About a 1.5-hour drive from Lisbon (135km or 84 miles), you will find Évora, the capital of the Alentejo region (the region between Lisbon and the Algarve). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Évora is BOTH a city and a municipality, just like Lisbon. Referred to as the “very noble and ever loyal city of Évora” (in Portuguese it’s “mui nobre e sempre leal cidade de Évora”), it’s an old city of over 5000 years, and has remnants of the Roman, medieval, and Renaissance eras.
Évora is an excellent town to visit in Portugal if you want something off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds of Lisbon or even the Algarve, or want a spot to base yourself to explore the Alentejo region.
Note that the city itself does not require more than a day to explore, but there’s plenty more to do in the Alentejo region itself, like skydiving, water sports like water skiing, wine tasting, hiking, and cultural events like medieval and Moorish fairs. That’s why many people choose to stay in Évora rather than just drive through for a day trip, but it’s best to rent a car.
Here are the best things to do in Évora for a historic and cultural adventure (and most are free or very low-cost), in geographical order starting from the Cathedral in the main square.
What are the best things to do in Évora?
1. Évora Cathedral
The largest medieval cathedral in Portugal, the Évora Cathedral is also known as Basílica Sé de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, or Sé de Évora for short. Built around the 12th century, it’s quite a magnificent cathedral to visit, with its cloisters being one of its highlights, and it has a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Manueline, and Roman designs.
Insider tip: Please remember to cover your shoulders and knees as this is a church. The people pictured are not dressed appropriately.
2. Templo Romano and the Diana Gardens
The Roman Temple showcases the Roman influence in Portugal and is free to visit. There are also several attractions nearby, like the Museum of Évora and the Palace of the Inquisition.
The Roman Temple is often mistakenly called The Temple of Diana, because of the Diana Gardens located right next to it, from which you can get nice views of the old town (it’s a great spot for sunset, and there’s a kiosk there for snacks and drinks, but it’s cash only last I checked).
3. Paço de São Miguel or Cadaval Palace
Right by the Roman Temple you’ll find Cadaval Palace. It was built in the 14th century, and has a mix of Mudéjar, Gothic, and Manueline designs. It was and still is the residence of the Dukes of Cadaval, though some rooms and the Church are open to the public for a small fee, where you can look at artefacts like paintings, sculptures, porcelain, etc.
4. University of Évora
The University of Évora looks more like a historical building than a university, and it’s home to beautiful cloisters and a library with a gorgeous fresco on its ceiling.
5. Giraldo Square and Fountain
I don’t usually care to visit main squares that have turned into tourist spots, but the Cathedral is a short walk from Giraldo Square. You can find a fountain, restaurants, and souvenir shops there.
6. In Acqua Veritas
While this is not exactly a historical or cultural thing to do in Évora, it’s a really cool and unique place to check out if you want to relax and maybe indulge in a massage. It was built to recreate the feel and architecture of the original Roman Baths.
7. Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)
One of the most popular things to do in Évora is to visit the Chapel of Bones. It can be an eerie experience, as the walls, ceilings, and columns are “decorated” with over 5000 real human bones and skulls. I’ll admit it’s not my type of thing, but I’m glad I visited. There are only a few of these chapels in the world, though there are 6 in Portugal.
Insider tip: The dress code is modest because this is part of a church, so cover your shoulders and knees.
8. Ruinas Fingidas in Jardim Público de Évora
This means “Feigned Ruins” but they are not fake or created as tourist props. They were made from pieces of other ruins, and are located in the Jardim Público de Évora.
9. Aqueducts of Água de Prata
These are houses built into the aqueducts, which is really cool to see. There are two places to see them: at Giraldo Square on Rua do Salvador, or the beautiful residential street, Rua do Cano, near the taller parts of the Aqueduct.
10. Alto de São Bento
A bit further out of the city, there are white windmills overlooking Évora. You can drive up or hike for 1 hr. It’s a bit windy, but it’s a good option for sunset.
Insider tip: If you want to see actual historical Roman Baths, they are located by the City Hall. However, they were temporarily closed at the time of writing, so please check if they’ve reopened.
11. Almendres Cromlech
A megalithic complex with granite monoliths placed in concentric circles, this site is over 7000 years old, and older than Stonehenge in England.
Insider tip: The drive is not that fun, as it’s on a road filled with potholes. Then you have to walk about 10 minutes to reach the viewpoint overlooking the stones, which might be disappointing for some (as we know, most people are disappointed with Stonehenge).
12. Gruta do Escoural (Escoural Caves)
Though not in Évora city (it’s about 27km or 16 miles east of the city), the Escoural Caves are classified as a National Monument. They contain cave paintings and art that are over 13000 years old.
Insider tip: You have to book guided tours ahead of your visit.
13. Eat local food from Alentejo
Many Portuguese people will tell you that Alentejo has some of the country’s best food and wine, although the dishes are very meat-heavy. Don’t miss the dessert from this region: Queijadas de Requeijão, which is a cheese tart (this is also popular in the Portuguese island of Madeira).
Best things to do in Évora: FAQs
Where is Évora?
Évora is located about 135 km (84 miles) east of Lisbon, in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
Is Évora worth visiting?
Évora is a really nice town to explore if you have time to go a bit away from Lisbon. As someone who loves to get out of high tourist zones, to me it’s definitely worth visiting, and it’s not that far of a drive from Lisbon.
Are there free things to do in Évora?
These are free things you can do in Évora
- Giraldo Square
- Templo Romano and Diana Gardens
- Eugenio de Almeida Foundation: a Culture and Art Center
- Aqueducts of Água de Prata
- Ruinas Fingidas (Feigned Ruins) in the Public Garden
- Alto de São Bento
- Remedios Cemetery
- Dona Isabel Roman Arch (this is just a stone arch in a small street, might be underwhelming)
How many days do you need to visit Évora?
To visit just the town of Évora, you don’t need more than 2 days. You can even visit it all in 1 day if you rush a bit, which I don’t recommend. Two days is a good amount.
