Lesser-known ‘Venice of Portugal’ has sandy beaches, picturesque canals & is only 3 hours from UK
THERE’S a city in Europe that’s been likened to Venice for several years, but it’s considerably easier on the bank balance.
Travel experts have dubbed Aveiro the “Venice of Portugal” thanks to its network of canals and colourful boats.
Why Aveiro?
Set on the central coast of Portugal, Aveiro is known for its canals, colourful boats, nouveau architecture, and fishing industry.
Because of these similarities, the Portuguese port city has been compared to Venice for many years.
Local newspaper, the Portugal News, wrote: “Aveiro is known as the Venice of Portugal, because, like the Italian city, it also has an estuary that runs in the centre of the city, where boats known as Moliceiros circulate, which cross the estuary during sightseeing tours.”
Meanwhile, Tour Travel and More added: “It is also known as the ‘Venice of Portugal’ because it has three canals that divide this city into areas like the northern zone, the old fishermen’s area, and the historical buildings in the south.”
While the canals and boats are rather similar, the prices at bars, restaurants, and hotels are significantly better value – making a trip to Aveiro much cheaper.
At a one-hour drive away, Porto is the closest airport to Aveiro.
Both Ryanair and easyJet operate direct flights from several airports in the UK, including Belfast, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and London.
Flights cost as little as £26 for a return ticket, and with a flight time of two hours and 30 minutes, holidaymakers will arrive in the Portuguese city in less time than it takes to get to Athens, Greece, and Lanzarote, Spain.
Hotels in Aveiro are extremely affordable too.
Sun Online Travel have found an overnight stay at Costa do Sal Hotel Boat Lounge, a four-star beachfront hotel, for £27.50 per person, based on two people sharing a room.
There are even cheaper spots too, like a double bedroom with a balcony for £15 per person.
While hotels with similar amenities in Venice cost more than twice the price.
Food and drink in the city is cheap too, with a pint of beer costing €2 (£1.74), while a meal at an inexpensive restaurant can cost just €8 (£6.96).
When booking a trip, summer is the best time to go as temperatures can reach 29C.
What is there to do in Aveiro?
While Aveiro may not be as large as Venice, there are plenty of things to do in the port city.
One of the city’s main attractions is a Moliceiro Boat Tour along the Ria de Aveiro – a lagoon in Portugal.
Boat tours operate from sunrise to sunset throughout the year, with prices starting from £12 per person.
Other attractions include Oficina do Doce – a workshop where visitors will get the opportunity to make traditional Portuguese sweets like Ovos Moles.
A workshop costs €4.30 (£3.74) for a 30-minute session.
Another popular attraction is the Paiva Walkways (also known as Passadiços do Paiva).
The Paiva Walkways are an 8km stretch of wooden walkways that snake up and down the hillside along the Paiva River.
Entry to the walkways costs €12 (£10.44) per person.
Other attractions in the city include the Museum of Aveiro, which is located in an old convent.
There are several sandy beaches nearby, which can be reached on public buses.
These beaches include Barra Beach and São Jacinto Beach.
What else is there to do in Portugal?
As a popular holiday hotspot, Portugal certainly isn’t short of tourist attractions.
The Portuguese capital of Lisbon is a popular spot among British holidaymakers.
There are plenty of impressive sights within the city, including the Castle of Sao Jorge and the National Azulejo Museum.
Meanwhile, there’s also Sintra, a Unesco World Heritage Site, that’s just a few miles outside the city.
Earlier this year, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) published its newest list of Best Tourism Villages for 2023.
Among the list was the Portuguese village of Ericeira, which has been dubbed a haven for beach-goers.
Meanwhile, Comporta has been hailed as Portugal’s best beach – even attracting the likes of Madonna.
What else do I need to know?
The local language in Aveiro is Portuguese, but English is likely to be spoken throughout the city.
Portugal is in the same time zone as the UK.
The local currency is the Euro with £10 getting around €11.52.
There are currently no Covid restrictions and Brits can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days without a visa.
However, your passport must have at least three months left after the day you plan to leave.
But Aveiro isn’t the only city that’s been compared to Venice in recent months and years.
Earlier this year, holidaymakers compared one city in the UK to Venice thanks to its quaint canals and waterways and Italian delis.
Cambridge in eastern England has been likened to Venice for many years because both cities share an important bridge.
Meanwhile, one European city has been dubbed the quirky “Venice of Spain” – it’s loved by locals and unknown by most Brits.
A tiny town in Scotland has been compared to a stunning Italian island thanks to its bright buildings.
Here are some other UK spots that look like they could be abroad.