Only a stone's throw away from Porto on Europe's west coast, this hidden canal city is Portugal's answer to Venice, with temperatures reaching 21C in April. Aveiro is a charming coastal city famous for its picturesque canals, colourful moliceiro boats, and dazzling Art Nouveau architecture.

Tourists can find the city south of Porto along the Aveiro lagoon with easy access to picturesque beaches like Praia de São Jacinto and Praia da Barra. A TripAdvisor user has hailed the city as "absolutely fantastic". They added: "The weather is amazing, the views of the city from the canal are amazing. I recommend".

Top attractions include floating through the central canals in colourful moliceiro boats and visiting the nearby beach town of Costa Nova to take in the charming striped buildings. These houses known as palheiros aren't just brightly coloured to look pretty but also so fishermen can see them through the mist.

Another fun Costa Nova quirk is that it's home to the Farol da Barra, the tallest lighthouse in Portugal.

Moliceiro boat tours cost 13€ (£11.22). They start on the Central Canal of Rio de Aveiro before flowing through the streams to Canal de São Roque in the north of the city.

A TripAdvisor user wrote that the boat trip was "good value and the commentary informative and an enjoyable way to pass an hour on a hot and sunny day".

You can experience local history and art in the Aveiro museum in the old Jesus convent or take a tour of the marinhas, active salt marshes, to learn about the region's salt production.

For more natural landscapes, the Dunas de São Jacinto nature reserve offers kilometres of maritime pine woods and pristine sand dunes along the rugged Atlantic coast, perfect for nature enthusiasts who need a break from the city.

In Aveiro city centre, the banks of the canal are dotted with many local bars, restaurants, and cafes. Some favourites include Boteco Aveiro, Taberna do Canal, Alavarium Bar, and Luxor Lounge.

A local pint will cost you only 2.75€ (£2.38). Just southeast of Aveiro is the Bairrada wine region, famous for sparkling and red wines. The Bairrada vineyards offer tours which can cost as little as 17.50€ (£15.24) a person. Bars and restaurants in the city centre offer glasses of this local wine for €2.16 (£1.87).

Aveiro is also famous for a local delicacy known as 'ovos moles', a traditional pastry with a sweet, creamy egg yolk in a thin wafer shell. They can be purchased at any local bakery and cost around 1.60€ (£1.38). A favourite café along the central canal is Café a Barrica, a local hotspot decked out in traditional Portuguese tiles.

Although Aveiro doesn't have an international airport, Porto's is just a 34-minute train ride away. The former train station building is decorated in blue and white tiles and considered one of the prettiest in Aveiro.

One TripAdvisor user wrote of the station: "It is such a beautiful and unique station - way more than just a place to catch a train! The building dates back to the early 20th century and is famous for its stunning azulejo tiles that show scenes of the city and its history. Walking in feels like stepping into a work of art, and it's definitely one of the prettiest stations I've seen in Portugal".

One-way tickets start from £6, and in February, flights to Porto from Birmingham start from £13 with Ryanair.