Best City Center Stays in Évora

Convento do Espinheiro occupies a renovated 15th-century convent near Évora, surrounded by 80,000 m² of gardens, and I find it unusually welcoming to families for a 5-star historic hotel. Children have space to roam outdoors, and there are both indoor and outdoor pools, so swimming works in any season. A tennis court adds an activity for older children, while parents can use the spa or the piano bar. Pets are accepted too. It suits families who want history and calm rather than a beach.

Evora Olive Hotel is in central Évora and has both an outdoor and an indoor pool, so children can swim whatever the weather. Free private parking on site is a real help in a walled city where driving is tricky. The restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine, and the spa gives parents time off. Rooms are contemporary and minimalist. A 9.0 rating across more than 4,300 reviews is excellent, and I would choose it for a family stay in Évora.

M'AR De AR Muralhas sits in Évora's historic centre, with an outdoor pool in a large garden right beside the medieval walls. It is one of the few hotels in the city with a Kids Club, and family rooms make sharing easy. The spa gives parents a break after a morning among the UNESCO-listed streets. An 8.8 rating across more than 3,700 reviews is strong, and for families visiting Évora, this is the hotel I would book first.

Moov Hotel Évora is an eco-friendly two-star housed in a former bullring in the city centre. The interiors are minimalist, with an interior courtyard, and the rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned with LCD TVs. A breakfast buffet is served daily, Wi-Fi is free, and accessible rooms are available. Guests rate it 8.8 across more than 3,500 reviews. Facilities beyond breakfast are limited, so the appeal is the building and the central location.

Vitoria Stone Hotel is 600 metres from the Capela dos Ossos, so families can walk into historic Évora and come back for a swim in the pool. Every room has a private balcony, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, which helps in the Alentejo heat. The rooftop bar and terrace look over the city, and the spa gives parents a break. An 8.8 rating across more than 3,800 reviews is strong, and I would book it for a family stay in Évora.

Noble House Essence Évora blends history and Alentejo tradition with modern comfort, in the centre of Évora's old town. It has a spa, is family-friendly and welcomes pets. Rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars and safes, and some look over the Alentejo plains. Breakfast with regional products is served in a vaulted room or on the terrace. Guests rate it 8.7 across more than 2,500 reviews.

I would suggest the Pousada Convento de Évora to families who like staying somewhere with history. It occupies a renovated convent between the Gothic cathedral and the Temple of Diana, and the rooms are former monk cells, updated with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. A courtyard swimming pool and a spa are on site. Guests rate it 8.5 across 756 reviews, a good score for a five-star.

Vila Galé Évora is a four-star hotel a short walk from Évora's medieval walls. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a complete spa, a fitness centre and a restaurant serving regional dishes. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, and the hotel is family-friendly. Guests rate it 8.5 across more than 3,200 reviews. It suits visitors who want to explore the historic city by day and return to pools and a spa.

The Lince Ecorkhotel Évora stands out for its cork-clad main building, and I recommend it to families for its suites. Each one has a living area, a private patio, air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, so children have room to play and parents a place to sit outside. The spa has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and a Turkish bath, which makes Évora's summer heat easier to handle. Guests score it 8.4 out of 10 across 1,805 reviews.

Limehome Evora Largo dos Penedos gives families the space of an apartment with a few hotel comforts. Each unit has a full kitchen, a washing machine, a dishwasher and its own terrace or patio, which makes longer stays with children much easier. The outdoor pool is open all year, and the Cathedral of Évora and the Chapel of Bones are both less than a kilometre away. Guests rate it 8.3 out of 10 across 638 reviews, a good result for an aparthotel.

Hotel Solar de Monfalim occupies a 16th-century Renaissance palace in Évora's historic centre, and I like it for families who want to walk to the city's main landmarks. Rooms are comfortable with private bathrooms, and two terraces with views give everyone somewhere to sit outside. A traditional buffet breakfast is served daily, and free WiFi covers the public areas. There is no pool listed, so it suits families with children who enjoy history and walking more than resort days. Guests rate it 8.1.