A stunning Portugese city that boasts beautiful canals and boats have seen it compared to Venice – but without the huge crowds of tourists. Aveiro, a city on the Mediterranean southern country’s west coast, has been getting a lot of attention recently as travellers eye up a spring getaway.
Many travellers are keen to find lesser-known spots to avoid the long queues found at the more famous holiday hotspots, and if you’re one of them, Aveiro might be just the place for you. The city is said to have “far fewer tourists than its Italian counterpart” according to the i newspaper, but it certainly doesn’t lack beauty.
Visitors can take a ride on the brightly painted moliceiro boats, which were once used for seaweed harvesting but have since been repurposed to provide scenic rides though its romantic waterways.
Vibrant colour is a feature of the area, with pretty homes painted in bright hues around the nearby Costa Nova beach, which is framed by sanddunes.
Much like Venice, the city also has a rich maritime history and thriving fishing industry. The location on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean is is also an important seaport.
Aveiro’s city centre is compact, making it a great place to explore on foot, and is home to impressive Art Nouveau architecture.
For culture buffs, there’s also a great selection museums, such as the Museum of Aveiro, which offers insights into the region’s history, and the Art Nouveau Museum.
It also enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, with average lows in march of 8C and highs of 17C, according to NOAA data.
Top temperatures rise through the summer, peaking at average highs of 24C in August.
Expedia suggests Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO/LPPR) in Porto is the best airport to fly into to visit Aveiro.
Flights only take around two-and-a-half hours. Aveiro is then around one hour and 20 minutes away by bus or subway and train, according to Rome2Rio.
