Aveiro is one of the cities I visited between Lisbon and Porto in my 8 day trip around Portugal. Aveiro is a very beautiful city with enough things to do for a full day. I stayed in Aveiro for one day and two nights but one day and one night would have worked as well. You can also visit it as a day trip from Porto via a tour like this one here. See all things to do, where to stay and how to get to and around Aveiro in this post.
Aveiro Travel Guide: The Best Things To Do In Aveiro
Visit the cute striped sea side houses at Costa Nova
Ok, I’ll admit that this was the reason I visited Aveiro. And it was Instagram heaven as I expected. These striped houses by the beach make the freshest photos ever. An important thing to note is that Costa Nova is not in Aveiro but getting to it is very easy either by car or local bus.
Visiting Vienna soon, or thinking about it? If the latter, don’t think about it anymore and get tempted with the things you can do in Vienna featured in the list below. I really liked Vienna, I’ve visited twice. It has beautiful architecture and a royal feel, but is relaxed at the same time. My advice is to visit Vienna on a weekend if you live in Europe and for one or two days if you are doing a trip around Europe or Austria. Anyways, these are my bucket list items for Vienna!
[DISCLAIMER] This article was written during the Coronavirus pandemic with the hopes things go back to normal soon. They may not and I’ll revise the article once they do as some of the venues mentioned may have closed permanently.
BRIGHTON BUCKET LIST: Brighton Bandstand
Brighton is so close to London and is the perfect destination for a weekend trip! It’s only an hour away by train and has tons of cool things to do as it’s a decently sized city…with a beach! Here’s a run down of all the things Brighton.
Brighton Bucket List: Things To Do in Brighton
Admire Brighton’s street art
Brighton has earned international reputation over the last few years for its stunning and original graffiti artwork dotted around the city. Check out a replica of Banksy’s ‘Kissing Cops’ at Prince Albert’s Pub as well as the Music Mural in the same place. If you are into street art you can find more arts locations here.
BRIGHTON BUCKET LIST: Prince Albert’s Pub
Take a cycling tour of the city
Take this Grand Brighton Bike Tour as soon as you hop off the train. You can also enjoy the city at twilight by taking this 1 hour 30 minute tour visiting iconic landmarks, through Brighton’s colourful past to the present. Discover the real history of Brighton. There are many stops along the way, and a great chance to take some haunting photos!
Get brunch and buy vintage clothes at North Laine
North Laine has a happening, bohemian vibe with vegetarian cafes, vintage clothing stores, and jewelry stalls centred on busy Kensington Gardens pedestrian road. The vintage stores are really well curated and have prices that are a lot more reasonable than London’s.
I’ll be honest — Madeira wasn’t at the top of my travel wish list. I’d heard vague things about it being a retirement destination for sun-seekers, and I wasn’t entirely sure it was for me. Six days later, I was already researching flights back. There are so many incredible things to do in Madeira that a week barely scratches the surface — from lush levada walks through misty mountains to whale watching off the Atlantic coast, this island genuinely has it all. Known as the “island of eternal spring,” Madeira sits in the North Atlantic as a Portuguese territory that’s geographically closer to Africa than Europe — and that subtropical climate means it’s gorgeous year-round.
Whether you’re a keen hiker, a foodie, a wildlife lover, or simply someone who wants beauty without the crowds, Madeira will deliver. Here’s my honest guide to everything you need to know.
VISITING MADEIRA: THE ESSENTIALS
Getting There / Madeira (Funchal Airport, FNC) is about a four-hour direct flight from London — easyJet, Jet2, and TAP Air Portugal all fly direct from the UK, and it’s also well-connected from other European cities. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups for a fixed-price, meet-and-greet arrival — Funchal Airport is about 25 minutes from the city centre. Search for flights on Skyscanner.
Car Rental / A car is essential in Madeira as the levada trailheads, Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz, the north coast road, and the mountain viewpoints simply aren’t accessible without one. Compare rates on DiscoverCars and book well in advance, especially in summer.
Stay / Funchal is the right base for a first trip. My personal pick: Hotel Quinta Belo São Tiago — a beautiful quinta set in tropical gardens with a heated pool, spa, and great breakfast, walking distance from the Old Town. Or search by area:
Connect / You’ll definitely want mobile data in Madeira for maps and restaurant bookings. I always recommend using an eSIM — no physical SIM card needed. I use Sim Local, and you can get 5% off with the code TRAVELWITHPAU. Grab one here.
Get Insured / Don’t skip this, especially if you’re hiking. Madeira’s mountain trails can be challenging and evacuation isn’t cheap. World Nomads covers adventure activities including levada walks and mountain hiking.
Things to Do in Madeira
Levada Walks
If there’s one thing Madeira is truly famous for, it’s the levadas. These are ancient irrigation channels — mini water canals, really — built from the 16th century onwards to carry water from the rainy northern mountains down to the sunnier, drier agricultural south. What makes them special for visitors is that they come with narrow footpaths running alongside them, winding through forests, along cliffsides, and through tunnels. In total, there are around 2,500 kilometres of levadas on the island, so you could genuinely spend a month here and not walk the same path twice.
The views are extraordinary. These aren’t challenging mountain scrambles — levada walks are generally flat (the water has to flow, after all), which makes them accessible to most fitness levels. I’d highly recommend booking a guided walk, both for safety on the more remote trails and to learn about the incredible ecosystem around you from someone who actually knows it.
My top levada recommendations:
Serra da Água — a scenic valley walk along one of Madeira’s longest levadas, with views stretching down to the south coast and through some of the island’s most beautiful inland landscapes. Book here.
Rabaçal and the 25 Fountains — one of the most iconic levada walks on the island, heading into the Rabaçal nature reserve through ancient laurel forest to a stunning cascade. Deservedly famous. Book here
Caldeirão Verde — moody, atmospheric, and one of the best on the island. The trail passes through four tunnels carved into the rock before ending at a dramatic waterfall dropping into an emerald lagoon. Book here
Levada do Norte — an easy, accessible walk in the south of the island with fantastic views of Câmara de Lobos and the coastline. A good option if you want the levada experience without a challenging trail. Book here
