ÉVORA - Portugal - page 192

Taxis: Cabs wait on the main square (€3.90 minimum for 2.5 miles—4 kilometers—likely
the farthest you'd go in compact Évora).
Shuttle Bus: The blue line on the streets marks the route of the green-and-white Trevo
shuttle bus that circles through the town, offering tired locals a convenient ride and
tourists easy transport to and from the parking lots outside the walls. Hop on for a
city joyride (€1, they stop for anyone who waves).
Fado Entertainment: Fado is not as popular here as it is in Lisbon or Coimbra. The re-
commended Adega Típica Bota Alta has live fado music on Friday and Saturday
evenings. The TI can suggest other places to hear fado.
Fun Ice-Cream Stop: Gelateria Zoka, a local favorite for ice cream, has tables on a
charming and quiet square just 100 yards off the main square, Praça do Giraldo
(Largo de S. Vicente, Rua Miguel Bombarda 14, tel. [phone]).
Tours in Évora
WalkingTour —A group of local guides offer excellent two-hour city walks every morn-
ing, departing from the TI at 10:00 (€12, 2-person minimum, call ahead to confirm the
tour will run, mobile [phone], [e-mail] ). The tour hits the sights
already described in this chapter, but it's a great opportunity to connect with a local and
enliven your visit. While the regular tour departs at 10:00, they are also happy to schedule
tours at other times (€24, 2-person minimum).
Bus Tours —A bus tour is a good option if you want to see the prehistoric sights near
Évora, since getting there by public transport is nearly impossible. Ebora Megalithica
GuidedTours runs an interesting daily minivan tour, led by archaeologists, to four mega-
lithic sites: Cromeleque dos Almendres, the Zambujeiro burial mound, the standing stone
of Menir dos Almendres, and Alto de São Bento (€25/half-day, morning and afternoon
departures; reserve a day ahead through the TI, at most hotels, by phone, or via email; tel.
964-808-337, www.eboramegalithica.com , [e-mail] ) .
RSI offers several half-day bus and minivan tours into the surrounding countryside.
Their “Megalithic Circuit Tour” visits the main prehistoric sights, including Cromeleque
dos Almendres (€33/half-day, 2-person minimum, discounts for larger groups, pick up
flyer at TI, smart to reserve a day ahead, mobile [phone], www.rsi-viagens.com ,
[e-mail] ).
Local Guides —Professor Libânio Murteira Reis —who has a passion for his native
Alentejo region and loves to share it with others—organizes town and regional tours;
he'll even take you around in his car (€80/half-day, €150/day, car tours start at €180/
day—price varies with distance, tel. [phone], best to contact via email at
[e-mail] ).