São Jacinto & Aveiro in October: Light, Tech & Ceramics

The coast of central Portugal cools down in October, but doesn't shut down. Travelers from Canada, the UK, and northern Europe often prefer this milder season. Casa dos Jacintos guests visiting for the first time are sometimes surprised by the number of visitors from Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, and the UK they still encounter in the streets of Aveiro and on São Jacinto's Ria promenade in October and November.

October brings autumnal charm to the villages and towns around the Ria de Aveiro. With the wind picking up, there's still plenty of sun. It cools down to an average of 19°C / 66°F in October, with beach weather in the mid-20s°C / upper 70s°F being more the rule than the exception. It's definitely not too cold yet to enjoy your coffee or seafood treat "al fresco" in São Jacinto.

5 Things to Do and See Around Aveiro in October

• Follow the light. Aveiro celebrates Light Art & Technology with the PRISMA festival (8‑11 Oct., free). Discover light installations, video mapping, and interactive works scattered throughout the city center. This year's theme, "The Shape of Things," features twenty projects that explore geometry and perception. Installations appear in historic spaces such as the Carmelite Church and the Santa Joana Museum. Families are invited to join workshops and videomapping classes. PRISMA is part of the annual Aveiro Tech Week (6-12 Oct.).
  
• Glide on water. Take a ride on a moliceiro and admire the city of Aveiro's unique Art Nouveau façades. The brightly painted moliceiro boats, once used to haul seaweed, now offer leisurely tours along Aveiro's canals. The boats are moored on Rua João Mendonça near Jardim do Rossio. Cruises run daily from 10:00 to 18:30 (earlier start at weekends) and cost around €15 for a 45-minute ride. After the cruise, stroll among Aveiro's Art Nouveau gems and visit the Art Nouveau Museum (Casa do Major Pessoa, 1909).

• Take the "Venice of Portugal" marketing with a grain of salt. Literally. Experience Aveiro's rich salt‑making heritage at the Salinas de Aveiro. The salt pans east of the city have been producing sea salt since the 10th century. Local marnotos still rake the salt by hand, creating a mosaic of shallow pools that attract wading birds and other wildlife.
  
  Guided tours, lasting approximately an hour, explain the evaporation process and its ecological importance. Visitors learn how salt supported Aveiro's economy and can purchase artisanal sea salt as a souvenir. These tours operate through October, and the cooler weather makes walking around the pans comfortable.

• Seize the "golden hour". Visitors with a "photographer's eye" often take advantage of the soft morning and golden afternoon light, as well as the fog shrouding the Aveiro canals, the Ria, and marshlands on some days. Birdwatchers should not miss the São Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve.
  
  The reserve is situated on a barrier peninsula between the lagoon and the Atlantic, offering accessible walking trails and observation points. Whether you carry a camera or binoculars, October's mild weather and fewer crowds make nature excursions especially rewarding.
  
  Visitors with a "photographer's eye" often take advantage of the soft morning and golden afternoon light, as well as the fog shrouding the Aveiro canals, the Ria, and marshlands on some days. A favorite photo shoot destination is the historic "company town" of nearby Vista Alegre, Portugal's famous porcelain manufacturer, which sits on the banks of the Ria, southwest of Aveiro in Ílhavo. 
  
  The town of Ovar, also known as Portugal's Living Tile City, attracts visitors in October with its visual mix of fall foliage, tile art, and historic architecture, located just half an hour north by car from Casa dos Jacintos.

• Explore ceramic art and design: Contemporary ceramics are celebrated at the Aveiro Biennial this month. The 17th International Biennial of Artistic Ceramics of Aveiro opens on October 18 . It runs until January 18, 2026 , at the Museu de Aveiro / Santa Joana. This year's jury selected 110 works by 96 artists from 782 submissions, representing diverse geographies and innovative approaches.
  
  The exhibition aims to reinforce the Aveiro Biennial as a global reference event. It's open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00‑12:30 and 13:30‑18:00, and a Biennial pass costs €5 (https://bienalceramicaaveiro.pt ). Around town, exhibition "touchpoints " invites visitors to contemplate contemporary ceramics at their own pace.

A fall visit to São Jacinto and Aveiro doesn't require high energy or a packed agenda. With cultural festivals, gentle boat rides, living history, and unspoiled nature, the region invites you to slow down and savor art, conversation, heritage, and outdoor enjoyment.

Alex Alves
Alex writes about travel, technology, and business.