Summary Aveiro offers a Venetian experience with canals and moliceiros, but without the crowds or high costs. OPO airport is the closest to Aveiro for travelers, offering affordable bus fares and private transfers. Direct flights from the US and Europe make Porto easily accessible, with various airlines providing services.
If tourists wish to get the feel of Venice but do not want to walk down the crowded streets, then the best bet is Aveiro in Portugal. Aveiro is often referred to as the 'Venice of Portugal' because of the canals, boats, and casual pace of life, but with none of the hustle and not as expensive. This article looks into the various flight options for anyone who wants to fly to Aveiro using Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) or Porto Airport.
A taste of Venice in Portugal Aveiro has canals that run through the entire city and resemble the famous canals of Venice. However, instead of gondolas, you will see traditional moliceiros – slender boats that were created in the 19th century to collect moliço algae in the Ria de Aveiro for the purpose of using it as fertilizer. As fertilizer chemicals dominated the market and reduced the need for moliço, these boats changed from work boats to cultural and tourism icons of Aveiro.
Just like in Venice, beautiful bridges by the canals also add a friendly touch to the interiors of Aveiro and make for stunning views. They are two cities with very distinct and special food cultures. Seafood is a specialty of the region.
