6 Best Things to Do in Monsaraz, Portugal

In the south-east of Portugal, right up against the Spanish border, sits one of the country’s best-kept secrets. The white village of Monsaraz crowns a hilltop and takes you straight back in time. Bumpy cobbled lanes, an ancient castle, whitewashed houses, a prehistoric stone circle and huge views over the surrounding countryside make it look like a postcard come to life. Read on for our tips and the best things to do in Monsaraz.

Is Monsaraz worth visiting?

Monsaraz is tiny and you’ll have seen it in a few hours, but it’s one of the prettiest villages you’ll find in Portugal. It sits on a hilltop inside old town walls with a medieval castle, looking out over an enormous reservoir. Add the views over the water and the hills, and you’ll see why it deserves a spot on your route.

Where is Monsaraz?

Monsaraz is in the Alentejo, one of Portugal’s loveliest regions, between Lisbon and the Algarve. Right on the Spanish border lies Lago do Alqueva, a gigantic reservoir, and Monsaraz stands on its edge. The capital of the Alentejo, the UNESCO-listed city of Évora, is only about 45 minutes away by car.

The easiest way to visit Monsaraz is by rental car. Driving inside the walls is tricky and only locals are allowed in with their cars, but you can easily park on the edge of the village, just outside the walls.

→ Discover the 10 best things to do in Évora

White houses of Monsaraz seen through a gate

White houses and church tower in Monsaraz

Where to stay in Monsaraz?

Monsaraz works fine as a day trip from Évora, but a night in the village is well worth it. Once the day-trippers have gone, you’ll have the lanes almost to yourself, and if you stay over you can also join a stargazing session nearby. You won’t find big hotels or chains here, just small places in the old houses inside the walls.

#1 Casa da Muralha is, as the name suggests, built right against the old town wall. You sleep inside the walls and it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the castle.

#2 Dom Nuno by Horta da Moura is a small guesthouse in the middle of the village, a great choice if you want to stroll the empty lanes in the evening and early morning.

#3 Casa Dona Antonia is a traditional house on the main street with a handful of rooms. A handy base for an evening under the stars.

The best things to do in Monsaraz

#1 The medieval castle

You can spot the Castelo de Monsaraz from miles away. So close to the Spanish border, Monsaraz was turned into a fortress town in the Middle Ages, with an impressive castle on the highest point. Time hasn’t been gentle with the old fort, but part of it still stands on the edge of the village. It’s free to visit and you can walk along the old castle walls.

#2 Wander the old streets

In a picture-perfect place like Monsaraz, just wandering the streets may sound like a cliché, but it’s the best advice we can give you. The village is tiny, so you won’t need hours, but do take your time. The whitewashed houses and old cobbled lanes whisk you straight back to the Middle Ages. If it weren’t for the street lights and the odd parked car, you’d think time had stood still here.

#3 The views

Perched on its hilltop, Monsaraz has an incredible view over the surrounding area. From the castle and the edges of the village you look out over green hills with olive groves and vineyards. This is also where Lake Alqueva looks its best. The car parks in particular give you a great view of the water, the little islands, the bridges and the beaches. Our favourite photo spot is through one of the four gates in the old town wall, where the old stones frame the landscape.

#4 Portugal’s answer to Stonehenge: the Cromeleque do Xerez

At the foot of the hill below Monsaraz you’ll find one of the region’s more mysterious spots. Here stands a prehistoric stone circle, Portugal’s own version of Stonehenge. It’s thought to be at least 6,000 years old, but nobody knows exactly why it was built. It’s made up of dozens of stones, with the biggest one in the middle. The stones aren’t in their original spot, by the way: that site disappeared under water when the Alqueva dam was built, so the circle was moved stone by stone.

Cromeleque do Xerez stone circle near Monsaraz

#5 Lago do Alqueva

Visiting in summer? It can get seriously hot on this hilltop. You can cool off in Lago do Alqueva, the largest reservoir in Western Europe, which has a few beaches close to Monsaraz. Look up Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz on the map and pack your swimming things. You can also rent a kayak and explore the lake from the water.

We were there in winter. It was warm for the time of year, but not warm enough to go in, so we mostly admired the lake from above.

#6 Stargazing in the Dark Sky reserve

Once the sun goes down, Monsaraz puts on a second show. In 2011 the area around Lake Alqueva became the world’s first Starlight Tourism Destination, and under the name Dark Sky Alqueva it’s one of the best places in Europe for stargazing. There’s hardly any light pollution and the sky is clear for most of the year.

Want to do more than just gaze up from the town walls? At the Observatório do Lago Alqueva near Monsaraz and at the official Dark Sky observatory in the village of Cumeada, a guide takes you along the telescopes. You’ll learn to recognise the constellations and, with a bit of luck, see planets, nebulae and distant galaxies.

Written by Maartje

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