By Grant Lingel
Heading to Portugal? Make sure to save a couple days for Aveiro. Located a couple hours north of Lisbon and just south of Porto, Aveiro is a tad inland from the beach and is often times referred to as the Venice of Portugal because of its canals. Small, clean and quiet, Aveiro is a perfect resting place between the larger cities and incredibly close to Costa Nova, a fun and popular beach on the Atlantic. Once you arrive head over to Aveiro Rossio Hostel in the Praça do Rossio and snag a bed in a clean and comfortable home away from home.
Run by a charming local family, Aveiro Rossio Hostel is the best spot in town to pass your nights while exploring the surrounding area. The lower level consists of a living room that is as cozy as can be with a great book collection, TV and games. A giant map of the world adorns the main wall with countless pins sticking out of former guests’ hometowns around the world. There is a clean and colorful communal kitchen with breakfast included and dorms start at just under $25/night. Off the kitchen is a quiet room where travelers can read or write and just next to that is an outdoor patio and terrace with an area for laundry. The rooms in the hostel are immaculate with vibrant designs and ample space for you and your gear.
Check out the fish and seafood market around the corner from the hostel before taking a ride around the towns’ canals in style in one of the famous moliceiros. After that grab some lunch at Ramona’s and see why locals call them the best burgers in town. To all you veggies like me out there: their vegetarian burgers are out of this world. At night swing by O Batel, an amazing restaurant with an awesome staff ready to serve you their very own version of bacalhau, a staple food throughout Portugal. After that visit one of the numerous bars in town that cater to all of the university students who live in Aveiro.
Head back to the hostel for a nightcap before passing the night in their comfortable and clean beds. Aveiro Rossio Hostel is a phenomenal place to stay while in Aveiro. With a friendly and helpful staff, superb facilities and one of the cleanest hostels I've ever stayed in, I highly recommend a visit to Aveiro Rossio Hostel.
