Lisbon to Evora: Train, Bus or Car (2026)

Évora, the walled capital of the Alentejo, is an easy trip from Lisbon, and you don’t need a car to get there. Here’s how to go by train, bus or car in 2026, with times, fares and how to get into the old town.

Quick answer: take the Intercidades train from Lisboa Oriente, Entrecampos or Sete Rios: about 1h30 from Sete Rios (1h40 to 1h45 from Oriente) for €13.90 one way in second class. There are only five trains a day on weekdays and three at weekends, so book ahead on cp.pt. Rede Expressos buses from Sete Rios run far more often and take 1h30 to 1h45. Driving takes about 1h30 on the A2 and A6; park outside the walls.

Train, bus or car?

All three take about the same time. The train is the comfiest but has few departures, the bus is the most flexible, and a car only pays off if you want the stone circles, wine estates or Monsaraz too.

By train (best)

• From: Lisboa Oriente (red metro line), Entrecampos (yellow line) or Sete Rios (Jardim Zoológico, blue line). See Lisbon public transport.
• Time: about 1h30 to 1h35 from Sete Rios or Entrecampos, and 1h40 to 1h45 from Oriente.
• Trains per day: five each way on weekdays, and three at weekends and on public holidays.
• Fare: €13.90 one way in second class or €18.50 in first, and €25.50 for a second-class return (CP’s 2026 prices). Some travellers, such as over-65s with ID, pay half.
• Booking: on cp.pt or the CP app, up to 60 days ahead. A seat reservation is compulsory and included in the ticket. Carry the ID you booked with.

Train times

From CP’s timetable in force since 6 September 2026. Times are for Oriente; trains leave Sete Rios 12 minutes later.

• Lisbon to Évora, weekdays: 07:02, 09:02, 13:35, 17:02 and 19:02.
• Lisbon to Évora, weekends and holidays: 09:58, 17:02 and 19:02.
• Évora to Lisbon, weekdays: 07:00, 09:14, 11:30, 16:51 and 19:14.
• Évora to Lisbon, weekends and holidays: 09:14, 16:51 and 19:14.

Timetables change a few times a year and strikes happen, so check CP’s website the day before. More in the Portugal train guide.

What’s changing on the line

Trains to Évora have often been full in 2025 and 2026 because CP is short of carriages, so book a few days ahead, especially the return. The government has said capacity should improve in 2027 as new trains arrive, in time for Évora’s year as European Capital of Culture.

East of Évora, a new line to Elvas and the border at Caia was declared finished in January 2026. It was built mainly for freight, signalling and safety approval were still to come, and the government said trains would run from the end of 2026 or early 2027. It doesn’t affect the trip from Lisbon.

By bus

• From: the Sete Rios bus terminal, next to Jardim Zoológico metro, with Rede Expressos. FlixBus also runs some buses, mainly from Oriente.
• Time: about 1h30 to 1h45.
• Frequency: many departures a day, far more than the train.
• Fare: about €11.90 one way or €21.20 return at the standard fare, according to Évora city council, with cheaper promo fares online.
• Arrival: the bus terminal on Avenida Túlio Espanca, about 10 minutes’ walk from the centre.

Summer and Friday buses can sell out, so book online. See Portugal by bus.

By car

• Route: cross the Tagus, take the A2 south to Marateca, then the A6 east to Évora. Allow about 1h30.
• Tolls: €10.45 for a normal car from Coina, south of the 25 de Abril bridge, to the Évora Poente exit (Brisa’s 2026 rates). Pay at the exit, or use the Via Verde lane if your hire car has a toll device. The Tagus bridges only charge heading into Lisbon. See Portugal’s tolls explained.
• Parking: use the car parks just outside the walls and walk in. Inside, the lanes are narrow and partly restricted, and street parking is limited and paid (you can pay with the iParque app).
• Car hire: collecting a car in Évora after the train is often easier than driving out of Lisbon. See car rental in Portugal.

Getting into the old town

• From the train station: it’s south of the walls, a 15 to 20-minute walk from Praça do Giraldo. A taxi is a short ride, and local TREVO city buses also link the station with the centre.
• From the bus terminal: about 10 minutes on foot.
• With luggage: the old town is all cobbles, so take a taxi to your hotel.

Day trip or overnight?

About six hours covers the Roman Temple, the cathedral, the Chapel of Bones and a long lunch. See the Évora day trip from Lisbon for a route.

• Weekdays: the 09:02 from Oriente (09:14 from Sete Rios) arrives at 10:45. Come back on the 16:51 or the 19:14.
• Weekends: the 09:58 from Oriente arrives at 11:40; come back on the 16:51 or 19:14.

Stay the night for the quiet evening streets, the stone circles or Monsaraz. Without a car, stay inside the walls. Évora’s tourist tax is €1.50 per person per night for over-16s. See where to stay in Évora.

Adding Monsaraz and the Alentejo

Buses to the villages are infrequent, so a car makes all the difference here.

• Almendres Cromlech: standing stones about 15km west, with no regular bus. Without a car, take a taxi or a tour.
• Monsaraz: about 45 minutes east of Évora, or 2 hours from Lisbon. Stay the night for the lake views and dark skies. See Monsaraz and Alqueva.
• Arraiolos and the marble towns: Arraiolos is about 20 minutes north, and Estremoz, Borba and Vila Viçosa about 45 minutes north-east.

Which option is right for you?

• Day trip without a car: the train, with the bus as back-up.
• Two or three days in the Alentejo: a car, or the train plus a hire car in Évora.

Tips

• Summer heat: July and August often go above 35°C, so start early, rest at lunch and carry water.
• Mondays: the Chapel of Bones is usually open daily, but some museums close on Mondays, including the Évora Museum (Museu Nacional Frei Manuel do Cenáculo), and some sights close at lunchtime. Check times first.
• 2027: the Capital of Culture year opens on 6 February 2027, so book trains and rooms earlier than usual.

FAQ

How long is the train from Lisbon to Évora?

About 1h30 from Sete Rios or Entrecampos, and 1h40 to 1h45 from Oriente, with no change.

How much is the train from Lisbon to Évora?

In 2026, €13.90 one way in second class, €18.50 in first and €25.50 for a second-class return.

What time is the last train from Évora to Lisbon?

The 19:14, every day, reaching Sete Rios at 20:45 and Oriente at 20:57.

Is the bus or the train better for Évora?

The train is comfier, with a reserved seat. The bus runs far more often and costs a little less.

Do I need to book the train to Évora in advance?

Yes, ideally a few days ahead, as trains often sell out at weekends and on the return.

More: Évora and the Alentejo and the best day trips from Lisbon.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.