Evora Day Trip from Lisbon

Évora, the walled capital of the Alentejo, is one of the best day trips from Lisbon. It has a Roman temple, the eerie Chapel of Bones, a hilltop cathedral and wonderful food and wine, all within a compact UNESCO-listed old town. Here’s how to visit in a day.

Quick answer: Évora is about 1.5 hours from Lisbon by train, bus or car. In a day, see the Roman Temple, the cathedral roof, the Chapel of Bones and Praça do Giraldo, then have a long Alentejo lunch. With a car or a tour, add the Almendres Cromlech stone circle or Monsaraz. See Évora day trips from Lisbon.

Why go

Évora packs two thousand years of history into a walled town you can cross on foot in 20 minutes. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, and the city is a European Capital of Culture for 2027. It’s also a complete change from Lisbon: whitewashed houses with yellow trim, quiet squares and the slow pace of the Alentejo plains.

Getting there

• Train: direct CP Intercidades trains from Lisbon (Oriente, Entrecampos and Sete Rios), about 1.5 hours. There are only a few a day, so check the timetable and book on the CP website. Évora station is outside the walls, about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the centre.
• Bus: frequent Rede Expressos buses from Sete Rios, about 1.5 hours. The bus station is also just outside the walls.
• Car: about 1.5 hours on the A2 and A6 motorways, which have tolls. A car is useful for the megaliths and wineries. Park outside the walls, as the old town’s streets are narrow and partly restricted. See Portugal’s tolls explained.
• Tour: many include a winery or the Almendres stones.

A day in Évora

1. Praça do Giraldo: the main square, with arcades, cafés and a marble fountain. Start with a coffee here.
2. The cathedral: a fortress-like Gothic cathedral, mostly built in the 13th century. Climb onto the roof for views over the plains. Allow about an hour with the cloister.
3. The Roman Temple: the 1st-century columns at the top of the town, often called the Temple of Diana, though it was most likely built for the cult of the emperor Augustus. It takes ten minutes, and the garden next to it has a good viewpoint.
4. Lunch: black pork, migas and Alentejo wine. See Alentejo food.
5. The Chapel of Bones: built by Franciscan monks in the late 16th century, its walls are lined with the bones of thousands of people. The inscription over the door reminds visitors that the bones are waiting for theirs. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. See the Chapel of Bones.
6. The aqueduct and the walls, before heading home. The 16th-century Água de Prata aqueduct runs into town, and houses are built into its arches on Rua do Cano.

This route takes about six hours with a long lunch, which fits a morning train out and an evening train back.

What to eat

• Porco preto: black Iberian pork, often grilled.
• Migas: fried bread with garlic and olive oil, served with pork.
• Açorda alentejana: a garlic, coriander and bread soup topped with a poached egg.
• Sericaia: a light, cinnamon egg pudding, often served with a sugared plum from Elvas.
• Wine: the Alentejo is one of Portugal’s big wine regions, known for rich reds.

Beyond Évora

• Almendres Cromlech: a prehistoric stone circle among cork oaks, about 15 km west of the city and one of the largest groups of standing stones in the Iberian Peninsula. The last stretch is a dirt road.
• Wineries: see Alentejo wine tours.
• Monsaraz: see Monsaraz.
• Arraiolos: a small hilltop town known for its hand-stitched rugs, a short drive north. See Arraiolos.

When to go

Spring (March to May) is the best time, with green fields and wildflowers. Autumn is also pleasant, and it’s harvest time in the vineyards. The Feira de São João, the city’s big fair with music and food stalls, runs from late June into early July. Winter is quiet and can be chilly, but sunny days are common.

Tips

• Summer heat: Évora gets extremely hot, so start early and rest at lunch.
• Opening times: some monuments close for lunch or on certain days, so check current times before you go.
• Shoes: the streets are cobbled and uneven.
• Stay overnight: see where to stay in Évora.

More: Évora and the Alentejo and the best day trips from Lisbon.

See also: is Evora worth visiting?

Some links in this guide are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars). If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.