A day trip to Évora belongs on every traveler’s Portuguese itinerary. Évora is a charming town that lies at the center of the Alentejo region of Portugal. While small in stature (just ~50,000 residents) this town punches above its weight in historical significance. Located just 90 minutes from Lisbon by train, the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple unique and historic attractions.

Frequently overlooked as a day trip from Lisbon, Évora doesn’t have the pristine beaches of Cascais or colorful castles of Sintra. What it does have, though, are Roman ruins and one of the most unique and thought-provoking chapels in the world. Keep reading to find out how to take the perfect day trip to Évora from Lisbon.

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How to Get There

Évora is conveniently accessible from Lisbon via train or bus with both options having several departures throughout the day. I chose to take the train there because its quicker and more comfortable, but taking the bus can save you a few Euros.

Via Train

Like all intercity trains in Portugal, the best place to buy tickets is online at the official website. Here you can input your start destination (Lisboa) and end destination (Évora). When selecting where to board, you’ll need to select the Lisbon station closest to you, the most central one is Oriente station.

Once you select your route you’ll have the option to pick which trains you want to take. I’d recommend ensuring you have at least 6 hours to spend in Évora. Normal ticket prices are around €13 each way, but if you buy in advance you can typically get a discount which comes out to around €8.50 each way per person.

When taking the train, I found the stations to be well signed and easy to navigate. Make sure you keep your ticket on you as they do not check tickets when entering the train, but someone will come around to check them once the train is moving. The ride takes roughly 90 minutes each way.

Via Bus

Bus rides to Évora are provided by the company Rede Expressos and tickets can be purchased online at their website. Ticket prices vary depending on which bus you choose, one way tickets range from roughly €4 to €12.50. The ride can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on which bus you take.

What to Do

Chapel of Bones

About

History

The Chapel of Bones is located inside Igreja de Sao Francisco, a church built between 1475 and 1550. As the name suggests, it is quite literally a chapel built with human bones. This chapel was created by a monk who wanted residents to meditate on materialism and the inevitability of death.

These bones came from an estimated 5,000 corpses that were exhumed from various nearby cemeteries. At the time of the chapel’s construction there were roughly 43 cemeteries in Évora that were taking up valuable land area so the monks chose to display them here rather than relocate them somewhere less respectful.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The church is open to visitors daily except for January 1st, Easter Sunday, December 24th and December 25th. During summer months the opening hours are 9am – 6:30pm and during winter it is open 9am – 5pm.

Tickets to the church can be purchased at the entrance and grant access to the entire church and adjacent chapel. Adult tickets cost €6, for youth up to 25 and seniors over 65 tickets are €4. For families with 2 adults + young people you can get a family ticket for €15, and children under 12 may enter for free.

Location

Évora is a small city and as a result is very walkable; the trek from the train station to the Chapel of Bones is just 1km, and should take 15-20 minutes.

Évora Cathedral

About

History

Évora’s Cathedral is the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The original building was constructed between 1186 and 1204 after Évora was reconquered by Christfian rulers in 1166. It was expanded several times throughout history including the late 13th and early 14th centuries, early 16th century, and early 18th century.

What to See

The Cathedral is now a large structure located at the highest point in Évora, and its impressive stature makes it seem like it may be a fortress or castle rather than a church. When you visit you have the opportunity to explore the terrace on the roof of the cathedral, providing an outstanding view of the town and surrounding countryside. Additionally, the cathedral houses a museum with various pieces of religious art and antiquities.

How to Visit

Opening Hours & Tickets

The cathedral is open daily except January 1st, December 24th, and December 25th, from 9am – 5pm. The museum has last admittance at 1 hour before closing and the terraces have a last admittance of 30 minutes before closing.

Tickets to visit the cathedral can be bought in person when you enter the building. The cost is €5 if including the museum and €4 if excluding the museum. Their website advertises reduced prices for seniors and students but does not say what the price is. Children under 7 get in free when accompanied by an adult.

Location

Évora’s Cathedral is located in the heart of the old town and at the highest point in the city. It is easily walkable from all other attractions. It’s official address is Largo do Marquês de Marialva, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal.

Évora Aqueduct

About

History

Évora’s Aqueduct is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity required to provide the town with water hundreds of years ago. This aqueduct was constructed between 1532 and 1537 to bring water to the town from a lake and river several kilometers away. It was declared a Portuguese National Monument back in 1910.

What to See

Today much of the aqueduct is outside the city walls, but you can visit a portion of it within the city. In this section of the aqueduct people have actually built small homes within the arches of the structure, a charming and unique feature of the city. There’s not much to do besides look at it, but the aqueduct is an incredibly important and impressive piece of architecture.

How to Visit

The aqueduct isn’t a specifically marked tourist attraction, so there’s no hours or fees to worry about when visiting. The structure is located in the northern part of the town on Rua do Cano, a little less than a kilometer from the city center. You can set your navigation app for “Aqueduct” or “Aqueduto” for directions.

Roman Temple

About

History

The Roman Temple is the most ancient, and arguably most intriguing, attraction in Évora. Here you can see the remains of a 1st Century temple built by the Romans when they occupied this area of the world. This temple is the best-preserved roman temple in the Iberian Peninsula. It is often wrongly referred to as Diana’s Temple, but it was actually built to pay tribute to the Emperor Augustus.

What to See

While much of the temple is no longer standing, there are still 14 original Corinthian-style columns. Standing next to this grand structure gives you a glimpse into the incredible might and majesty of the Roman Empire. It is a sight you simply cannot miss when you come to Évora.

How to Visit

While you can’t venture onto the ruins themselves, the remains of the temple are open to viewers at any time of day without tickets or entry fees. The temple is located in the heart of the city, just around the corner from the Cathedral, making it incredibly easy to access.

Where to Eat

Parque dos Leitõs

This cozy restaurant is a fantastic place to try a regional specialty called Porco Preto. This is a specific type of pork that graze on acorns resulting in meat that is particularly tender and flavorful.

Here, the dish to order is called Leitão Assado no nosso Frrne de Ienha. This is a suckling pig roasted in a wood oven. The result is deliciously tender pork with perfectly crisp skin. It’s some of the best pork you can get and definitely worth trying.

I will note that this restaurant was a little more upscale than I was expecting when I visited. Don’t expect this to be a particularly quick or cheap lunch. If that’s not what you’re looking for two alternatives I found in my research are Tábula do Naldo and Pizza no Mercado.

Cafe Arcada

If you find yourself with some extra time at the end of the day, Cafe Arcada is a good place to spend it. If not for the food and drink, then for the fantastic ambiance that it provides.

This cafe sits in the main square of the town. The square has a charming atmosphere with cobblestone streets, a large fountain, and a historic church. The food and coffee here are good but not particularly noteworthy. However, this is a perfect spot to unwind after a busy day of exploring.

Sample Itinerary

9:02 – Train from Lisboa Oriente -> Évora

10:35 – Arrive in Évora

11 – Chapel of Bones

1 – Lunch (Options: Parque do Leitõs, Tábula do Naldo, Pizza no Mercado)

2:30 – Évora Cathedral

3:30 – Roman Temple

4 – Aqueduct

4:57 – Train from Évora -> Lisboa Oriente

6:36 – Arrive back in Lisbon

Other Things to See

If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands there are few more things to see in Évora that didn’t quite fit into my itinerary.

Public Gardens

The Jardim Público de Évora is a beautiful public park located just outside of the old town. There are plenty of places to sit and relax and also several things worth looking at. You can find historic ruins, sculptures, and, if you’re lucky, peacocks.

University of Évora

Évora is home to the second oldest university in Portugal. Founded in 1559, the university is still active and housed in beautiful historic buildings. Visitors are welcome to explore the campus, just be careful not to disturb any classes that are in session.

A day trip to Évora from Lisbon is perfect for history-lovers and worth doing for all travelers. This small town is one of the most unique places to visit in the country and is well worth a spot on your bucket list.