Casa da Lindinha
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Walking and driving itineraries

Évora, from your front door.

Four itineraries for getting to know Évora at an easy pace. Each one starts and ends at the door of Casa da Lindinha, inside the city walls by the Água de Prata Aqueduct, and tells you how many minutes' walk it is between stops.

  1. 01 Évora in a morning 3h30 · 3 km · on foot The essentials, from the aqueduct to the Chapel of Bones. Ideal for your first day.
  2. 02 Évora in the late afternoon 3h · 3 km · on foot Gardens, quiet squares and the Roman Temple at sunset, before dinner.
  3. 03 A day around Évora Full day · 160 km · by car 7,000-year-old standing stones, the region's largest dolmen and Monsaraz above Alqueva.
  4. 04 Évora on a hot or rainy day Flexible day · 3.5 km · on foot Museums, palaces and a break at home during the hardest hours of the day.

01 Walking itinerary

Évora in a morning

The itinerary for your first day. Head out around 9:30am, when the monuments open and the streets are still cool, and reach the market in time to buy lunch.

Duration
about 3h30
Route
3 km · 40 min walking in total
When
Mornings, every day

Illustrative map · approximate walking times

Open in Google Maps

  1. Casa da Lindinha

    Starting point, inside the walls, by the aqueduct.

  2. 2 min walk 1

    Aqueduct and Rua do Cano

    The Água de Prata Aqueduct was built between 1531 and 1537 to bring water into the city. On Rua do Cano, houses were fitted between the arches, with doors and windows cut into the stone itself.

  3. 7 min walk 2

    Praça do Giraldo

    The city's living room, with arcades, the 1571 marble fountain and the Church of Santo Antão. Have your coffee on a terrace before the tour groups arrive.

  4. 1 min walk 3

    Rua 5 de Outubro

    The street that climbs from the square to the cathedral, lined with shops selling cork, painted pottery and Arraiolos rugs. Browse on the way up and save the shopping for the way back.

  5. 3 min walk 4

    Évora Cathedral

    Portugal's largest medieval cathedral, from the 13th and 14th centuries. Climb up to the rooftop terraces: from there you can see the whole city and the plain stretching to the horizon.

    The cloister and terraces need a separate ticket and close at lunchtime and on Mondays.

  6. 2 min walk 5

    Roman Temple and Jardim de Diana

    Built in the 1st century, it is one of the best-preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula. From the viewpoint in the garden next door you can see the aqueduct crossing the rooftops.

  7. 9 min walk 6

    Church of São Francisco and Chapel of Bones

    Walls and columns lined with bones and, at the entrance, the warning "We bones that are here await yours". The ticket also includes the church terrace and the nativity scene collection.

    Open every day, Mondays included.

  8. 3 min walk 7

    Municipal Market

    Évora cheese, cured sausages, olives and Alentejo bread. Buy your lunch and enjoy it slowly at the house's round table.

  9. 12 min walk

    Back home

02 Walking itinerary

Évora in the late afternoon

Head out about two hours before sunset. The route loops through the quiet side of town and reaches the Roman Temple just as the light turns golden. Dinner is only a few minutes away.

Duration
about 3h, with dinner
Route
3 km · 40 min walking in total
When
2 hours before sunset

Illustrative map · approximate walking times

Open in Google Maps

  1. Casa da Lindinha

    Starting point, inside the walls, by the aqueduct.

  2. 11 min walk 1

    Igreja da Graça

    A Renaissance façade unlike any other, with four stone giants sitting high above the entrance. Locals call them the "meninos da Graça", the boys of Graça.

  3. 3 min walk 2

    Public Garden

    Big trees, peacocks and what remains of King Manuel's Palace, with the Ladies' Gallery. In the evening the benches fill up with locals.

  4. 5 min walk 3

    Largo das Portas de Moura

    One of the city's loveliest squares, surrounded by noble houses, with a Renaissance fountain topped by a marble sphere.

  5. 6 min walk 4

    University of Évora

    The Colégio do Espírito Santo, founded in 1559, has classrooms lined with azulejo tiles. If it's still open, peek into the cloister.

  6. 4 min walk 5

    Roman Temple at sunset

    This is where Évora watches the sun go down: the columns turn golden and the Jardim de Diana viewpoint looks west over the rooftops.

  7. 4 min walk 6

    Dinner near Praça do Giraldo

    The streets around the square are full of taverns and restaurants. Order migas, black pork or açorda, a glass of Alentejo red and, for dessert, sericaia with Elvas plums.

  8. 8 min walk

    Back home

03 Driving itinerary

A day around Évora

Take the car first thing in the morning. Start with the megaliths, which are older than Stonehenge, then drive to Monsaraz for lunch and stay until the sun sets over Alqueva.

Duration
Full day
Route
about 160 km · 3h driving in total
When
Ideally in dry weather

Illustrative map · approximate driving times

Open in Google Maps

  1. Casa da Lindinha

    Starting point. Park your car outside the walls the evening before.

  2. 25 min drive 1

    Almendres Cromlech

    Around 95 granite standing stones, raised from about 7,000 years ago on a slope dotted with cork oaks. It is the largest megalithic enclosure on the Iberian Peninsula. Early in the day, with low light and nobody around, the place feels magical.

    Free entry. The last few kilometres are on a dirt road, which an ordinary car can manage with care. Stick to the marked visitor path around the stones.

  3. 5 min drive 2

    Almendres Menhir

    A lone standing stone about 4 metres tall in the middle of an olive grove, a short distance from the cromlech. It's a short walk from the road.

  4. 25 min drive 3

    Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro

    One of the largest dolmens in Europe, a collective tomb with stones almost 6 metres high, now protected by a roof. It's near the village of Valverde.

  5. 65 min drive 4

    Monsaraz

    A walled medieval village on a hilltop, with schist lanes and whitewashed houses. Have lunch there and wander slowly: it's small and car-free.

  6. 5 min walk 5

    Monsaraz Castle and Alqueva

    Climb the castle walls, which are free to visit. Below lies the Great Lake of Alqueva, the largest artificial reservoir in Western Europe. Stay for the sunset.

  7. 55 min drive

    Back home

More ideas for a day out by car

  • Arraiolos 25 min

    Home of the hand-embroidered rugs, with a rare circular castle at the top of the village.

  • Estremoz 45 min

    The white marble town. On Saturday mornings, the big market on the Rossio fills with local produce, antiques and Estremoz clay figures.

  • Vineyards on Évora's doorstep 5–10 min

    Adega da Cartuxa, just outside the city, offers winery tours and wine and olive oil tastings, by reservation.

04 Walking itinerary

Évora on a hot or rainy day

In July and August, afternoons often top 35 °C. In winter it can rain for days on end. This itinerary uses the good hours for walking outdoors and keeps the rest of the day for cool, dry interiors.

Duration
Full day, with a break
Route
3.5 km · 50 min walking in total
When
Tuesday to Sunday

Illustrative map · approximate walking times

Open in Google Maps

  1. Casa da Lindinha

    Starting point. In summer, head out before 10am.

  2. 10 min walk 1

    Frei Manuel do Cenáculo National Museum

    In the former bishop's palace, between the cathedral and the Roman Temple. It holds Flemish and Portuguese paintings, sculpture and remains of Roman Évora.

    Closed on Mondays.

  3. 2 min walk 2

    Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval and Lóios Church

    The 15th-century church is lined with azulejo tiles from floor to ceiling. The palace next door holds the Cadaval family collection.

    Closed on Mondays.

  4. 2 min walk 3

    Eugénio de Almeida Foundation

    The foundation's Art and Culture Centre shows contemporary art exhibitions in an old building that stays cool in summer and sheltered in winter.

    Closed on Mondays.

  5. 11 min walk

    Break at home

    Between 2pm and 5pm, head back home. In summer, the thick walls keep the house cool. In winter, the heater takes care of the rest. Read a book, have a siesta or make a coffee.

  6. 12 min walk 4

    Chapel of Bones

    It's indoors, it's cool and you won't forget it. After the chapel, go up to the terrace of the Church of São Francisco.

    Open every day, Mondays included.

  7. 5 min walk 5

    Alentejo wine tasting

    End the day with a glass of red. Enoteca Cartuxa, by the cathedral, serves its own wines by the glass, and several wine shops in the centre also offer tastings.

  8. 10 min walk

    Back home

— Before you go

Tips from locals.

  • On Mondays

    The museums, the Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval, Igreja da Graça and the cathedral terraces are closed. The Roman Temple, the Chapel of Bones, the streets and the gardens stay open, so it's a good day for itinerary 03, or for 01 without the cathedral terraces.

  • In summer

    Head out early, carry water and a hat, and save the streets for after 6pm. Many shops close at lunchtime.

  • Footwear

    Portuguese cobblestones are beautiful, but slippery and hilly. Wear comfortable shoes, ideally with rubber soles.

  • Car

    You'll only need one for itinerary 03. Traffic inside the walls is restricted, so leave the car in a car park by the walls. We send the best options before you arrive.

  • At the table

    Try migas, açorda, lamb stew, black pork and Évora cheese. For convent sweets, taste sericaia with Elvas plums and pão de rala.

  • Opening hours

    Monument hours and prices change with the season. Check them on site or on the official website before you go. If in doubt, ask us.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Évora

How many days do you need to visit Évora?

One day is enough to see the highlights of the historic centre on foot: do the morning itinerary and the late-afternoon one. With two or three days you can also explore the region: the Almendres megaliths, Monsaraz and Alqueva, Arraiolos, Estremoz and the vineyards.

What can you do in Évora on a Monday?

On Mondays the Frei Manuel do Cenáculo National Museum, the Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval, the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, Igreja da Graça and the cathedral terraces are closed. The Roman Temple, the Chapel of Bones, Praça do Giraldo, the aqueduct and the Public Garden are all available, and it's a good day for a drive to the megaliths and Monsaraz.

How do you get from Évora to the Almendres Cromlech?

By car, in about 25 minutes from Évora's historic centre, via the village of Guadalupe. The last few kilometres are on a dirt road, which an ordinary car can manage with care. Entry is free and there is no public transport to the site.

Can you visit Évora without a car?

Yes. The whole historic centre can be explored on foot, and three of the four itineraries on this page are walking routes from Casa da Lindinha. You only need a car for the megaliths, Monsaraz and the other towns in the region.

When is the best time to visit Évora?

Spring (March to June) and autumn (September to November) bring mild temperatures and beautiful light. In summer the afternoons are very hot, so it's best to go out early and in the evening. At the end of June, the São João Fair livens up the city.

— The starting point

Stay inside the walls.

Casa da Lindinha is a restored Alentejo house for two, an 8-minute walk from Praça do Giraldo. It's the starting point for every one of these itineraries.

Check availability Explore the house