Evora

Day Trips

Explore the history of Portugal on a full-day tour of Évora and the Megaliths of the Cromeleque dos Almendres. Following a pick-up from your hotel in Lisbon, transfer to Évora, historic capital of the Alentejo. Explore the UNESCO classified city center, seeing sights from Roman times to the Renaissance. Go to the Temple of Diana, thought to date back to the 1st century AD. Continue to the Renaissance Church of St. Francis to see the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). Marvel at walls covered in human skulls and bones. Wander around Évora Cathedral, and climb its roof to admire the golden plains surrounding the city. Depart Évora for the Roman Villa of Tourega, far off the tourist path. Continue to the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, the largest and most important megalith dolmen (tomb) on the Iberian Peninsula. Along the way, check out the smaller dolmen of the Anta da Tourega. End the day with a tour of the Almendres Cromlech. Older than Stonehenge, the megalithic complex reveals some of the secrets of ancient civilizations and their knowledge of astronomy. Marvel at the circle of stones, mysteriously aligned with the sun and stars.

Visit Évora, a Portuguese town classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a full-day tour from Lisbon. Évora is sometimes referred to as the "White City" and also "City Museum," because it dazzles its visitors with lush architectural and artistic monumental churches, historic squares, white houses, and narrow medieval streets. Évora invites you to discover a city that is synonymous of mix of cultures; from the Romans to the Arabs, Jews to Christians, all its traditions and expressions are clearly present here. On your small group trip to Évora, you will be picked up from your Lisbon hotel at 8:30 AM before setting out. After arrival, make your way to the historic city center. Évora was taken from the Moors and went on to become one of the most prosperous cities of the kingdom, especially during the Avis Dynasty (1385-1580). Next, visit the Roman Temple of Évora, often referred to as the Temple of Diana. It is a Corinthian-style temple, built in the early first century A.D. Continue on to the Chapel of Bones. It is a chapel located next to the Church of St. Francis, and its walls are all lined with human bones. After lunch, visit Évora Cathedral. This is a Romanesque-Gothic building and you can climb to the towers and go to the roof where you have amazing views over the city and the countryside. After leaving the city, continue to visit a wine farm, Here visit the facilities and learn about the manufacturing and packaging of wine. Then enjoy a wine and olive oil tasting (not included). On your way back to Lisbon, pass by Arraiolos, located about 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of Évora. Visit the castle and the church of "Senhor dos Passos." Then learn about the famous Arraiolos carpets, wool rugs embroidered with the stitch of the same name, on a jute cloth made of cotton or linen. The knowledge of this craft has been passed from generation to generation in Arraiolos. You will return to Lisbon around 5:00 PM.

Explore the cultural tapestry of Évora, capital of the province of Alentejo, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Passing through a rustic landscape of olive and cork trees, journey 81 miles (130 km) south of Lisbon to reach the outer vineyards of this well-preserved treasure. Walk through the whitewashed Old Town to visit Évora's most famous landmark, the Roman Temple. Its large Corinthian columns date back to the first century, the era of Emperor Augustus. Another breathtaking stop will be the Cathedral of Évora, one of the most important Gothic monuments in Portugal. Then we'll head to Saint Francis Church with the "Bones Chapel", or Capela dos Ossos, which is completely decorated with human bones. Don't miss the University of Évora, a former Jesuit college built by Cardinal-King Henrique in 1559. Afterwards, stroll through Évora market to admire the colorful and tasty ingredients used to create some of the Portugal's most marvelous dishes. In the afternoon, head to the Herdade do Esporão (near Reguengos de Monsaraz) to visit an important wine cellars in Portugal. Toast the day with a taste of fine wines.

Cross the Vasco da Gama Bridge - the longest in Europe - for the start of this full-day private tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Évora, admiring the winelands and plains of the Alentejo along the way. Upon arrival in Évora, circle the medieval walls and enjoy a pleasant walking tour of the old city, stopping at the most iconic sights, such as the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), where the interior walls are covered with human skulls and bones. Next door is the huge Gothic edifice of the Igreja de São Francisco (Church of St. Francis) with its Manueline entrance and spiral spires. Marvel at the Roman Temple, one of the most significant Roman ruins in Portugal with well preserved columns and Corinthian capitals. You will also see the University of Évora, the 2nd oldest university in Portugal, housed in a former Jesuit college. Next, go to the Cartuxa Wine Cellars to sample the wines of the Alentejo. After some free time for lunch, drive back to Lisbon, stopping en route at the Medieval Castle of Palmela. Admire the views of the surrounding vineyards and hills. Before your arrival back in Lisbon, enjoy the views of the Cristo Rei statue, and enter the city via the historic 25th de Abril Bridge for yet more impressive panoramas of Lisbon.

You will travel south from Lisbon crossing the 25 de Abril bridge, and the landscape will begin to change after getting to the Alentejo region. The olive and cork trees, the immense plains, the golden soil, the blue sky… Alentejo will overflow your senses! Firstly, on the tour, you will visit to the Almendres Cromlech, a testimony of pre-historic Human presence in Alentejo.  Next the city of Évora counts thousands of years of history. You will explore the city highlights and discover its one thousand and one stories. You will appreciate the beauty of this magical city. The city holds a historical centre and is a total surprise. Inhabited since time immemorial, it is still possible to appreciate Roman remains, surrounded by medieval buildings. You will observe the historical centre, the Cathedral and the Bones Chapel. Thereafter, you will visit Monsaraz, a beautiful medieval village at the top of a plateau, where you will be able to see the Alentejo magical plain. Discover the joys of Alentejo, the enchanted region of Portugal! Full itinerary is 10 hours. Hotel Pickup; Almendres Cromlech; Evora: Historic Centre; Evora: Roman Temple; Evora: Cathedral; Evora: Bones Chapel; Lunch: Free Time; Monsaraz; Hotel Drop-off.

Enjoy a full day of discoveries in the Algarve region. Experience the best of the area, from pristine beaches, secret spots and dramatic cliffs coast, to trying some of the best wine of the region. The first stop is a small fishing community called Senhora da Rocha, where the pier and beach are used as a refuge for fishermen's boats. The beach is flanked by cliffs, where an old fort and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha are located, as well as a tunnel dug in the rock.  Next, visit Marinha Beach locally known as Praia da Marinha. This beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Located in the heart of the Algarve, it has become well known not only for its beautiful cliffs, but also for the clear sea water that allows you to see the seabed when swimming.  Then, head to the Quinta dos Vales Wine Estate. This 44-hectare property is now considered one of the best wineries in the Algarve, with international recognition. Explore the natural beauty of the grounds, where numerous sculptures and other works of art are scattered throughout. Finally, enjoy a wine tasting before being dropped back to your hotel.

You will be picked up in Lisbon in the morning. Take a journey from Lisbon to Évora passing by the iconic Alentejo landscape with its lowlands full of cork trees and white washed houses. Visit Évora surrounded by medieval walls. The city is a World Heritage Site - also called the "City Museum" because of the ancient artistic manifestations found in its inner walls. During your visit you'll get to see the admirable "Capela dos Ossos" (Bone Chapel), the Roman Temple in the Iberian Peninsula, and the cathedral. In Évora, you'll be able to taste the most genuine flavors of typical Portuguese cuisine with some of the best wines and olive oils of the country. Your guide knows the best places to find these. While you walk the narrow and charming streets of Évora you'll get to shop for hand-made products on the street markets, discovering an abundance of goods made with the region's famous cork and clay. In the evening you will be taken back to your accommodation in Lisbon. 

Departing from Évora, it will take you about 4 hours to visit the amazing village of Monsaraz. Wander the streets and enjoy the breathtaking views of this hilltop village. Enter a time capsule that will take you back centuries. En route, the tour will stop at San Pedro do Corval, a pottery village. Stop by a family-owned pottery and have a great opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about ceramics. Afterwards, don't go home without tasting unique wines from a local winery.

Begin the tour at Giraldo Square, the living center of Évora, full of architectural styles, from Moorish arches lined up in the Square, to the fountains of the Renaissance and the Gothic church of São Francisco. Enjoy some free time to taste a regional sweet. Then head to one of the major landmarks in Portugal, the Roman temple, also known as the Temple of Diana. Its powerful front with 14 columns in well-preserved granite astonishes those who see it for the first time. Next, you can explore the Bones Chapel if you wish. For some people, it is a dark place, for others a fascinating space consisting of hundreds of skulls and skeletons from about 5000 monks of the sixteenth century. There are also two intact corpses exposed in the chapel, so it is not a visit for sensitive people. At lunchtime, dine in one of the best Evora restaurants. Then go to the Cathedral of Evora, a Roman-Gothic church from the XIII century where you can climb the tower and get a breathtaking view of the city and the fields surrounding it. With its unique climate conditions, the vineyards of the region produce some of the best Portuguese wines. You will go to a farm where you can taste the best Alentejo has to offer. On the way back to Lisbon stop in Arraiolos and marvel at its magnificent castle wall and the famous carpets of Arraiolos. You can see firsthand how they are manually produced and grab yourself a souvenir.

Through the plains of the Alentejo, reach the city of Évora. Evora's historic center is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the events and history these walls have seen. After walking the medieval streets, take a very pleasant walk through the old town and stop at the most emblematic places: the Bones Chapel, the Church of S. Francisco, the Cathedral and the Roman Temple (the Temple of Diana). This tour has several optional stops, one of them is to visit the Adega da Cartuxa (this must be booked in advance), famous for the Pera Manca red wine, considered one of the best wines in Portugal. Local gastronomy is one of the great attractions of this region. Évora is the ideal place to be introduced to traditional Alentejo food, which features the famous porco preto (black pig), lamb, and locally baked bread.