Updated Nov 2025 — clarified route context & internal stage links
Some cities beckon not just with beauty, but with stories etched deep into their very stones. Évora, nestled in the sun-drenched plains of the Alentejo, is one such place. While Lisbon and Porto often steal the spotlight, this ancient UNESCO World Heritage city offers a uniquely profound blend of history, culture, and rugged charm, making it an unmissable stop for any explorer. If you’re wondering about the things to see in Évora, Portugal, prepare to discover a destination where Roman temples stand beside medieval churches, and a chilling chapel made of bones invites contemplation – all within easy reach for those charting their own course across this fascinating continent.
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Table of Contents
About Évora
This is a less-popular place, located somehow “behind the shadow” of the famous Lisbon and Sintra. Nevertheless, Évora is rich enough in cultural and historical vibes that it can take you on a journey back in time, in another world. But let’s first get more information about this town.
Some geography
Évora is located in the middle of the southern half of Portugal, in the western side of the Iberian Peninsula. Tagus, one of the largest rivers in the peninsula, flows not far from here. In Portuguese, the name of the river is Tejo.
Geographically, the area south of the Tejo River is called Alentejo, and this is what it means- “Beyond the Tejo” (from Lisbon’s point of view). The area of Alentejo is hilly, covered by cork oak forests and agricultural plains between the hills. At the same time, the ocean is not too far from here- a perfect terrain for establishing a civilization.
Some history
Let’s travel back in time and follow the timeline of Évora.
Prehistory (unknown to 57 BC)
This area was inhabited from prehistoric times. Remains from prehistoric people were found all around the place where today Évora is located. Most significant of these remains is the Almendres Cromlech, one of the largest constructions of this type in Europe.
These people, mostly of Iberian, Celtic, and probably Carthaginian origin, built a settlement on the hill of modern Évora.
Roman era (57 BC to 410 AD)
Évora was conquered by the Romans in 57 BC, and the new conquerors brought a golden age to the city. One of the most significant remain from that era is the Roman Temple of Évora- a famous landmark, one of the mandatory places to visit here.
Germanic era (410 to 715)
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Évora was first a part of the Suebi Kingdom, and then the Visigothic Kingdom. Little has remain from them- you can’t find any significant building, construction, or monument from this era, but their traces can be found in some elements in the city’s walls and some small archaeological findings.
Moorish era (715 to 1165)
The area around Évora, the city itself, and the whole of the Iberian Peninsula were conquered by the Muslim Arabs (and later other Muslims of African origin, called Moors). The Moors strengthened the city walls, and gradually formed the narrow-streets image of the Old town as it is known today. In general, it was a prosperous period of Évora’s life.
Portuguese Medieval era (1165 to 1450)
In 1165, Évora was conquered by the Portuguese and has remained a part of Portugal until today. One of the first thing the new rulers do was the building of the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal- the Cathedral of Évora (Se de Évora). At the same time, the whole urban environment changed from Muslim to Christian Catholic.
Golden Age- Renaissance era (1450 to 1759)
It was another era of prosperity for Évora. The city became a favorite place for the Portuguese kings. So, the city enjoyed a time of intensive building construction of many churches, convents, and royal palaces in Manueline style. In 1559, the University of Évora was founded. One of the most famous churches from this period is the Chapel of Bones, another prominent landmark of the city.
Modern era (1759 until today)
The Jesuit order that was active at that time was expelled in 1759, and Évora entered a period of decline. Even the University was closed. Évora remained as a minor provincial town with less significance until the 70s of the 20th century, when the University was reopened. At the same time, Évora was discovered by tourism, and in 1986 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What Évora looks like today
Today, Évora is a relatively small city in Portugal. It consists of an Old town located on a hill, partly surrounded by walls (restored), and a new part around the hill. The old town of Évora is the main goal for visiting and exploring. Most points of interest are located in this area, and even walking on the streets (without aiming at a certain point of interest) is still impressive- the whole Old Town, its streets, souvenir and art shops, cafes, or just old houses where locals live, is a point of interest itself.
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My journey to Évora
I visited Évora not as a special goal to visit this town but as a part of my long-distance, segmented route across Eurasia (Europe and Asia). I rented a car in Madrid, quickly moved to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia, and step by step moved from this point eastward.
Évora was the next destination on this route. I stayed there for a few hours, exploring the most essential parts of the town, mostly in Évora’s old part. For such a short time, I didn’t have an opportunity to visit every point of interest inside (major or minor), but it was enough to immerse in the town’s highlights- its history, its culture, and its atmosphere.
Things to see in Évora, Portugal
Below are the best things to see in Évora- the best keys to quality exploring the town. I visited most of them, but if you want to explore each point in detail, read below.
The streets of the Old Town
The whole Old Town of Évora is established on a hill, mostly surrounded by a medieval wall. While the new part of the town is in the lowland around the hill, the Old Town can be seen from far away, with the Cathedral of Évora dominating the skyline. However, like every Old Town in the world, the things to see inside it are not just this or that point of interest but the whole Old Town, with its streets, buildings, and Old Town sceneries.
As in many other Old Towns, here the streets are narrow, and since this place is on a hill, they are often steep, ascending or descending. You can walk from one gate to another, through the middle of the area, and most of the time you will pass through a quite labyrinth of local residential street network with yellow-white houses in traditional architectural style.
Or, you will walk on touristy streets with cafes, souvenir shops, small restaurants, or other attractions. Both types of scenery are a great opportunity to travel back in time, immersing in the rich cultural inheritance and its vibes. And while you walk, you certainly will reach more open places- local squares, usually with specific points of interest. So, don’t go straight to these points of interest, but take your time to walk around the quiet streets of the Old Évora.
Praça do Giraldo
While you walk around the Old Town, it is very likely that you will reach the largest central square of this area- Praça do Giraldo. It is a great place for photos, meetings, and relaxation. The square is prolonged, with massive old buildings around it- all in white with yellow edges. The most impressive of the buildings is the Church of Saint Antão, built in the 16th century.
Praça do Giraldo has a dark past. A few centuries ago, it was a place of public executions, including the execution of Fernando, Duke of Bragança, in 1484. Now, it is a tourist hub, with cafes in the middle, and a lot of souvenir and boutique shops in the surrounding buildings.
The Bone Chapel
It is called Capela dos Ossos in Portuguese, and it is one of the most exotic points of interest in Portugal and beyond. The chapel is located in the southern part of the Old Town, not far from Praça do Giraldo, next to the entrance of the larger Church of St. Francis.
This chapel was created at the beginning of the 17th century by Franciscan monks. The reason for its construction was the overcrowded cemeteries around Évora occupying fertile land that can be used much better. So, they exhumed about 5000 skeletons and inserted them in this chapel. At the same time, they used the bones as a spiritual message about the fragility of human life and the inevitable end of our days on Earth.
Apart from the bones, there are also two mummies (of an adult and a child) at the entrance, a sonnet with a philosophical message, and a famous inscription states the following: “We, the bones that are here, await yours.” (“Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos.”)! Isn’t it chilling?
Besides the Chapel, there is also a small museum dedicated to the topic and history of the place, and a nativity collection. All of this is on one site for visiting.
Entrance fee: 6 EUR for adults. For more information about tickets and prices, see here.
Working time: Summer:9:00 amto6:30pm; Winter:9:00 amto5:00pm
Royal Palace of Évora
It is also known as the Palace of King Manuel I, located just right beside the Chapel of Bones. As mentioned above in the history section, Évora became a favorite place for the kings of Portugal, who established a royal residence here, and this palace was their residence.
Initially, in the 13th century, a convent was built in this place. More than a century later, King John I of Portugal turned it into a palace. But its peak became during the reign of John II and Manuel I, who turned it into a spectacular royal residence in Renaissance style, with splendid gardens. Even the Portuguese Parliament was hosted here.
However, after the 17th century, the Palace went into decline. Many of its buildings collapsed due to wars, fire, and other disasters. Only recently, a part of it was restored, and today it has been turned into a tourist attraction. Since it is a public place, and the original garden turned into a public park, there is no entrance fee and working hours for visiting.
University of Évora
This is not exactly a tourist attraction, but an active university. However, it has a long and prominent history as one of the oldest universities in Europe. Although it was closed in 1759 during the decline of Évora as a whole, in recent years (1973) it was restored and reopened.
Although it is not designed for tourists, you can just walk around it and take photos of its most prominent building, Colégio do Espírito Santo, located exactly in front of the Royal Palace and the Bone Chapel.
Cathedral of Évora
This is one of the most prominent and spectacular buildings, not only in Évora but in the whole of Portugal. It was built after the reconquest of the town from the Moors, first in 1186 as a small construction. Later, between 1280 and 1340, it was greatly enlarged and reconstructed until it became the Cathedral we know today.
The Cathedral was built in Gothic style, with later Manueline and Baroque elements. It is like a fortress outside, with a lantern-tower and a portal with marble columns. An important part of it is the cloisters in Gothic style.
The interior is magnificent, richly decorated with standard Catholic elements. There is also a small church museum. But the main attraction is its rooftop, open for visiting. You can enjoy stunning views of Évora and the land beyond the town from the roof terrace. Even if you don’t visit some of the other points of interest, don’t skip the Cathedral!
Entrance fee: from 2 EUR for the main interior only to 4.50 EUR for the whole of the complex, including the roof terrace.
Working hours: from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
For more information, see the official site of the Cathedral.
Roman temple
This is the oldest landmark in Évora, one of the symbols of the town. It is located right next to the Cathedral, with a panoramic terrace in front of it.
The Roman temple of Évora is one of the best preserved Roman structures in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, with 14 still-standing original columns in Corinthian style. It was built in the 1st century AD, probably as a cult of emperor type of temple (although it was mistakenly considered as a “Temple of Diana”).
After the fall of Rome, this temple was used for various purposes, including as a butcher shop in medieval times. People added to the temple other elements, such as bricks, and it actually unintentionally preserved the temple. It was rediscovered in the 19th century and was restored, removing the unnecessary elements. Now you can walk around it, take photos, and enjoy the views from the terrace and the garden in front of it. No entrance fee and working hours.
Other sites in the Old Town
There are some other minor points of interest that can further enrich your Évora experience, just by passing by them and taking some photos:
- Prata Aqueduct. Built between 1531 and 1537. Located in the northern part of the Old Town.
- Largo das Porta de Moura. A nice square with a fountain with the sphere of the Earth, related to the Age of Discoveries.
- St. Michael Palace. Located near the Cathedral. One of the oldest palaces, dating from Moorish times.
- Cadaval Palace. Located below the panoramic terrace in front of the Roman Temple. A beautiful 17th-century building.
- Church of St. John the Evangelist. A beautiful church, located right beside the Roman Temple.
Chapel of Saint Blaise
All of the things to see in Évora described above are in the Old Town. But this one is outside the walls, in the new part of Évora, more precisely, south of the Old Town, on the other side of the large parking lot beside the walls.
It is a small but special chapel. Many centuries ago, this area was just a natural place outside the town. In medieval times, a leper asylum was established in this place, and a place for the treatment of plague-infected individuals. Later, during the reign of King John II, this chapel was constructed here in honor of Saint Blaise, considered a protector of the plagued.
The chapel is notable for its unique architecture like a medieval castle or fortress. Its interior is decorated with azulejo tiles (Portuguese traditional tiles) and an image of Saint Blaise.
Beyond Évora: Evoramonte
This is the most essential of Évora. But there is another point of interest, not in the town, and not a part of the town, but still somehow related to Évora, at least by its name. It is called Evoramonte and it is worth visiting, no matter if you visit Évora just in a one-day tour or as a part of a longer trip.
Evoramonte is the most prominent mountain near the town of Évora, located some 30 km northeast. Its peak is 479 m above sea level, with fantastic panoramic views of the area around. But the most notable thing to see here is the magnificent castle established on the top, and the quite walled village around it.
The Castle of Evoramonte was initially built in 1306 in Gothic style, but was later damaged by an earthquake. Then, between 1531 and 1538, it was restored and used as a residence by the House of Braganza.
This place is important as a site of signing a peace treaty in 1834, ending the Portuguese Civil War, although the treaty was signed not in the castle itself but in a house in the village around it. This house is called Casa da Convenção de Evoramonte and there is a small exhibition related to these events today.
Today, the castle is a tourist attraction (although a bit off the beaten path, rarely visited). The village around it is quiet, almost empty of tourists, offering not only fantastic views from above and diving into history but also a tranquil atmosphere.
Entrance fee of the castle: 1.50 EUR
Working hours: Summer- from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm; winter- from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Useful tips
This is what Évora looks like, and these are the key things to see when you plan your visit to this beautiful town. To complete this plan, you need some useful information, especially about how to resolve your transportation (logistics) and accommodation.
Transportation
Évora is easily accessible from Lisbon and other places in Portugal. If Évora is your main goal and you start your trip from Lisbon, you can reach the town by train, by bus, by your own transport, or by an organized tour.
How to get to Évora from Lisbon (2025)
Évora is an easy day trip from Lisbon. The trip takes ~1h30 by bus or ~1h40 by train, departing from Sete Rios (bus) or Entrecampos/Oriente (train). Buses are usually faster and more frequent. There are 3 to 5 direct trains (depending on the day of the week) from Lisbon, and the standard price is 7 EUR.
A better option is to travel by bus, because there are more than 20 buses every day. Price and traveling time are similar.
Find a bus from Lisbon to Évora!
But if Évora is only a point on your long-distance route, the best option is to rent a car. Normally, the best places to rent a car are the big cities like Lisbon, Madrid, Seville, and Porto (the nearest big cities to Évora). Just keep in mind that when you arrive in Évora, except for a few places (for example, in front of the University and Chapel of Bones) you have to find a parking lot outside the Old Town (the small parking lots inside the Old Town are only for local residents). And paid parking lots are safer.
Find the best rental car for your journey!
Once you arrive in Évora, all of the described points of interest, including the Chapel of Saint Blaise, are within walking distance. Just walk around the Old Town and enjoy.
If you want to reach Evoramonte and don’t travel by car, you still can do it- there are 2 buses daily (but only from Monday to Friday) from Évora. However, the bus stops only in the new village below the hill. From there, you have to walk on the steep road to the Castle of Evoramonte for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Accommodation
Évora is a touristy place, so you can find a lot of hotels, guesthouses, and homestays to spend the night, from splurge to budget. You can easily find them on Booking or Agoda. Good options are Evora Olive Hotel, Casa Morgado Esporao, Templo Boutique Hotel, Guesthouse Evora (more budget), and Hotel Solar de Monfalim.
In Evoramonte, there is a great property called The Place at Evoramonte– you can go there from Évora, enjoy the quiet evening and the night sky from the hill and the dark castle, sleep at night in the hotel, watch the sunrise in the morning, and back to Évora.
I personally didn’t stay in Évora. I proceeded by my rental car beyond Évora, visited Evoramonte and proceed further, to Vila Viçosa, and reached Elvas, the last town of my route in Portugal, where I spent the night.
Évora is more than just a cluster of ancient monuments; it is a profound journey through time, from the megaliths of prehistory to the spiritual austerity of the Bone Chapel and the grandeur of its golden age. Whether you explore its labyrinthine streets in a few hurried, yet rewarding, hours, or allow yourself a tranquil stay to fully absorb the Alentejo sun and quiet history, this UNESCO gem offers a uniquely Portuguese experience. From the sweeping views atop the Cathedral to the echoes of Roman history and royal decree, Évora is ready to etch its own story into your travel memories. So, take the bus, drive the roads, or walk the ancient paths, and discover this unforgettable corner of Portugal for yourself.
Is Évora worth visiting?
Yes — Évora is one of Portugal’s most atmospheric historic towns. It combines Roman ruins, medieval walls, university heritage, and white-washed Alentejo streets. If you like history and quiet old towns, it’s one of the best day trips from Lisbon.
Read more in our Iberian Peninsula travel guide.
Continue the journey
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
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