Elvas is a city in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Get in

By bus

1 Terminal Rodoviário de Elvas, Rua do Património 1. Just over 1 hour from Évora (11.90€ / 10.00€ students) and around 3 hours from Lisbon (17.60€ / 14.80€ students). (updated Feb 2019)

By train

Elvas train station is 3 km outside the city centre. There is one daily train connection from Lisbon by changing at Entroncamento with a total journey time of 4:30 hours (15.60€). The train continues to Badajoz, Spain.

By car

It's 200 km from Lisbon.

Get around

All sights inside the city walls can be easily reached on foot.

See

Elvas is very close to Badajoz, Spain and has been fortified at different times. That makes it worth while to wander round looking at the work of different periods.

The Amoreira aqueduct.

• 1 Amoreira Aqueduct (Aqueduto da Amoreira). The 16th-century aqueduct is a great architectural view - five stories in parts - and it's staggering to see how narrow was its channel. Free. (updated Feb 2019)
• 2 Castle of Elvas (Castelo de Elvas), Rua da Parada do Castelo 4-8, ☏ +351 268 626 403. Tu–Sa 09:00–18:00. Fortified castle for defense purposes. Provides panoramic views of the city and surroundings. (updated Feb 2019)
• 3 Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort (Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça), Alcáçova (3 km uphill from the city centre), ☏ +351 268 625 228. Tu–Su 10:00–17:00. One of the two fortresses outside the city, with multiple layers of defensive walls. Located on a large hill it provides great views back to Elvas and over to Spain, especially from the balcony of the governor's palace. 5€ (2.50€ reduced). (updated Feb 2019)
• 4 Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção), Praça da República. Manueline-style cathedral on the main square. (updated Feb 2019)
• 5 Santa Luzia Fort (Forte de Santa Luzia) (1 km from the city centre), ☏ +351 268 628 357. Tu 13:00–17:00, W–Su 10:00–17:00. One of the two fortresses outside the city walls. (updated Feb 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Guest house Garcia de Orta, Avenida de Garcia da Orta 3A, ☏ +351 96 880 9512, ✉ reservas@rgarciadeorta.com. (updated Feb 2019)
• 2 SL Hotel Santa Luzia, Avenida de Badajoz (Assunção), ☏ +351 268 637 470, +351 268 637 472, fax: +351 268 622 127, ✉ reservas@slhotel-elvas.pt. (updated Feb 2019)
• 3 Hotel Dom Luis Elvas, Avenida de Badajoz, ☏ +351 268 636 710, ✉ geral@hoteldluis-elvas.com. 85 rooms with private bathrooms. Garden, outdoor swimming pool, bar with terrace, 24-Hour front desk, living room, daily newspapers (updated Feb 2019)
• Camping Os Anjos (campismo rural), Estrada da senhora da saude (20 km from Elvas), ☏ +351 965236625, ✉ info@campingosanjos.com. First campsite in Portugal, over the Spanish border, 14 km from Badajoz. (updated Aug 2020)

Go next

Évora, Portalegre, Campo Maior, Vila Viçosa, Estremoz, Castelo de Vide, Marvão, and Badajoz in Spain.