Évora City Guide

Évora, one of the most timeless cities in Portugal, is a beautiful city with a lot of historical heritage, rich in architecture, culture and more. There, you can find churches, historic squares, a temple, white little houses and narrow streets. Here is my Évora City Guide. Hope you like it!

WHEN TO GO

Summers in Évora are some of the warmest in Europe, with temperatures above 35ºC (95ºF). In terms of weather, this is not the best time for visiting Évora. It’s best to visit Évora during the Spring or Autumn.

I went there in the beginning of October. The weather was a little unstable, it rained on the first day but then it got sunny and warm.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at Tivoli Évora Ecoresort. It was the first hotel in the world to be clad in cork, an eco-friendly material, and was designed to be as sustainable as possible. It’s such a quiet and peaceful place. Rooms were beautiful and clean. We even had our very own private courtyard to relax. You can check my IGTV to see the room tour. The infinity pool had a beautiful view. I felt super safe the entire time, they took all necessary precautions due to the covid-19 situation. Also, the staff was amazing and really helpful. Everything was perfect!

The code INESTAKESTHEWORLD gives you 10% discount if you book your stay directly with Tivoli Évora Ecoresort through rsv.evora@tivoli-hotels.com

HOW TO MOVE AROUND

The easiest way to travel from Lisbon to Évora is by car. The hotel had free parking and is located a 15-minute drive from the city center of Évora. We basically drove to the center, found a place to park and walked around the city. Walking is the best way to appreciate the city’s architecture and the attractions are very close to each other.

OUR 2-DAY ÉVORA CITY GUIDE

Here is what you can’t miss in Évora! Take a look!

DAY 1

Bone Chapel

The day started with rain and fog. The idea was to visit the Temple first, but as it was raining, we ended up visiting the Capela dos Ossos.
In the 16th century there were 43 cemeteries in Évora that were taking up valuable land. That’s why the monks decided to build a small chapel and relocate the bones. It gets its name (Bone Chapel) because the interior walls are decorated with human skulls and bones.
Creepy and interesting at the same time, don’t you think?

HOW TO GET THERE

• Praça 1º de Maio

Lunch

We had prepared a quick lunch that we could eat anywhere while walking around the city but ended up eating in the car because it kept raining. Then we went to Café Sto. Humberto for coffee and the famous pastel de nata (custard tart).

Giraldo Square

Giraldo Square is Évora’s main square. It’s the heart of the city with cafes and restaurants to compliment the attractive buildings. There’s also a fountain made of marble. It has 8 spouts, each symbolising one of the main streets from and to Praça do Giraldo. It’s said that Philip III of Spain thought that the fountain deserved to be crowned. That’s why you can find a crown on the top of the it. You can also find the Church of St. Anthony the Great, behind the fountain. It’s worth seeing the baroque and rococo interior.

Roman Temple of Évora

No Évora City Guide is complete without the Roman Temple of Évora, also known as Temple of Diana. It represents one of the most significant landmarks relating to the Roman and Lusitanian civilizations of Évora and in Portuguese territory. That’s why it was considered World Heritage by UNESCO in 1986. 

HOW TO GET THERE

• Largo do Conde de Vila Flor

Évora Cathedral

After that, we went to visit the cathedral. It’s the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal and a must see in Évora.  Both the exterior and interior deserve your attention. On the exterior, the dome is the most amazing architectural feature. The terrace is the highest point of the city. From there you can see the whole city.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Largo do Marquês de Marialva

Dinner at Cardo Restaurant

Then we went to the hotel to check in and get dressed for dinner. Cardo restaurant is an invitation to discover the genuine and traditional flavours of Alentejo. We had the most delicious dinner there. The desserts were AMAZING! And the decor is absolutely beautiful. I totally recommend!

DAY 2

Breakfast at the Hotel

We started the day with our breakfast at the hotel. Everything was super safe and clean. On the last day, we had nothing planned. The idea was simply to relax at the hotel and take a stroll through the streets of Évora, without a strict plan.

We made the trip back to Lisbon in the afternoon.

Feel free to check my post about 9 unforgettable places to visit in Sintra and my Óbidos Guide for a charming medieval experience.

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