Alentejo

The only standalone guide to Portugal's Alentejo region

Discover the Alentejo—Portugal's answer to Andalusia, but refreshingly free from crowds. This emerging region is a landscape of Moorish monuments, sleepy villages, and Crusader castles, where glorious sweeps of white sand beaches give way to caramel-coloured sandstone cliffs. Medieval towns and villages seem frozen in time, with sugar-cube houses tumbling down hillsides beneath imposing fortresses. Megalithic monuments dot the rolling countryside among olive groves, orange trees, and ancient cork oaks, while wild boar and lynx roam the extensive forests and heathlands.

Whether you're seeking an idyllic rural retreat, a beachside boutique hotel, or a romantic stay in a converted palace, this thoroughly updated second edition provides everything you need. The author has meticulously chosen and reviewed restaurants, wines, cafés, and cultural sights, and added new sections on castle towns, expanded coverage of lesser-known gems like Alandroal and Juromenha, and fresh features on everything from wild flowers to Portuguese grape varieties. More hotels and tours have been added throughout, especially around Évora, Monsaraz, and Marvão.

Expert author Alex Robinson, a fluent Portuguese speaker who has been visiting and photographing Portugal for over 20 years, has crafted the ideal companion for any traveller—whether you're a hiker, wine and food lover, history enthusiast, weekend visitor, or house hunter. Complete with rich background on the region's colourful past and captivating present, this guide caters to all ages and budgets.