Evora

Day 1: First impressions and the medieval–Renaissance heart

Ease into Évora’s rhythm by starting inside the walls and letting the city’s layers reveal themselves as you walk. Keep a slow pace, wear sturdy shoes for cobbles, and remember churches are living places of worship—dress modestly.

• Morning: Orient yourself in Praça do Giraldo over a coffee, noting its role from Roman forum to Inquisition stage. Step into the City Hall to view the Roman Baths (laconicum and furnace) and then head to the Sé—visit the nave and cloister before climbing the roof for vast Alentejo views; arrive early to avoid glare and heat.
• Midday: Walk five minutes to the Church of São Francisco for the Chapel of Bones; it’s busiest late morning, so aim just before lunch. Eat nearby in the shade and, in summer, take a short rest—midday heat regularly exceeds 35°C.
• Afternoon: Wander to Largo da Porta de Moura to admire the globe-topped fountain and noble façades, then slip into the quiet Páteo de São Miguel (palatial courtyard and ermida) for a crowd-free window onto Évora’s Golden Age. If open during works, peek at the Palácio de Dom Manuel gardens; restoration is ongoing, so access varies.
• Evening: Time golden hour at the Templo Romano and the adjacent Jardim de Diana; the light on the marble capitals is superb. For instant local credibility, call it Templo Romano (not “Diana’s”), then dine within the walls and enjoy an unhurried passeggiata as day-trippers depart.

Day 2: Scholars, tiles and the city’s Roman grid

Today foregrounds Évora’s Renaissance learning and the Roman plan still shaping its streets. Mix headline sites with quiet lanes in the Mouraria and former Judiaria to feel the lived-in city.

• Morning: Visit the Colégio do Espírito Santo (Universidade de Évora): arcaded cloister, lecture rooms lined with azulejos illustrating academic subjects, and often student life in full swing. Check the university’s website or noticeboards for public talks—locals genuinely turn up for these.
• Midday: Explore the National Museum (Frei Manuel do Cenáculo) for Roman sculpture, Visigothic pieces and the vast Flemish retable; it gives context to what’s beneath your feet. Consider a combined ticket or local pass at the tourist office to bundle cathedral/museum savings.
• Afternoon: Trace the Roman grid from Rua 5 de Outubro (decumanus) towards Rua da Selaria/Santa Maria (cardo), then detour into the Mouraria and the narrow passages of the former Judiaria—go quietly, this is residential. Continue to the Aqueduto da Água de Prata: inside the walls see houses woven into the arches along Rua do Cano; outside, follow the country path for a breezy hour’s stroll.
• Evening: Catch sunset from the Jardim de Diana or, if you’ve time for a short drive/taxi, the Alto de São Bento viewpoint for a full sweep of city and plains. Sample Alentejo flavours (pork, lamb, migas, robust local wines) and linger late—Évora is at its most authentic after dark.

Day 3: Megaliths and the deep-time landscape

Dedicate a day to Évora’s oldest chapter among stone circles, menhirs and dolmens. Go early, move slowly and let the silence do some of the guiding.

• Morning: Drive (or book a small local tour) to the Cromeleque dos Almendres for sunrise; the raking light reveals carvings and alignments, and temperatures are kind. The final stretch is an unpaved road—passable year-round, muddy in winter—so wear closed shoes and bring water.
• Midday: Stop at the Menir dos Almendres on a nearby hill; its sightline with the cromlech reflects the builders’ astronomical intent (notably at the solstices/equinoxes). Picnic in the shade, then, if conditions and permissions allow, continue to Anta Grande do Zambujeiro (access is sometimes restricted for conservation—check locally); otherwise opt for quieter antas such as Anta do Pau or Anta de Paredes.
• Afternoon: Return to Évora for a slow loop along less-trodden walls to spot Roman foundations embedded in later masonry, or drop back to any missed site. If the sun is fierce, swap streets for a cool museum revisit or a café break under arcades.
• Evening: Toast your final night in Praça do Giraldo as the façades glow. If you’re here in late June, the Feira de São João brings concerts and stalls around the historic centre; at other times, seek clear-sky stargazing just beyond the walls or near the aqueduct—Alentejo’s dark nights pair perfectly with ancient stones.

Notes for all seasons:

• Summer (July–August): front-load days (07:30–12:00) and resume after 17:00; siesta midday.
• Spring/Autumn: ideal walking weather; wildflowers transform the megalithic countryside in April–May.
• Churches: modest attire and quiet behaviour appreciated.
• Etiquette at megaliths: stick to paths, don’t climb stones, and take all litter with you.

By Air

• Lisbon (LIS) – Humberto Delgado Airport: nearest major hub (≈130 km). About 1 h 30 min by car. Metro Red Line from the airport to Lisboa-Oriente (≈10 min) for trains; Aerobus/metro to Sete Rios for coaches.
• Faro (FAO): ≈220 km; 2 h 30–3 h by car. Direct coaches to Évora (limited daily); trains require a change in Lisbon.
• Porto (OPO): ≈370 km; 3 h 30–4 h by car. Fastest public transport is flight or train to Lisbon, then onward train/coach.
• Badajoz (BJZ), Spain: small regional airport ≈120 km; 1 h 20–1 h 40 by car (limited flights).
• Seville (SVQ), Spain: ≈300 km; 3 h 30–4 h by car; coach options via Beja or Lisbon (slower).

By Train

• Operator: Comboios de Portugal (CP), Intercidades/Regional services.
• Route from Lisbon: frequent direct trains from Lisboa-Oriente, Entrecampos and Sete Rios to Évora; typical journey 1 h 30–1 h 45. Services run roughly every 2–3 hours daily.
• From Porto: train to Lisbon (Campanhã → Oriente), then onward train to Évora (total 4 h 30–5 h 30, depending on connections).
• Station in Évora: Évora railway station, about 1.5 km from the historic centre (≈20-minute walk or short taxi).

By Coach (Bus)

• Operators: Rede Expressos and FlixBus.
• From Lisbon: departures mainly from Sete Rios (also Oriente for some services); 1 h 30–2 h, typically hourly or better in peak periods.
• From Faro: 3–4 h, limited direct services daily.
• From Porto: usually 5–6 h with a change in Lisbon.
• Évora bus terminal: near the city walls; ≈10-minute walk to the centre.

By Car

• From Lisbon: A2 south then A6 east to Évora (≈130 km; 1 h 30). Toll motorways.
• From Faro/Algarve: A22 → A2 → A6 (≈220 km; 2 h 30–3 h).
• From Porto: A1 → Lisbon ring roads → A6 (≈370 km; 3 h 30–4 h).
• From Badajoz (Spain): A6 west (≈110–120 km; 1 h 20–1 h 40).
• Parking: limited inside the historic centre; use signed car parks outside the walls and walk in.