Northern Portugal has plenty of charm itself, and there are lots of charming places to visit. Here are three towns that you absolutely must see.

Guimarães

Did you know that the country of Portugal was born in this small city? The Battle of Sao Mamede, won by Afonso Henriques and his troops, is often considered the event that led to the creation of the nation. You can visit the famous castle which played a part in the battle as well as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town in Guimaraes.

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima features the longest medieval bridge in all of Portugal, and a part of it actually dates back nearly 2,000 years to Roman times! You’ll love strolling through this cozy town and visiting stores selling traditional meats and handicrafts.

Aveiro

Did you know that Portugal has its own version of Venice? The small city of Aveiro is built on canals and is considered the country’s answer to the famous northern Italian city. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to describe any vacation spent here.

The post Northern Portugal’s Best Towns are Full of Charm appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Unfortunately, Venice is so popular with travelers now that much of the charm and romance that the city once offered is gone. There is, however, another option!

Aveiro, Portugal is a small city of just under 80,000 residents that’s located on the Atlantic coast of the country between Porto and Lisbon. Here, a lesser-known system of canals and wooden boats evoke Venice and offer travelers a slower, more relaxed version of the famous Italian city.

The city’s location at the confluence of the Aveiro Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean means that water is a natural option for transportation. Set beautifully in between Art Nouveau and Romanesque buildings in the city’s colorful and charming center are Aveiro’s canals, which can be traversed for a small fee in traditional seaweed-collecting boats which evoke Venice’s gondolas.

So, if you’re looking to avoid Venice’s crowds but you still want to see a city with beautiful canals, Aveiro is a perfect option for you. Check it out!

The post Aveiro, The Portuguese Venice, is a Relaxed Paradise appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Northern Portugal has plenty of charm itself, and there are lots of charming places to visit. Here are three towns that you absolutely must see.

Guimarães

Did you know that the country of Portugal was born in this small city? The Battle of Sao Mamede, won by Afonso Henriques and his troops, is often considered the event that led to the creation of the nation. You can visit the famous castle which played a part in the battle as well as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town in Guimaraes.

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima features the longest medieval bridge in all of Portugal, and a part of it actually dates back nearly 2,000 years to Roman times! You’ll love strolling through this cozy town and visiting stores selling traditional meats and handicrafts.

Aveiro

Did you know that Portugal has its own version of Venice? The small city of Aveiro is built on canals and is considered the country’s answer to the famous northern Italian city. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to describe any vacation spent here.

The post Northern Portugal’s Best Towns are Full of Charm appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Unfortunately, Venice is so popular with travelers now that much of the charm and romance that the city once offered is gone. There is, however, another option!

Aveiro, Portugal is a small city of just under 80,000 residents that’s located on the Atlantic coast of the country between Porto and Lisbon. Here, a lesser-known system of canals and wooden boats evoke Venice and offer travelers a slower, more relaxed version of the famous Italian city.

The city’s location at the confluence of the Aveiro Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean means that water is a natural option for transportation. Set beautifully in between Art Nouveau and Romanesque buildings in the city’s colorful and charming center are Aveiro’s canals, which can be traversed for a small fee in traditional seaweed-collecting boats which evoke Venice’s gondolas.

So, if you’re looking to avoid Venice’s crowds but you still want to see a city with beautiful canals, Aveiro is a perfect option for you. Check it out!

The post Aveiro, The Portuguese Venice, is a Relaxed Paradise appeared first on Traveler Dreams.