Summary

The article presents four lesser-known Portuguese cities—Aveiro, Coimbra, Braga, and Évora—that offer rich cultural experiences beyond the popular destinations of Lisbon and Porto.

Abstract

The travel piece, authored by a local, advocates for exploring Portugal beyond its well-trodden capitals, Lisbon and Porto. It highlights Aveiro, known as "the Portuguese Venice," with its picturesque canals and traditional "Moliceiros" boats, as well as its famous "Ovos Moles" pastries. Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in the world, is celebrated for its youthful ambiance and unique "Fado de Coimbra" music. Braga, a city with deep religious roots, is noted for its impressive cathedrals and proximity to the Gerês national park. Évora, situated in the Alentejo region, is recommended for its Roman heritage, including the iconic Diana's Temple and the eerie Bones Chapel. The article emphasizes Portugal's efficient highway network and public transportation options, making these cities easily accessible, and invites readers to experience and share their impressions of these hidden gems.

Opinions

The author, who has extensively traveled within Portugal, highly recommends these cities based on personal experience.
Aveiro is considered "totally worth the visit" despite its unofficial comparison to Venice.
Coimbra's university is a significant draw, providing a historical and vibrant atmosphere.
The "Fado de Coimbra" is regarded as a distinct and integral part of the city's cultural identity.
Braga's religious significance and modern student population create a unique blend of tradition and contemporary life.
Évora's culinary delights and historical sites, such as the Roman Temple and Bones Chapel, are seen as must-visit attractions.
The article suggests that Portugal's highway system, while efficient, requires payment per usage rather than a vignette system.
Public transportation, including trains (CP) and buses (Rede Expressos, Flixbus), is recommended as a convenient way to explore the country.
The author encourages interaction by inviting readers to reach out with questions and to share their travel experiences after visiting the suggested cities.

4 Great Cities To Visit in Portugal Besides Lisbon and Porto

This country has more to offer than the 2 main cities

Aveiro. Photo by Ricardo Resende on Unsplash

Portugal is one of those countries where the capital gets a lot more attention than the rest of the territory.

In the past few years, Porto, the second biggest city, has also been put under the spotlight. It has even won awards such as “Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2020”.

But this country has more to offer than the two main cities. I grew up in Portugal and traveled around the country extensively for work, so take my word on this. Here are my suggestions of cities you must visit in Portugal.

Aveiro

Aveiro is often called “the Portuguese Venice”.

I’ve been to the original Venice and while no city can compare, I still believe Aveiro is totally worth the visit.

For starters, it has canals (what a surprise!), 5 of them to be precise. They give a beautiful color to the city and provide a fun way to get to know Aveiro. You can embark on a boat trip and hear about the history of the city and these particular boats, the “Moliceiros”.

If you are a fan of exploring a city on foot, Aveiro is ideal for it. Small and flat, it allows you to walk around to burn all the calories you will eat. Which calories? — you might ask. The typical sweet of Aveiro is called “Ovos Moles” (literally, “Soft Eggs”), and consists of an egg and sugar paste wrapped in a thin wafer. Try them, you’ll thank me later.

Aveiro is also a great destination for beach lovers. Located on the coast, it’s close to several high-quality beaches. Just don’t expect the water to be as warm as in the southern area of the Algarve, because this is the Atlantic.

What to visit

The colorful houses in Costa Nova
Take a boat (Moliceiro) on the canals
Visit the salines
Walk around the historical center
Go to the beach
Eat “ovos moles”

Coimbra

Coimbra, the city of the students.

Home to the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world (founded in 1290), Coimbra attracts students from all over, providing a young, vibrant vibe to the city.

Sitting on the banks of river Mondego, Coimbra’s city center is full of history and tradition. One of the most famous is the “Fado de Coimbra” (Fado is a kind of Portuguese music), distinct from the Fado of any other part of the country.

Coimbra is also home to some interesting visitation sites. Amongst these, there is Portugal dos Pequenitos, where you find miniatures of iconic monuments, and Quinta das Lágrimas, a beautiful green environment full of history.

What to visit

Coimbra University
Portugal dos Pequenitos
Quinta das Lágrimas (literal translation: The Farm of Tears)
Listen to Fado de Coimbra
Check out the river Mondego
Historical city center

Braga

Braga is the most important city in Minho, the northwest region of Portugal.

Home to 200k inhabitants, it combines beautiful traditional architecture with a modern vibe. This is sustained by the many students who come here to attend Minho University.

Traditionally, it is a religious city, hosting important catholic celebrations in its many churches. The most iconic ones are the Sé de Braga and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. The latter sits on top of a hill and provides an amazing view over the entire region.

Braga is very close to Gerês national park. So if this is on your list of places to visit in Portugal, make sure to stop in Braga on your way there.

What to visit

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte (and its funicular)
Braga Cathedral
Praça da República
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro
Saint John’s Festivities (if you go in June)

Évora

Évora is the southernmost city on this list, located in the Portuguese region of Alentejo.

As in anywhere in Alentejo, expect to eat excellent food, be it the main dishes (pork is the king of the table) or deserts.

Évora has a strong Roman heritage, with the most iconic monument being Diana’s Temple.

For the brave of heart, a trip to Évora is not complete without a stop at the Bones Chapel. This small chapel has its walls fully covered with human skulls and bones, displayed as a sign of penitence.

What to visit

Roman Temple (Diana’s Temple)
Bones Chapel
Almendres Cromlech
Praça do Giraldo
Roman Baths
Água de Prata Aqueduct

Takeaway

Portugal is a small country, so you can get to any of these cities quickly.

If you chose to drive, we have a good network of highways. In fact, just to give you an idea, we have two highways between Lisbon and Porto that run almost parallelly. But keep in mind that Portugal doesn’t have a vignette system like other countries, so you can’t travel for a week/month/year at a fixed price. You pay for each time you get on the highway, depending on the kilometers you make.

Public transportation is a good alternative, especially if you are traveling solo or don’t have a car. CP (Comboios de Portugal) is our railway operator, and you can find itineraries and prices here.

If you prefer the bus, there are two options: the Portuguese company Rede Expressos or the cheaper Flixbus.

Regardless of how you get to any of these cities, I hope you do get to them. If you have any questions while preparing for your trip, feel free to message me. And if you do visit these Portuguese cities, how about leaving a comment below with your impressions?

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