Cork, Wine and Olive Oil
Inside a Cork Oak Forest
Évora countryside
Walk through the montado, the cork oak landscape that defines the Alentejo.
Half day
Region
Alentejo Central
Évora, wine estates and the oldest stones in Portugal.
- From Lisbon
- 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes
- Best in
- Spring, autumn and winter
The feeling
The heart of the region, and the most rewarding place to begin. Évora's walled historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Roman temple in the main square. Beyond the walls lie family wine estates, cork oak forests, megalithic monuments and marble towns where castles look out over the plains.
Signature places
Where to linger
- Évora
- Estremoz
- Vila Viçosa
- Borba
- Arraiolos
- Redondo
- 01The Roman temple and old town of Évora
- 02The Almendres Cromlech, a Neolithic stone circle
- 03The marble towns of Estremoz, Borba and Vila Viçosa
- 04The embroidered wool rugs of Arraiolos
- 05Family wine estates around Borba and Redondo
Experiences
Experiences in Alentejo Central
Cork, Wine and Olive Oil
A Private Tasting in a Family Cellar
Borba, Reguengos and Évora
Taste wines from the estate with the family who makes them.
2 to 3 hours
Stone, Roman and Megalithic Heritage
Sunrise at the Almendres Cromlech
Near Évora
Stand among standing stones that are older than Stonehenge.
2 hours
Craft Studios
Potters of São Pedro do Corval
São Pedro do Corval
Visit the workshops of one of Portugal's best-known pottery villages.
2 hours
Cork, Wine and Olive Oil
From Bark to Craft: A Cork Workshop
Alentejo cork country
See how raw cork becomes something beautiful, in a family-run workshop.
1.5 to 2 hours
Cork, Wine and Olive Oil
Olive Oil at the Mill
Alentejo olive groves
Taste fresh olive oil beside the groves it came from.
1.5 to 2 hours
When to go
The seasons here
Spring and autumn are ideal for walking and long lunches. Harvest in early autumn is a wonderful time to visit a cellar. Winter days are often clear and mild.
- Spring (recommended)
- Summer
- Autumn (recommended)
- Winter (recommended)
Nearby
Elsewhere in the Alentejo
Alto Alentejo
Mountain villages, border castles and royal horses.
Alqueva and the Great Lake
Still water, hilltop villages and the stars.
Baixo Alentejo
Wide plains, white towns and the Guadiana river.
From the journal
Eat and Drink
What to Eat in the Alentejo: Bread, Pork, Cheese and Soups
Bread thickens soups, accompanies cheese and becomes migas beside pork. Around Évora and the surrounding countryside, Alentejo cooking draws on olive oil, herbs and food from the land. This guide begins with the dishes that explain the table.
18 October 2026 · 7 min read
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