Get the appSign inSign up
Trip ideas  /  Europe  /  Portugal  /  Evora, Alentejo  /  5-day itinerary
Archie
Off the Beaten Path
Evora, Alentejo: 5 days in Evora and the AlentejoPhoto: Patrick Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Culture & Discovery MarvelOff the Beaten Path FindTrip idea · Evora, Alentejo

5 days in Evora and the Alentejo

The 6-day plan, rearranged for 5 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

5 daysAnyoneEarly April15 places
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Evora
Photo: ho visto nina volare, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Evora
Photo: François Philipp, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 6 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

February to May and September to November are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Evora is a small walled town, so settle in on foot and keep the evening slow.Details
Flying in
Most visitors land at Lisbon airport and carry on to Evora by rental car, train or bus. Check the current timetables ahead, and collect the car at the airport if you plan to drive the whole trip.
Why a car
The Alentejo is wide and quiet. Towns and sights are far apart, the roads are straight and easy, and public transport between the small places is thin. A rental car is what makes Days 2 to 6 work.
Parking in town
Parking inside the old walls is tight and some streets are narrow or closed to cars. Ask your hotel where to leave the car, or use a car park just outside the walls and walk in.
Before Day 1
Take a short walk through the old streets toward Giraldo Square, then have a long, unhurried dinner. Day 1 starts at the Roman Temple, so stay close to it.

Day 1. Evora

4 stops · 0.8 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Roman Temple of Evora

    A row of Roman columns on a stone base in the middle of the old town, one of the best kept in the country. Walk around it and sit on the steps nearby.

    Go when Morning, when the stone is cool and the square is quiet.

    Local tip Walk all the way around the columns, then sit on the steps by the old palace and look back at them in the light.

    Roman Temple of Evora, Evora: a building with columns and a fence
    Photo by Jose Santos on Unsplash
    About 2 min walk0.2 km
  2. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Evora Cathedral

    A large granite cathedral with two heavy towers and a quiet cloister. Look at the stone carving at the entrance and step up to the roof terrace if you can.

    Go when Late morning, after the temple.

    Local tip Look at the carved figures around the main door, then climb to the roof if it is open, for a view over the tiled roofs and the plains.

    Evora Cathedral, Evora
    Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    Acorda alentejana

    Acorda is a warm, soft bread soup with garlic, coriander and olive oil, often served with a poached egg. A simple dish that tastes of the region.

    Local tip Order it as a light lunch, then walk it off in the old streets.

    Acorda alentejana
    Photo: Ramessos, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 4 min walk0.4 km
  4. 3
    AfternoonIntense for some

    Chapel of Bones

    A small chapel beside a church, with walls lined with human bones and skulls. It is intense for some visitors, so know what to expect and skip it if it is not for you. Check ahead on hours.

    Go when Afternoon, when you have the energy for it.

    Local tip It is a small chapel, so a short visit is enough. Read the message over the door, and leave it out if human remains are not for you.

    Chapel of Bones, Evora
    Photo: Alonso de Mendoza, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 3 min walk0.2 km
  5. 4
    AfternoonA place to sit

    Giraldo Square

    The long main square of the old town, with arcades, a fountain and cafes. A good place to sit and watch the town go by.

    Go when Late afternoon, when the arcades fill up.

    Local tip Sit at a cafe under the arcades and try a sweet egg pastry, the kind the old convents once made.

  6. Dinner

    Black pork

    The black pigs of the Alentejo eat acorns in the oak woods, and the meat is rich and tender. Look for it on a menu in a small tavern in the old town.

    Local tip Share a plate, because the portions are generous.

If it rains. Evora Cathedral and Chapel of Bones are covered, so keep them. Move Roman Temple of Evora and Giraldo Square to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Evora, part 2

3 stops · 27.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Travel from Giraldo SquareAbout 29 min by car or transit13.3 km
    Where Day 1 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Almendres Cromlech

    A large circle of upright granite stones in an open oak wood, among the oldest and largest in Europe. Check ahead on access, and be ready for a dirt road in the last stretch.

    Go when Morning, in the soft light and before the heat.

    Local tip Walk slowly among the stones and look for the carved marks on a few of them. Check ahead on the road and the access before you set out.

    Almendres Cromlech, Evora
    Photo: Wikimedia Commons on Wikimedia Commons
    About 29 min by car or transit13.1 km
  3. 2
    AfternoonWorth a short walk

    Agua de Prata Aqueduct

    A long stone aqueduct that carries on into the old town, with houses built right into its arches. Walk beside it and look up.

    Go when Afternoon, on the walk back into town.

    Local tip Follow the arches toward the town and look at the small houses built under them.

    Agua de Prata Aqueduct, Evora
    Photo: F Delventhal, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    Migas with pork

    Migas are fried bread crumbs with garlic and olive oil, served with pork. A hearty country dish that suits the end of a morning in the fields.

    Local tip Order a salad to go with it.

    Migas with pork
    Photo: Jonathan Pincas, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 15 min walk1.2 km
  5. 3
    AfternoonWorth a short visit

    University of Evora

    An old college with a cloister and rooms covered in blue and white tiles. A quiet stop in the middle of the day. Check ahead on visiting hours.

    Go when Early afternoon, when other places are closed.

    Local tip Look at the tile panels in the rooms and the quiet courtyard. It is still a working university, so be quiet.

    University of Evora, Evora
    Photo: Concierge.2C, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  6. Dinner

    Sheep cheese and local wine

    The Alentejo is sheep country, and the soft cheeses are strong and creamy. Have a plate with bread, olives and a glass of the local red wine.

    Local tip Ask for a small glass if you are driving the next day.

    Sheep cheese and local wine
    Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. University of Evora is covered, so keep it. Move Almendres Cromlech and Agua de Prata Aqueduct to a dry day if you can.

Day 3. Elvas and Estremoz and Vila Vicosa

3 stops · 147.6 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from University of EvoraAbout 1 h 14 min by car73.4 km
    Where Day 2 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Elvas Fortifications

    Walls built in the shape of a star, with bastions, moats and gates, among the best preserved in the world. Walk the ramparts and the old streets inside.

    Go when Morning, before the sun gets strong on the walls.

    Local tip Walk a stretch of the ramparts and look down into the dry moats. The shape of the star is clearest from the high points.

    About 47 min by car36.9 km
  3. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Estremoz

    A white town with a tall castle tower and a very large lower square. A weekly market is held here, so check ahead on the day, and expect crowds.

    Go when Morning, before the heat.

    Local tip Walk up to the castle tower for the view. If you are here on market day, check ahead, and arrive early for parking.

    Estremoz, Evora
    Photo: PhillipC [2], CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    A table of Alentejo starters

    A meal of bread, olives, cured sausage and sheep cheese in a small tavern is a good, quick lunch while you walk the old town.

    Local tip Ask what the day's soup is.

    About 47 min by car37.4 km
  5. 3
    AfternoonWorth a short look

    Amoreira Aqueduct

    A very long aqueduct of tall stone arches that runs to the town. Take time to look at it from the road beside it.

    Go when Afternoon, on the way in or out.

    Local tip Look at how tall the arches rise where the ground dips. Stop at a safe place beside the road.

    Amoreira Aqueduct, Evora
    Photo: Ricardo Manuel Aguiar San…, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  6. Dinner

    Roast lamb or kid

    Slow-cooked meat from the oven is a classic of the Alentejo table, and the border towns are known for their hearty cooking. Order it for the table.

    Local tip Book ahead on a weekend.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 4. Estremoz and Vila Vicosa and the cork oak plains

3 stops · 125.7 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from Amoreira AqueductAbout 1 h 14 min by car73.5 km
    Where Day 3 ended.
  2. 1
    MorningWorth the time

    Arraiolos

    A hill village of white houses known for its hand-sewn wool carpets, with a round old castle at the top. Drive in slowly through the cork oaks and olive groves on the way.

    Go when Morning, with time to wander.

    Local tip Look into a shop or workshop where the carpets are stitched by hand, and walk up to the round castle for the view over the white roofs.

    Arraiolos, Evora
    Photo: Vitor Oliveira, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 54 min by car46.5 km
  3. 2
    MiddayWorth a short stop

    Borba

    A small marble town with a main street of white houses and fountains, and quarries in the hills around it.

    Go when Midday, then on to the palace.

    Local tip Look at the marble fountains and the white facades on the main street, then see the quarries in the hills if you have time.

    Borba, Evora
    Photo: Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 7 min by car5.7 km
  4. 3
    AfternoonWorth the time

    Ducal Palace of Vila Vicosa

    A long, pale palace that was the home of the dukes who later became kings of Portugal. The town around it is quiet and pretty. Check ahead on visiting hours.

    Go when Afternoon, in the quiet after lunch.

    Local tip Walk across the huge square in front of the palace first and look back at its long front. Check ahead on visiting hours and tours.

    Ducal Palace of Vila Vicosa, Evora
    Photo: User:Tiagox2 of Panoramio, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Ducal Palace of Vila Vicosa is covered, so keep it. Move Arraiolos and Borba to a dry day if you can.

Day 5. Monsaraz and the Alqueva lake

2 stops · 88.4 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. Drive from Ducal Palace of Vila VicosaAbout 47 min by car37.4 km
    Where Day 4 ended.
  2. 1
    MiddayWorth the time

    Monsaraz

    A white walled village on a hilltop, with one steep cobbled street, a small castle and a wide view over the plains and the lake. Park below the walls and walk up.

    Go when Late morning or the golden hour before sunset (about 8:07 PM).

    Local tip Walk the one steep street to the castle and look out from the wall over the lake. Wear shoes with grip, because the cobbles are smooth.

    Monsaraz, Evora
    Photo: Rt44, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 44 min by car51.0 km
  3. 2
    AfternoonPick your time

    Alqueva Dam

    The dam that holds back one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe, with a calm blue shore. The area is also a Dark Sky reserve, so check ahead, and know that stargazing depends on the weather and the moon.

    Go when Late afternoon, then stay if the sky is clear.

    Local tip The area is known for dark night skies. Check ahead for any organized stargazing, and remember that cloud and a bright moon can spoil the view.

    Alqueva Dam, Evora
    Photo: Ceinturion, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  4. Lunch

    Pork alentejana

    A dish of small pieces of pork cooked with clams, potatoes and coriander. A traditional pairing of land and sea that you find on many menus here.

    Local tip It is filling, so share it or skip a starter.

    Pork alentejana
    Photo: Rui Ornelas, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  5. Dinner

    Lake fish and bread

    Restaurants around the big lake serve river and lake fish with bread, garlic and olive oil. Ask what is local that day.

    Local tip Eat early if you plan to stay out for the night sky.

    Lake fish and bread
    Photo: Vesekskiy, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The distances are big, so leave a generous margin for the drive.Details
The drive back
The road from Evora back toward Lisbon is straightforward, but allow extra time for fuel, the car return and any stops on the way. Aim to reach the airport well ahead of a flight.
Fuel and the car
Fill the tank in a larger town before you head for the airport, because stations in the countryside can be few. Return the car at the same place where you collected it, and check the return hours ahead.
By train or bus
If you are not driving back, check the timetable for the train or bus to the capital the night before, and have your ticket sorted. Services can be less frequent than you expect.
A last morning
If there is time, have a coffee and a convent pastry in Giraldo Square and walk once more along the old walls, then go.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Evora?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to May and September to November are the most comfortable months for walking around Evora. This plan is built for early April, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 5 days in Evora, planned for early April. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 0.8 to 74.2 kilometers between its stops, and 192.4 kilometers in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Keep exploring

Nearby trips

More like this

More Culture & Discovery trips ›More trips in Portugal ›

More guides to Evora

Other guides with a page about Evora. Each one opens in a new tab.

Photo by Jose Santos on Unsplash · Photo: Wikimedia Commons on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: PhillipC [2], CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons

Make this plan yours

Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.

A trip idea · Updated October 2026

Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.