Cais da Fonte Nova, Lote 5, Aveiro, Portugal | (251) 219-4428
Next to Centro de Congressos de Aveiro
Within 10-minute walk of Aveiro’s old town and a train station
Modern rooms with air-conditioning, minibars, hairdryers and LCD TVs
Suites have separate living rooms, Nespresso machines, and robes
Restaurant serving Portuguese and international fare
Lobby bar offering casual grub and drinks until late
Health club with pool, sauna, and Turkish bath (fee)
Fully equipped fitness room and adjacent spa
Business center and meeting spaces
Free hotel-wide Wi-Fi
Fee to access wellness facilities
Noise can rise up from the atrium
Opened in 2005, the upper-middle-range, 128-room Melia Ria Hotel is a contemporary property with easy access to Aveiro’s Cultural and Congress Center, plus an impressive range of amenities. The town center and train station are within a 10-minute walk, and the hotel is quiet. A restaurant serves Portuguese specialties and international fare, while a lobby has casual fare and is open late. There is a comprehensive wellness complex, too, although access to its indoor pool, spa, and gym costs extra. Rooms are spacious and handsome, outfitted with desks, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and flat-screen TVs, plus espresso machines and sitting rooms in Suites. For something with more charm and closer to museums, consider Hotel Moliceiro instead.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Contemporary, if average, hotel outside the city center
The Melia Ria Hotel's modern cube-like structure sets the tone for a contemporary stay. Interiors are done in a handsome black, white, and red color scheme, with lots of polished surfaces, simple beige sofas in rows, and generic artwork. An atrium, however, stands out, with railings lined in cascading plants, a red-velvet couch, and large red vases holding spherical plants. Unfortunately, noise has reportedly risen up from here into guest rooms. The look continues in the lobby bar, while the restaurant has a more upscale, though understated feel with leather seats, striped accent walls, and tables draped in beige cloths. There's not a ton that makes this property stand out, though an on-site health club is a perk for those with time to spend at the property.
Location
Near the convention center and within walking distance of the old town
This small city of Aveiro -- nicknamed the Venice of Portugal -- is known for its canals, and the Melia Ria sits at the quiet end of one next to the Cultural and Congress Center (Centro de Congressos de Aveiro). That makes the hotel a practical option for business travelers, but sightseers will also appreciate the fact that following the waterside path will lead to the historic town center in less than 10 minutes on foot. For those who don’t feel like walking, a tourist bus stops outside the hotel in summer; boat trips aboard traditional gondola-like "moliceiros" offer an alternate means of transportation. As a result, a car isn’t required, but garage parking is available for a fee on-site. Arriving and departing guests can take advantage of frequent local train service connecting Aveiro to Lisbon, Porto, and other points or travel by air via Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, situated about an hour's drive north in Porto.- Two-minute walk to the Cultural and Congress Center
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with shower/tub combos, minibars, and toiletries
Designed in a similar style to common areas, rooms have a contemporary, neutral-tone look with pops of red. Simple dark-wood furnishings, white walls, and bright-red throw pillows are attractive, and water-themed photographs -- some of the city’s signature "moliceiro" boats -- in sepia tones add some local character. Overall, however, the look is a bit staid. Sufficient amenities consist of individually controlled air-conditioning, irons and ironing boards, minibars, digital safes, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, work desks, and free Wi-Fi. Straightforward white-tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos, bidets, and stylish vessel sinks. Hairdryers and an array of free toiletries are provided. Premium Rooms add electric kettles and guaranteed water views (as opposed to city ones), while Suites add separate living rooms, bathrobes, and espresso machines.
Features
Wellness complex for a fee, plus a restaurant and lobby bar
The Melia Ria stands out for its variety of on-site features, though some cost extra to access. The highlight is the first-floor Health Club, which houses a spa for treatments, a sizable indoor pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. Also here is a big and bright gym outfitted with all the necessary cardio and strength-training equipment. Unfortunately, access to any of these facilities requires a fee. For dining, Do Lago Restaurant serves international buffets for breakfast, and a la carte Portuguese and Western fare for lunch and dinner. Food receives positive reviews across the board. For something more casual, guests can grab salads and sandwiches, in addition to drinks, at the lobby bar, which is open late.A business center and multiple meeting and event spaces are on-site. Wi-Fi is free throughout, while parking requires a fee.
