Portugal’s Tallest Lighthouse

Portugal’s coast is dotted with lighthouses that have been guiding ships to safe harbor for centuries.

Praia da Barra Lighthouse (Farol de Aveiro) origin story

Portugal’s tallest lighthouse (62 meters, 203 feet) is on the Costa Nova of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the city of Aveiro. The beacon was constructed between 1879 and 1893 and outfitted with a third-order Fresnel lens and a 1,000 watt lamp with a range of about 23 miles.

The light is still maintained by keepers who live at the lighthouse and keep the lantern room and its equipment spotless.

Visiting the Praia da Barra Lighthouse

While it is nice to admire the lighthouse from the outside, on Wednesdays it opens to the public. Don’t look online for tickets. They don’t exist. Instead, stand outside the door to the lighthouse and wait for the captain to greet you. He holds a clipboard and will ask your name and the number in your party. He’ll then give you a time to come back. Lighthouse tours normally run from 2-5pm on Wednesday.

After a short introduction to the lighthouse, climb the 271 steps to the top, followed by 3 sets of ladders to the lantern room. Here, another lighthouse employee will answer your questions and show you the little bulb that powers the light.

Of course, from the top of the lighthouse there are incredible views of Costa Nova, the beach, and the ocean. I hope you get a nice sunny day like we did because it’s really awe inspiring!

Getting to Costa Nova

Aveiro doesn’t have an airport but it’s pretty easy to get there by train from Porto (1 hour) or Lisbon (2 hours 15 minutes). Buses are also frequent and cheaper than the train, though a little slower. Driving is also an option, of course.

Once in Aveiro, you can take an Uber or drive to Costa Nova in 15 minutes. Walking isn’t an option as the route is along a busy highway with no sidewalk. If you have time, you can take the bus, but it takes an hour to get there.

About the Author

Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides to cities around the world on Destination Eat Drink, including in-depth eating and drinking guides in Portugal. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.