to the Ovar Carnival several years ago, and I remember really enjoying it! 😉
- The Lenten Processions in Ovar, held in the heart of the city’s historic center.
- Ovar in Jazz (April).
- The festivities related to the Azulejos, in May.
- Ovar International Puppet Festival, in June.
- The Ovar Sponge Cake Festival in July. This is a must, as Pão de Ló (sponge cake) is the municipality’s most typical sweet.
- The Sea Festivals (in Esmoriz, Cortegaça and Furadouro), on the last weekend of August and the 1st and 2nd of September, respectively.
- And São Silvestre and New Year’s Eve in December.
Gastronomy and Restaurants in Ovar
As far as the region’s gastronomy is concerned, Ovar’s Pão de Ló (sponge cake) clearly stands out as the main ex-libris, moist with egg jam. It’s really delicious, and I recommend the one from Flor do Liz, which is the one I tried and which was recommended to me by the locals themselves. You can also try the Roscas de Ovar and the typical Ovos Moles de Aveiro.
Ovar has a strong connection with the sea, so fish is a good bet. The fish stews and eel stews stand out.
As for restaurants, I recommend the following, but there are many others:
- Mil Razões, in the center of Ovar! I had dinner here and really enjoyed it! 😉
- Oxalá, fabulous but more expensive.
- Tasco, an excellent fish restaurant on Furadouro beach. I had dinner there too. 😉
- And Marisqueira Santola, in Esmoriz.
Accommodation tips to visit Ovar
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Balcony GuestHouse | 9.5 | Ovar |
| Feel At Home | 8.6 | Ovar |
| Furadouro Surf Camp | 9.1 | Furadouro |
| Furadouro Boutique Hotel | 8.0 | Furadouro |
| BeHappy Lodge | 9.4 | Esmoriz |
| BeachWalk GuestHouse | 9.1 | Esmoriz |
| Cork Train Station | 9.3 | Esmoriz |
| Casa Lagoa Verde | 9.4 | Esmoriz |
Things to do in Ovar | Portugal
To help you plan a visit to Ovar, in this article I’ll give you some tips on tourist attractions not to be missed and activities to do. I’ve decided to organize this section according to the following structure:
- Visit the center of Ovar
- Visit the best beaches in Ovar
- Visit Válega and Cortegaça
- Visit Esmoriz
- Explore Ria de Aveiro in Ovar
- Other places to visit in Ovar
Map | Things to do in Ovar
Visit the Center of Ovar
The center of Ovar can be visited in a morning or an afternoon, as it is relatively compact. 😉 Below I describe the places you can’t miss.
1. Ovar Urban Park
Ovar Urban Park is located on the banks of river Cáster, right in the city center. It covers more than 7 hectares and is divided into two areas, one to the left of Pelames Bridge and the other to the right. Highlights include its extensive lawns, some exercise equipment and the Pelames Mill. The park was inaugurated in 2013.
2. Capelas dos Passos in Ovar
Once you’ve finished the urban park, head towards the Volunteer Fire Brigade Square. Along the way you’ll pass two “chapels of the steps” (capelas dos passos), one of them next to this square. In total, there are 7 chapels of this type scattered around the city, all from the 18th century in rococo style and symbolizing the passion of Christ:
- Capela do Passo do Pretório, located inside Ovar’s Mother Church.
- Capelas do Passo do Encontro e da Queda, both in Rua Alexandre Herculano.
- Capela do Passo do Cirineu, in Rua Cândido Reis, next to the Fire Brigade square I just mentioned.
- Capela do Passo da Verónica, in Ovar’s Republic Square.
- Capela do Passo das Filhas de Jerusalém, in Mouzinho de Albuquerque square.
- And Capela do Calvário, in Largo dos Combatentes.
During my visit to Ovar, I found only one of them open. I’ve left photos below to illustrate what you can expect from its exterior and interior, and on the map in this article you’ll find them all marked.
3. Rua do Azulejo (Cândido dos Reis)
As far as the so-called Rua do Azulejo is concerned, consider that it’s actually Rua Cândido dos Reis, which then runs along Republic Square. If you take this road, I’m sure you’ll be amazed by the many tile patterns in the houses of the city.
The municipality of Ovar has been very clever in using the tiles as one of its main attractions, but obviously there are many other cities with awesome tiles in Portugal, such as Porto.
4. Campos Garden and Chapel of Souls
Don’t forget to take a detour to the Chapel of Souls, located at one end of the beautiful Campos garden. This chapel also goes by the name of Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Parto and was built at the beginning of the 19th century.
5. Júlio Dinis House-Museum
Also on the outskirts of Campos garden you’ll find Júlio Dinis House-Museum, which you can visit at a symbolic cost. This house was inhabited by the writer in 1863, when he was recovering from tuberculosis, and allows you to understand how a typical house of the region was constituted at that time.
Júlio Dinis is undoubtedly one of the great Portuguese authors, having written novels that are well known to the general public, such as Pupilas do Senhor Reitor or Morgadinha dos Canaviais. 😉 I’ve already read these two, what about you?
6. Republic Square in Ovar
Ovar’s Republic Square is the most imposing in the city, and also the most central, with the Town Hall built here at the end of the 19th century. As a curiosity, this square was once known as Praça do Comércio, because until 1910 it was home to a street market.
7. Church of Santo António
At one end of Ovar’s Republic Square you’ll find the 17th century Church of Santo António. It is lined with tiles, but they only date from the 20th century. The niche with the image of Saint Anthony, the bell tower and the clock in the center of the façade stand out.
8. Ovar Museum
Next is the Ovar Museum, a mostly ethnographic museum. I had the privilege of being accompanied by a very nice lady who gave me lots of details about the typical costumes of the people of Ovar, what the region’s houses looked like in the old days, and many traditions that they want to preserve.
I also remember a huge collection of dolls from all over the world. 😉 It may have nothing to do with the museum’s main theme, but I thought it was brilliant!
9. Ovar’s Chicken Square
After visiting the Ovar Museum, you’ll come to Chicken Square (Praça das Galinhas), also known as Mouzinho de Albuquerque square, which stands out for its terraces, cafés and even nightclubs.
Around the square, in addition to the aforementioned Capela dos Passos, you’ll also find emblazoned buildings and others of great interest from the city’s past, such as the Torreão dos Armazéns de Azeite, which dates back to the first decade of the 20th century.
10. Neptune Fountain
Moving on to Square Família Soares Pinto, I’d like to point out that this was once the site of the old granary of Ovar Castle. As far as the Neptune Fountain is concerned, it is very important in the history of this town, as it appeared in 1877 as its first public water supply. Its name comes from the statue of Neptune at the top, holding a trident in his right hand.
11. Ovar Palace of Justice
On the other side of Elias Garcia Street you’ll find the Ovar Palace of Justice, dating from 1966, with more tile panels to admire outside. They are by Jorge Barradas.
12. Caster Garden and Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça
You’ll once again come close to river Cáster, which you first followed in Ovar Urban Park. Now I highlight the Caster Garden, and then the gardens surrounding the Ovar Municipal Library, the Citizen Space and the Ovar Arts Center. You’ll find walkways along the river.
Further on, make a stop at the 17th century Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, not forgetting the detour to the Combatentes garden, where you’ll find the Chapel of Passo do Calvário, already mentioned in this article. 😉
13. Ovar Municipal Market
The Ovar Municipal Market is a must-see, especially on Thursday and Saturday mornings, when it is fully open and full of traders.
14. Mother Church of Ovar and Sacred Art House-Museum
I’d also like to mention the Mother Church of Ovar, or Church of São Cristóvão. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit it inside, as it was closed during my quick visit to the city. I guess I was just unlucky, because it is usually open. 😐
On the outskirts, how about visiting the Sacred Art House-Museum, owned by the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi? It’s a small space, but you’ll find there valuable pieces dating back to the 15th century.
15. Garret Garden
I’ll finish off the center of Ovar with the Garret Garden, which I think is the most beautiful in the city. It’s also the one I found to be the best kept.
Visit the best beaches in Ovar
Moving on to the best beaches in Ovar, you can choose from the following:
- Torrão do Lameiro Beach – very long and wild. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere, but there’s good access via a paved road.
- Furadouro beach, near the town of the same name. It’s a beach with a lot of infrastructure, and it wins for its proximity to the city of Ovar when compared to the others.
- São Pedro de Maceda Beach, with some cliffs caused by strong coastal erosion.
- Cortegaça Beach, excellent for water activities such as surfing and bodyboarding.
- And Esmoriz Beach, even further north. In addition to the beach, you will love visiting Barrinha de Esmoriz or Paramos lagoon, which I’ll introduce in the next section of this article.
As a curiosity, you’ll find 3 campsites on the Ovar coast: in Furadouro, Cortegaça and Esmoriz.
1. Areinho River Beach
There is also a Areinho River Beach, on Ria de Aveiro, but bear in mind that it’s only really suitable for a dip during high tide, as when the water recedes there’s a lot of silt next to the sand, which isn’t very inviting or pleasant.
Note: at Areinho beach it is possible to rent canoes or pedalos during the bathing season. An activity not to be missed if you want to explore more of Ria de Aveiro, don't you agree?
2. Furadouro Beach
3. São Pedro de Maceda Beach
4. Esmoriz Beach
Visit Esmoriz
In the case of Esmoriz, you can’t miss a visit to its center, to see the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção and the public garden. If you book in advance, you can also visit the Josafer Cooperage, dedicated to the manufacture and repair of barrels and casks for the storage and ageing of wines and whiskies from around the world. Did you know that Esmoriz is Portugal’s cooperage capital?
It’s even more essential to walk the entire length of the Barrinha de Esmoriz walkways, which are about 6km long around the Paramos lagoon. You’ll find excellent birdwatching observatories along the way and excellent nature and beach spots.
I’d also like to mention Buçaquinho Environmental Park, with several ponds and a dense forest, ideal for picnics in warmer weather or for another pleasant walk. I’d like to highlight its watchtower, its tourist swing and the possibility of requesting a bicycle at the entrance, so that you can pedal around the park. 😉
1. Esmoriz Town Center
2. Walkways of Barrinha de Esmoriz
3. Buçaquinho Environmental Park
Visit Válega and Cortegaça
Válega and Cortegaça have impressive churches lined with tiles, namely the Church of Santa Maria de Válega and the Church of Santa Marinha de Cortegaça:
- The first church was built between the 18th and 19th centuries, and its tiles, made by the Aleluia factory and dating from 1960, are full of biblical themes.
- The second church, on the other hand, is more recent, dating from the second decade of the 20th century. It has two bell towers and a set of blue tiles depicting St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John Bosco, St. Francis of Assisi, the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary. It is beautifully framed by an avenue with huge palm trees.
In Válega, you can also visit the Oliveira Lopes School Museum. It’s completely free to visit and has a very interesting collection of exhibits relating to the schools of yesteryear, those of our parents or even grandparents. I especially loved the representation of a classroom from the first half of the 20th century, and seeing typical teaching objects from that time up close.
1. Church of Santa Marinha de Cortegaça
2. Válega Parish Church
3. Oliveira Lopes School Museum
Visit Ria de Aveiro in Ovar
If you want to get to know Ria de Aveiro in Ovar, it’s best to take part in some kind of water activity, such as canoeing or paddle-boarding. I’d like to remind you that it’s usually possible to rent canoes or pedalos on the aforementioned Areinho River Beach during the bathing season.
Another way to get to know Ria de Aveiro in Ovar is to drive along the main quays in the area. The landscape of Ria de Aveiro is truly beautiful, with plenty of beautiful places to enjoy a fantastic sunset, even if you don’t get your feet wet.
1. Carregal Quay
2. Azurreira Beach
3. Tijosa Quay
4. Ribeira de Ovar Quay
From Ribeira de Ovar Quay, you can continue to the mouth of the River Cáster. I recommend, however, that you do this on foot, as the access road is very narrow and dirt, and if you are unlucky enough to see another car coming in the opposite direction, it will be very difficult to reverse the situation. 😉
5. Moita Bridge
6. Puxadouro Quay
7. Torrão Quay
Other places to visit in Ovar
Finally, I’ll leave you with a list of other places to visit in the municipality of Ovar, but don’t think they’re any less mandatory than the previous ones, just because they appear at the end of this article.
1. Ovar Air Museum
How about visiting the Air Museum, located at the Ovar Aerodrome itself? It’s completely free, and even includes the experience of a military escort to the museum hangar, as it’s obviously not possible to roam freely inside the airfield. 😀 The museum has amazing aircraft that you can see up close, engines, weapons, and you can even enter cockpits full of buttons that pilots have to know how to use. I really enjoyed it, it was my favorite museum when I visited Ovar.
2. Stanislaus Fountain Park
Estanislau Fountain Park is for those looking for beautiful walkways beyond those of Barrinha de Esmoriz. They are very short, however, but there are many ruined windmills in the area, as well as small streams of water and even small waterfalls.
3. Amieiro Fountain Park
The Amieiro Fountain Park is the last spot I mention, with an excellent picnic area and a drinking fountain to cool off. 😉
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope you enjoyed this article and list of things to do in Ovar. Have a nice stay in my country! 😉 Tell me about your travels in the comment section below.
