Visit the Evora Chapel of Bones + Top 10 Evora Attractions

Are you looking to visit the Evora Chapel of Bones?

Capela dos Ossos, the Evora Chapel of Bones, is a very unique experience and should be on the list of top things to do for anyone traveling to Portugal!

Some of our top travel destinations are the incredible cities of Portugal. We have encountered several bone chapels while touring Portugal and Southern Spain.

However, we highly recommend visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones as we found it to be the most impressive in all of Europe when we visited earlier this year.

We have all the necessary information for your visit to the Chapel, plus the Top Top 10 Attractions in Evora other than the Chapel of Bones

History of the Evora Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

The Evora Chapel of Bones, or Capela dos Ossos, dates back to the 17th century.

In the 17th century, it was a relatively common practice in the region for the Franciscan friars to build chapels that were adorned by the bones and skulls of deceased humans. 💀

While this may seem strange and potentially a bit dark on the surface, the friars did this to symbolize the temporariness and fragility of human life.

As such, the chapel is designed to create space for reflecting on the human condition.

This sentiment is also echoed in the Catholic Lent season when the season is kicked off with the phrase “Remember, o man that you are dust and to the dust, you will return.”

A similar phrase marks the entrance to the Evora Chapel of Bones. The translation is “We the bones that are here, for yours we are waiting”

The Friars used the bones from the graves of Evora to construct this chapel.

What to Expect at the Evora Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

The Evora Chapel of Bones is located in the same structure as the São Francisco church.

In order to see the Chapel of Bones, you must purchase a ticket for €6 at the entrance. During peak hours and the busy season, you may have to wait 15-30 minutes to enter.

The entire experience takes most people 45 minutes to 1 hour.

If religious artwork is of high interest, your visit may take longer since the royal tribune room is home to a number of these religious art pieces.

The ticket provides you access to the chapel, a museum, the royal tribune room, a multimedia room, and the Nativity collection.

When you enter the building, the first section you will visit is the Chapel of Bones. The room is not especially large, but it is dramatic. Between the bones, skulls, and arches, the mood in the room is quite somber.

After visiting the Chapel of Bones, you will proceed up the stairs to a few more floors that contain the museum, artwork, and videos.

The very top floor is dedicated to the Nativity Collection. There are hundreds of nativities that have been collected from all over the world.

They are organized by region which we found to be an extremely interesting look into art and Christianity throughout the globe!

The Nativity Collection ends at the terrace of the church. On the terrace, you will have a great view of Evora and the gardens next door.

The chapel is open every day between 9am and winter 5pm (winter) or 6:30pm (summer).

Where is the Evora Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

The Chapel of Bones is located in the small Portuguese town of Évora.

Évora, pronounced eh·vr·uh, is located in the Alentejo region of Portugal, about 133 km away from Lisbon.

This town has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. In fact, in 1986 the town became a UNESCO World Heritage site for its profound impact on history.

The Chapel of Bones is a 4-minute, 400-meter, walk from Evora’s town center, the Giraldo Square Fountain (Fonte da Praça do Giraldo).

It is located right next to the Jardim Público de Évora, the Evora public park.

How to Visit the Evora Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

Evora is relatively easy to get to with several different options for transportation.

We strongly recommend visiting Evora for at least 2 days to see everything the beautiful town has to offer.

Visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones by Bus

The Evora bus station is located just on the outside of the old town area. It is a 14-minute, 1.1 km from the bus station to the Chapel of Bones.

The Evora bus station has buses making daily direct trips from Lisbon, Elvas, Faro, and Albufeira.

• Lisbon to Evora by bus – 1.5 hours and about €5
• Elvas to Evora by bus – 1.5 hours and about €10
• Albufeira to Evora by bus – 3 hours and about €15
• Faro to Evora by bus – 4 hours and about €15

Visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones by Train

Evora is the end stop of a train line that runs directly from Lisbon. The line is Linha do Alentejo and the stops on this line are:

• Lisbon-Oriente
• Entrecampos
• Sete Rios
• Pragal
• Pinhal Novo
• Barreiro
• Sul e Sueste
• Pegões
• São João das Craveiras
• Vendas Novas
• Casa Branca
• Évora

There are typically 5 trains a day and the ride is about 1.5 hours. Tickets are €5 to €10.

The train station in Evora is also on the outskirts of the main town. It is 1km, a 12-minute walk, from the Chapel of Bones.

Visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones by Car

Traveling to Evora by car is also an easy trip! There is a major interstate that goes right past Evora, making it easy to get to and from any other region of Portugal.

• Lisbon to Evora by car – 1.5 hours, 133 km (83 miles)
• Albufeira to Evora by car – 2 hours and 15 minutes, 204 km (127 miles)
• Porto to Evora by car – 3 hours and 40 minutes, 410 km (255 miles)

We always recommend booking a car with Discover Cars as we have only ever had fantastic experiences, from booking through returning the car.

We opt for the coverage plan for peace of mind while exploring a new country.

Where to Park in Evora

Inside the old town, parking is very difficult.

We would not recommend driving in the old town – your map app may attempt to take you there, but we find the instructions to be largely inaccurate.

Instead, park on the outside of the town and then walk in. We park in a massive, free lot that is only a 10-minute walk to the town center (6 minutes to the Chapel of Bones).

Put “Parking Descampado” in your map app. Be sure to check the lot for any signs that may have updated information!

If the sign is in Portuguese, you can take a picture of it with the Google Translate app and it will translate the sign for you.

Visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones by Day Trip

While we do recommend staying in Evora for 2 days, we understand that not all schedules allow for that.

In this case, a day trip from Lisbon will allow you to see the Chapel of Bones as well as a few other of Evora’s main sites.

We like this small-group tour to Evora as well as Almendres Cromlech (Portuguese Stonehenge).

The group size will be 8 people or less, so you will get the opportunity to ask as many questions as you’d like to the guide!

You can also visit the Evora Megaliths on your own!

Alternatively, check out this private tour if you would like to customize your experience.

⚠️ We do want to note that you may see tours from Lisbon to Evora that also include the town of Monsaraz. Monsaraz is beautiful and definitely worth visiting, however, it is another hour past Evora.

We think a day trip with both towns wouldn’t do either town justice, so we recommend just visiting Evora in one day.

The best outcome would be to spend a couple of nights in Evora and take a day trip from Evora to Monsaraz!

Top 10 Attractions in Evora (Other than the Chapel of Bones)

The town of Evora has so much to offer. Evora was once the capital of Portugal and a central hub for trade.

The history and culture are incredibly rich and the architecture is stunning. Here are our favorite attractions that you must see on your visit to Evora!

Walking Tour of Evora

Hands down the best way to learn about the epic history of Evora is from a local. We love a walking tour and book our Evora walking tours with GuruWalk.

The tours are extremely informative – the guides do a fantastic job highlighting the history as you walk through the town seeing the sites.

These tours from GuruWalk are free, but you should always tip your guide – we recommend at least €10 per person.

Alternatively, you can book a private tour.

This will allow you to ask questions 1:1 and customize the Evora tour. This is a big advantage since the free tours can have a lot of people on them.

Roman Temple of Évora

The Roman Temple of Évora, also called the Templo de Diana, is a very well-preserved temple at the center of Evora’s historical center.

The Roman Temple of Évora dates back to the first century, and most of the ruin is still standing, including some of the original columns.

Throughout history, the building has been used for many uses, which is why it is so well preserved.

Next to the temple, is a gorgeous garden with an overlook of the stunning Evora countryside. It would be easy to spend an afternoon in this garden with a drink from the garden’s kiosk!

Évora Cathedral

The Cathedral in Evora is one of the most impressive sites in all of Portugal. It is located at the center of Evora’s historic district and is a must-see!

The Cathedral dates back to the 12th century and was modified over time. This can be seen by its mix of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Baroque.

Most notably, the Cathedral has a museum you can visit and a rooftop with a spectacular view of all of Evora. It is a good place to visit and worth going to the top.

Royal Palace and Gardens

The Royal Palace and Gardens of Evora are located right next to the Evora Chapel of Bones.

The Royal Palace is also referred to as King Manuel Palace even though it was originally commissioned by King Alfonso in 1468. The original building was much smaller and modest.

King Manuel greatly expanded the palace and gardens as his family spend a significant portion of their time there.

When visiting, the gardens are spectacular to walk through.

Our favorite part is the Ruínas Fingidas, or “fake ruins”, that were placed in the gardens and are now home to many Peacocks!

Public Library Évora

The Public Library of Évora is GORGEOUS and a bit off of the tourist path.

As you may expect, the library is primarily used by University students, but anyone is able to enter – just be respectful!

In 1805, Archbishop Frei Manuel do Cenáculo transformed this building from a boy’s college into a library and generously donated his valuable collection of 50,000 books.

The book collection at this library has only grown since and is now one of the oldest and most well-stocked libraries in Portugal.

Aqueduto da Água de Prata

The aqueduct is one of the first things you will see when entering Evora! In fact, you will probably drive or walk under it when you are entering the city.

This aqueduct was constructed to transport water from the closest water source which was over 11 miles away!

Additionally, Evora is on a bit of a hill, so the construction of the aqueduct was quite tricky to ensure that the water flowed properly to the center of the city.

Nowadays, you can see homes and shops built into the aqueduct. It is really a cool experience to see the aqueduct throughout the city.

Evora Town Hall

The town hall in Evora is worth stopping in. The building itself was originally a palace and is absolutely beautiful.

The Palace dates back to the Moorish occupation of Evora and the Arab style is still alive in the building’s architecture.

The town hall was moved into this building in 1881. There have been many renovations through the years, but in 1987, a renovation attempt ended with the workers finding Roman baths.

Now, you can enter the town hall (for free!) to see the ruins of the Roman baths as well as the beautiful inside of this building!

University of Évora (Colegio do Espírito Santo)

In 1559, the University of Evora was founded by Cardinal D. Henrique using the existing Colégio do Espírito Santo.

The Colégio do Espírito Santo is the main building of the University of Evora and is popular among tourists for its historical significance and beauty.

The building has various rooms adorned with stunning tiles that depict the subjects being taught, such as Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, and Fine Arts.

You can enter the Colégio do Espírito Santo next to Espirito Santo Church (Igreja do Espírito Santo), using the big gate that leads to the patio.

There is a fee of €3 to enter.

Church of Graça – Évora

The Church of Graça is an interesting site, a block off Giraldo Square.

While it is no longer a church, the Church of Graça is worth stopping by to marvel at. The outside facade is in the Mannerist style.

The doorway is extra large and has angels on top of it.

The 4 corners of the building have Atlas-style figures symbolizing the four rivers that locals refer to as “the children of grace”.

Nowadays, the building is owned and operated by the Portuguese army.

Giraldo Square (Praça do Giraldo)

Giraldo Square is the center square of Evora. The square is home to a fountain as well as a church, Santo Antão Church, and Banco de Portugal (Bank of Portugal).

The building that currently houses the Bank of Portugal was originally used as the town hall and prison.

In the square, are many restaurants with outdoor seating as well as local shops. We saw street performers on more than one occasion!

The square is a great directional landmark since it is the center. Additionally, you can get a taxi easily from here!

Grab a Pastéis de Nata (Cream Pastry) or some Queijadas de Évora (cheesecake) and enjoy the liveliness of the square!

Where to Stay in Evora

While a bit hilly, Evora is very walkable since it is pretty small. We recommend wearing good shoes as the roads are made of uneven rocks.

Picking a place close to the town center is perfect. A few places we recommend are:

• Evora Olive Hotel – The gorgeous rooms at Evora Olive Hotel are full of amenities. The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a kids’ club, and meeting rooms. The Eborim restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine and also has a grocery shop. Additionally, free private parking is available.

• Templo Boutique Hotel – Templo Boutique Hotel is situated just a 4-minute walk away from the Cathedral of Evora and 200 yards away from the Roman Temple of Evora. The hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with various amenities, including a desk, a fridge, a coffee machine, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom with a bath or shower.

• MouraSuites Hotel – MouraSuites Hotel is situated just a 3-minute walk away from the Cathedral of Evora. It offers several amenities like an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden, a shared lounge, a terrace, a restaurant, and a bar available on the premises.

Additionally, you can check out all the hotels with our interactive map. Using this map will get you the best price and help support our small business:

FAQ for the Evora Chapel of Bones

So, is the Evora Chapel of Bones Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Visiting the Evora Chapel of Bones is a unique and incredible experience.

Additionally, the town of Evora is full of other interesting and beautiful sights. We have listed a few of the most popular ones here, but there are many more to explore!

If you’re in Portugal, take some time out to visit Evora – it’s definitely worth it. You won’t regret it!

We wish you the best travels, and don’t forget to set your “Out of Office!” 

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