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We've compiled the best of the best in Évora and the Alentejo - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This museum is housed in a lovely 17th-century almshouse across from the castle. Its displays chronicle the development of the region and range from Roman artifacts to contemporary pottery, including a collection of the brightly colored figurines for which Estremoz is famous.
At the foot of the path leading to the town's castle is Marvão's municipal museum, in the 13th-century Church of Saint Mary. The small gallery contains a diverse collection of religious artifacts, traditional costumes, ancient maps, and weapons.
This museum is next to the Castelo de Beja in a 6th-century church—one of Portugal's oldest standing buildings. It houses an impressive collection of tombstones, weapons, and pottery that documents the Visigoth presence in the region.
At the entrance to the Jardim Municipal, only a part of this former royal palace remains. The existing wing was restored after a fire in 1916 and displays a row of paired, gracefully curved Manueline windows. On the building's south side there's a notable arcade of redbrick sawtooth arches. The palace has witnessed a number of historic events since its construction in the late 15th century. It was here, for instance, in 1497, that Vasco da Gama received his commission to command the fleet that would discover the sea route to India.
The palace is readily identified by two massive stone towers with pointed battlements. These towers, once part of a medieval castle that protected the town, were later incorporated into this former residence of kings João I and João IV. Today it belongs to the Duke of Cadaval family. Many rooms are open to the public and welcome regular temporary exhibits. Since 2022, the ground floor is also home to a contemporary Portuguese restaurant called Cavalariça, an offshoot of a popular dining spot in Comporta.
This 80,000-acre nature park lies roughly 5 km (3 miles) northeast of Portalegre and extends north to the fortified town of Marvão and the spa town of Castelo de Vide, and south to the little hamlet of Esperança on the Spanish border. The sparsely inhabited park region is made up of small family plots, and sheepherding is the major occupation. The area is rich in wildlife, including many rare species of birds, as well as wild boars, deer, and wildcats. It's a pristine, quiet place for hiking, riding, or simply communing with nature, and you'll rarely spot another tourist for miles and miles.
The Praia Das Furnas lies just south of Vila Nova da Milfontes, on the south banks of the Mira River. The southeast current makes it popular with surfers, but the current is calm enough for children to swim here, too. Because it's across the river, the beach is quieter in the busy summer months. You're likely to see hikers, as the Rota Vicentina trail passes through here. You can take a ferry across the Mira River (€5 round-trip; no service in December or January) from Vila Nova. If you drive, there's a parking lot and snack bar just behind the dunes. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking. Best for: surfing; swimming.
Only a five-minute walk from the center of Vila Nova de Milfontes, this is the closest beach to town, named for the lighthouse at the peninsula's tip. It tends to fill up quickly on weekends in summer and has a seasonal beach bar. The river and ocean currents mixing here can be strong during the winter months, so children should be closely supervised while swimming. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking. Best for: sunset.
Castelo de Vide's large, baroque central square is bordered by the Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Church) and the town hall. An alleyway to the right of the church leads to the town symbol: a canopied 16th-century marble fountain. Another cobblestone lane leads from the fountain up to the Judiaria (ancient Jewish quarter). On the last Friday of every month the open-air Mercado Franco takes place here.
The marshlands and the estuary of the Sado River that extend to the west of Alcácer form this vast nature reserve. The riverbanks are lined with salt pans and rice paddies, and the sprawling park gives shelter to wildlife such as dolphins, otters, storks, and egrets. From the beach town of Comporta, Route N261 runs south along the coast through a mostly deserted stretch of dunes and pine trees with some undeveloped sandy beaches.
The lower town of Estremoz, a maze of narrow streets and white houses, radiates from the Rossio, a huge, central square. Stands lining it sell the town's famous colorful pottery. In addition to the multicolor, hand-painted plates, pitchers, and dolls, note the earthenware jugs decorated with bits of local white marble. There's a weekly market here on Saturday mornings.
About 400 meters north of the castle lies Portalegre's cathedral, a 16th-century church and the town's most prominent landmark. The 18th-century facade is highlighted with marble columns and wrought-iron balconies. Inside are early-17th-century azulejos depicting the Virgin Mary.
From 1555 until its closure by the Marquis de Pombal in 1759, this university was a Jesuit college; in 1979, after a lapse of more than 200 years, Évora University resumed classes. Although enrollment is small, the college's presence enlivens this ancient city. It's worth a visit to the well-preserved buildings: the large courtyard is flanked on all sides by graceful buildings with double-tier, white-limestone, arched galleries in Italian Renaissance style. From the main entrance, you'll see the imposing baroque facade of the gallery known as the Sala dos Actos (Hall of Acts), which is crowned with allegorical figures and coats of arms carved in white marble quarried in the region. Lining the gallery's interior are azulejo works depicting historical, mythological, and biblical themes.
