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

Should you visit Aveiro or Cuenca?

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 Cuenca. 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 Cuenca?

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.

Cuenca

Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.

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 Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aveiro and Cuenca, we can see that Aveiro is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aveiro is in Europe and Cuenca is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Aveiro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aveiro than you might in Cuenca.

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

Which is Bigger, Aveiro or Cuenca?

Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Aveiro. When comparing the sizes of Aveiro and Cuenca, 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 Cuenca?

Aveiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cuenca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Cuenca in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aveiro as well as Cuenca. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.

In July, Aveiro is generally around the same temperature as Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 21°C (69°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Aveiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cuenca. Aveiro gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Cuenca in the Autumn?

Both Cuenca and Aveiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Aveiro is a little warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aveiro averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. In October, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Aveiro gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aveiro or Cuenca in the Winter?

Both Cuenca and Aveiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.

Cuenca can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Aveiro is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aveiro in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. Aveiro usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Aveiro gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Cuenca in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aveiro and Cuenca. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Aveiro is generally a little warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 14°C (56°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Aveiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Aveiro gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cuenca and Aveiro