Evora and the Alentejo: Day Trip and Travel Guide

The Alentejo is Portugal’s big-sky country: rolling plains of cork oaks and olive groves, whitewashed hill towns, excellent wine and some of the country’s best food. Its capital, Évora, is a UNESCO World Heritage city and an easy day trip from Lisbon.

Quick answer: take the train from Lisbon to Évora (about 1h30) for a day of Roman ruins, the eerie Chapel of Bones and a long Alentejo lunch. With a car and an extra day or two, add Monsaraz, the wineries and the Alentejo coast.

Évora highlights

• The Roman Temple: the columns of a 1st-century temple standing in the middle of the old town. One of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Portugal.
• Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones): built by Franciscan monks in the late 1500s, its walls are lined with the bones and skulls of around 5,000 people, with the famous inscription “We bones that are here, await yours.” It’s inside the Church of São Francisco.
• The cathedral (Sé): climb up to the roof for views over the town and plains.
• Praça do Giraldo: the lively main square, perfect for a coffee.
• The old aqueduct and city walls: houses are built right into the arches of the 16th-century aqueduct.
• Almendres Cromlech: a circle of standing stones older than Stonehenge, a short drive outside town.

Beyond Évora

• Monsaraz: a tiny walled village on a hilltop above the Alqueva lake, one of the most beautiful in Portugal. The area is a certified dark-sky reserve, so it’s great for stargazing. Places to stay in Monsaraz.
• Wine estates: the Alentejo makes some of Portugal’s best-value reds. Many estates offer tastings and lunch. Book ahead and nominate a driver.
• Marvão and Castelo de Vide: castle towns near the Spanish border.
• The Alentejo coast: wild beaches and fishing villages like Comporta, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Zambujeira do Mar. A quieter alternative to the Algarve, and on the scenic route south. See Lisbon to the Algarve.

What to eat and drink

• Porco preto: Iberian black pork, often simply grilled.
• Migas (bread-based side dish) and açorda (bread soup with garlic, coriander and egg).
• Sheep’s and goat’s cheeses, plus local olive oil.
• Alentejo red wine. More in what to eat in Portugal.

Getting there

• Train: direct trains from Lisbon (Oriente and other stations) take about 1h30. Évora’s station is a 15-minute walk from the old town.
• Bus: regular coaches from Lisbon (Sete Rios), about 1h30–1h45.
• Car: about 1h30 on the A6 (tolled). Best for exploring the wider Alentejo. See our car rental guide.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal. The Alentejo is one of the hottest parts of Europe in summer, often well over 35°C, so if you visit in July or August, sightsee early and rest at lunchtime. Winter is mild and quiet.

Stay overnight?

Évora is lovely in the evening after the day-trippers leave. See places to stay in Évora or browse the wider Alentejo, from country estates to farm stays. More ideas: day trips from Lisbon.

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