Alentejo
Cork oaks, whitewashed villages, slow food and big skies
Alentejo covers about a third of mainland Portugal and is its quietest region: wheat plains, cork oak and olive groves, walled towns and a long, empty Atlantic coast. Évora’s historic centre and the garrison town of Elvas are World Heritage sites.
The Alqueva reservoir area is known for very dark night skies, and Alentejo wines (reds especially) are widely exported.
What to eat and drink
Açorda, migas, pork with clams (porco à alentejana), sheep’s cheese
When to go
Spring for green fields; summers are very hot inland
Must-see places
Évora
Walled city with a Roman temple and a chapel of bones; the historic centre is World Heritage.
UNESCOElvas
A star-shaped border fortress town, World Heritage.
UNESCOMonsaraz & Alqueva
A hill-top walled village over the Alqueva reservoir, an area known for its dark night skies.
Costa Vicentina
Wild Atlantic cliffs and beaches in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Sources: Visit Portugal · UNESCO · checked 2026-11-06