A Day in Águeda, the Umbrella City of Portugal

I’m sure you’ve already seen those famous streets covered with colorful umbrellas on social media. But did you know this project was born in Portugal?

The famous Umbrella Sky Project was launched in Águeda, a small town in central Portugal, about twenty kilometers from Aveiro.

When I discovered that the birthplace of this project wasn’t that far from our summer vacation spot, I immediately wanted to go. So we planned a day to discover Águeda and its surroundings… and clearly, the town is not just about its umbrellas. Shall I take you there?

✤✤✤

Águeda: an artistic town in central Portugal

Águeda is a Portuguese town in the central region, located 23 kilometers from Aveiro. Often overshadowed by the latter, it has gained strong worldwide recognition since 2012, when the famous Umbrella Sky project was launched. In my opinion, the ideal plan is to combine visits to both places. Even though Agueda isn’t big, you can easily spend a full day there, or even two… And if you’re in the area, it would be a shame to miss it, wouldn’t it?

What to do and see in Agueda?

Of course, one of the main reasons people come to visit Águeda is its colorful umbrellas. Still, the town has other assets: beautiful churches, lots of street art, and some very nice surroundings. Here’s what we were able to see in one day.

The Umbrella Sky Project

The “Umbrella Sky” project was launched in 2012 by artist Patricia Cunha in her hometown, Águeda. The concept? Between July 1 and September 30, several colorful art installations are spread throughout the town (umbrellas, but not only). The artist surrounded herself with people who, like her, want to “color life, bring color to the gray spaces of cities, and make passersby smile”! That’s the motto of Impactplan, the agency that now manages the project. All you have to do is wander around the historic center to admire the umbrellas and other visual rainbows ^^! By the way, in some streets, you won’t even know where to look!

After its success in Portugal, the project traveled through several countries, was shared massively on social media, and kept growing in popularity. Since then, several installations have even taken place in Paris, and we eagerly went to admire them, in Bercy and at La Madeleine! 🙂

Street art in Águeda: an open-air gallery town

There are also tons of street art pieces around town. Every year, new murals appear and others are replaced. For those in the know, there are several works by Bordalo II, including a cat, a bird, and a frog. When we were on our way to visit Agueda, while doing some research, I came across this map, perfect for not missing anything! Neither the temporary works nor the street art pieces. I imagine it’s regularly updated; in any case, you can use it for the street art without any problem. 😉 You can also download this app, which lists all the urban art, but I haven’t tested it… Feel free to let us know in the comments if you know it or have tried it…

AgitAgueda

In addition to the Umbrella Sky project, the town organizes many concerts, festivities, and events every weekend in July. The full 2026 program is available on the official AgitÁgueda website. They’re the ones who provide the map I shared with you a little earlier.

Igreja Matriz de Águeda

This is the town’s main church, as well as one of its oldest buildings. Its exterior isn’t very extravagant, but I think it’s the perfect example of a typical Portuguese church: white, with stone highlighting its curves. The interior, on the other hand, is much more “flashy,” with a gilded altar.

Chapel of Saint Sebastian

I’m mentioning this small chapel because it’s where one of Bordalo II’s street art pieces is located: the frog. I also found the contrast funny between this very typical little chapel and the rather recent, modern building behind it…

Pateira de Fermentelos: a natural treasure near Águeda

Pateira de Fermentelos is the largest natural lagoon on the Iberian Peninsula! I won’t lie, before coming to Águeda, I had never heard of it… I found it on several blogs, including one that described it as a secret gem… That was all it took to convince me! And then, how is it possible that we never hear about this lagoon if it’s the largest?

Once we arrived, we were immediately wrapped in this green setting, with the long wooden walkway toward the water calling us in… We walked around; in some places, the water was covered with large green leaves, with a few purple flowers standing out… They were water hyacinths… The place must be truly wonderful when all the flowers are in bloom… I understand better why people describe it as a little Eden… And in the end, I also understand why the secret is so well kept… Who would want to wander around here with a crowd? Ha ha!

On-site, there are picnic tables with a few families, probably locals, and hiking trails. It would be possible to do a loop in 2 or 3 hours… But we didn’t have enough time left… In any case, if you’re looking for a nature break, cut off from the world, don’t hesitate to make a short detour here…

✧ Other ideas for places to visit in Agueda : the archaeological site of Cabeço do Vouga, the Casa Museu Cancioneiro of Águeda, the medieval bridge over the Rio Marnel, the bamboo forest in the municipal park, and the Museu Ferroviário de Macinhata do Vouga.

What to do around Agueda?

Aveiro, the Portuguese Venice

Aveiro, also nicknamed the Portuguese Venice, is a pretty little coastal town in central Portugal. Known for its canals and its boats, the moliceiros, it’s one of the must-see places in the region. Local specialties, churches, a boat ride—I can only recommend spending a small day there… or more! Our article with all the info to visit Aveiro is right here!

Costa Nova

Often associated with Aveiro, Costa Nova is the place where you’ll find the colorful striped fishermen’s houses. I talk about it in detail in our article about Aveiro.

The church of Valéga

If you’ve been following us for a long time, you know our love for religious monuments and unusual churches… The church of Valéga, located in the village of the same name, is a magnificent church… completely covered in azulejos, the famous Portuguese ceramic tiles! Be sure to check its opening hours on its official website, because the first time we went there, we could only admire it from the outside! Our article about the church of Valega is right here!

Practical information for visiting Águeda

Where to stay?

As is often the case during our getaways in Portugal, we go for the day and don’t stay overnight. This time was no exception: we arrived in the morning and left at the end of the afternoon… Feel free to check booking or recommend places in the comments if you know any nice ones 🙂 .

Where to eat?

We arrived in the late morning and grabbed a quick snack on the go. Then, a little later, we had lunch in a random café—nothing special…

How to get there / get around

The ideal way is to come by car, especially if you feel like making a detour to the lagoon… Otherwise, you can reach Agueda by bus from Aveiro.

Agueda with a baby

The town is fairly flat, except when going up toward the main church. There are several access points via stairs—not very practical with a stroller, but it’s doable. It was a bit hot (normal in the middle of August in Portugal, heh heh), and even though the umbrellas provide shade, don’t forget to come well prepared…

Best time to visit

The ideal time to visit Águeda is summer, between July and September, during the festival and the Umbrella Sky Project installations.

✤✤✤

We loved this day in Águeda! The town is very cute, pleasant, and full of color—it really lifts your spirits! There’s enough to do for a day, or even two if you visit the railway museum or the archaeological site… It was a lovely discovery, and I wouldn’t mind going back for a little longer to visit the rest! My advice : plan a little extra time and explore the surroundings!

❓ FAQ – Águeda and the umbrellas