The Alentejo
Imagine vast plains in shades of green and gold, charming old towns painted in blue and white, and long, wild beaches. Welcome to the Alentejo!
Time goes by at a slower pace in this region, inviting you to discover the rich cultural heritage, savour the delicious traditional cuisine and enjoy unforgettable landscapes.
Ideal for visiting all year round
In summer, the long, hot days are an invitation to swim at the magnificent beaches of the Alentejo coast and to calmly contemplate the sunset over the sea or the region´s golden plains. If you prefer milder temperatures, in spring the fields are filled with wildflowers, and in autumn the vineyards are cloaked in shades of red and gold, making this the ideal time to visit wineries and taste fine wines. These are also the best periods to take to the walking trails and explore the countryside. In winter, savour the local cuisine and the warmth of a fireplace in a peaceful, cosy environment.
Travelling to the Alentejo
There are several ways to get to the Alentejo. Most airlines have flights to Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. Trains and buses run from the capital to various locations in the region. If you choose to travel by car, you will have greater freedom to explore this area, which has an excellent road network.
The art of traditional Portuguese cuisine
Meals rich in flavour and regional ingredients. Alentejo cuisine is famous for being delicious and traditional. The region´s typical dishes include migas (wheat bread fried in pork fat), açorda (bread soup) and Alentejo-style pork.
For dessert, make sure you try siricaia (egg pudding) with Elvas plums and Evora cheesecake. To accompany your meal, try the traditional Talha wine with its inimitable, profound flavour, fermented in clay pots.
Travel through the historic grandeur of the Alentejo
Explore the historic legacy of the Alentejo, where the past comes to life in every town and village. Experience the grandeur of Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its imposing Roman temple and cathedral, icons of a rich cultural heritage.
In Beja, visit the medieval castle towering over the landscape and boasting panoramic views of the vast Alentejo plain. Walk through the streets of Monsaraz and sense the magic of history in its winding streets and medieval castle. In Elvas, visit the impressive walls and aqueduct, testaments to bygone defensive systems and conquests.
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park
This area is a true natural paradise. The Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park is one of the most important stretches of the European coast, and features several unique species of fauna and flora. Its steep cliffs and stunning landscapes attract both specialists and nature lovers. Here, you will see ospreys, the world's only colony of white storks nesting in the coastal rock formations and one of the last places in Europe with sea otters in their natural habitat.
The flora, rich in endemic species such as Biscutella vicentina, and the beaches, extremely popular among surfers, make this area a must-visit destination for people in search of beauty and peace and quiet.
Are you looking for a Pestana Hotel in the Alentejo?
Check out these suggestions.
Nearby Attractions and Points of Interest
Destination | Nearest pousada and distance | Note |
Pousada Convento Évora (located on the same square) | Roman monument from the 1st century, also known as the Temple of Diana, in the historic centre of Évora. The temple is 50 m from the pousada. | |
Historic Centre of Évora (UNESCO) | Pousada Convento Évora (on foot) | It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Gothic cathedral, Praça do Giraldo (16th century), Aqueduto da Prata. |
Castle of Estremoz (13th century) | Pousada Castelo Estremoz (on site) | The pousada occupies the castle. Torre de Menagem, the castle’s keep is accessible from the hotel and offers 360° views over the plain. |
Marvão Castle (12th-17th centuries) | Pousada Marvão (8-minute walk) | One of Portugal’s best-preserved castles. Positioned on a granite escarpment at 860 m – a point where “the birds can see each other’s backs”. |
Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa | Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa (nearby) | The last residence of the Portuguese monarchy and seat of the House of Braganza. Museum, rugs, porcelain and royal archives. |
Arraiolos rugs (traditional handicraft) | Pousada Convento Arraiolos (town centre) | Weavers working with 17th-century designs; workshops open to visitors. Arraiolos, 20 km from Évora. |
National Stud Farm of Alter do Chão | Pousada Mosteiro Crato (35 km) | Breeding Lusitano horses since 1748. Riding lessons, horse-drawn carriage rides, visits to the riding arena and stables. |
Alqueva Dam (Dark Sky Route) | Pousada Convento Beja (approx. 50 km) | Largest artificial lake in Western Europe. Starlight Certification – stargazing under one of Europe’s least light-polluted skies. |
Carrasqueira Stilt Docks | Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal (approx. 20 km) | Stilted wooden jetty over the Sado estuary, used by fishing communities. Access on foot from the EN253. |
Our hotels in Alentejo
Transport: From Lisbon to the Pousadas of the Alentejo
All the Pestana pousadas in the Alentejo are less than 2 hours and 30 minutes from Lisbon by car. Public transport links are more limited outside Évora and Alcácer do Sal. A private car is recommended for itineraries combining more than one pousada.
Pousada / Destination | Distance from Lisbon (LIS) | Driving time (motorway) | Motorway | Public transport options |
Pousada Convento Évora | approx. 135 km | approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes | A2 + A6 | Comboios de Portugal train from Lisbon Oriente to Évora (approx. 1 hour and 35 minutes, 4 services per day); Rede Expressos coach from Sete Rios to Évora (approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes, several daily departures) |
Pousada Castelo Estremoz | approx. 175 km | approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes | A2 + A6 | Rede Expressos coach Sete Rios–Estremoz (approx. 2 hours, departures every 4 hours). There is no convenient direct train service. |
Pousada Marvão | approx. 230 km | approx. 2 hours and 50 minutes | A23 + IP2 | Coach to Portalegre (approx. 2 hours and 45 minutes) + local taxi (21 km). Private car recommended – Marvão is at an altitude of 860 m and access is via a mountain road. |
Pousada Convento Arraiolos | approx. 130 km | approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes | A6 | Coach to Arraiolos R. Carreira de Cima (1 hour and 40 minutes) + local taxi. There is no direct train service. |
Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal | approx. 100 km | approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes | A2 | Coach from Sete Rios to Alcácer do Sal (approx. 1 hour and 50 minutes). Rail connection via Setúbal–Grândola (change of trains required). |
Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa | approx. 190 km | approx. 2 hours | A6 + N255 | Coach to Vila Viçosa (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes) + taxi. A private car is recommended for greater itinerary flexibility. |
Pousada Mosteiro Crato | approx. 211 km | approx. 2 hours and 45 minutes | A23 + N245 | Rede Expressos coach to Crato or train (Linha do Leste) to Crato station. |
Pousada Castelo Alvito | approx. 177 km | approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes | A2 + A6 | Train (Intercidades or Regional) to Alvito station (Linha do Alentejo). |
It depends on your travel profile. Pousada Castelo Estremoz is the highest-rated option (it has a 9.1 rating on Booking.com with more than 650 reviews) and one of the pousadas in Pestana’s Alentejo portfolio with an outdoor pool within the medieval walls. Pousada Convento Évora offers a unique location less than 50 m from the Roman Temple of Évora, and located in a convent dating from the fifteenth century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a tranquil retreat, Pousada Convento Arraiolos, located in a secluded valley, is one of the Pestana Group’s most popular properties in the Alentejo. Go to pestana.com to check out prices and availability for each property.
Outdoor swimming pools: Pousada Castelo Estremoz (pool within the castle walls overlooking the plains), Pousada Convento Évora (pool in the pousada’s inner courtyard), Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa, Pousada Convento Arraiolos, Pousada Convento Beja, Pousada Castelo Alvito, Pousada Mosteiro Crato and Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal. Pousada Marvão does not have a swimming pool; the nearest alternative within the Pestana Group is Pousada Castelo Estremoz, approximately one hour away by car.
Pousada Convento Arraiolos is one of the main options for those looking for an indoor swimming pool, massage room and gym, within a quiet and historic environment. Pousada Mosteiro do Crato, meanwhile, offers a massage room and Jacuzzi, perfect for moments of relaxation and well-being in the Alentejo.
Prices vary by season and room category. For guidance only (indicative values): Pousada Convento Évora from €81/night; Pousada Castelo Estremoz from €99/night; Pousada Mosteiro Crato from €99/night; Pousada Castelo Alcácer do Sal from €94/night. These prices may vary and do not include taxes. Lower prices are available between November and February. Book directly at pestana.com to benefit from the best price guaranteed and Pestana Guest Club benefits. Even so, it is important to highlight that prices vary depending on the time of year.
The most practical option is by car: Alcácer do Sal is just 100 km from Lisbon (1 hour via the A2); Arraiolos 130 km (1 hour and 30 minutes via the A6); Évora approx. 135 km (1 hour and 40 minutes via the A2/A6); Estremoz 175 km (1 hour and 45 minutes); Alvito 177 km (2 hours and 15 minutes via the A2/A26) and Vila Viçosa 190 km (2 hours via the A6). For the more distant properties, such as Pousada Mosteiro Crato (211 km, 2 hours and 45 minutes) and Pousada Marvão (230 km, 2 hours and 50 minutes), travelling by private car is recommended. In Marvão, the final stretch is via a mountain road at an altitude of 860 m. By public transport, the options vary: for Évora, there is the Comboios de Portugal train from Lisbon Oriente (approx. 1 hour and 35 minutes) and Rede Expressos coaches from Sete Rios (1 hour and 20 minutes). Pousada Castelo Alvito and Pousada Mosteiro Crato are also served by direct rail services (via the Linha do Alentejo and Linha do Leste, respectively). For the remaining properties, Rede Expressos coaches is the main alternative for Estremoz, Alcácer do Sal, Arraiolos, Vila Viçosa and Portalegre (followed by a local taxi for the final leg to the Pousada).
The policy varies by property. Pousada Marvão accepts pets upon prior request and subject to availability. Pousada Castelo Estremoz and Pousada Convento Évora do not accept pets. For the remaining pousadas in the Alentejo, always confirm directly at pestana.com or through Pestana customer service before booking.
Pousada Marvão is the nearest Pestana property to the Spanish border: Spain is only 10 km away as the crow flies and is visible on clear days from the restaurant and rooms. The next nearest option is Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa, which is about 30 km from the border.
Yes. The historic Alentejo pousadas welcome children of all ages (up to the age of 12, generally at no extra charge when sharing their parents’ bed — please check conditions for each property at pestana.com). At Pousada Convento Vila Viçosa and Pousada Castelo Estremoz, children up to the age of 13 are charged at the child rate, while Pousada Convento Beja offers accommodation options designed for families. For families with children who value additional space and a swimming pool, Pousadas Vila Viçosa, Estremoz and Beja are the most suitable options.
Yes. Pousada Convento Évora is located between Évora’s Gothic Cathedral and the Roman Temple—the distance between the entrance to the pousada and the Temple is less than 50 metres on foot. Praça Giraldo is about a 5-minute walk away. The historic centre of Évora has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 and the city will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027.