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Perhaps Italy’s most iconic city is the beautiful historic city of Venice. Lined with picturesque canals that ooze romance and every European vibe imaginable, Venice highlights many travelers’ bucket lists.
In 2024 it’s not the most hospitable city, with overtourism and environmental concerns, plus a paltry entrance fee for tourists.
Luckily, there are plenty of look-alikes across Europe in search of selfie-worthy canals and charming streets.
While you can’t ride a dreamy gondola around the entire city, one city in Portugal has been called the “Venice of Portugal,” or at least the “Venice of Portugal.”Venice of the Algarve“.
Nestled in the Algarve, near the Spanish border, lies the lesser-known seaside resort Tavirahome to winding canals and golden beaches.
A wonderful alternative to Venice
It is understandable to say that there is no place like Venice, but there is something like second best.
Just like a bad breakup where we briefly feel like we’ll never find love again, it’s safe to say that Tavira is your rebound if Venice is your ex.
Portugal, or the city, doesn’t claim to reign supreme over one of Europe’s most iconic cities, but dupe destinations are a popular trend at the moment.
Finding the next best thing to avoid crowds or save money is all over TikTok and social media.
While romantic gondola rides and the aromas of spaghetti and meatballs may be off the table, you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of the wine or incredible natural sites.
Despite being less known, there are some similarities with Venice. Obviously the canals are the most striking, hence Tavira’s nickname.
“Gondolas” themselves are scarce here or a novelty at best, but the good news is that there are some fantastic boat trips to enjoy the beautiful water.
There are ferries and tours to some beautiful locations, but none better than Ria Formosa Natural Parkwhere miles of calm canals and islands eventually culminate in a beautiful coastline with golden beaches.
Compared to Venice – no entrance fees, no reservations required, but you can still enjoy great food, wine and scenery without the overbearing rules and extra costs, as the Algarve is known for its affordability.
The beautiful coast of Tavira
The picturesque canals may not be talked about enough, but if there’s one thing that’s famous about this side of Portugal, it’s the beautiful golden beaches.
Portugal has boomed, and now that summer is just around the corner, that certainly won’t change. Tavira may not be relatively unknown, but that is part of its appeal.
With Porto, Faro and of course Lisbon rising to new heights, this only adds to the appeal of visiting such a place.
Tavira is lined with golden beaches, but there is one place with beautiful white sands a short ferry ride away for a day trip.
Just 20 minutes away from the city is Ilha de Tavira – a sugary white sand island.
But beachgoers be warned: for better or worse, the breathtaking scenery may not be the lasting memory you have if you happen to wander into the “clothing optional” section.
Easier to get to than you think
Azores Airlines recently announced the addition of new nonstop flights to Portugal from the US from Boston and New York.
Portugal is a fairly small country compared to many European countries, so wherever you fly to the mainland, Tavira is within easy reach.
Many agree that exploring Portugal by train is an adventure worth doing in itself.
Nevertheless, the Azores obviously also flies to the country’s phenomenal islands, so that would be the only wrench reaching Tavira.
That said, the nearest Portuguese city is Faro, which has seen a surge in tourists lately. United has picked up the memo and now flies here non-stop, making Tavira super easy to get to in 40 minutes.
Another convenient option would be to reach Tavira from Spain, another dynamite country that sees huge numbers of tourists pouring in.
Travelers can reach the Venice-like city from the Spanish city of Seville in less than 2 hours by bus or car.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
