I'm considering a couple of hotels in Evora so looking for recommendations. I'm considering Pensao Policarpo at 55 Euros, Solar Monfalim at 85 and Albergario do Calvario at 105. Albergario is very well rated on tripadvisor but I'm wondering if it's worth the difference in price. Any recommendations? Thank you.

Many years ago we stayed in a pousada in Evora which was lovely. Perhaps you could check it out.

We stayed at the pousada but the room smelled like sewage. Everything else was booked. Everything else in the pousada was lovely.

When my husband & I were in Portugal last Sept we bought a pousada passport. The pousada in Evora was wonderful-great location for walking in the city.Off the top of my head I don't know the site maybe www.pousadasportugal.com
They usually have specials at differnt times. We stayed @ 4 in the Alentejo area-Chris

We stayed there, too, but also many years ago. The rooms are tiny (which is to be expected, since it's was formerly a monastery), but the location is great and we enjoyed the ambiance of the pousadas in general.

Thank you, I hadn't considered the pousada but I will now.

lilt:


We can strongly recommend you stay in nearby Arraiolos(h)..clearly the nicest pousada we booked, and we stayed in three others. We drove in to spend the day in Evora, and left mid afternoon to go to Marvao pousada....and from there the Belmonte Pousada in the Sierras. Golden Age (55+) gets you about a 40% discount.

Enjoy Portugal..you will!

stu T.

thanks Stu - we're still two years from being able to cash in on the 55+ discount at the pousadas - first time since I was very young that I wish I was older!

I stayed in Albergaria do Calvario, we booked online and they upgraded the room. The hotel was nice, though it was hard to find driving--we had to go in and out of the walls for an hour to finally get there (lots of one ways streets!) - that could have just been me though and that I had driven there straight through without stop from Porto.

What time of year are you going? I ask because they have a pool and really nice balconies, but you won't be able to use them during cold season and it may not be worth the extra cost for you. The sun room area is nice with a bar, I would recommend it. Location is good, then again, the town is not huge. Also is good if you have a car as you can drive in as it is near the walls and they have parking.

Thanks Cherrybomb. We'll be going in early September so could probably still use pool and balconies and we will be driving so parking is handy. I have checked on the pousadas and without the 55+, looks like they are out of our price range which is maximum about 120 Euros.

Hi Lily only to remind you EVora is a steep hill. Wherever you choose to stay remember that fact.

Steep hill is right and the cobblestones are slippery! FWIW

Hi, Lily,

I have friends who stayed in Pensao Policarpo and thought it was just ok. I'm not sure I remember this correctly, but if having a private bath is important, you should check to make sure your room has one.

I have seen the Albergaria do Calvario from the outside and it looks very nice, and its location is very good.

I have driven around or in Evora a number of times and am finally getting the hang of it, though the first time I went we nearly went crazy going in and out of the walls, just like cherrybomb mentioned.

Evora has a "ring road" outside the walls, parallel to the walls, with a series of roundabouts at all the points with access into the city and at hookups with roads and highways leaving the city. It is actually very efficient, but depending on time of day can be very stressful.

I think you should make sure to have a mappy.co.uk or viamichelin.com map printed out with both directions and a visual of where you are going, and whether there is a "P" (parking) near your destination. There are several parkings outside the walls, which we have used as a temporary place while we went inside the walls on foot to find where we were going. The city inside the walls is not very large and you can easily get from one place to another on foot, but driving around is a real challenge.

Sounds like your trip is really coming together! Laurie

Hi Lily.
This is just a suggestion. On our last trip to Portugal, we used a GPS.
In regards to Evora, we did not drive into the center. We parked outside and walked in so I am not going to say that it worked prefectly inside those walls. But we drove all over the Alentejo, and were amazed at the way it worked.
We bought it last May preloaded with the maps of Europe. Since then, it is at least half the cost that it was then. And there are models that cost less even then so now you could probably find a nice one for around $200.
We also drove around Portugal without one, but we just thought the GPS was a big help.

One of the craziest places we ever stayed was in Evora. It was a converted stable. At one end they elegantly appointed rooms and at the other, far away and with no smell were the horses.

I just tried to ascertain the name but I could not.

I think Bailey's report, under the name "Portugal Trip Report" has some photos of Pensão Policarpo.

We stayed at the Pousada Loios in Evora, a restored convent next to the Temple of Diana. Our room was large, parking easy, and dinner delicious. There is a beautiful swimming pool too. We got a very reasonable rate. Check the website for the pousadas www.pousadas.pt

Thanks everyone for the excellent information on accommodation and directions, much appreciated.

Hi Lily, We stayed here: www.residencialosmanueis.com You can look at my trip report for some comments about it if you like. We had a suite which was 75 euro/nite. Have fun in Portugal! pp

thanks Peppermintpatti, it looks very nice and good price. I did take your recommendation for the apartment in Porto and have booked it for three nights in September.