Vista Alegre

Travelers often ask, “Should I take a day trip from Porto and visit Aveiro”? And the answer is “YES!” It is like no other city in Portugal and on my list of top underrated cities on the peninsula. Aveiro is a city known for its canals, colorful boats, and Art Nouveau architecture. It is often referred to as the "Venice of Portugal" due to its network of canals and longboats or moliceiros. The city also has a strong tradition in ceramics, salt harvesting and tasty pastries as well as being located on the Atlantic coast, making it a popular destination for beachgoers. The beaches have a blue flag rating as well, which means the waters are rated as outstanding and pure. You might even like it enough to spend the night and give it another day of your trip.