Évora – What to Visit in Évora

Évora s a city that has withstood the test of time. After the Lisbon earthquake, it was considered the city that best represented the golden era of Portugal. In fact, this was one of the reasons it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986

Walking through the cobblestone streets of its historic center feels like hearing a story. Each window, door, or stone tells a tale. With the Alqueva Dam just a few kilometers away, Évora has become an ideal destination for lovers of both culture and nature.

In this article, we will show you the best that Évora has to offer.

What to Visit in Évora?

Megalithic Monuments

If you enjoy the mysticism surrounding Megalithic Monuments, then you're in the right place as Évora is home to the largest Megalithic center on the Iberian Peninsula. Don’t miss out!

In the vicinity of the city, there are numerous megalithic monuments worth visiting. The largest and most famous is the Cromlech of Almendresmade up of about 100 monoliths arranged in a horseshoe shape, located about 20 km from Évora. Along the way, you can also visit the Menhir of Almendres which, when viewed from the Cromlech, points toward the rising sun.

Continuing the journey into the Mesolithic period, we also recommend visiting the Anta Grande do Zambujeirolocated 10 km from the Cromlech of Almendres. This dolmen is a collective burial monument. Anta Grande do Zambujeiro is the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, formed by seven standing stones and a large capstone.

If you want to continue your journey through time, we recommend visiting the Cromlech of Vale Maria do Meio and the Anta do Barrocal. Both located less than 20 km from the center of Évora.

A visit to the settlement of Alto de São Bento with its restored windmills, is also recommended, as it offers unique views of the entire city of Évora.

Historical Monuments and Sites

Giraldo Square

The heart of the city of Évora is called - Giraldo Square named after Geraldo Geraldes "the Fearless." This is where the locals welcome their visitors. With cafes, restaurants, terraces, and a baroque fountain with eight spouts, it is undoubtedly a place where you’ll feel at home.

Catedral de Évora e Largo das Portas de Moura

Not every city can boast having a cathedral. However, in addition to having one, Évora's cathedral is truly fascinating, beautiful, and the only medieval cathedral in PortugalIts silhouette rises above the low houses typical of the Alentejo region. To reach it, simply walk up 5 de Outubro Street, one of the city's most important streets for artisan trade.

One of the city’s most prestigious squares - Portas de Moura Squareis worth a visit, not only to admire the beautiful facades of the stately homesbut also for the unique perspective it offers of the Evora's Cathedral

Bone Chapel and Public Garden

The sinister and the fascinating often go hand in hand. Therefore, the Bone Chapel is a perfect example of this. The purpose of the chapel’s peculiar construction is simple – to showcase the fragility of human life. In fact, the message at the top of the entrance is clear: “We are in the bones that you await.” Despite its grim nature, we believe the visit is a must.

Very close to the Bone Chapel is the public garden,which hides some interesting features.

Once you enter, you’ll notice it’s a garden like many others found throughout Portugal, with well-maintained flowers, benches that invite you to rest, and the typical bandstand. The main feature of this garden is its "Fake Ruins"Meaning remnants of various other ruins placed there. These “ruins” also house some very interesting residents – peacocks,whose beautiful tails add a splash of color to the space.

Roman Temple, Conde Vila Flor Square, and Diana Garden

Also known as Diana's Temple,due to an ancient legend associating its construction with the Roman goddess of hunting, it is one of the grandest and best-preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula. It is, without a doubt, the city's postcard.

In addition to the Roman Temple, several other important buildings surround the square.

The Igreja de Loiosone of the most beautiful churches in Portugal, features exquisite tile art at its finest.

You can also visit the Palace of the Dukes of Candal,, the Evora Museum and the Art & Culture Center..

Immediately behind the Roman Temple,you’ll find what seems to be a small enchanted garden, so stunning that it appears otherworldly . Diana Garden is even more special because, from there, you can see the Roman Temple and the tower of the Cathedral. This fusion of elements makes the garden truly unique.

University of Évora, Church of Graça, and Aqueduct of Água de Prata

As the second oldest university in Portugal, the University of Évora is a must-visit. Its graceful cloisters make us envious of those lucky enough to study there, with such a magnificent building as their place of study.

Being entirely made of local granite, Graça Church, is worth a visit as it was the first Renaissance monument in Évora, making a significant impact at the time.

Lastly, but not least, we recommend a visit to the Aqueduct of Água de Prata.Due to its size and the important role it played in Évora's past, it is one of the city's most impressive monuments.

What to Do in Évora?

Évora is already a city that doesn’t need much more to be considered an exceptional cultural destination. However, the title of Museum City was not enough for the people of Évora, especially after the completion of the Alqueva Dam

Here are some activities we recommend for those spending a few days in Évora.

Hot Air Balloon – Alentejo

A hot air balloon ride is already an unforgettable experience. Now imagine it over the endless plains of Alentejo. Flying in a hot air balloon in Alentejo brings peace to the soul, often restless. For more information or to make a reservation, click here

Skydiving

On the flip side of the tranquility of a hot air balloon ride is the adrenaline rush of skydiving. Another way to see Alentejo from the sky that will undoubtedly thrill the bravest. To reserve, click here.

Roman Baths at Acqua Veritas Spa

As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” With strong influences from the people who once inhabited this region, leaving behind the magnificent Roman Temple as the ultimate testament, there’s nothing more spectacular than feeling like a true emperor and experiencing an authentic Roman bath. For more information, click here

Visit a Winery or Estate

Visiting Alentejo and not tasting its rich gastronomy is unthinkable. The migas, black pork cataplanas, açordas… everything in Alentejo is amazing. These experiences can be enjoyed at local restaurants or with companies offering regional food tours. Whatever your choice, we are sure you won’t regret it. We recomend either Herdade do Esporão, Adega da Cartuxa or Quinta da Ervideira.

Besides, the last one offers an experience a little diferent from usual, called "winemaker for a day"Meaning, it's an experience that last a few hours, where you will become a winemaker, bringing home a bottle of wine, bottled by you.

Gastronomic Experiences

Visiting Alentejo and not tasting its rich gastronomy is unthinkable. The migas, black pork cataplanas, açordas… everything in Alentejo is amazing. These experiences can be enjoyed at local restaurants or with companies offering regional food tours. Whatever your choice, we are sure you won’t regret it.

Boat Tour on Alqueva

To end our list, we recommend a boat tour on Alqueva. There are plenty of options, but we always recommend those at sunset. It’s divine! For this activity, we recommend our partners Alqueva Tours

If you book with us, we offer a discount of up to 5% discount (depending on the number of people).

If you have more days available, we also recommend exploring the entire  região do  Alqueva .

Are you ready to Break Free?