A day trip to Évora, Portugal is one of the most popular day trips you can take from nearby Lisbon. That’s one of the great things about visiting Lisbon.

Lisbon is not only amazing by itself, but as Portugal’s capital city, it’s very well-connected to much of the country by public transportation. Consequently, taking a variety of day trips from Lisbon is very easy (check out our guide to visiting Sintra as a day trip from Lisbon). Especially for those of us who prefer to avoid the rising costs of car rental when we travel.  

Évora is a must-visit. The entire historic center of this ancient city, located just 80 miles east of Lisbon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let me show you some of what’s great about this magical place, and how to best take your own day trip to Évora.

Here’s a summary of what to expect:

The finest example of a Portuguese historical city

Évora is one of the oldest cities in Portugal, getting its start sometime in the second millennium BC. It was founded by the Celts, ruled by the Romans, conquered by the Moors, and ultimately wrested away by the Portuguese. It became a favored residence of Portuguese royalty during Portugal’s Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.  

Évora was spared by the earthquake that destroyed much of Lisbon in 1755. So it’s architecture, general city layout, and monuments are considered “the finest example of a city of the golden age of Portugal”. This is a major reason it received its UNESCO designation.

The city’s historic center is encircled by an ancient wall and is quaint, walkable, and absolutely begs to be visited on a day trip. 

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