It took just a few steps into Monsaraz village for me to fall in love with it. Monsaraz is one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal and undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Alentejo.

Throughout this post, you’ll discover the best things to do in Monsaraz, but not only. I’ll also provide tips on:

• Accommodation in Monsaraz
• Things to do near Monsaraz
• Where to park in Monsaraz
• When to visit Monsaraz
• How long you need to visit Monsaraz

Located in the beautiful Alentejo region, the beauty of the village of Monsaraz was even honoured in 2017 when it won the 7 Wonders of Portugal (7 Maravilhas de Portugal) award in the Villages category.

Visiting Monsaraz is a real journey back in time. And even though the village doesn’t have much to visit, there’s something about it that makes you want to stay for a long time. It’s the streets inside Monsaraz Castle, it’s the small houses we come across throughout the visit that make us curious to go inside, it’s the superb view over the artificial lake of Alqueva.

You probably don’t need much more convincing to visit Monsaraz. So, I invite you to continue reading this post to find out what to do in Monsaraz so you can better plan your trip there.

Monsaraz is a small village located in the Alentejo region, more specifically in the district of Évora. In fact, Évora to Monsaraz is just a 52 min (54 km) drive.

As for the main cities in Portugal, the distances are a bit longer, although Lisbon is the closest city. These are the distances between Monsaraz and some of Portugal’s main cities:

• Lisbon: 184 km (2h10 by car)
• Faro: 233 km (2h45)
• Porto: 458 km (4h30)

💡 EXTRA TIP: Do you have more days available to visit the beautiful Alentejo? Then I suggest you read my 6-day itinerary for this Portuguese region.

Since Monsaraz is located in the Alentejo region, summers tend to be extremely hot and dry, so the high temperatures can sometimes discourage you from strolling around Monsaraz village.

However, it’s also in summer that you can enjoy Monsaraz’s river beach or the Alqueva lake, which is close to the village. In this way, it might actually make sense to visit Monsaraz in warmer months.

Even so, ideally, the best time to visit Monsaraz is when the temperatures are milder and there is less chance of rain. For example, April to June and September and October are some of the most interesting months to visit Monsaraz.

However, to be perfectly honest, any time of year is a good time to visit Monsaraz. Even when it’s cold, the village is magical. For example, I visited in December and the village already had Christmas decorations, which gave it an even more special touch.

💡 EXTRA TIP: In September, Festas de Nosso Senhor Jesus dos Passos (local festivity) usually takes place, so this could be a good time to visit Monsaraz as well.

Given the size of the Monsaraz village, I would almost venture to say that it’s possible to visit the whole village in just one hour. However, I’m sure that as soon as you enter the walls of Monsaraz, you’ll want to stay longer.

One day is the ideal time to visit Monsaraz. As well as enjoying what there is to see in the village, you can also visit other places nearby, such as the Monsaraz River beach, and Reguengos de Monsaraz, among others (more information on what to do near Monsaraz at the end of this post).

Given Monsaraz’s isolated location, the most practical way to get there is undoubtedly by car. From Lisbon to Monsaraz, for example, it is a 2h10 drive (184 kilometres). Although it’s possible to visit Monsaraz on a day trip from Lisbon, the same can’t be said for Porto, which is much further away.

However, for those who want to get from Lisbon to Monsaraz without a car, it’s also possible to do so by transport, although it’s much less convenient. There is a direct bus from Rede Expressos linking Lisbon (Sete Rios) to Reguengos de Monsaraz. The journey takes around 2h35. Once you arrive in Reguengos de Monsaraz, it’s best to take a taxi to Monsaraz or a bus from Rodoviária do Alentejo.

Alternatively, you can also opt for this 1-day tour from Lisbon that includes Évora and Monsaraz. It’s a more rushed visit to both Évora and Monsaraz, but it’s an excellent option for those who don’t have a car and want to visit one of Portugal’s most beautiful towns. What’s more, the tour has excellent reviews.

If you’re already in Alentejo (specifically Évora), there’s also this half-day tour from Évora which includes a visit to Monsaraz and even a wine tasting.

With a few exceptions for residents, you cannot drive inside Monsaraz village. So, if you’re travelling by car, you’ll have to park outside the walls of Monsaraz. There are several car parks available and they are located quite close to Monsaraz walls. Some of the car parks where you can park in Monsaraz are:

• Location 1
• Location 2
• Location 3
• Location 4
• Location 5

Given the small size of the village of Monsaraz, there aren’t many accommodation options within the town walls. So, it might make more sense to stay on the outskirts of the village rather than in the village itself.

In my case, I didn’t end up staying in Monsaraz, but I can recommend one accommodation in Évora, where I stayed a few years ago and quite enjoyed. Located right next to the entrance to Évora’s city walls, you’ll find Lavradores Boutique Guesthouse.

The room was very spacious, the decor was tasteful and you could easily see that there was great attention to detail. There are several communal areas, including a kitchen for those who want to cook.

What’s more, the breakfast service (which is optional) is a bit different from usual: guests choose the items they want from a list beforehand and the next day they have a basket of all the items waiting for them in the kitchen.

Anyway, I’ll share with you some suggestions for accommodation in Monsaraz (all of them outside the walls):

I must admit that some of the hotels in Monsaraz seem divine. This is the case with the Montimerso Skyscape Countryhouse (mentioned above) or São Lourenço do Barrocal.

Before I tell you about what to visit in Monsaraz, I’ll share with you a map with the main points of interest in Monsaraz to help you plan your trip.

Start your Monsaraz itinerary just outside the Monsaraz walls by admiring the simple but beautiful monument honouring Cante Alentejano.

Cante Alentejano is a musical genre from the Alentejo region and consists of choral singing with a unique sound. It has been on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2014. Take advantage of your visit to this monument to also enjoy a beautiful view of the Alqueva lake.

Still outside the walls, we can also appreciate the simple and unique chapel of St. John the Baptist. Also known as Cuba, it is one of the oldest monuments in the village.

Its origin is probably related to the time when this region was under Muslim rule.

Now climb up to the Ermida de São Bento, which is also located outside the Monsaraz walls. Unfortunately, the chapel is in such a bad state that there is a risk it might collapse.

However, visiting the chapel isn’t the main reason to include this point on your Monsaraz itinerary. The truth is that from here you have unbelievable views of the village and Monsaraz castle and also of all the surrounding green countryside. What’s more, it’s an area often overlooked by tourists, so you’ll find this area much less crowded😉.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you’re interested, there are two more chapels you can visit in Monsaraz. They are Ermida de Santa Catarina and Ermida de São Lázaro. However, these are a bit further away and, given the state of their preservation, I don’t know if they’re really worth the detour.

It’s time to finally get inside the walls of Monsaraz. I suggest you enter through Porta da Vila – one of the most important gates and the one that allows you to immediately admire the whitewashed houses.

In addition to this door, three others give access to the inside of the wall. These are Porta de Évora, Porta de Alcoba and Porta do Buraco. It’s worth noting that near Porta do Buraco we find the old cistern of the Monsaraz village.

Entering through Porta da Vila, we immediately come across Rua de Santiago – one of the main streets (not that there are many 😄) in the village. It’s an excellent way to feel welcomed in Monsaraz!

The street is simply lovely with its schist pavement (just like the rest of the village) and every single house painted white. Right on this street, you’ll find some small cafés/bars and also some shops selling handicrafts typical of the region. Have a look at some of these!

It’s also very close to this street that we can have a quick detour to visit the small Santiago Church (Igreja de Santiago), which currently no longer serves as a church, but as an art gallery. The exhibition is small, but admission is free.

Walk down Santiago Street until you reach the Inquisition House. This is one of the places where you can learn more about the history of the village and, more specifically, about the Jewish community that existed there and was persecuted during the Portuguese Inquisition.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to the Inquisition House is just 1€ and entitles you to visit the Fresco Museum as well.

Just a few more steps and we find ourselves in the castle area, where its tower stands out. I told you Monsaraz was rather small, didn’t I? 😁

You can’t climb up the tower, but you can climb the ramparts and enjoy unrivalled views of the Alentejo plains and the Alqueva Lake. Stop for a bit and enjoy the moment… it’s simply unforgettable.

Entrance to Monsaraz Castle is free and it is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Monsaraz. To make the visit even better, I suggest visiting the castle close to sunset.

I suggest you head for the town’s main street – Rua Direita. This is also marked by its schist floors and white houses side by side. In this street, there are even more small shops to visit and cafés to try, but that’s not all.

This street is home to Monsaraz’s main church (Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Lagoa), Largo Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira and the Monsaraz Tourist Office (where you can see the inside of a typical local house). More on these points of interest below 😉.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Although in this post the main points of interest are presented in a logical order, I suggest you let yourself get lost in the streets of Monsaraz. The village is really small and, without a doubt, one of the most fun parts of visiting it is finding photogenic corners where you least expect them.

Monsaraz is so small that you quickly come across the village’s main square – Largo Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira. This is where you’ll find Monsaraz’s pillory, but also two of Monsaraz’s most famous churches.

Firstly, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Lagoa – the largest and most imposing in the village. Secondly, and just opposite, the small Mercy Church (Igreja da Misericórdia). The latter is very small and can be visited for free.

The history of Nossa Senhora da Lagoa Church is quite interesting, as it was destroyed during an outbreak of the black plague because the previous church didn’t have enough space to bury the local population. The current building dates from the 16th century and is in the Renaissance style.

In fact, this square is full of surprises. Also, take the opportunity to visit the Fresco Museum. As well as learning a little more about the history of Monsaraz, a visit to the Fresco Museum is worthwhile for another reason. There you can see the fresco of the Good and Bad Judge, painted at the end of the 15th century and only discovered in 1958.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket for the Fresco Museum is just 1€ and also includes a visit to the House of the Inquisition. Opening hours are from 9.30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm from April to September and from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 2.30 pm to 5 pm in all other months. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. More information here.

Although the village of Monsaraz is incredible on its own, there are several things you can visit in its surroundings and combine with a visit to this historic village. It’s difficult to combine a visit to the village with everything I’m going to mention below, but it’s possible to combine it with 2 or 3 other things, for example.

Monsaraz River Beach (Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz) is an excellent addition to any tour of this region in the warmer months. The beach is just an 8-minute drive from the village and has excellent facilities (e.g. lifeguard, bar/restaurant, umbrellas).

Xerez Cromlech is another excellent option to visit on the outskirts of Monsaraz. It’s less than a 5 minutes drive from the centre of the village and can be seen very quickly.

This cromlech consists of 50 granite menhirs between 1.2 and 1.5 meters high. It was discovered in 1969 and is estimated to have been built between the early 4th and mid-3rd millennia BC.

If you’re a fan of megalithic monuments, the good news is that there are quite a few in the region. Some examples include the two dolmens at Olival da Pega, the Bulhoa Menhir and the Outeiro Menhir.

Reguengos de Monsaraz is the seat of the municipality in which the village of Monsaraz is located. There you’ll find a more urban atmosphere, very different from the one you’ll find inside the walls of Monsaraz.

Although, in my opinion, it isn’t as interesting as a visit to the village of Monsaraz, Reguengos de Monsaraz still has some points of interest that may be worthwhile. I would highlight Liberty Square (Praça de Liberdade), where you can visit St. Anthony’s Church (Igreja de Santo António).

Other attractions in Reguengos de Monsaraz include:

• Bullring
• St. Anthony’s Square (Praça de Santo António)
• Public Garden (Jardim Público)
• Alentejo Wool Factory

A few minutes’ drive from Monsaraz village is Portugal’s largest pottery centre. São Pedro do Corval is known for its community of pottery artisans.

Driving along the main road in São Pedro do Corval, you’ll find several stores selling ceramic products, most of them handmade. It’s a worthwhile stop! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a souvenir to remember this trip later on 🥰.

Relatively close to Monsaraz, it is also possible to find some wine-producing vineyards. So, an excellent activity to add to your visit to Monsaraz is a wine tasting at one of these wineries. These are some of the estates that have wine tastings and are located relatively close to Monsaraz:

• Herdade do Esporão – this is the best-known near Monsaraz
• CARMIM – Cooperativa Agrícola de Reguengos de Monsaraz
• Adega José da Fonseca
• São Lourenço do Barrocal
• Casa Agrícola Santana Ramalho

And because Alentejo is renowned not only for its wines but also for its food, another interesting activity you can do near Monsaraz is olive oil tasting.

Herdade do Esporão also specializes in olive oil tastings. Besides the tasting experience, a visit to this estate’s mill includes an explanation of the olive oil production process, which is so typical of Portuguese and, more specifically, Alentejo cuisine. Find out more here.

And to finish off my list of suggested places to visit near Monsaraz, I have to mention one of the most special places – Alqueva. Alqueva is the largest artificial lake in Europe and results from the construction of the Alqueva dam.

There are many activities you can do on the lake created by the Alqueva dam. If nothing else, you can simply go near the dam to enjoy the views. But I must confess that this is not my favourite thing to do there.

One of the activities I recommend most in the warmer months is a kayak tour on the Alqueva Lake. I particularly recommend Alentejo Break services, which are quite amazing.

On the two-hour tour I did with them, as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery and swimming in the lake, I learned more about the history of the dam’s construction and the impact it had on the surrounding towns. But kayaking isn’t the only water sport available on the Alqueva – you can find out more on the Marina da Amieira website.

For a more complete, full-day activity, you can take a look at this tour, which includes a boat trip on the Alqueva, a visit to wine-producing estates and even lunch, among other things.

If you’re not so adventurous or simply not up for it, it’s also possible to take boat trips on the Alqueva, departing from the Amieira Marina. You can find more details here.

Finally, what if I told you you can do some stargazing near Monsaraz? The Alqueva was the first destination in the world to receive the Starlight Tourism Destination certification. As such, one of the best activities in Alqueva is solar and astronomical observation at the Dark Sky Alqueva Observatory. Although I haven’t (yet!) tried it myself, it sounds like a memorable experience.

Truth be told: it’s hard to find not-so-great food in Alentejo! In my opinion, Alentejo is one of the best places to taste traditional Portuguese food.

On my recent visit to Monsaraz, I had the opportunity to try a restaurant that is located outside the village walls, but quite close by car. Sem-Fim restaurant is housed in an old olive oil mill. In fact, the old machines from the mill are still part of the restaurant’s decor.

The food is well served and very tasty. I tried the stewed bull and deer and, for dessert, bolo rançoso, which was delicious.

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