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Portugal · Alentejo

Alentejo and Évora travel guide

Whitewashed towns, cork forests and quiet beaches

The Roman Temple of Évora. Photo: Digitalsignal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2h 30mflight from London
LISnearest main airport
25° in Augwarmest month
9° in Jancoolest month

The Alentejo is Portugal's rolling, rural heartland, with cork oaks, olive groves and hilltop towns. Évora, a UNESCO-listed city, has a Roman temple and a chapel lined with bones.

Its Atlantic coast has some of the country's wildest beaches, around Comporta and the Costa Vicentina. It's slow, unspoilt and great for food and wine.

Good forHistoryWineFoodRelaxing

What Alentejo is known for

  • Évora

    A Roman temple and medieval walls.

  • Alentejo wine

    Rich reds and new-wave producers.

  • Cork forests

    Portugal produces half the world's cork.

  • Comporta

    Chic beaches and rice fields.

Top things to do in Alentejo and Évora

  1. 1

    Évora

    The Roman Temple and the Chapel of Bones.

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  2. 2

    Monsaraz

    A hilltop village above a huge lake.

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  3. 3

    Comporta

    Wild beaches and stylish stays.

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  4. 4

    A wine tour

    Visit Alentejo wineries.

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Where to stay in Alentejo and Évora

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Best time to visit Alentejo and Évora

Best value: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. April, May, September and October: summers inland are very hot.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
8.8 C9°J9.6 C10°F12.1 C12°M14.6 C15°A18.3 C18°M22.5 C22°J24.8 C25°J25.2 C25°A22.4 C22°S17.9 C18°O12.3 C12°N9.3 C9°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Alentejo and Évora, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 2h 30m from London to LIS, and flights from most UK airports.

Hire a car: towns are spread out and buses are slow.

Find flights to Alentejo (LIS)

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Good to know

  • July and August inland often pass 35°C.
  • Many restaurants close mid-afternoon.
  • Try the black pork and migas.
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Alentejo and Évora FAQ

How far is Évora from Lisbon?

About 90 minutes by car or train.

Is the Alentejo good for beaches?

Yes, its coast is wild and uncrowded.

More places in Portugal

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