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Évora Portugal: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Évora [2024]

Located approximately 130km to the east of Lisbon, Évora is the largest city of the Alentejo region and its designated capital. With a history that dates to Celtic times, Évora boasts a rich historical background. Being famous for its impressive Roman ruins, Gothic churches, and well-preserved historic centre which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. Being somewhat off the beaten path, it’s also a great place to experience a slower pace of life and a more genuine Portugal. On top of that it’s also one of the best places to sample some traditional and incredible Alentejo food and wines.    

  A Brief Introduction on Évora’s History

Évora’s history goes all the way back to Celtic rule in the Iberian Peninsula, the name Evora derives from ancient Celtic word Ebora which means “of the yew trees”. During the Roman Period it was enclosed by walls, and substantially developed, receiving the honorary designation of Liberalitas Julia from Julius Caesar. This period is still evident in Évora, with the Roman temple being one of the focal points of the Alentejo city.

Afterwards, the city was occupied by the Visigoths and later by the Moors, the city walls were reworked, and the defensive system improved. In 1165, the city was reconquered by Gerald the Fearless – a famed Portuguese knight.  Several buildings from the Medieval period still exist, one of the most prominent being the cathedral. Évora reached its golden age in 15th century after it became the place of residency of Portuguese royalty. At this time several religious buildings and royal palaces were constructed, in what would lead Évora to become Portugal’s second city.

What to See and Do in Évora  

Evora’s narrow streets hide many pretty corners, public squares, and it’s a small enough to wonder and get lost in without having to worry about losing your bearings.

Mercado Municipal – Municipal Market of Évora

Our visit starts in Évora’s municipal market located at Praça 1º de Maio . Different from most mercados , this one consists of two constructions. A main building for local produce, cheeses, cured meat, bread, etc. And a separate smaller building exclusively for fresh fish.

The main section of the market was built in 1880, featuring a wrought-iron structure commissioned by Companhia Perseverança , like many other traditional markets across the country, symbolizing the 19 th century Portuguese iron architecture ( arquitetura do ferro ). The annexed fish market was built in 1903 inspired by the now demolished Mercado da Praça da Figueira in Lisbon. In 2005, both buildings were modernised to accommodate a total of 56 stalls, some of them accessible from the outside.

Nowadays, it also houses some restaurants and snack-bars, and even a tap room of Alentejo’s craft beer, Magnífica. Most of them with outdoor sitting, so it’s a lovely place to stop for refreshments. The atmosphere is even livelier on Saturdays, where farmers gather outside the market to sell their produce. And every second Sunday of the month, you can also shop antiques and collectors’ pieces. For those visiting during weekdays, just keep in mind that the market is closed on Mondays.

Pra ça do Giraldo – Giraldo ’s Square

Now we head further into the city’s historic center via Romão Ramalho Street towards Praça do Giraldo , our next stop. The 13th century square is named after Geraldo sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless) a knight responsible for retaking several towns in the Alentejo region during the Christian reconquest. The most important and long lasting being the reconquest of Évora from Moorish rule in 1165.

The rectangular square is paved with the traditional calçada portuguesa in geometric patterns, and surrounded by buildings with matching stone façades, tall windows, and small wrought-iron balconies. On the eastern side of the square, some shops and restaurants are sheltered by an arcade with arches of different heights and sizes, including the historic Café Arcada.

One of the most important buildings of Praça do Giraldo is Igreja de Santo Antão , but other buildings are also worth mentioning such as 16 th century agency of Banco de Portugal (Portugal’s Central Bank) directly opposite the church, and the tourism office on the western side.

Fonte da Praça do Giraldo – Fountain of Giraldo’s Square

One of the focal points of the square is the Renaissance white marble fountain, Fonte da Praça do Giraldo. Built in 1571 it replaced a previous more rudimentary fountain from 1537 following the conclusion of the construction of the aqueduct Água das Pratas which ended on the fountain. The fountain has 8 pumps which are believed to symbolize the number of streets that connect the square with the rest of the city. Though nowadays the water is not deemed safe for consumption, it was for many centuries, one of the main sources of water in Évora.

Throughout the centuries, the square staged several social and cultural activities, including a daily market before the construction of the municipal market, and even bullfights. These days, it’s still a focal point for social interaction, and a lovely place to enjoy a cup of coffee and the slower pace of inland Portugal.

Catedral de Évora – Cathedral of Évora

Now it’s time to head to one of the most famous monuments of the city: the medieval Cathedral of Évora. It’s about a 3-minute walk from Praça do Giraldo, and you just have to head up Rua Cinco de Outubro , the narrow street on the east side of Praça do Giraldo sandwiched between the arches, as it will take you straight to the cathedral’s main entrance.

The fortified church is the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal, and one of the finest exemplars of the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. It’s also known as Catedral de Santa Maria , as it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its construction started in 1186, following the Christian reconquest of Évora, being consecrated in 1204, and only finished in 1250.

The main façade was built with pink granite bricks, featuring two main towers and a portal with Gothic sculptures of the Apostles sustained by marble columns decorated with floral patterns.

The interior of the church is just as grand as the exterior, with the imposing height of the central Gothic nave, and several pieces that deserve a closer look, such as the 16 th century organ commissioned by Heitor Lobo. And the main chapel in the Baroque style, contrasting with the main features of the church, with its beautiful altar in a mix of white, yellow, black, and pink marble. 

Most visitors, however, are more interested in the rooftop of the church, to both take a closer look at the picturesque dome. And to appreciate stunning views of Évora and surroundings, including the nearby Roman temple – Templo de Diana . The entry fee is 4€, and it includes visiting the church, cloister, the rooftop, and the Sacred Art Museum in a connected annex.

Templo Romano de Évora – Templo de Diana

Once you exit the cathedral, turn right towards Largo do Conde de Vila Flor and you will see one of the finest symbols of the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula – the emblematic Roman Temple of Évora, or the ruins of it. Believed to date back to the 1 st century CE, the temple was dedicated to emperor Augustus, although until the 1990’s it was wrongly assumed it was built to honour the ancient goddess of the hunting, the moon and chastity – Diana. To present day the temple is still colloquially called Templo de Diana .

The temple was the centre of the main public square of Roman Évora, known as Liberalitas Iulia Ebora back in the day. The original temple was surrounded by a water tank believed to be connected to the aqueduct. Throughout the centuries, it was used in several different ways, going from a religious building to a fortified house, and later even a slaughterhouse. Its architecture also suffered several changes. Between the 14 th and 19 th centuries, its columns were enclosed by walls that were only demolished in 1971 when it was ordered that all non-roman features were to be removed.

The Roman temple is surrounded by many other significant buildings, such as the public library, Igreja dos Lóios , and National Museum of Friar Manuel do Cenáculo. Just opposite the temple there’s the lovely Jardim Diana , which is the perfect stop point for contemplating the temple, and yet another great place to get some refreshments from one of the kiosks nearby.

Aqueduto da Água da Prata

For those interested in diving deeper into Évora’s architecture, head to Rua do Cano on the lower part of Évora to check out Aqueduto da Água da Prata . It’s only a 10-minute walk from Praça do Giraldo. As you head there make sure you stop at Largo Luiz Camões, this way you get to see how the aqueduct is integrated into the historic downtown.

With an 18km extension, it was built in the 16 th century over what is believed to be the foundations of a Roman period aqueduct, which is assumed to be much higher. It was designed to take water to the highest part of city, where the temple and old forum were located. Supplying three main fountains, including Fonte da Praça do Giraldo, where the people of Évora would gather to collect water. The aqueduct is still operational to these days. 

As you walk alongside the aqueduct in Rua do Cano , you will see that several arches have tiny yellow houses embedded in them. With a total of 30 buildings merged with the arches. We also recommend taking a look at the renaissance water tank in Rua Nova which is a couple of meters away from the main square.

Capela dos Ossos – Évora’s Bone Chapel 

If you have already visited Mercado Municipal de Évora , you probably noticed Igreja de São Francisco just across the street. This Gothic-Manueline style church belongs to the convent of same name . Although less imposing than the city’s cathedral, it’s just as busy. In fact, those that don’t have much time often favour visiting Igreja de São Francisco over the city’s cathedral. That’s because it houses Portugal’s largest bone chapel.

With bones of approximately 5.000 people, the chapel was built in the late 16 th century by Franciscan monks. The chapel was built to clear out valuable lands across the city, back then being used as monastic graveyards. The monks then decided that displaying the bones would be a good way of meditating on the transience of life. This motive is clear in the message above the chapel entrance, which reads “ Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos ” literally meaning “We bones that are here, await for yours”.

Entrance fee is 6€ per person, and it includes visiting the chapel, museum, and seeing the collection of nativity scenes made by artists from all over the world.

Jardim Público de Évora 

Not far from the municipal market, is the Public Garden of Évora. A 3-acre Romantic style garden laid out in 1863 by Italian architect Giuseppe Cinatti. It is another lovely place to take a break from sightseeing, as it offers plenty of shade, two kiosks for refreshments, and even a little park for children. With the bonus of colourful peacocks and ducks that live there. During spring the garden is even more lovely with wisterias, hydrangeas and bougainvilleas in full bloom.

The garden is also packed with monuments and historic buildings, such as the the 19 th century wrought iron bandstand. And the remaining segments of former royal residence Palacio de D. Manuel .

Amidst the trees of the garden, there are also the ‘fake ruins’ or Ruínas Fingídas, also a project of the original architect. These fabricated ruins have the city’s medieval wall as the main structure, combining Manueline style double windows retrieved from the demolished Paço Eborense dos Condes do Vimioso. Despite not being legitimate in their layout, this is a very picturesque construction playing into the Romantic style of the garden. It’s also loved by the peacocks that wonder around its walls and arches.

Traditional Pastries in Évora

Being the capital of the Alentejo region, Évora is a great place to try the so called doces conventuais, and some other traditional pastries unlikely to be found outside of Alentejo. In Praça do Giraldo you will find several pastelarias with a great variety of pastries and cakes, and of course the celebrated pastel de nata. If you feel like stepping out of your pastry comfort zone, we recommend you try pão de rala. On the outside it resembles a crusty bread roll, but once you take a bite you are surprised with a very moist filling made of eggs, sugar, almonds, lemon zest and gila – a type of squash loved by the Portuguese. Our favorite place to go for a coffee and a pastry is Gema d’Évora , but we also recommend its neighbour Café Arcada, both located at Praça do Giraldo .

Organised Tours to Évora

At just over an hour from Lisbon, it’s a popular day trip and makes a great alternative to the more typically recommended Sintra and Óbidos. Several tours are available that will take you to nearby Monsaraz, or a vineyard, before returning you to Lisbon – a great way to sample the Alentejo region! Most of these are large group tours, or coach trips that will start in Lisbon and bring you back in the same day, but if you’re willing to up your budget you’ll find private options as well! For those already in Évora, then a great addition to your trip is a cork tour, taking you out into the nearby forests to show you how cork is harvested, and processed. A great insight into locale industry.

Here’s our pick of our favourite and best reviewed tours:

• From Lisbon: Évora and Monsaraz Day Tour with Wine Tasting (€97 per person)
• Cork Safari in a Classic Land Rover with Optional Lunch (€80 per person)
•  Évora Full-Day Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon (€500 per group)

Somewhere to Stay in Évora

Évora is definitely more of traditional town than a tourist destination compared to the Algarve or Lisbon. However, you’ll still find plenty of good options for overnight stays, and even longer if you wish! For a luxurious stay within the walls we recommend the Évora Olive hotel . More budget travellers can take a look at the Hotel Ibis Evora , just a short walk outside the walls it’s a solid option if you’re not fussy about the amenities and you just want to explore the town! You can take a look at the full range of options in Évora with this list here!

Should You Visit Évora

Évora is a fantastic town to visit, and even base yourself in to explore the serene Alentejo . Surrounded by authentic sites, and the incredible local food, Évora makes a good day trip, or a great stopping point for longer trips. For travellers making their way between Lisbon and the Algarve we recommend at least taking the inland route with a stop in Évora for one of your directions of travel.

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Map of Evora — Best attractions, restaurants, and transportation info

What’s on this map.

We’ve made the ultimate tourist map of Evora, Portugal for travelers! Check out Evora’s top things to do, attractions, restaurants, and major transportation hubs all in one interactive map.

Visiting Evora? See our Evora Trip Planner.

How to use the map

Use this interactive map to plan your trip before and while in Evora. Learn about each place by clicking it on the map or read more in the article below. Here’s more ways to perfect your trip using our Evora map:

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Top 18 attractions in Evora

Chapel of bones (évora), templo romano évora.

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Museum Frei Manuel do Cenáculo

Almendres cromlech, university of évora, cathedral of évora, praça do giraldo, enoturismo cartuxa, jardim diana, igreja de são joão evangelista / igreja dos lóios, ruínas fingidas, dona dorinda organic wines, igreja e mosteiro de são francisco, hotel m'ar de ar muralhas, convento do espinheiro, historic hotel & spa - évora, centro interpretativo dos almendres, frescos das casas pintadas, top 10 restaurants in evora, taberna típica quarta-feira, tábua do naldo, vinho e noz, botequim da mouraria, momentos évora, dom joaquim, café alentejo, transportation in evora, nearby airports, aeroporto de beja, highways and major roads.

• A6 - connects Evora to Lisbon
• N18 - main road through Evora, from Estremoz to Montemor-o-Novo
• N114 - connects Evora to Reguengos de Monsaraz
• N381 - connects Evora to Redondo and Mourão
• N242 - connects Evora to Viana do Alentejo
• N254 - connects Evora to Serpa and Beja
• N255 - connects Evora to Alandroal and Vila Viçosa
• N256 - connects Evora to Portel and Moura
• N371 - connects Evora to Alvito and Cuba
• N372 - connects Evora to Arraiolos and Montemor-o-Novo.

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Popular road trips from evora, what's the weather like in evora.

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Explore nearby places

• Viana do Alentejo
• Montemor-o-Novo
• Vila Nova da Baronia
• Reguengos de Monsaraz
• Sao Pedro do Corval
• Vila de Frades
• Casa Branca

All related maps of Evora

• Map of Igrejinha
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• Map of Viana do Alentejo
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Evora throughout the year

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Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Evora?

Get inspired for your trip to Evora with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

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Evora: UNESCO World Heritage City

• Accommodation
• Entertainment
• Internet Cafes
• Population 57,000.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• Preserved medieval, walled town.
• Templo Romano Roman temple.
• Relaxing town of churches, palaces and historic monuments.
• Situated south east of Lisbon, in the Alentejo.
• One of Portugal's most beautiful cities.

Evora (then Ebora) dates back to Celtic times before the Romans arrived from 59 BCE onwards. Evora was also occupied during the Islamic period of Portugal's history by the Moors in the 12th century, who have left a lasting impression in some of the winding alleyways of the old town.

Evora's heyday was between the 14th-16th centuries when the city grew rich on the local wine trade and the patronage of the House of Avis. It was during this time that the impressive 3 km-long city walls were built, the Jesuit university was founded and many of the fine Renaissance palaces and churches built. The city's decline after 1580 with the invasion of the Spanish has left the ancient architecture mostly untouched and a treasure house for present-day visitors.

The ornate, fortress-like Sé on Largo do Marques de Marialva is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Portugal. Begun at the end of the 12th century, the church has some splendid Gothic additions such as the chancel and the cloister. The cathedral has an interesting museum full of jewelled religious artefacts. The Museu de Evora is next to the cathedral and was once the palace of the archbishop. The museum exhibits Roman and medieval remains as well as religious art by Flemish painters from the Renaissance.

The lively, historic hub of Evora is Praça do Giraldo , where the tourist office is now located along with numerous pavement cafes for relaxing and watching the world go by.

Evora's spectacular Roman remains include the Templo Romano and the Termas Romanas (Roman Baths). The Templo Romano is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Europe and is thought to date to the 2nd or 3rd century. Fourteen Corinthian columns in granite support a marble entablature. The temple is popularly attributed to Diana - the Roman goddess of hunting though Jupiter or the Emperor Augustus are more likely candidates.

The Termas Romanas (Roman baths) were discovered under the Câmara Municipal or town hall in the 1980's and can be visited Monday-Friday 9 am-5.30 pm during office hours. The baths include an arched brick doorway, leading to a room with a circular steam bath ( laconicum ) 9 metres in diameter.

Among Evora's many fine churches, the standout is the Igreja de Sao Francisco with its macabre Capela dos Ossos . Built in the Gothic and Manueline style in the early 16th century, the splendid interior has nautical motifs recalling Portugal's history of the Age of the Discoveries , when Portuguese sea captains set sail around the world. The Capela dos Ossos is a small chapel behind the main altar containing the bones of an estimated 5,000 people and two dessicated corpses, one that of a child.

Other beautiful churches include the Igreja de Sao Joao with fine azulejos. Next door the Convento dos Loios has been converted in to a top-end pousada with a noted restaurant.

The Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Graça (Church of our Lady of Grace) on Largo da Graça has a bizarre, baroque facade topped by four, giant, stone Atlases.

Among Evora's Renaissance palaces, the Palacio dos Duques de Cadaval (Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval) is still owned by the Cadaval family and located opposite the Templo Romano. Once used by the governor of the city and as a royal residence, the palace has Moorish, Gothic and Manueline architectual touches and is dominated by its large tower. The first-floor rooms ( Salas de Exposiçao do Palacio ) house a collection of illustrated manuscripts, family portraits and religious art open to the public.

Evora's other main sights include the Universidade de Evora (Tel: 266 740 800) which lies outside the city walls and has beautiful, Italian-style courtyards and azulejos-decorated classrooms. The Jardim Publico (Public Gardens) contains the Palacio de Manuel and the fine Galeria das Damas (Ladies' Gallery) constructed in a Gothic-Renaissance style. The 9 km-long Aqueduto de Agua de Prata (Aqueduct of Silver Water), designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda, who also built the Belem Tower, brought water in to the town and is noted now for the houses, shops and cafes built under its arches. The Porta de Moura (Moor's Gate) in Largo das Portas de Moura is surrounded by historic mansions with a Renaissance fountain in the shape of a globe surrounded by water, a nod to the Age of Discovery.

The Almendres Cromlech (Cromeleque dos Almendres) is an ancient stone circle close to Evora. The stone circle lies close to several other Neolithic sites including menhirs (standing stones or monoliths) and dolmen (tombs). Altogether there are 95 stones set in two circles.

Evora's main festivals are: the Feira de Sao Joao in late June or July and the food festival - Rota de Sabores Tradicionais - which runs through the early months of the year.

Evora Tourist Office

Praça do Giraldo 73 (tel. 266 702 671)

Getting to Evora

Train travel in portugal.

There are daily trains to Lisbon (2 hours, 30 mins) changing at Casa Branca as well as trains to Setubal Station in Setubal (2 hours, 15 mins), Faro (4 hours, 30 mins) and Lagos (5 hours) in the Algarve. The station (tel. 266 742 336) is south of the Jardim Publico.

Car Travel in Portugal

Evora is around an hour and a half by car from Lisbon on the A2 and the A6 highways. From Elvas or Spain (Badajoz), take the A6/E90.

Bus Travel in Portugal

The bus station (tel. 266 769 410) is just off Avenida de Sao Sebastiao. Fairly frequent buses a day make the 2 hour plus journey to Lisbon. There are also bus connections to Elvas (90 minutes), Portalegre (90 minutes), Beja (90 minutes) and Faro (5 hours). Buses from Evora also connect to the small town of Reguengos de Monsaraz in 35 minutes, from where there are other buses to the picturesque, walled village of Monsaraz or it is 20 minutes by car.

Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation

Places to stay in Evora include the luxury  Convento do Espinheiro , located in a restored 15th-century convent and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Other recommended places to stay include the five-star  M'AR De AR Aqueduto , housed in a 16th century palace and the four star  Vitoria Stone Hotel  with pool. The reliable and friendly  Hotel Dom Fernando is just south of the historic centre.

See here for a full  listing of accommodation in the Alentejo region  of Portugal.

Featured Hotel

Pousada Convento de Evora, Largo do Conde de Vila Flor; 32 luxurious rooms in a converted Renaissance convent

Book the Pousada Convento de Evora

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Convento Do Espinheiro & Spa

Dom Fernando Hotel

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Taberna Tipica Quarta Feira Rua do Inverno, 18 Wonderful, friendly eatery, reservations recommended Tel. 266 707 530, closed Monday.

Other recommendations for places to try traditional Portuguese cuisine include D'Iberica at Rua do Raimundo, 33, Botequim da Mouraria at Rua da Mouraria 16A or Vinho e Noz at Rua Ramalho Ortigao 12.

Bar de Teatro Praça Joaquim Antonio de Aguiar Genteel decor and chill music.

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Internet Cafe

Câmara Municipal Praça de Sertorio, 9 am-5.30 pm.

The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade. Get more weather information for Portugal

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Home » Travel Guides » Portugal » 15 Best Things to Do in Évora (Portugal)

15 Best Things to Do in Évora (Portugal)

A timeless city in Alentejo, Évora is a UNESCO Site steeped in Roman and medieval heritage.

The city’s golden age came in the 1400s when Portugal’s kings chose it for their home, and Évora’s streets still recall that influx of nobility 500 years ago.

The Romans were the first to settle the town, building its defensive enclosure and leaving behind the ruins of a temple.

Évora also has the second oldest university in the country, a venerable cathedral, a roll-call of churches and a chapel embellished entirely with human bones.

Finally, the Neolithic monuments at Almendres and Zambujeiro show that there has been some form of civilisation in these parts since way before the Romans.

Lets explore the best things to do in Évora :

1. Évora Roman Temple

At the highest point of the city where Évora’s ancient forum once stood is what could be Portugal’s greatest Roman monument.

This Corinthian temple was built in the 1st century and would likely have been devoted to Diana.

Up close you’ll notice the difference in materials; the fluted columns are made from granite while the bases and capitals are marble that was brought here from Estremoz, 40 or so kilometres to the northeast.

This monument has survived so well because its walls were filled in during medieval times when it was turned into a small fortress, before being restored in the 1870s.

2. Évora Cathedral

Also at the top of the town is Évora’s commanding pink granite cathedral, unmistakable for its sturdy towers with conical spires.

This building was completed in phases from the beginning of the 13th century, so has a jumble of architecture, with a cavernous Gothic nave, Manueline choir with dainty vaulting and Baroque chapels.

The monument has been completely opened up to visitors, so you go out onto the rooftop terrace to look down on Évora or enter the Gothic cloisters, which have orange trees in their garden.

There’s also a small museum for the treasury with a glimmering set of liturgical gold and silverwork.

3. Museu de Évora

The city’s museum is set up in the old episcopal palace, which dates to the 1500s and has gathered some 20,000 items relating to Évora’s history.

On show there’s painting, sculpture, jewellery, furniture, textiles, goldwork and ceramics.

If there’s an obligatory exhibit it has to be the polyptych of 19 panels that used to be in the cathedral’s altar.

This was painted in Bruges at the turn of the 16th century and portrays scenes from the life of Mary and the Passion.

There’s much more painting to savour, particularly the Renaissance works by Francisco Henriques, a Flemish artist who made his name in Portugal, and Gregório Lopes who was the court painter of King Manuel I.

4. Évora University

Portugal’s second-oldest university is in Évora, and was founded in the 1500s by both Pope Paul IV and the future King Henry I, who was a cardinal at the time.

For its first 200 years it was a Jesuit college, before this order was expelled from Portugal in the 1750s.

There’s a lot to get through here, but you have to survey the elegant arcades and galleries in the main courtyard.

And don’t miss the chance to see some of the classrooms, as these are decorated with azulejos that vary according to the fields taught.

You might notice Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great or Plato instructing his followers.

5. Historic Centre

Évora’s World Heritage Site contains the entirety of  the old town within the city walls, sloping up to the Cathedral and Roman Temple.

If your idea of the perfect afternoon is aimless exploration and finding perfect photo opportunities at random, old Évora will be up your street.

The houses on maze-like streets and elongated squares are whitewashed, with wrought iron balconies and cute azulejos.

Most are from the 1400-1700 and take you back to when Évora was favoured by royalty.

Around this time Portugal was extending its influence to the New World, and this city had a strong influence on Brazilian architecture.

6. Noble Houses

Along with Portuguese kings, the court moved to Évora in the 1400s and 1500s, endowing the city with lots of distinguished houses to spot as you potter around.

See the Paço dos Duques de Cadaval, which has towers that are part of the city walls and interiors that you can enter, decorated with period furniture and paintings.

The Paço dos Condes de Basto is attached to the Roman walls and stands out for its loggia and Moorish-style horseshoe window arches.

Casa Garcia de Resende is indentified by its Manueline (early-16th-century) stonework above its main window, while Casa Soure has an arcaded gallery crested by a white conical spire.

7. Praça do Giraldo

Évora’s main square was laid out in the 16th century, and at this time it was the scene of the Spanish Inquisition court, which handed out thousands of brutal sentences here.

On a lighter note it also boasts the marble Fonte Henrique, at the same location as an earlier, 16th-century fountain built to commemorate the Agua Prata aqueduct.

There are eight spouts in the fountain, each for one of the streets branching off the square.

The north side is taken up by the striking facade of the Church of Santo Antão, while all down the east side there’s a continuous arcade, hiding cafes and specialty shops.

8. Capela dos Ossos

This chapel attached to the Church of São Francisco isn’t one for the squeamish.

It’s an ossuary, with walls, arches and supporting pillars lined with bones and skulls in cheerful arrangements.

These are the remains of several thousand monks, recovered from several crypts and cemeteries in the 16th century.

The idea behind this Franciscan chapel, built when counter-Reformation spirit was running high, was to remind worshippers of the transitory nature of life.

In case there’s any doubt about this message, there’s an inscription at the entrance in Latin, reading ” We bones, that are here, for yours await”.

9. Church of São Francisco

The church that hosts the Capela dos Ossos also needs to be seen, not least as it was a place of worship for royalty.

This is made clear at the portal, which is was sculpted in the Manueline style in the first decades of the 1500s.

Amid the decoration is an armillary sphere, which was the emblem of King Manuel I, and a pelican, signifying King John II. The nave has monumental dimensions (it is the largest church interior of this kind in Portugal), and you should raise your eyes to the groin vaults in the ceiling.

A peculiar thing about the choir is that the opposing stalls were made in different times; the ones on the right are 16th-century Renaissance, while those on the left are 17th-century Baroque.

10. Agua de Prata Aqueduct

One of the most striking sights around Évora is this 16th-century aqueduct, channelling water to the city for almost 20 kilometres.

The theory goes that this Renaissance structure follows the same course as the original Roman aqueduct and incorporates some of its stonework.

In Évora’s residential areas, houses have been built wedged into the arches.

When it was finished in 1537 there was a grand ceremony held in Praça do Giraldo, attended by King John III and his court.

For a day out you won’t soon forget you could catch a taxi to the source and walk back along the route, through cork oak forest with sensational vistas of the city.

11. Évora’s Walls

As soon as you arrive in Évora, stop by the tourist office, which will give you a handy map of the best spots to take in the city’s fortifications.

As they appear now, these walls, towers and gates are from the reign of King Afonso IV in the 1300s, but their origins and course go back to 3rd century, and you can also spot Moorish traces from the early middle ages.

The area contained is more than 10 hectares and the walls are about two kilometres in length, so there’s plenty to see.

A good starting point is the Jardim Público a few paces from the Capela dos Ossos, where a length of the ramparts creates a picturesque barrier in the park.

12. Convento dos Lóios

This convent is from the 1400s and was built over the ruins of a medieval castle.

A few of the monastic buildings, including the refectory and monks’ cells have been turned into a pousada (heritage hotel). You can go in to explore the church, which is far richer than its facade makes it seem.

That is because the exterior had to be remodelled after the devastating 1755 earthquake.

The ceiling of the nave has masterful Gothic rubbed vaults, and walls festooned with blue and white azulejos.

The church also has the tombs of the Counts of Olivença, most notably Rodrigo Afonso de Melo who was chief guard to King Afonso V.

13. Almendres Cromlech

A short way west of Évora is this jaw-dropping Neolithic site, going back 8,000 years and in use for three millennia.

It’s the largest arrangement of menhirs in Iberia, and among the largest on the entire continent.

There are 95 standing stones in all, forming two huge circles, and it’s unbelievable to think that this site lay hidden for thousands of years until it was excavated in the 1960s.

Some of the mystique of this amazing monument comes from the carvings on many of the stones, with circles, spirals, crescents, dimples and inverted shepherd’s crooks.

14. Anta Grande do Zambujeiro

Closer than Almendres is another mysterious megalithic monument from more than 5,000 years ago.

Rather than a stone circle  it’s a funerary chamber at the end of a corridor of granite stones.

It was uncovered at the same time as Almendres, and the artefacts unearthed at the site are on show at the Évora Museum.

The site is so complete that you’ll come away with a firm idea of the technical skills possessed by Neolithic builders in this region.

You can peer right inside the chamber and see how the immense stones were carefully positioned to form a regular building.

15. Regional Dishes

You can dine like an Évoran and sample some traditional Alentejo fare, which is rustic, satisfying and intended to nourish generations of rural workers.

Açorda is a kind of paste made with garlic, olive oil and vinegar and served with poached egg over slices of bread.

Migas com carne de porco is leftover bread, soaked in water, garlic and spices and combined with braised pork.

Alentejo is also known for its desserts, like sericaia, a kind of egg pudding flavoured with orange zest and cinnamon, or pão de rala, literally bread pudding traditionally made at convents, with lemon zest, spices, ground almonds and eggs.

15 Best Things to Do in Évora (Portugal):

• Évora Roman Temple
• Évora Cathedral
• Museu de Évora
• Évora University
• Historic Centre
• Noble Houses
• Praça do Giraldo
• Capela dos Ossos
• Church of São Francisco
• Agua de Prata Aqueduct
• Évora's Walls
• Convento dos Lóios
• Almendres Cromlech
• Anta Grande do Zambujeiro
• Regional Dishes

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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Évora, Portugal

This Portuguese city has incredible wineries, ancient Roman ruins, and a laid-back vibe.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

• Best Hotels and Resorts in Évora
• Best Things to Do in Évora
• Best Shopping in Évora

Best Restaurants in Évora

Best wineries in évora, how to get there.

Alena Zharava/Getty Images

Nestled in Portugal’s agrarian heartland of Alentejo, Évora charms travelers with its off-the-beaten-path appeal and historic heritage. In the center of it all sits the ancient Roman Temple of Évora, and down the road stands the huge Gothic Cathedral of Évora. Beyond the historic sites, the capital of Portugal's Alentejo region also boasts fantastic food and wine from nearby vineyards.

Vangelis Paterakis

I had the pleasure of visiting Évora on a tour with Jorge Martins , a fantastic Alentejo-based guide that I found through ToursbyLocals . Here's what you need to know to plan an overnight escape or even a day trip to Évora.

Related: 20 Best Places to Visit in Portugal

Best Hotels and Resorts in Évora  

Imani country house.

Among the most alluring agritourism options in the Alentejo region, Imani Country House charms travelers with its fireplace-clad suites, swimming pools, gardens, and farm-to-table fare. It’s a laid-back, rural retreat to commune with nature, sample hyperlocal ingredients — including olive oil made from century-old trees grown on the countryside estate — and simply relax. 

Octant Évora

Situated just 20 minutes outside the city, Octant Évora feels like a contemporary oasis where guests can unwind and soak in the laid-back pleasures of Alentejo. Surrounded by olive trees, fruit orchards, and gardens that supply ingredients to the restaurant, it's pastoral with plenty of stylish, contemporary upgrades — from sleek rooms to a sunken alfresco terrace. 

Convento do Espinheiro 

Convento do Espinheiro is a 15th-century convent-turned-hotel on an eight-hectare plot of land that’s framed by olive and fig trees. With gardens, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and spacious rooms — plus Alentejo cuisine and wine tastings in the cellar where the monks used to conserve rainwater — the expansive property has all the makings of a perfect vacation.  

Pousada Convento de Évora

Find another hotel housed in a former convent at Pousada Convento de Évora , which sits mere feet from the famous Roman Temple. When they're not marveling at the original cloisters in the inner courtyard, guests can take a refreshing dip in the outdoor swimming pool.

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Imagine waking up from a restful slumber and catching a glimpse of Aqueduto da Água de Prata. That’s one of the many perks of staying at M'ar De Ar Aqueduto . Housed in a 16th-century palace, the rooms are smart and well-appointed. There’s also an excellent spa, an outdoor pool, two bars, and three restaurants. 

saiko3p/Getty Images

Best Things to Do in Évora 

The roman temple of évora.

Constructed from granite and marble (which Martins told me had to be brought all the way from Estromez) and erected to honor Emperor Augustus, Templo Romano Évora dates back more than 2,000 years. (Talk about building things to last!) Over the centuries, it’s functioned as a temple, fortress, and even a slaughterhouse before receiving historic landmark status. 

Chapel of Bones

Set inside Igreja e Mosteiro de São Francisco, the Chapel of Bones is one of the most intriguing attractions in Évora. I learned from Martins that the skeleton-encrusted chamber isn’t actually morbid at all. Franciscan monks opted to use the skulls and bones dug up from nearby graveyards to repurpose the land and “remind people of the transition between human life and what comes next in heaven.”

Cathedral of Évora

The largest medieval cathedral in Portugal, the dominating Cathedral of Évora is a massive fortified Gothic structure with massive towers, a central barrel-vault nave, gilded carvings, and grand organs that stands at the highest point in the city. To put the sheer scale of the project in perspective, construction started in 1186 and was only completed in 1250. 

Aqueduto da Água de Prata

Designed by Francisco de Arruda and built from stone, Aqueduto da Água de Prata originally linked the city of Évora to the springs of Graça do Divor. This shining example of 16th-century engineering and innovation remains intact all these years later. If you’re interested in seeing this enduring landmark up close, there’s a walking and cycling path that follows it through cork oaks and farmlands.

Museum Frei Manuel do Cenáculo

While so much of the majesty of Évora comes from its history, it’s also a city that continues to thrive with each passing era. Museum Frei Manuel do Cenáculo displays a vast collection that covers everything from ancient Roman artifacts to fine paintings from the 1900s. 

Related: This Charming Beach Town Is Called the 'Hamptons of Portugal' — and It's Home to a Massive Flock of Flamingos

Alex Robinson Photography/Getty Images

Best Shopping in Évora  

There are many handicraft shops in Évora, but none quite like Oxalá . This compact space is impeccably arranged to show off an assortment of ceramics (I was tempted to grab a pitcher and set of cups), jewelry, chocolate, and wine. 

O Cesto Artesanato

O Cesto Artesanato is a lovely store that sells both traditional and modern ceramics. Even if you aren’t in the market to buy a giant bowl or serving tray, smaller items like salt and pepper shakers make the perfect souvenir. 

Galeri Gold

Martins recommends Galeri Gold on Praça 1 de Maio for Portuguese filigree jewelry and gemstone accessories. Travelers report that the wide assortment of goods and knowledgeable staff make it a must. 

Mont'Sobro

Alentejo produces 95 percent of Portugal's cork. You can find all sorts of souvenir items — wallets, handbags, postcards, and shoes — made of cork at Mont'Sobro on the busy Rua 5 De Octobre.

Divinus Gourmet

Given the extraordinary array of products that come from the Alentejo region (and across Portugal), no shopping trip would be complete without stopping by Divinus Gourmet to stock up on olive oil, honey, jams, salt, spices, local wine, port from the Douro Valley, and ginjinha (a Portuguese liqueur made with sour cherries). 

Courtesy of Dom Joaquim

Dom Joaquim

A favorite of travelers and native Eborenses, Dom Joaquim specializes in traditional regional cuisine. The space — like the food itself — is a taste of home (if your grandmother happens to be a fantastic chef from Alentejo). Patrons devour plates of black pork and leg of lamb in a dining room where stone walls are ornamented with iron sculptures and bottles of local wine. 

Origens earns praise from diners and Michelin tasters for its contemporary Alentejo cooking and artful plating. The fact that it’s tucked away down a narrow street gives this place a sort of best-kept-secret feel.

Cavalariça Évora

If you’re searching for a spot to have lunch or dinner near the Roman Temple, look no further than Cavalariça Évora . Tucked inside the Palácio de Cadaval, it’s an atmospheric gem of a restaurant with a plant-studded terrace that’s ideal for savoring Alentejo specialties such as sourdough bread with house-made butter, cured pork, and sheep’s milk cheese.

Enoteca Cartuxa

“I suggest Enoteca Cartuxa, a restaurant and gourmet shop right beside the Roman Temple,” says Martins. Dishes like pork cheeks and octopus are full of flavor. You’ll also find a superb selection of wines (many from Cartuxa Winery) available for purchase.

Fábrica dos Gelados

Fábrica dos Gelados is something of an institution in Évora. People line up for scoops of creamy gelato made fresh daily. As someone who can’t eat dairy, I was pleasantly surprised to see the abundance of lactose-free fruit flavors, ranging from passionfruit and strawberry to melon and banana chocolate. 

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Located about 30 minutes from Évora, family-run Ervideira is known in the area for its superb vintages. Visitors can do tours and wine tastings paired with regional products like meat, cheeses, bread, and olive oil. There’s also a bottle shop in the heart of the city if you’re short on time and can’t make it to the estate. 

The passion project of award-winning Portuguese oenologist Antonio Macanita, FitaPreta embraces much of what makes the winemaking culture of Alentejo so special. The winery is housed inside a 14th-century medieval palace that's brimming with history, and the wine reflects the unique terroir of the region. In addition to tours of the cellar and tastings, picnics and gastronomic experiences are available.  

Oxalá (not to be confused with the store of the same name) is a bespoke operation helmed by owner and winemaker Hugo Campos that I learned about from Dale Ott, the owner of Nossa Imports . The estate comprises 15 hectares and grows a handful of different grape varietals. So if you’re interested in learning about — and sipping — wine from Alentejo, it’s a wonderful place to visit.  

Évora is located about 90 minutes away from Lisbon . It’s easy to rent a car and drive or arrange transport. There’s also direct bus and train service between the two cities.

Related Articles

One of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place to delve into the past. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora’s narrow, winding lanes lead to striking architectural works: an elaborate medieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town square, once the site of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition. Aside from its historic and aesthetic virtues, Évora is also a lively university town, and its many attractive restaurants serve up hearty Alentejan cuisine. Outside town, Neolithic monuments and rustic wineries make for fine day trips.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Templo Romano

Once part of the Roman Forum, the remains of this temple, dating from the 2nd or early 3rd century AD, are a heady slice of drama right in town. It's…

Capela dos Ossos

One of Évora’s most popular sights is also one of its most chilling. The walls and columns of this mesmerising memento mori (reminder of death) are lined…

Cromeleque dos Almendres

Set within a beautiful landscape of olive and cork trees stands this huge, spectacular oval of standing stones, 15km west of Évora. It is the Iberian…

Anta Grande do Zambujeiro

The Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro, 13km southwest of Évora, is Europe’s largest dolmen. Under a huge sheet-metal protective shelter in a field of wildflowers…

Guarded by a pair of rose granite towers, Évora’s fortress-like medieval cathedral has fabulous cloisters and a museum jam-packed with ecclesiastical…

Gruta do Escoural

Around 27km west of Èvora, the Escoural Caves contain several cave paintings and rock carvings that date back more than 13,000 years. One-hour guided…

Convento dos Lóios

The former Convento dos Lóios, to the right of Igreja de São João, has elegant Gothic cloisters topped by a Renaissance gallery. A national monument, the…

Igreja de São João

The small, fabulous Igreja de São João, which faces the Templo Romano, was founded in 1485 by one Rodrigo Afonso de Melo, count of Olivença and the first…

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The best independent guide to Central Portugal

Where to go in Portugal? - Batalha - Coimbra - Ericeira - Elvas - Nazaré - Peniche - Tomar

Evora, Portugal in 2024: an independent travel guide

Evora is one of the finest tourist destinations in central Portugal. It is a delightful city, that combines Portuguese charm with a varied selection of fascinating historical sights.

Evora was one of the most influential cities of medieval Portugal, being an important religious centre and situated on the main trading route to Spain. This rich history is reflected in the sheer number of historical monuments. There are medieval palaces, gothic religious buildings, delightful plazas, and cobbled streets, all contained within Evora's ancient walls.

Evora should not be mistaken for a sleepy relic that is reliant upon its glorious past; the city is young and vibrant, with a large student population who attend one of the world's oldest universities.

Evora is surrounded by the Alentejo, a region of sun-baked olive groves, fortified towns and traditional villages, all of which are a joy to explore from Evora. The Alentejo region offers a truly unique Portuguese experience, with a distinctive heritage and an unhurried pace of life, a consequence of the sweltering hot summer months. Evora may not be as famous as other larger Portuguese cities, but it should be high on your list of places to visit while in Portugal.

Highlights of Evora

There are many outstanding tourist sights in Evora, and the best are:

The Templo Romano Évora – Constructed in the first century as a temple dedicated to the cult of Augustus, it is the best-preserved Roman Temple on the Iberian Peninsula.

The Capela dos Ossos – A macabre chapel lined with the bones of over 5,000 bodies that were exhumed from the city's medieval graves. Ghoulish, but still the most popular tourist attraction in Evora... more information

The Aqueduto da Água de Prata – The 16th century aqueduct that once transported water from over 9 km away to Evora. Outside of the city walls, the aqueduct rises alone on the grand aches, while within the city walls, houses and shops have been constructed beneath the stone arches.

The Catedral de Évora – This mighty 13th-century cathedral is regarded as the finest gothic building in Portugal and signifies Evora's medieval importance. Related articles: The best sights of Evora

1-day trip to Evora - Evora as a day trip

Evora is a must-see day trip destination when staying in Lisbon. However, it will take up an entire day as there is a lot of travel involved, especially if you are reliant on public transport. Once in Evora, all of the major tourist sites can be visited within about 4-5 hours of sightseeing.

A typical 1-day tour of Evora is shown in the interactive map below. The green route is the classic tour of the historic centre , which includes the cathedral, the Roman Temple, the university, and the Bone Chapel. The yellow route is an additional tour covering the north of the city , which follows the aqueduct. The two grey lines are the routes to and from the train and bus stations.

Tour sights; 1) Praça do Giraldo 2) Igreja de Santo Antão 3) Catedral de Évora 4) Evora museum 5) Roman Temple 6) Evora university 7) Igreja do Carmo 8) Igreja da Graça 9) Igreja de São Francisco 10) Capela dos Ossos (bone Chapel) 11) Ruínas Fingidas 12) Palácio de Dom Manuel (Royal Palace) 13) Câmara Municipal (city hall) 14) Arco Romano 15) Beginning of the aqueduct 16) Arches of the aqueduct Warning: Many of the tourist attractions are managed by the city council and shut for a two-hour lunch. Advice: During the summer, Evora is significantly hotter than Lisbon, and the intense sun makes sightseeing very draining from 11-3pm. Related articles: A day trip to Evora

The pretty cobble backstreets in Evora

A longer stay or holiday in Evora

If you have the time, Evora is the ideal place to slow down the pace of travel and experience authentic Portugal. The surrounding region is also offers rural tours, yoga retreats and the chance to truly unwind.

Spending at least one night in Evora allows visitors to discover the city at a relaxed pace and is highly recommended in the hot summer months. For those staying two nights, a third day can be spent visiting the pre-historic standing stones of Cromeleque dos Almendres and the majestic castle at Evoramonte. Advice: To get the most of the Alentejo region a rental car is a must as there are limited public transport services.

The Cromeleque dos Almendres date from 6000 to 4000bc, and certain stones have ancient circular engravings

A longer stay in Evora will allow much more exploration of the Alentejo region, including day trips to marble towns of Estremoz, Vila Viçosa and Borba, and the fortified town of Elvas. Elvas has unique star-shaped defences and forts, which were constructed from centuries of border fighting against Spain, and is a fascinating tourist destination. Related articles: Guide to Elvas

Evora has the added benefit of providing great value for accommodation and food, with prices significantly cheaper than Lisbon or the Algarve.

The map below shows the location of hotels and rental rooms in Evora, and by altering the date to your holiday, the map will display current prices:

Evoramonte castle stands atop one of the highest hills of the Alentejo region

Travel from Lisbon to Evora

Evora is connected to Lisbon by regular and inexpensive rail and bus services. There are more daily bus departures than the train, but the railway provides a more relaxing journey.

Travel times for both bus and train are approximately 1.5 hours, and the fares are comparable at €13 for a one-way adult ticket. The frequency of the public transport means that Evora can be visited as a day trip Lisbon. Related articles: Lisbon to Evora

Evora train station is modern but very quiet, with only a handful of departures per day

Best Tourist attractions of Evora (in detail)

There are three must-see historical monuments in Evora; they are the Sé Cathedral, the Roman Templo de Diana and the Aqueduto de Água de Prata. Most visitors to Evora will also want to see the Bone Chapel.

The Templo de Diana The Templo de Diana is the best-preserved Roman temple on the Iberian Peninsula. The temple is named after the Roman goddess Diana but when it was constructed in the 1st century, it was actually dedicated to Augustus – the emperor who created a cult about himself.

The temple has been so well preserved, as during the medieval era it was incorporated into the palace that stood here. Later, after the destruction of the palace, the temple was used as an abattoir and even a wood store!

The Templo de Diana with the cathedral to the rear

The Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel) There is no stranger tourist attraction in Evora (and possibly central Portugal) than the macabre Capela dos Ossos . The walls of this small chapel are lined with the bones and skulls of more than 5,000 bodies that were exhumed from the crowded graveyards of Evora.

These bones have not just been stored in the walls, but indeed create the decoration of the chapel. The Franciscan monks who designed the chapel followed the Counter-Reformation belief, that death is purely a transitory stage. The creepiness is compounded by the wording above the entrance, which reads "We the bones wait for yours".

Skulls and bones form decorations

The Aqueduto de Agua de Prata The Aqueduto de Agua de Prata provided a constant supply of water to the city and is connected to the water springs in Graça do Divor, 18km to the north. The aqueduct was commanded by King João III and was completed in 1537.

The highest arches are seen outside of the city walls, while inside the city, houses and shops have been constructed beneath the arches.

Historic intrigue: The name of the aqueduct (the Silver Water Aqueduct) has a double meaning. The first, and more obvious, is the silver appearance of the water under the bright summer sun. The second reflects the astronomical construction costs, which were so high that it nearly bankrupted the regional government.

The huge arches of the aqueduct span the valley outside of the city walls

The Sé cathedral The Sé cathedral is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture. The cathedral has two mismatched towers, and this is unique for gothic religious buildings, which usually have a panel of symmetry across the front portal.

A visit to the cathedral allows access to the roof, from which there are wonderful views over Evora.

The cathedral with its two very different towers

When best to visit Evora?

Evora is incredibly hot in the summer warm in both spring and autumn: Winters are mild but there is always the chance of wet days. Early spring is the best season to visit Evora, when the rolling plains are lush and full of flowers and the days are pleasant temperatures for sightseeing on foot.

The average weather of Evora

Summers are extremely hot in the Alentejo region and sightseeing can only be done in the early morning or late in the afternoon. For tourists intending on visiting during the summer, follow the locals’ example, by taking a much slower pace and enjoying a long lunch. All municipal tourist attractions close for an extended two-hour lunch, irrespective of the season, so plan your day of sightseeing around this long break.

Discover more of Evora and the Alentejo with our expert guides

Evora introduction

Historic heart of the Alentejo region and wonderful city

Evora's best sights

Discover Evora's top attractions and must-see landmarks

Day trip to Evora

Experience Evora's rich history and culture as day trip from Lisbon

Bone chapel

Step inside the Capela dos Ossos, a macabre display of 5,000 skeletons

Lisbon to Evora

How best to travel from Lisbon to Evora by public transport

The Alentejo

Experience the traditional, peaceful charm of authentic Portugal

The N2 road

Take a scenic road trip across Portugal on the iconic N2 road

V ila Nova de Milfontes

Stunning beaches on the undiscovered Alentejo coastline

Picturesque fortified town on the Portuguese border

The vibrant and dynamic capital of Portugal

Extravagant palaces, opulent villas, and stunning scenery

The finest resort town of the Lisbon coastline

The classic Portuguese walled town, owned by the Queen of Portugal

Experience true Portugal in this busy fishing port

Delightful beach town, which is a favourite with the Portuguese

The ancient stronghold of the Knights Templar

Trendy surfing town set along a beautiful coastline

A charming town, famed for the world’s highest surfing waves

Traditional fishing port surrounded by magnificent beaches

Wild and windswept islands, a refuge to seabirds and sea life

A complete list of all of our guides to Portugal

• Obidos Introduction
• Things to See in Obidos
• Obidos day trip
• Lisbon to Obidos
• Tomar Introduction
• Things to see in Tomar
• Lisbon to Tomar
• Evora Introduction
• Evora Things to See
• Day Trip to Evora
• Capela dos Ossos
• Evora or Sintra?
• The Alentejo region
• Fatima introduction
• Lisbon to Fatima
• Mafra Introduction
• Lisbon to Mafra
• Ericeira introduction
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If you’re looking for a getaway and a good starting point to see the Alentejo , then the historic capital of the region is the best place to go! Évora, considered the Portuguese city with the second-best living conditions, is around 1,300 sq km (or about 500 sq mi) and has around 50,000 people.

Competing with Braga in seniority, the city has a history dating back more than five millennia. In Évora, you can travel to the different times that the city has lived through, from the Romans, passing through the times of the Inquisition until the 1900s. It’s generations and generations of different types of people and cultures that have walked that same ground! Many of them, even the same cobbled streets as we are walking!

Its Historical Center was the second one in Portugal to be considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is fairly quick to see, with 1.05 km 2 (0.41 sq mi). There you can find amazing buildings like the Roman Temple, the Évora Cathedral, the Bones Chapel, the Aqueduct, and over 400 historical buildings in this incredible walled city.

The typical Portuguese sidewalk (“Calçada Portuguesa”) fills the streets of this time-traveling city. On each side of its narrow streets, you will find houses that tell history in each of their stones.

Once the residence of kings, this museum-city will take you on a journey through space and time, with its historic scenery and its monuments that inspired Brazilian architecture.

Getting to Évora

Lisbon to évora.

You should drive 140 km east out of Lisbon along the A6 highway, in the direction to Évora. This will take you around 1:30h. Or you can hire a Tesla to drive you and give you a tour.

You can also get there by bus, with Rede Expressos having daily buses to Évora from Sete Rios.

As for the trains, there are Lisbon-Évora rides four times a day out of Oriente, Sete Rios, and Entrecampos railway stations. However, Évora’s railway station is 1km south of the city center, about 20 minutes by walking.

Porto to Évora

This will be a loooong drive from Porto …

The quickest route is through the A1 and A6 motorways (around 410 km). This, with good traffic, takes around 4 hours!

As for bus and train, you should first get to Lisbon and then change the bus or train to the ones going to Évora.

How to Plan Your Visit

Day Trip to Évora from Lisbon: You can make this a day trip from Lisbon and explore the city in a day. Most of the interesting places are in the Historic Center and you can get to them pretty fast, but probably you won’t have that much time to explore the surroundings.

Stay in Évora and explore the surroundings: Explore the beautiful city and the rest of Alentejo! Head on to the Great Lake of Alqueva, the wonderful Beja, founded by Emperor Julius Caeser himself, to Elvas, the largest walled city in the world, or to Évoramonte, where you will find an amazing castle with a peculiar architectural feature! You can also visit Vila Viçosa or Viana do Alentejo, two beautiful Alentejan towns, or even go to the Spanish city of Badajoz or Mérida. And if you are a political fun facts aficionado, you can head on to Olivença/Olivenza, a town on the border that is claimed by both Portugal and Spain.

Where to eat in Évora

At Praça do Giraldo you will find lots of restaurants to choose from with regional traditional cuisine! The main dishes you can find in the city are tomato soup, purslane (‘beldroegas’), ‘toucinho’ (a type of bacon), dogfish, ‘açorda’ (a traditional bread soup), and the well-known convent sweets. In many bakeries, you can also find the famous ‘Queijada de Évora’ or the ‘grala bread’, try it out!

If you are looking for more modern and different food from the traditional, then head on to Alcárcova de Baixo Street, one of the ‘trendiest’ streets in the city.

Nightlife in Évora

You will find some cafés and bars open at night, where you can have a coffee or a drink. If you feel like it, you can even find some nightclubs (as a student city too, Évora has to have places to party!).

Besides all of this, you can have a quiet walk around the Historic Center, watching the lights illuminating the historic houses, churches, and the Temple. Alentejo is the hottest part of Portugal, and even though it gets colder at night in the colder months, you can have a comfortable walk if you take a good jacket.

What to do in Evora

It is usually joked that in Évora, every kick on a rock will reveal an archeological treasure, due to its millennia of human history. And you will experience this if you visit it!

Book Tours & Experiences in Evora

Here are the main attractions that you HAVE to see in Évora:

Praça do Giraldo

This square is the living heart of the city. Under the hot Alentejan sun, you will see the locals resting on a bench there or next to the water fountain. Wonderful archways and the typical Alentjean white walls (to reflect the sunlight and not absorb it) surround this central square, giving it the authentic and traditional look of the region.

You can find a very bustling market there on the weekends, and on the other days, you can shop in the several stores under the archways. In the summertime, the restaurants in the square will have some tables outside and you will see the square filled with life, with families having lunch and people having coffee and chatting. You can also find some music concerts or street theaters happening in the square if you are lucky!

The square is said to have been named after Geraldo Sem-Pavor (Geraldo the Fearless), an outlaw who expelled the Moors from the city. With the passage of time, Geraldo turned to Giraldo and the name stayed, the Square of Giraldo.

Rua Cinco de Outubro

Going through the arches of the square, we reach the 5 th October Street, named after the day of the Implementation of the Republic in Portugal.

This street is filled with handicraft shops, from carved cork, by which Portugal and the Alentejo more specifically are very well-known, to copperware. It is very tourist-centered, with lots of souvenir shops, but nonetheless a must-go street! You can even find here the famous Queijadas de Évora that I’ve talked about eating!

You can also see living houses with the neighbors talking to each other in the windows while letting the airflow through the house (the heat is not to joke about here!).

Sé Catedral de Évora

The Cathedral of Évora is one of the most majestic Cathedrals that make up the Portuguese religious patrimony and the largest medieval Cathedral in Portugal.

The building is of Romanesque origin, as it was built in this style in 1204, but through the ages, it faced several changes. Now, it has traces of various other architectural styles, such as Plateresque, Gothic, or Baroque.

On the main door, you can see a wonderful 14th-century  sculpture of the Apostles, before walking inside, and seeing it is as wonderful as outside.

You can also visit the sacred art museum inside and its terrace, where you will have a privileged view of the city from its high towers.

Templo Romano de Évora

Also called “Diana’s Temple” (even though this was then found out to be wrong) the Roman Temple is one of the most emblematic monuments in all of Portugal, considered one of the most important legacies left in the two millennia of Roman history in the region.

It is believed to have been built in the 1 st century AD, its surviving columns have survived over 2.000 years, being themselves a monument of masonry.

In that same square, you will also find the Jardim Diana (Diana Garden), with its romantic flowers as if they are watching over the Temple, and the Évora Museum, a former 16th-century  palace that houses the entirety of the city’s history under its roof. At night, the temple is lightened, filling it with an even bigger sense of grandiosity.

Termas Romanas de Évora

The Roman Baths were the place where people would bathe, hang out, and make business. Now, it is part of the rich legacy of this city, as a former Roman city.

Dating back to the 1 st century AD, these Baths were very recently discovered, only in 1987, when some excavations were being made in the old part of the Hall. It is complete with a brick doorway, a sunken room with a circular steam bath, vestiges of a furnace (that was used as a central heating system), and an open-air swimming pool.

Situated inside of what is now the City Hall, the Roman Baths can be visited for free, from Monday to Friday during office hours.

Palácio Cadaval

The Cadaval Palace incorporates parts of the city’s old castle and the Lóios Church or Church of Saint John the Evangelist.

This Church’s modest exterior does not do justice to its inside. Completely filled with 18th-century azulejos depicting the life of Saint Lawrence, this will leave you in constant awe throughout your visit.

The Church also holds a secret. It was built on top of the ruins of a Moorish castle, and here, on the cistern of this castle, a crypt was made to house the bones of the friars of the Lóios Convent. You can access it through a trapdoor among the benches. If it’s locked, just ask the Church’s caretaker to open it up!

Today, besides the Church, it features a patio, where you can enjoy a relaxing coffee, a luxurious Inn and a restaurant, as well as the famous Tower of the Five Corners, said to be haunted. It is still a private residence, where you can see the valuable Cadaval family collection of paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, armor, and weaponry from the 15 th until the 18 th centuries.

Mercado Municipal de Évora

A symbol of the local economy, the Municipal Market is where life starts in Évora, with the local population rushing to the spot to get the freshest local products.

If you want to get a taste of the normal life in Évora and get traditional local products, like Alentejan cheeses or regional cakes, this is the place! You can also have a relaxed coffee or breakfast in its cafés while talking to the locals, or even an ice cream at the ice cream shop.

It is open between 7h and 18h, every day except Monday.

Igreja de São Francisco e Capela dos Ossos

The Church of St. Francis is, together with the Cathedral, one of the first things you can see when you arrive in Évora, rising out of a hill in the Alentejan plains.

This Church is made in the Gothic-Manueline style, being originally in a Romanesque one, but little is left of it. It was the first convent where the Franciscans installed themselves in Portugal, making it of big religious and historical significance.

At the end of the 15 th century, the kings started to give this, at the time, Convent more privileges, being nicknamed “the Convent of Gold”, because of all the richness that decorated it.

This 16th-century  chapel also features two dangling corpses, one even being of a child.

To make it even creepier, when you enter the chapel you can find a warning saying: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos” (We bones that are here, await yours). Like, really??

Even though it seems like a really creepy place, it is actually the second most visited tourist attraction in Évora. People come because of the shock that it is to see a whole building made out of what once were humans, but also for the consciousness that it gives of the frailty of life.

Today it is not that much of a creepy place, it is well lit and you have visitors coming and going, so you will be fine! So if you think you only have a stomach for one bone chapel and you’re wondering between this one and the Lóios one, I would recommend this one.

Universidade de Évora

The building of Évora’s old university is amazing. Built with sculpted marble and with walls covered in azulejos, the building itself invites you to come in. When you do that, you will get even more amazed when you see the classroom walls decorated with panels of each of the subjects taught.

You can also find an 18th-century Baroque chapel, known as ‘Sala dos Atos’. You can ask the caretaker for the key if you want to explore it!

The collection of buildings was inaugurated in 1559 and it is still used by students, so you should check with the workers there if you can explore.

Aqueduto da Água de Prata

The Aqueduct of Silver Water is so incredible that it was spoken about by the great Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, who described it in its masterpiece “Os Lusíadas”. The structure can be seen throughout the city, going for 9km and reaching a height of 26 meters.

As it reaches closer and closer to the center of the city, the Aqueduct mixes together with the houses, shops, and warehouses that were built within its arches. You can see the traditional houses of Alentejo, painted white, light blue, or yellow, that use it as a doorway. You can find lots of them around Rua do Cano.

Definitely, a place to check!

Alto de São Bento

Overseeing the whole city, this well-kept secret has the best panoramic view of Évora. Next to the old windmills and the Museological Center, you can sit there and watch a breathtaking sunset over Évora, perhaps accompanied by your loved one, with some friends or enjoying your well-deserved alone time.

Jardim Público

The Public Garden of Évora is a great garden if you are looking for colors and plant diversity. You can enjoy a quiet time there, a wonderful picnic and, as always in this city, a bit of history. Here are the remains of the Medieval Wall, D. Manuel Palace, and the Ruínas Fingidas (or Faked Ruins, named this way because they were built in 1863 by Italian choreographer Giuseppe Cinnatti with ruins of several monuments in the city).

You are guaranteed to enjoy your walk there and, if you’re lucky, you might even find some company in the peacocks that walk around the Gardens.

Megaliths Tour

If you want to adventure a bit outside of the city, you can go on this Megaliths Tour until the Cromeleque dos Almendres (Cromlech of Almendres), an oval-shaped monolith made up of 95 granite stones that date back to the end of the 6 th millennia BC.

It is believed to have been a temple dedicated to the sun, with the circle serving as an astronomical observatory. But the mystery stays on what is the Menhir of Almendres, a 2.5 meter stone found 1.5km from the Cromlech.

You can visit the sites through a marked trail and tour them with local archeologists, to get a better understanding of what is known (and unknown) about this structure.

Book Megaliths Tour

Final Remarks

Évora is a millennia-old city that still endures in the 21 st century. Marked by the passage of the years, with history built upon history (quite literally, in the case of the Lóios Church), a visit to it is a necessary one if you are around.

If you have an interest in understanding the Alentejan way of life, the culture, the architecture, the history, and the mentality, just walk through the streets of Évora and immerse yourself in the city. Talk to the friendly people that will surely approach you, have a coffee around, eat and drink in the local ‘tascas’!

But don’t forget that it still is the capital of the region, and in the capitals, you usually can’t have quite the feeling of the rest of the region (you know, “big city” life), so be sure to see the rest of Alentejo and its beautiful towns and people.

In any way, usually, 2 days is enough to visit the historical city and the surroundings, and if you do want to visit the rest of Alentejo, Évora is a great jumping start to visit the whole region! I hope you have a chance to visit this wonderful place and I hope you enjoy it!

⬇️ What are your favorite things to do in Evora? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️

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Home > What to See and Do

Évora Sightseeing Guide

Itinerary advice.

Walking around the World Heritage center of Évora, you find monuments from different periods in history, but mostly from the 15th century.

É vora has a variety of monuments, almost all of them inside the city’s wall. The wall dates back to Roman times and was rebuilt by the Visigoths and the Moors, and again in the 1300s. It has a perimeter of 3km (close to 2 miles), and had ten gateways, but one of them closed and new towers were added in the 17th century. One of these towers is the entrance to the old city when you walk from the bus station.

The towers and entrance to the walled city of Évora, down the road from the bus station.

The oldest attractions are from Roman Évora (a temple and baths ), but this is essentially a well-preserved 15th-century city. It’s filled with interesting architectural details, best enjoyed on a walk around the cobbled lanes of the World Heritage center, which is a charming open-air museum.

Rua 5 de Outubro is one of Évora's main pedestrian streets

The main streets are Rua 5 de Outubro (which goes from the main square to the cathedral and the Roman temple) and Rua João de Deus (the pedestrianized shopping street, behind the main square). That main square is Praça de Giraldo , home to the tourist office and one of the city’s main churches, Igreja de Santo Antão .

The tourist office in the main square, Praça de Giraldo.

The winding streets also lead to one of Portugal’s oldest universities ( Évora University ) and to the city’s most memorable sight, the Chapel of Bones , that’s part of a royal church, considered one of the finest examples of Gothic and Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) architecture.

The stone circle of Almendres is one of a number of prehistoric monuments around Évora

Around the city is an extraordinary concentration of prehistoric monuments -- dolmens (megalithic tombs with a large flat stone laid on upright ones), menhirs (tall upright stones) and cromlechs (stone circles). Dolmens are mostly found in Britain, France, and Portugal, and the one in Zambujeiro is the largest of them all. If you visit just one prehistoric monument, however, make it the Cromlech of Almendres , the stone circle that’s often called the “Portuguese Stonehenge.” For the megalithic sites outside the city you’ll need a car, but you can walk everywhere in the center.

Complete Évora Guide

Sightseeing.

Top 10 Attractions

Day Trip from Lisbon

Roman Temple

Giraldo Square

Porta de Moura Square

Chapel of Bones

Évora Cathedral

Loios Church

Misericórdia Church

Santo Antão Church

São Tiago Church

Graça Church

Santa Clara Church

Ermida de São Brás

Évora University

Roman Baths

Évora Museum

Dom Manuel Palace

Carriages Museum

MADe Museum

Casas Pintadas

Megalithic Sites

Almendres Chromlech

Dolmen of Zambujeiro

Where to Stay

Top 10 Hotels

How to Get There

Transportation

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Évora is one of Portugal’s most historic and unspoilt cities: indeed its Roman temple, Moorish alleys, circuit of medieval walls, ensemble of sixteenth-century mansions and ochre-trimmed, whitewashed houses have resulted in its being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. A vibrant university helps support a modern town that spreads beyond the old walls, though its current population of around 56,000 inhabitants is fewer than in medieval times, and its compact centre is easily explored within a day or two.

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Brief history, templo romano (temple of diana), around évora, travel ideas for portugal, created by local experts.

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Évora’s agricultural roots are recalled on the second Tuesday of each month, with a huge open-air market held in the Rossio, south of the city walls, and in the lively Mercado Municipal (closed on Mondays) on Praça 1 de Maio, where you can sample local produce – beneath the fish section is a wine cellar that offers tastings; it also hosts farmers’ markets most weekends. The town’s big annual event, the Feira de São João, takes over the city during the last ten days of June, with handicraft, gastronomic and musical festivals.

Praça do Giraldo is the city’s central hub, with the main historic kernel just to the east. Within the surrounding city walls are several distinct old-town areas, with another concentration of sights in the streets between the main square and the public gardens. Meanwhile, to the north of the centre you can follow the course of the medieval Aqueduto do Água Prata (Silver Water Aqueduct), into whose ever-rising arches a row of houses has been incorporated. Wherever you wander, nothing is more than a ten-minute walk from Praça do Giraldo.

Other sites of interest include 15th century San Francisco Church and the 13th century cathedral. There are restaurants, bars and cafes dotted all over the place so finding somewhere to wine and dine will be no issue.

The original settlement was probably founded by the Celts, but it was the Romans who fortified the city in 57 BC. Its position on trade routes allowed Évora to flourish and soon after, the Temple of Diana was erected. In 715, Tariq ibn-Ziyad began a 450-year period of Moorish rule which established the city’s maze of narrow alleys. It was recaptured by the Christians in 1165, who began to construct the cathedral in 1186 (though it was not finished until the fourteenth century). The period from 1385–1580 saw the city prosper when the royal House of Avis established their court here, and it was during this period that most of Évora’s finest buildings were built. In 1553, the Jesuits founded a highly-rated university, but this was closed down by the King’s chief minister, Pombal, in 1759; he distrusted the Jesuits’ influence. The Vauban-style defensive town walls were constructed in the seventeenth century under the French engineer Nicolas de Langres and remain little changed today. Once the Portuguese court moved nearer Lisbon, Évora drifted into relative obscurity for much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, the university was re-established in 1973 and in 1986, the town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status as “the finest example of a city of the Golden Age of Portugal”. It is now thriving again thanks to its lively student population and as a popular tourist destination.

The graceful ruins of the Templo Romano stands at the very heart of the old city. It was built in the first or second century, supported by fourteen granite Corinthian columns, making it undoubtedly the most impressive Roman building in the country. Popularly known as the Temple of Diana (the Roman goddess of hunting), it was more probably dedicated to several Roman gods. The little square in front of the temple has an alluring kiosk-bar, while from the terrace you can look north across the rooftops – and see just how small contemporary Évora is, with the fields beginning only a few hundred metres away.

Leave at least an afternoon or two to explore Évora’s environs, which have some significant attractions. Some, like the castle at Évoramonte, warrant a quick stop en route elsewhere, though the famed carpet town of Arraiolos, just to the north, is a popular day- or overnight trip from the city. The administrative district of Évora also contains over a dozen megalithic sites – dolmens (funerary chambers), menhirs (standing stones) and stone circles – which have their origins in a culture that flourished here before spreading north as far as Brittany and Denmark. The stones of Os Almendres, in particular, provide one of the country’s most extraordinary sights. With your own car, you can easily combine a visit to Os Almendres with the dramatic dolmen of Zambujeiro. While it’s tempting to take the fast road to Beja and the south, there’s an attractive detour to be made into deepest rural Alentejo, via the small historic towns of Viana do Alentejo and Alvito. From Évora the first stop, Viana do Alentejo, is a simple twenty-minute drive down the ruler-straight N254. There’s no reliable public transport along this route – you’ll need a car.

Os Almendres

The Iberian peninsula’s largest and most impressive stone circle lies 13km west of Évora, just south of the small village of Guadalupe. To get here directly from Évora, take the N114 towards Montemor/Lisbon and follow the signs from Guadalupe. If you’re approaching from the south, from Escoural and Valverde, you need to turn left in Guadalupe, at the Café Barreiros.

You are directed out along a dirt road (largely flat and in good condition, fine for cars), reaching the Menir dos Almendres after 2km. This is a single, three-metre-high standing stone set in a quiet olive plantation five minutes’ walk from the road. Despite its obvious Neolithic origins, the local legend has it that it is the tomb of an enchanted Moorish princess, who appears once a year on the eve of São João and can be seen combing her hair.

Another 2.5km along the dirt road there’s a parking area beside the extraordinary Cromeleque dos Almendres, where no fewer than 92 stones are aligned for 70m down a dusty hillside. Placed here in several phases, between six and seven thousand years ago, they are thought to have been erected in a horseshoe shape as some kind of astronomical observatory and site of fertility rituals. Even today, the power of the site is undeniable, the stones resembling frozen figures gazing across the surrounding cork plantation to a distant Évora.

Featured Image, Evora, Portugal © Ross Helen / Shutterstock

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Portugal - Principal Sights of Tourist Interest Map

Some of the Principal Sights of Tourist Interest in Portugal include Oporto , Batalha and Evora .

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News releases

04 June 2024

IHG Hotels & Resorts adds almost 1,000 rooms to Portuguese pipeline

Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express lead bumper list of signings

04.06.24 (London, UK): IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the signing of nine hotels across Portugal, adding 976 rooms to the country’s growing and strong pipeline, as it continues to benefit from rapid growth. The signings cover two IHG brand collections including luxury and lifestyle, with the announcement of Kimpton Lisbon, Hotel Indigo Albufeira and Hotel Indigo Faro - and its Essentials Collection which comprises six signings across the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands – including suites offerings.

(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented:  “It is wonderful to see Kimpton Lisbon, Hotel Indigo Faro and Hotel Indigo Albufeira added to our luxury and lifestyle presence in Portugal, alongside the continued strong momentum of our Essentials Collection throughout the market. Two thirds of the 976 rooms announced today are part of our Holiday Inn brand family, confirming the confidence owners continue to have in our powerhouse brands. “It is great to be able to nurture new and existing relationships with owners in one of our key markets. We are confident on the growing number of opportunities across our portfolio in Portugal, as consumers and owners maintain a strong appetite and interest for IHG brands.”

Portugal is a key priority market for IHG and has seen tremendous growth in recent years, including brand debuts with the openings of Vignette Collection Casa da Companhia and Vignette Collection Lisbon Convent Square , alongside the signing of Kimpton Algarve São Rafael Atlántico , which is set to open in 2025.

Essentials Collection signings

Four Holiday Inn Express properties have joined the Portuguese pipeline – each offering all the essentials required for a comfortable and peaceful 'overnight recharge'. This includes; free wi-fi, tea and coffee facilities and our Express Start Breakfast, providing hot fresh breakfast, making it an ideal stay for guests looking for a simple, smart travel experience.

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Amoreiras: Owned by Real Hotels Group, the 192-room converted hotel in Amoreiras, is set to open its doors towards the beginning of 2025, and will be the first Holiday Inn Express & Suites offering in Portugal. Situated within walking distance to major city attractions and located in one of Lisbon’s financial districts, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Amoreiras will be the ideal launchpad for leisure and business guests.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão: The 60-room hotel is owned by Harland & Poston Group. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portimão is expected to welcome guests in the first half of 2025. Located in a popular tourist destination in the Algarve, the hotel will be a short walk to the marina and numerous beaches.
• Holiday Inn Express Porto – Boavista: The 91-room hotel set to open in the second half of 2024 will be in the Boavista neighbourhood, dubbed as the “new” centre of Porto, and one of the first collaborations with Mercan Properties in this announcement. The neighbourhood is conveniently located near to the city centre, the airport and key tourist hotspots including the seaside, making it an ideal location for every type of traveller.
• Holiday Inn Express Evora: Set to open its doors in the second half of 2024, the 76-room Holiday Inn Express Evora has also been signed with Mercan Properties. Converted from a historic building, the hotel is set in a key secondary Portuguese city, close to business parks and tourist hotspots making it an ideal location for business and leisure travellers alike.

Also signed to the Holiday Inn brand family in Portugal are two Holiday Inn properties. Both hotels will include hallmarks such as its “Kids Stay & Eat Free” programme and open lobby concept to provide guests the most flexibility, whether they’re looking to eat, relax, work, or have fun in one space.

• Holiday Inn Braga - Owned by Soliteight Hotel Projects SA, the 114-room hotel will be the first IHG property in their portfolio and one of the few branded hotels in the city. Braga is known for its religious history and summer festivals making the Holiday Inn Braga an ideal location for leisure guests looking to immerse themselves in the local culture. The hotel will attract both corporate and leisure guests when it opens in the second half of 2024.
• Holiday Inn Beja – Also owned by Mercan Properties, Holiday Inn Beja will be a short walking distance to the city centre and ideally situated on the main highway system connecting Lisbon with Sevilla and Huelva in Spain. The 95-room hotel located inside the renowned medieval walls of Beja Castle is set to open in the second half of 2024. It will fast become the go-to destination with its year-round hot climate and diverse tourist attractions, from its famous wine industry to the variety of historical buildings and museums.

Luxury & Lifestyle Collection signings

• Kimpton Lisbon – Signed earlier this month, the 141-room Kimpton Lisbon will be the first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants-branded property in Lisbon and the eighth property in partnership with Real Hotels Group. Set to open in early 2026, the hotel will feature unique, design-forward spaces from inspiring high-quality finishes to seasonally-inspired restaurants and bars. The hotel will benefit from key tourist attractions including the Eduardo VII Park, Marquês de Pombal Square and Avenida Liberdade, as well as museums, and the city’s vibrant restaurants and bar scene, all being in close proximity.
• Hotel Indigo Albufeira – Signed with Mercan Properties, sees the development of a one-of-a-kind, 80-room hotel in the popular tourist destination in the Algarve. The hotel will provide an immersive hospitality experience in the lively neighbourhood by featuring a rooftop pool and bar, restaurant serving local produce and a stylish bar. Once opened in mid-2025, Hotel Indigo Albufeira will fast become the ultimate destination for leisure travellers, due to the area’s historical charm, captivating architecture, and picturesque natural landscape.
• Hotel Indigo Faro – Signed in 2023, the 127-room hotel is the fifth property signed with Mercan Properties in this announcement, and will reflect the rich neighbourhood story, creating an impressive and warm atmosphere for guests and locals. Set to open in late 2026, the hotel will be perfectly located in front of the Marina in central Faro and feature a rooftop with picturesque views of both the lagoon and marina.

IHG operates 20 open hotels in Portugal across seven brands – including Six Senses, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Iberostar – and has a robust pipeline of 15 hotels*.

*Numbers as at 31 March 2024

For further information please contact:

Hinal Patel [email protected]

About IHG ®

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards , one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,300 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,000 properties.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas , Regent Hotels & Resorts , InterContinental Hotels & Resorts , Vignette Collection , Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants , Hotel Indigo
• Premium: voco hotels , HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts , Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts , EVEN Hotels
• Essentials: Holiday Inn Express , Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts , Garner hotels , avid hotels
• Suites: Atwell Suites , Staybridge Suites , Holiday Inn Club Vacations , Candlewood Suites
• Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 375,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards . To download the IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.

For our latest news, visit our Newsroom  and follow us on LinkedIn .

About Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is the original boutique hotel company, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, the San Francisco-born brand now operates 78 hotels across 12 countries, featuring restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets globally. From inspiring design to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul, Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and ridiculously personal. For more information, visit  www.KimptonHotels.com .

About Hotel Indigo

Just as no places are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike. Each Hotel Indigo draws inspiration from the local neighbourhood, culture and popular trends in food, drink, and design to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere. Our hotels provide a gateway to discover and explore some of the world’s most inspiring cities and neighbourhoods. For more information, visit hotelindigo.com , and connect with us on Facebook , and Instagram .

About Holiday Inn

Whether it’s with friends, family or coworkers, Holiday Inn makes it easy for travelers to be there together for any moment, big or small. With thousands of locations around the world, Holiday Inn hotels deliver memorable experiences for business and leisure travelers through warm and welcoming service, contemporary design that blends the familiar with the new, and a sense of comfort unique to the brand and its iconic green sign. At Holiday Inn hotels, guests can find amenities to help them make connections, work and play, including full-service restaurants where Kids Eat Free, meeting and business facilities, bright swimming pools and flexible public spaces. For more information about the Holiday Inn brand, visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY. Find us on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram .

About Holiday Inn Express

For travellers on the go, Holiday Inn Express provides more where it matters most – a great night’s sleep with our Restful Recharge program, focused service from genuine people, and the Express Start breakfast included in the rate, all designed to help guests feel more than ready for their day. As the fastest growing brand for IHG Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express aims to enable real, human connections for our guests by providing a simple, smart travel experience. For more information, visit  www.holidayinnexpress.com , and connect with us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram.