The Dunas de Sao Jacinto protect a quiet stretch of dunes, pine woods, wetlands, and Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Aveiro lagoon. Marked walks give visitors a slower, wilder counterpoint to Aveiro's canals and tiled streets.
Go for open coastal scenery, birdlife, and a sense of the lagoon landscape beyond the city. Bring water and sun protection, and check access and transport in advance because the reserve is separated from central Aveiro by the lagoon.