Praia da Barra

Praia da Barra - The ideal refuge for sun and sand lovers

You don't have to go far from the centre of Aveiro to put your feet in the Atlantic Ocean and lay your head on the white sand of Barra beach. Located about 11 kilometres from the centre of Aveiro, with quick access from the A25 motorway, Barra beach is one of the locals' - and tourists' - favourite places to relax, socialise, eat and play. Whether on a sunny Sunday or during the long summer weeks, by car or by public transport, Barra is always a good option to relax and enjoy the view of the Atlantic.

Located in the municipality of Ílhavo, more precisely in the parish of Gafanha da Nazaré, the Praia da Barra faces the Atlantic Ocean directly, and also has one of its sides facing one of the arms of the Ria de Aveiro. This beach comes alive during July and August, when visitors - and not only - come to spend relaxing days in the sun, enjoy the good weather and indulge in the most emblematic speciality of this beach (as well as the neighbouring Costa Nova beach): the Tripa de Aveiro. This delicacy consists of a flour-based dough, lightly cooked in a specific machine, which is then filled with a filling of your choice, the most "traditional" being chocolate and ovos moles (Speciality of Aveiro). In reality, the dough of the tripa is similar to that used for the American biscuit - another delicacy not to be missed on a day at the beach - but it spends less time in the machine and, therefore, is less baked. Hence the name tripa, which means "tripe" in Portuguese, as the final product has a texture comparable to that of an animal's gut. 

A walk along the Barra pier

But a visit to Barra beach is not just about eating tripas. The Barra pier is the ideal place to take a long walk, along this path that penetrates well into the Atlantic. And, of course, at the beginning of the walk you can sit on one of the many esplanades and enjoy the life of the place - which, by the way, is hard to miss during the summer months, as the beach is so popular at that time.

In addition to walking along the cliffs, another activity worth doing is a visit to the Barra lighthouse, which, incidentally, is the highest lighthouse in the country and the second highest on the Iberian Peninsula. The structure, built in the 19th century, is 62 metres high (66 metres above average sea level) and houses a powerful beam of light capable of reaching distances of up to 43 kilometres (23 nautical miles). A visit to Barra Lighthouse is not a simple task, however. It is only open to the public on Wednesdays, from 2 to 5 pm.

Best places to eat - Barra Beach 

But when it's time for lunch (or dinner), there are plenty of options to satisfy your hunger in Barra. Around the lighthouse, for example, menus range from Mexican (or Japanese) cuisine at Bluefin to traditional restaurants. For those looking for a snack such as a hamburger or francesinha, the place to be is the restaurant at the Farol Hotel, an iconic beach venue that regularly features on Barra's postcards. Down Avenida Fernão de Magalhães, the options continue: from MIAMI burgers to bitoques do Marito and, further down, the Japanese restaurant Barba Azul, which attracts visitors from all over the district, many of whom travel to Barra just to eat at this place, a cousin of the famous Subenshi, located in Aveiro and Porto.

Surf in Aveiro

After eating - and digesting - it's time to return to the beach... or the water. For although it is known for its frequent yellow flags, the sea at Barra Beach caters to a very special niche of visitors: surfers. Throughout the year, wave lovers pick up their boards and head to Barra beach, where the importance of this sport is such that the Aveiro Surfing Association has its headquarters there. There is no shortage of surf schools, and the mythical Tribo do Sol is also located on this beach. This is a brand that every Aveiro citizen knows, because at least once in their life they will have crossed paths with the Tribo do Sol symbol. Whether it is on a car sticker, a surfboard or a sweatshirt, it is a brand that is well known in the district, dedicated to the promotion of surfing and everything that comes with it in Barra.

Night on Barra Beach

In the evening, once you've swapped your swimming costume for street clothes, the only thing left to do is choose where you're going to party, as this place has a wide range of bars. The best known of these is Seventh Year of Beach, a renovated restaurant/bar built in a hoop style on one of the dunes of Barra Beach, perfect for dining or just having a drink with your feet in the sand under the starry sky. Seventh Year Beach is Barra's best-known bar, but there are plenty of options. Lampião is also a must stop on the beach for visitors looking for some after-sun fun, as is Mondrian, a bar located in the more "internal" part of Barra. By internal, we mean that it is located in a part of this locality closer to the Ria than to the Atlantic.

Praia da Barra Camping Park

In the same area is the Praia da Barra Camping Park, another attraction of the city, which attracts many camping enthusiasts every year. The site covers more than 35,000 m2 and offers different types of accommodation: bungalows and flats, spaces for tents, caravans and motor homes. In terms of services, the campsite offers a bar, a mini-market, a restaurant (only in high season), a playground and a mini-golf course.