Located 1 hour and 40 minutes outside of Lisbon in the heart of the Alentejo region is Évora, an incredibly well-preserved medieval city, one of the oldest cities in Portugal. Évora has one of the best-preserved and most atmospheric towns in Portugal, with winding narrow streets and historic monuments that make this an easy day trip or a lovely visit to one of Portugal’s greatest wine regions.
Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its history dates back to the Celtic times before the Roman invasion. Roman ruins including a Roman aqueduct are scattered about the city enhancing its already rich history. Several Portuguese Kings made Évora their summer home and it is said that the marriage of Pedro I and Constanza was first celebrated in the Convent of São Francisco.
Getting to Évora
If you choose to take a private tour from Lisboa to Évora, getting there will be easy since you will have a driver. You can drive yourself fairly easily to Évora using the highways but be aware that you will take a toll road. We went there using the non-toll roads first because we love to explore the countryside. It does take a bit longer this way.
From Oriente station in Lisbon, it takes about an hour and a half to get to the train station outside of the walls and trains run about every two hours from Lisbon. You can also take a bus that will take about an hour and a half but is sometimes more expensive than the train, but only by a euro or two.
We chose to park outside of the city walls because we heard it was very difficult to park inside and rather hard to navigate the narrow one way streets. We parked in a parking lot called Descampado right outside of the walls. It was free and fairly easy to get to.
What to see in Évora
Once you enter the city walls of Évora, you are transported back in time to the 15th century when Évora was a bustling city in the Alentejo. It is a small climb up the hills to the city centre where you can explore the narrow streets with markets and restaurants. Rua do Alcarcova de Baixo has a lovely row of restaurants offering delicious food. Make sure you try the porco preto or black pork . It is fantastic!
As you turn right and head up the cobblestone streets, there is a row of shops in which to buy all of your souvenirs.
Conde Vila Flor Square
At the top of the hill is Conde Vila Flor Square, a beautiful park and square that houses the Évora Cathedral, Museum of Évora, and the Roman temple.
The Cathedral of Évora (Sé de Évora) is an 18th century church with a gothic style spiral at the top. It is the largest cathedral in Portugal and houses one of the oldest pipe organs in the world.
Around the corner you will find the Museum of Évora, where you will find over 20,000 artefacts and paintings that are invaluable to Portuguese history. Items range from megalithic monuments to an extensive Roman collection. If you love museums, this is one not to be missed.
Right in front of the museum is the ancient Roman temple of Évora or the temple of Diana. The large Roman temple was built during the first century as a tribute to the Emperor Augustus and is now part of the museum of Évora. During the summer, the temple becomes a backdrop to concerts that are held at the park next to it (Jardim Diana).
Praça do Giraldo
Located right in the heart of the city, Geraldo square to hang out at, do a little shopping, and watch the buskers and entertainers while you take a break from walking the hills. But it was known as the place where the victims of the Inquisition were burned in public. Personally, I try not to think about that while I am enjoying a café or a nice glass of Alentejo wine!
São Francisco Church and the Chapel of Bones
The São Francisco Church (or church of St. Francis)is a magnificent example of Portuguese architecture and a masterpiece of Gothic design. The interior of the church is renowned for its lavish and intricate decoration, featuring a stunning baroque-style altarpiece, gilded carvings, and exquisite azulejo tile work.
But what most people go to see is the Bone Chapel (Capela dos Ossos) just next door. This is a small yet fascinating 16th century chapel has its interior walls covered with human bones and skulls from over 5,000 bodies. The Franciscan monks of Évora built it to remind all of us that life is short. We HIGHLY recommend you visit this amazing place. There is an admission fee of €6.
There is also an art gallery on the upper floor of the chapel. It is free to enter the church but you pay admission to see the Chapel of Bones.
The Alentejo Region of Portugal
Wine tastings close to Évora
Évora is situated right in the south of Portugal in the heart of the Alentejo wine region, one of Portugal’s premier wine destinations. Here are some great places near Évora to experience a wine tasting:
- Cartuxa Winery (15km from Évora) – This historic winery produces excellent Alentejo reds and whites. Their tasting room is set in a beautifully restored 16th century monastery.
- Herdade do Esporão (18km) – One of the most famous wineries in Alentejo. They offer tastings, tours, an excellent restaurant and accommodations on their large estate.
- Herdade dos Grous (25km) – This modern winery has a striking tasting room with panoramic views over their vineyards.
- João Portugal Ramos (16km) – A renowned producer of premium reds like their flagship Loios. Tastings in a gorgeous renovated historic manor house.
- Herdade do Moxomoio (35km) – An organic winery with acclaimed Alentejo reds. Their tasting room overlooks stunning Alqueva lake.
Many of the wineries also provide tours, accommodations and fantastic regional cuisine to pair with the Alentejo’s bold red and refreshing white wines.
Cork Forests
Over 60 percent of the world’s cork comes from Portugal and most of it is in the cork oak forests of the Alentejo region. These forests, known as “montados”, are a unique ecosystem found nowhere else. Grazing livestock and agriculture coexist among the iconic twisted trunks and spreading canopies of the cork oak trees making the countryside picturesque.
Cork harvesting is very sustainable since the bark from the cork trees can be stripped every nine years without harming them. Cork harvesting is not only a billion dollar industry but a way of life, passed down for generations.
These days cork is not just for wine bottle closures but is sold in many markets as purses, wallets, shoes, and kitchen and housing supplies. The outside of our house here in Portugal has cork on it.
The Alentejo’s cork forests exemplify harmonious relationships between humans, natural resources, and the environment – making them ecological, economic, and cultural treasures.
Private Tours
Of course you can check on Viator or Get your Guide for a guided tour of Évora, but you can also contact a few local guides too. They will cost a little more, but the experience will be worth it! Plus, you may get the opportunity to visit a cork factory or an olive oil tasting!
- Visit Portugal with Peppe has been recommended on several travel sites. He offers tours to Évora for anywhere from 6 to 50 people.
- Exclusive Tours with João Correia has also been recommended multiple times.
More about Portugal and Évora
We absolutely loved Évora and plan to go back and stay a day or two to see more and sample the wines! If you would like to hear more about our adventures, check out our podcast and our social media pages. We love to share our adventures.
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Shelley is a full time traveler, blogger and podcaster currently living in Portugal with her wife, 2 dogs and a cat. She is a former history teacher originally from Winston-Salem, NC but wanted to see what life was like abroad. Now she travels all over Portugal and Europe writing about what she sees and does and tells you all kinds of fun stories on the podcast at Wandering Works for Us.