The enchanting city of Évora, with its remarkable attractions, was a welcomed surprise during our journey through Portugal. The chic old town of Évora, with its meticulously maintained white and yellow houses, immediately stands out. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the city’s relaxed atmosphere.
So here’s a key tip to start: If you’re planning a tour through Portugal, we highly recommend making a stop in Évora. You won’t regret it, believe us.
Want to know what to expect in Évora? Wonderful. That’s exactly why we’ve put together this travel guide. In this guide on our travel blog, we’ll show you the best sights in Évora and share our personal tips for your trip.
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1. Évora: Travel Tips & FAQs at a Glance
What to Know about Évora: Key Info and Overview
- Évora is situated inland in the Alentejo region, roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Lisbon. Although it’s feasible to visit Évora in a day, we’d suggest staying longer as there’s so much to explore.
- With a population of about 50,000, Évora has a small-town charm.
- The historic center is ideal for exploring on foot. Surprisingly, despite its compact size, Évora is filled with remarkable sites!
- Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you wander through the town center, you’ll quickly understand why: it boasts many grand buildings and the overall cityscape is exceptionally well-kept and inviting.
- Highlights include the iconic Roman Temple, a relic of Évora’s ancient Roman past, and the stunning Cathedral of Évora.
How many days should I plan for Évora?
The old town of Évora is quite compact, and all the attractions are within walking distance. We personally would recommend two nights. That’s how long we stayed in Évora, and we found it to be the perfect amount of time. This gives you a full day to peacefully explore the most important sights.
If you’re short on time during your trip to Portugal, theoretically, one night in Évora could also be a good option. This way, you can explore the main attractions in the afternoon of your arrival day and the morning of your departure day.
Évora Bucket-List: What can I experience?
Before we dive into the key attractions in Évora later in this travel guide, here’s a quick overview of what you can experience in Évora. Here’s our small but mighty bucket-list for your trip:
- Climb up to the roof of the Cathedral of Évora and marvel at its architecture.
- Enjoy a sundowner with a view of the Roman Temple.
- Visit the eerie Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones).
- Try Queijadas, Évora’s sweet specialty, at Pastelaria Conventual Pão de Rala.
- Get up early and admire the city’s sights in the beautiful morning light.
2. Évora Travel Guide: Attractions and our Tips on what to see
Old Town of Évora
While all the attractions we’re going to talk about in this travel guide are in the Old Town of Évora, let’s first dive into what makes this area so special. And trust us – it’s a real treasure.
Évora’s Old Town is surprisingly well-maintained. It’s no surprise that this historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. We fell in love with Évora’s atmosphere right from the start.
The heart of the Old Town is the vast Praça do Giraldo. This area can get quite touristy, especially along Rua 5 de Outubro as you head towards the cathedral. Yet, Évora’s Old Town also harbors some incredibly serene spots, particularly towards the north near the aqueduct.
Another charming place is Largo da Porta de Moura, a quaint and significant square right in the center of Évora. You’ll also find our hotel pick, the Moura Suites Hotel, nearby, but more on that soon.
Cathedral of Évora
Hello, fairy-tale castle vibes! The Cathedral of Évora stands out as one of the city’s most significant landmarks. It’s not only the largest cathedral in Portugal, but its grand scale is truly breathtaking.
The tour follows a well-organized circuit, guiding you through the cathedral’s highlights one by one. You start by climbing to the roof of the cathedral, where a panoramic view of Évora greets you. The real showstopper here, though, is the scenery, especially with the iconic tower in the backdrop.
Equally impressive is the cathedral’s Gothic cloister. We’ve seen many cloisters throughout Portugal, but none have struck us quite like this one. The courtyard, with its orange trees, offers a uniquely serene atmosphere.
Last but not least, you step into the vast interior of the cathedral. Our verdict: It’s clear why the cathedral is among Évora’s top attractions. It’s an absolute must-see before you leave the city.
Admission: 4 Euros (5 Euros including the treasury)
Roman Temple & Jardim Diana
Right in the bustling heart of Évora’s old town, and just a short walk from the cathedral, stands the ancient Roman temple, a true landmark of the city.
This temple dates back to the 1st century AD, making it around 2000 years old. Its well-preserved structure and size are quite impressive.
A quick note: There’s no museum or informational displays here. A simple walk around the temple is all it takes to take it all in. However, you can grab a drink at the small kiosk in the nearby Jardim Diana and enjoy the view.
Tip: This spot is ideal for enjoying the sunset. Jardim Diana also offers a beautiful view over Évora’s sprawling white houses.
Praça do Giraldo
The lively center of Évora’s historic old town is Praça do Giraldo. This expansive square is a popular hangout for both locals and visitors alike and serves as the heart of the city.
In the evenings, just before sunset, the square comes alive. People meet up at the cafes and bars to enjoy the end of the day.
A few attractions are also situated right on Praça do Giraldo. For example, the Igreja de Santo Antão borders the square at the northern end. Right in front of it stands the famous marble fountain from the 16th century.
Rua 5 de Outubro, leading from the square to the Cathedral of Évora, was historically a hub for artisan shops but now hosts mainly souvenir stores.
Igreja dos Lóios
A beautiful church in the old town of Évora is the Igreja dos Lóios, also known as Igreja de São João Evangelista. This attraction is located right next to the Roman Temple.
The church is famous for its typical blue and white tiles, known as Azulejos. We find the admission price (for a rather small church) to be quite high, but we still recommend a visit. It certainly ranks among the most beautiful “tile churches” we’ve encountered on our trip through Portugal.
Admission: 5 Euros
Aqueduct
That’s right: Évora has an aqueduct. Contrary to what one might assume, it isn’t from Roman times but was built in the 16th century—likely on the foundations of the former Roman water supply.
The aqueduct extends for several kilometers beyond the city center. The most fascinating part, however, is definitely the section that lies within the old town of Évora. Here, houses have been built into the arches of the aqueduct—a truly interesting sight. This part of the aqueduct is located at the northwestern end of Rua do Cano.
Capela dos Ossos
One of the most important and simultaneously most unusual attractions in the city is the so-called Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones. Sounds morbid? It is! The walls, pillars, and parts of the ceiling of this chapel are adorned with the mortal remains of at least 5,000 people.
With its somber ambiance, the Chapel of Bones is undoubtedly the spookiest spot in Évora. Overall, the chapel is smaller than expected, but it is probably the most unique chapel we have ever visited.
The Chapel of Bones was constructed in the 17th century out of necessity. The cemetery had reached its capacity, so a dignified place was needed for the mortal remains.
The Chapel of Bones is part of the Igreja de São Francisco, though it is accessed through a separate entrance. If you’re already here, it’s worth making a quick stop. The church itself can be visited for free, unlike the chapel.
Admission: 6 Euros
Excursion to the Alto de São Bento Viewpoint
Just about a 10-minute drive outside the old town of Évora, you’ll find one of the region’s most famous viewpoints, Alto de São Bento. We decided on a whim to visit at sunset, which turned out to be the perfect choice.
It’s not so much the view itself that makes the trip worthwhile, but rather the pleasant and relaxed atmosphere: locals come here for a picnic or to enjoy a sundowner they’ve brought along, taking in the breathtaking panoramic views.
Interestingly, there are also three old windmills here, which add a picturesque flair to the place. Our Tip: If you have enough time in Évora and want to make a little excursion, we highly recommend this spot. You can drive right up to the viewpoint and park at the public parking area.
3. Culinary Travel Guide: Restaurants and Cafés in Évora
Are you looking for the right cafés and restaurants for your time in Évora? In this section, you’ll find our personal recommendations. We were quite pleased with the selection of charming cafés and restaurants in Évora.
Do Largo: Our favourite café in Évora. It’s located on an idyllic, small square. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside in the shade of the trees. They serve very good coffee, as well as breakfast, snacks, and cakes/pastries. Definitely worth a stop.
Pastelaria Conventual Pão de Rala: Probably the finest pastelaria in town. Not only is the interior with its blue and white Azulejos worth seeing, but they also serve really good Portuguese specialties. Our tip: Try the queijadas – those little cheese pastries that are typical for Évora.
Origens: This small restaurant in the middle of Évora’s historic old town is definitely worth a visit. It’s even mentioned by Michelin. Here, you’ll find modern, creative Portuguese cuisine.
Cavalariça Évora: Located in the beautiful courtyard of the Palácio dos Duques de Cadaval, right next to the Roman Temple, this lovely restaurant serves dishes in tapas size for sharing.
Fábrica dos Gelados: This well-known ice cream shop reportedly has the best ice cream in Évora. The consistently long queue outside the shop certainly confirms its popularity.
4. Our Hotel Recommendation for Évora
Still searching for the ideal place to stay in Évora? We’ve got a fantastic recommendation for you. We stayed at the Moura Suites Hotel and can’t recommend this stylish, chic accommodation enough.
Nestled in a beautifully restored 15th-century building, it now serves as a stylish, very modern boutique hotel. The rooms are exceptionally cozy and come with all the amenities you could need.
The location is perfect, right in the heart of Évora, making it easy to explore all the attractions by foot. You can reach the cathedral in under five minutes. Our favorite café, Do Largo, is just a short walk away. Even with its central location, parking isn’t a problem; there’s a secure hotel car park just 300 meters away.
Our verdict: An outstanding city hotel in a prime location. We felt incredibly comfortable and would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended.
You can book the hotel here: Moura Suites Hotel
Breakfast room
5. Map: All Attractions and Tips of our Évora Travel Guide at a Glance
To make it easier for you to find your way around, we’ve included an interactive map marking all the important attractions of our Évora travel guide, along with our top picks for cafés and restaurants, and our hotel.
Our tip: Just click on the rectangle in the top right corner to open the map in the Google Maps app on your smartphone. This will help you smoothly navigate from one location to another in Évora.
Disclaimer: Affiliate Links
This travel guide includes our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we receive a small commission. This doesn’t change the price for you at all. A massive thank you from us both!
Have you visited Évora too? How did you find the city? Would you like to add any more tips for Évora? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below this travel guide!
