9 Hours, Monsaraz Wine Tasting

This nine-hour day trip runs from Lisbon to Évora and Monsaraz, with regional wine tasting built into the day. Travellers see the walled historic centre, the Templo Romano and the hilltop village before the drive back to the capital.

Overview

This nine-hour day out of Lisbon pairs a guided morning in Évora with an afternoon in Monsaraz and ends with a regional wine tasting near the village. The Cooltours runs it from Praça da Figueira with a standard cap of 8 participants per van, though the listing warns a larger vehicle may be used at certain times, and a minimum of 3 participants is required for the tour to operate.

After a 1.5-hour drive into the Alentejo, the group gets a 30-minute guided visit to the Capela dos Ossos, then a walking tour past the Roman Temple, the Sé de Évora and the Igreja de São Francisco before an hour of free time and lunch around Praça do Giraldo. A 50-minute transfer reaches Monsaraz, the whitewashed village above the Alqueva reservoir, for a guided wander with no set length. The final stop is a 1-hour wine tasting at a local winery, and the drive back to Lisbon takes 1.5 hours.

It suits travellers staying in Lisbon who want Évora's monuments and Monsaraz's views in a single day without a hire car, and who like a guide alongside real free time.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet At Praça da FigueiraThe guide waits beside the equestrian statue in Praça da Figueira, Lisbon, holding a blue and yellow flag. Pickup at a selected location applies only to the booking options that list it.
2. Van To Évora (1.5 Hours)The group leaves Lisbon by air-conditioned van for the drive across the Alentejo to Évora.
3. Capela dos Ossos (30 Minutes)A guided visit to the chapel, whose interior is lined with human bones and skulls, with the guide covering the meaning behind its construction and the Franciscan tradition that shaped it. Entry comes only with the option that includes tickets.
4. Évora Monuments WalkA walking tour through the main monuments, including the Roman Temple and the Sé de Évora, with optional rooftop views at the cathedral. The Igreja de São Francisco appears on the itinerary as a pass-by with no stop time.
5. Praça do Giraldo Free Time (1 Hour)An hour for lunch, sightseeing and wandering on your own around the city's central square. Guides suggest restaurants for regional dishes such as black pork, migas or açorda, though meals are paid separately.
6. Van To Monsaraz (50 Minutes)A 50-minute transfer to the Monsaraz area, which the itinerary lists under Reguengos de Monsaraz.
7. Monsaraz Village WalkA guided walk through the hilltop village, whitewashed and set above the Alqueva reservoir, with views across the Alentejo plains. The itinerary gives this stop no set duration.
8. Winery Tasting (1 Hour)A 1-hour tasting of regional wines at a local winery near Monsaraz, with an introduction to Alentejo production and native grape varieties. The tasting is included only when the option with tickets is selected.
9. Return To Lisbon (1.5 Hours)The drive back to Lisbon takes 1.5 hours, ending at one of two drop-off locations, HF Fénix Lisboa among them.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details decide how well this day works, from the flag to look for in Lisbon to how the ticket option changes what is covered.

• Finding The Guide. The meeting point is beside the equestrian statue in Praça da Figueira. The listing tells travellers to look for a guide holding a blue and yellow flag, so scan the square for that.
• Ticket Option. Two headline inclusions, the Capela dos Ossos entry and the Monsaraz wine tasting, apply only when the option with tickets is selected. Checking the options before booking is the simplest way to avoid surprises on the day.
• Lunch Plans. Meals and drinks are not included, and the day allows an hour of free time around Praça do Giraldo for eating.
• What To Wear. The listing asks for comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. The day is built around walking tours in Évora and Monsaraz plus free time on foot, so practical footwear earns its place.
• Van Time. Three transfers frame the itinerary: 1.5 hours out to Évora, 50 minutes to Monsaraz and 1.5 hours back to Lisbon. Food and drinks are barred by the listing, along with smoking and vaping, so plan the rides accordingly.
• Photo Stops. Reviewers repeatedly called Monsaraz the surprise of the day, a village of views over the plains and the Alqueva reservoir. Both the free time in Évora and the village walk leave room for photographs.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum of 3 participants to operate, so thin bookings can end the plan, and the usual cap of 8 per van is not a promise, since the listing says a larger vehicle may be used at certain times. The listing also notes the tour may be conducted by a multilingual guide, depending on group composition. One reviewer felt the extra drive out to Monsaraz was a stretch and found the village crowded during a local event that day. Meals, drinks and gratuities are excluded, and both the Capela dos Ossos entry and the wine tasting depend on selecting the ticket option.

Common Questions