Evora

Sightseeing Walking Tours

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.

The farm you will visit is a paradise for walkers, ramblers and wine lovers. Imagine exploring this world of rolling hills, cork forests, olive groves and vineyards in a landscape occasionally broken by a medieval fortress or an abandoned chapel. For six generations, the family owners have made a living on the 1,400 acre estate in the Alentejo by sustainably managing cork forests, rearing sheep and making fine wines. You're invited to join to share the joy of their lives and see the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Nature-lovers and birdwatchers will not be disappointed. With luck, you might see or come across an Egyptian mongoose, a bustard, a wild boar,  a hoopoe, a bee-eater, a booted eagle or many more species. On arrival you will be introduced to your guide, who is a local archaeologist and conservationist. Start with a nice cup of tea, coffee or cool refreshment. Then your guide will take you on a beautiful walking tour into the deepest parts of the cork forest. During your tour he will explain to you everything about the cork trees, cork cycle (cork stripping, cork storage, cork manufacturing). You will also learn about local fauna and flora, honey production, vineyards, Iberian pig fattening, olive groves and all the farm activities. When you return to the farmhouse and visit the shop where you can find the finest products it has to offer (cork handicraft, biologic olives and olive oil, honey and of course their wines). Later, have a cork stripper's traditional three-course meal in a quiet family-run restaurant. After this, it will be time to go home, but with the best memories of the Alentejo.

Évora’s historical treasures span centuries, as you’ll soon learn from your guide on this 3-hour tour that’s priced for up to 2 persons. The city's lively Praca do Giraldo is one of the best places to begin a walking tour of the city. Attractive townhouses with intricate wrought-iron balconies adorn the square. Admire the city's main cathedral, built between 1186 and 1204. Although there are many cathedrals in Portugal, the Cathedral of Évora is the most significant in terms of Gothic style. While the main cathedral is easily one of the top attractions, it just might be overshadowed by the Temple of Diana, one of the best preserved Roman monuments found anywhere on the Iberian Peninsula. You’ll see 14 of the original 18 columns still standing. Visit the centuries-old university founded in 1559, and stroll through the atmospheric local market. Take some time to browse the shops for unique cork products.

Enjoy an interactive city discovery experience with this gamified walking tour of Évora. Learn about the local history of the city and enjoy its most charming spots on this self-guided walk. Solve riddles specific to your surroundings throughout this experience. Get creative and use your imagination to uncover the secrets of Évora. Begin your adventure at the Roman Temple of Évora. Discover the architectural link between Evora’s aqueduct and one of Lisbon’s famous landmarks. Unearth the original name of Roman ruins. Find out which figures the locals call “the children of Graça.” All while exploring the city’s cobbled streets away from the crowds. End your walk near a lovely spot for drinks. This playful walk across Évora sharpens your senses and encourages you to appreciate the most wonderful, and often hidden, details around you. This discovery walk is an educational and fun activity for friends, couples, families with kids, curious locals, and visitors.

Start the tour in the center of Vila Viçosa, the Portuguese Marble Capital. It's one of the most stunning villages in the country and marble can be found everywhere. Join a local guide who will introduce you to the entire marble industry: from the ground selection strategies to a variety of the final art pieces. Learn why there is such an unforgettable and unique landscape totally shaped by the opening of the marble quarries through the centuries. Then, visit a quarry and see the marble extraction taking place and notice how dangerous it is. Because the marble isn't ready to be applied right after the extraction, you can also expect a visit to one of many factories where the marble will get the final shape before being sent to the market. You will also visit an artisan workshop to watch the handmade shaping of the marble. The different colors of Portugueses marble have been appreciated since the Romans were the rulers of the Iberian Peninsula, and since then the Alentejo marble was used and exported to the whole world mainly from the quarries of this small but cozy town.

Join your guide as you explore the historical treasures of Evora which have survived for centuries. See the cathedral, one of Evora's top attractions, built between 1186 and 1204. Discover the Roman Temple, one of the best preserved Roman monuments on the Iberian Peninsula. Explore the Praca do Giraldo, the town's lively main square, and visit the historical university founded in 1559. See St. Francis Church with its Bone Chapel, the local market, and Portugal's famous cork products, such as bags, shoes, and wallets.

This e-bike daytrip starts with a transfer (approx 1h30) to Arraiolos where the bike route begins. This guided tour will go through a typical rural village of Arraiolos known for its carpet tradition and you will visit the Castle of Arraiolos, with its magnificent walls still intact. You will then explore the rural area in an old railway converted into a cycle path on the way to Evora where you will have lunch (not included). In Evora you will see the roman, christian and moor traces still present in one the most important cities in the Iberian Peninsula. To finish off you will have a wine tasting just outside the city in a small winemaker that won the 2020 year wine producer award. The car will be waiting for you after this wine tasting experience for your way back to Lisbon. This route is around 35 kms and you will have high-end Bosch electric motor e-bike for a very relaxed experience in a flat and easy terrain.

Day 1 Depart from Lisbon, heading to Evora in the Alentejo region by crossing the beautiful suspension bridge. Admire the city and the monument to Christ-King. Evora is a place where different civilizations have thrived and the evidence still remains. See the ancient "Temple of Diana" built in the Roman period, along with the magnificent aqueduct of "Agua da Prata."  Built further in the 11th and 12th centuries by the Arabs, Evora was the residence of Portuguese kings and a point of convergence for renowned artists that were supported by the patronage and dynasty reigning in Portugal. This period of discovery created a wealth in Evora that saw the construction of numerous aristocratic mansions of the city, such as the Jesuit university. The highlight, however, is the Church of San Francisco and the Bones Chapel, clothed with skulls and bones of 500 monks. See next the medieval village of Monsaraz, its narrow stone streets and houses painted white adding special charm to this place and its inhabitants. Later, arrive in Albufeira where you will spend the night. This historic center has a traditional atmosphere, whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled streets filled with cafes, shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Day 2 Depart to Lagos. In the middle of the 16th century, Lagos was the great base of support for the Discoveries, and the evidence of this is highly visible. See the Sagres Fortress where cannons, a 16th century tower and the Church of Our Lady of Grace and a beautiful sundial await your discovery. After, visit the nearby Fortress of “Cabo de Sao Vicente” which was built in the 16th century to protect the coast from the Moorish attacks. Return to Albufeira to spend the night. Day 3 On the return trip to Lisbon you will stop of a the town of Sesimbra to visit its Moorish Castle on the hillside north of the village. Classified as a national monument in 1910, it is now one of the most visited sites in the county. Down in the bay, you will visit the Maritime Museum of Sesimbra where you will learn the connection of this village to the sea and the history of its local fishermen. Enjoy here a 3D movie that will transport you back in time to medieval times and beyond. Continue on to Setubal downtown where you can find stores for all tastes, whether global department stores or niche local antiquities. Most of the streets here converge to “Praça do Bocage,” Setubal´s local meeting point. Lined with esplanades and dedicated to one of the greatest figures of Portuguese poetry, this statue with its eyes fixed on the sea is the landmark of this busy square. Return to Lisbon.