Ílhavo is a Portuguese city, located in the District of Aveiro, Central region and sub-region of Baixo Vouga.

It is the seat of a municipality with 73.48 km ² of area and subdivided into 4 freguesias. The municipality is divided in three different places by arms of the Rim of Aveiro and is limited to the north and northeast by the municipality of Aveiro (terrestrial limit to the northwest and through of the estuary to the north) and to the south by Vagos.

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There is always one more reason for liking the Ílhavo Muncipio. Be it the light, the water, the history or the food, there will always be another reason waiting in every alley, every sunset, every dive, or whatever! Take our suggestions and discover one more ...

To camp
Arte Nova and other architectural references
Arts and Crafts
Nautical adventures
Birds
Codfish
Landscape beauty
Bicycles
Outdoor swimming pool
Canoeing and Rowing
Carnival of Vale de Ílhavo
Horses and horse riding
Cultural and performing arts centers
Shopping
Creativity
Sport
Sporting Goods
Play and educational equipment
Ecological Spirit
Events
Barra Lighthouse
Popular and religious festivals
Festivals and other events
Gastronomy
Large Sailboats
History and Culture
Ílhavo accessible
Free Ílhavo
Oudinot Garden
Costa Nova Fish Market
Diving
Water Skis
Mini golf
Museums and museum spaces
Foliar
Ride and Sea Tours
Fishing
People and Culture
Praia da Barra
Costa Nova Beach
Ria de Aveiro
Surfing and Bodyboarding
Candle
Happy view
Windsurfing and kitesurfing

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In fact, no other Portuguese municipality can claim such a close link to Bacalhau. It is closely linked to the history and daily life of the municipality. But there are other delicacies with which you can delight yourself.
 
Cod is the king of Ilhaven gastronomy. It is cooked in a thousand and one shapes in all the menus of the local restaurants. In August, it is even celebrated in the Oudinot Garden, the Bacalhau Festival, organized by the municipality and by the Confraria Gastronómica do Bacalhau. There you can taste it but also its derivatives, which are not so usual to find in the national restaurants. Samos, languages, faces and other parts of the "faithful friend", prepared in the good way of traditional Ilhavense and Portuguese cuisine.
 
The historical and cultural context of Bacalhau can best be understood by visiting the Santo André Ship Museum, a former codfish trawler, now open to the public (with the exception of Mondays), and which for fifty years crossed the North Seas. Built in 1949 in Holland, on order from the Aveiro Fishing Company, Santo André has a length of 71.40 meters, which tells the story of the sea lions in the hard and exciting epic of cod, perpetuated in the memory and customs of this population hand in hand with the Sea.
 
The Ílhavo Maritime Museum, of which the Saint Andrew is a pole, also provides a historical complement to the importance and tradition of the sea island. But here you will find, in its fullness, the remaining island fishing traditions that are reflected in the local cuisine through fresh fish, grilled or caldeiradas. If you choose to prepare your own meals do not forget to visit the Costa Nova Fish Market.
 
This market is the only one in the country with seafood cooking in its facilities, which allows the connoisseurs to appreciate the shellfish directly, without the need for their preparation at home. Also in August is the Ria a Gosto, the seafood festival of Costa Nova Beach, on the nearby turf.
 
In the market you will find the freshest ingredients, which supply the restaurants nearby. In these you can also enjoy other delicacies of fishing base ingredients from other traditional local and regional dishes such as eels, fries or stews, or in March, the galiota. Also try pickled mussels, fish soups and the most traditional of all, the cries, typical food of the sailors embarking on the icy seas of Greenland and Newfoundland.
 
If you prefer the desserts, ask for cream milk or sweet rice in the style of Ílhavo or even the simple tripe, which can be found in the street kiosks. Pumpkin potatoes or corn mashed potatoes are other local delicacies, rarer but especially appreciated.
 
What could never be forgotten are the famous Padas of Vale de Ílhavo, as well as the Folares also of this zone. Confections for the ancestral knowledge of bakers are particularly appreciated in the region. Do not miss it. Embark on this delicious adventure!

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The summers are hot and dry especially in the interior regions, and on the coast - in the case of Ílhavo, the heat is moderated by the maritime influence.
 
During the autumn there are often sunny days with mild temperatures which, when they occur in early November, are popularly referred to as the "summer of Saint Martin", due to the proximity of the date on which this saint is celebrated.

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