A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aveiro vs. Varenna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aveiro or Varenna?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Aveiro and Varenna. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Aveiro or Varenna?

Aveiro

Aveiro has great canals that are lined by houses. Because of this ambiance, the town has earned its nickname the "Portuguese Venice." While it's similar, don't put too much into the name. The town is also known for it's colorful boats, referred to as moliceiros, that ride along the canals and under the bridges.

While the canals are lovely, most visitors actually come for the beaches. Aveiro's beaches are known for their clean and pristine sand. The shore is referred to as the Silver Coast, and has comfortably warm water, which is another major draw to the area.

Aveiro is comfortable year around because it's winters are mild and warm and its summer is somewhat cool. The winter months get the most rain and the summer is usually the driest. If you're there during the fall and winter, the winds will be strong making it the best time for surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

Varenna

A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aveiro and Varenna, we can see that Varenna is more expensive. And not only is Aveiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aveiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aveiro and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Varenna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Varenna than you might in Aveiro.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aveiro Expensive? and Is Varenna Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aveiro or Varenna?

Aveiro has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Aveiro and Varenna, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Aveiro or Varenna?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aveiro or Varenna in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aveiro and Varenna. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Varenna this time of year.

In July, Aveiro is generally cooler than Varenna. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 21°C (69°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Varenna this time of the year. In Aveiro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than Varenna during summer. Aveiro gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

Varenna receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Aveiro usually receives less rain than Varenna. Aveiro gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aveiro or Varenna in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Aveiro as well as Varenna. Also, many travelers come to Varenna for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Aveiro is a little warmer than Varenna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aveiro averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Varenna fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In the autumn, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Aveiro gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 152 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Varenna. Aveiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Aveiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Varenna. Aveiro gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Varenna in the Winter?

Both Varenna and Aveiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Varenna in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Varenna can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Aveiro is much warmer than Varenna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aveiro in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Varenna averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Aveiro usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Varenna during winter. Aveiro gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 119 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. In January, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Varenna. Aveiro gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aveiro or Varenna in the Spring?

Both Varenna and Aveiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Varenna for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Aveiro is generally around the same temperature as Varenna. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 14°C (56°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Aveiro. In the spring, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Aveiro gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 176 hours of full sun.

Varenna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. Aveiro usually gets less rain in April than Varenna. Aveiro gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Varenna and Aveiro