Day trip from Lisbon Évora
A walled Alentejo city with a Roman temple, a cathedral and a chapel lined with bones, about 1 hour 40 minutes east of Lisbon by Intercidades train.
Is Évora worth a day trip from Lisbon?
Go. Check the train times first.
Yes, a full day, and the train makes it easy if you plan around it. There are only five Intercidades a day on weekdays and three at weekends. On weekdays the 09:02 from Oriente arrives at 10:45; at weekends the first train is the 09:58, arriving 11:40. A return is € 25.50 and seats are reserved, so book ahead for Fridays and Sundays. The old town is compact enough to cover on foot. The Chapel of Bones ticket is € 7, and it closes only on 1 January, Easter Sunday, the afternoon of 24 December and 25 December. July and August are very hot here.
The decision sheet
- Travel time
- 1 h 43from Oriente; 91 min from Sete Rios · one way · CP - Comboios de Portugal (Lisboa-Évora timetable, 6 September 2026)
- Transport
- Intercidades train
- Self-guided cost
- € 32.50Intercidades 2nd class return (€ 25.50) + Chapel of Bones ticket (€ 7) · CP - Comboios de Portugal (Intercidades fares 2026)
- Tour price
- From € 85Civitatis catalogue
- Time needed
- 5–7 hDaytripo editorial
- Closed days
- 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 24 Dec afternoon, 25 Dec
- Best time
- Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov; avoid the July-August heatDaytripo editorial
- Verdict
- Worth a full dayDaytripo editorial
What to see and do in Évora
- 01
Chapel of Bones
A 17th-century chapel beside the São Francisco church, its walls and pillars lined with the bones of about 5,000 people. The visit takes 30 minutes including the small museum upstairs.
- 02
Roman temple
Fourteen granite columns from the 1st century standing on a square at the top of the town. It is outdoors, free and open at any hour. Ten minutes is enough.
- 03
Cathedral and its roof
A fortress-like church begun in 1186, a short walk from the temple. The ticket includes the cloister and the roof terrace, reached by a narrow spiral stair. Allow 45 minutes.
- 04
Praça do Giraldo
The main square, with arcades down one side and a marble fountain from 1571. Every street in the old town leads back here, and it is where most people stop for coffee.
- 05
Água de Prata aqueduct
A 16th-century aqueduct that enters the town from the north. Along Rua do Cano, houses and shops are built into its arches. A 10-minute detour from the centre.
How to spend the day
Board the 09:02 at Oriente, or at 09:14 at Sete Rios, and arrive at 10:45. Walk into the centre to Praça do Giraldo. See the Chapel of Bones before lunch, then the cathedral and the Roman temple in the afternoon. Head back to the station for the 16:51, which reaches Oriente at 18:36. The last train is the 19:14, in Lisbon at 20:57. At weekends the outbound train leaves Oriente at 09:58 instead.
Évora in summer and in winter
Summer
June to AugustThe Alentejo is the hottest part of Portugal: afternoons of 35 °C are normal in July and August and 40 °C happens. Do the outdoor sights before noon, spend 13:00 to 16:00 over lunch and inside the cathedral and chapel, and drink plenty of water. The streets are quiet because locals stay indoors.
Winter
December to FebruaryA good winter trip. Days are often clear and bright, with highs of 13-15 °C, though mornings are cold, often under 5 °C. Queues do not exist and the heavy local food suits the cold. Remember the closures on 24 December afternoon, 25 December and 1 January, and that the 16:51 train leaves near sunset.
How crowded it gets
Busy- Busiest
- Apr-Jun and Sep-Oct, 11:00-13:00 at the Chapel of Bones
- Quietest
- Nov-Feb; any day after 15:00
Tour coaches reach the Chapel of Bones late in the morning. Go there straight from the train before the groups, or after 15:00. The temple and the back streets never feel full.
How do you get to Évora from Lisbon?
Intercidades train
- Travel time
- 1 h 43 min
- Frequency
- 5 a day on weekdays, 3 at weekends
- Cost
- € 13.90 each way, € 25.50 return
- Departs from
- Lisboa Oriente (also Entrecampos and Sete Rios)
Direct Intercidades with compulsory seat reservation; buy on cp.pt or at the station. Weekday departures from Oriente are 07:02, 09:02, 13:35, 17:02 and 19:02. Weekday returns leave Évora at 07:00, 09:14, 11:30, 16:51 and 19:14. At weekends only the 09:14, 16:51 and 19:14 run back.
Organized tour
- Travel time
- 10-11 hours door to door
- Cost
- From € 85
- Departs from
- Rua da Conceição 23/25
Coach to Évora with a guided walk and entry to the cathedral and the Chapel of Bones, then a winery visit with a tasting of four wines. Pick it for the wine stop, which you cannot reach by train.
Practical: clothes, food and money
What to wear
In summer, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and loose clothes that cover your shoulders. In winter, a warm coat for the morning and layers you can take off by noon. The streets are cobbled, so wear flat shoes.
What to eat
This is the best lunch of any trip from Lisbon. Order black pork, migas (fried bread with pork), açorda (bread soup with garlic and coriander) or lamb stew, with Alentejo wine and local sheep's cheese. Kitchens stop serving lunch around 15:00, and several restaurants close on Sundays or Mondays.
What you will spend
The Intercidades return is € 25.50 and the Chapel of Bones ticket is € 7. The cathedral has its own ticket, and the Roman temple, the aqueduct and the squares are free. Lunch is the other real cost. The tour from € 85 adds a winery you cannot reach by train.
How to get the most out of the day
- The station is about 1 km south of the walls. Walk up Avenida Dr. Barahona and Rua da República to Praça do Giraldo in 15 minutes.
- The Almendres stone circle is 15 km outside town with no bus. Without a car, leave it out, or a taxi will eat the afternoon.
- Reserve lunch or sit down by 12:30 on weekends. The well-known dining rooms are small and fill with Portuguese visitors.
- The train crosses the Tagus on the lower deck of the 25 de Abril bridge about 15 minutes after Sete Rios. Look up from your phone.
How long do you need in Évora?
Plan 5–7 h on site, plus 1 h 43 of travel each way from Lisbon.
When is Évora closed?
1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 24 Dec afternoon, 25 Dec. Best time: Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov; avoid the July-August heat.