Chapel of Bones Évora Updated Entry Fees for 2026

For official information, visit Câmara Municipal de Évora.

To plan your trip, review Lonely Planet Évora Guide.

Family tickets are available for two adults and two children under eighteen years old. This special bundle costs 15.00 euros and offers great value for traveling families. You can buy these tickets at the main entrance desk inside the church. The site accepts both cash and major credit cards for all ticket purchases.

Group rates apply for parties of ten or more people visiting the chapel together. These tickets cost 5.00 euros per adult visitor during the current 2026 season. It is best to book group visits at least one week before your arrival. This ensures your group gains entry at your preferred time during the day.

Your ticket includes access to the museum and the beautiful rooftop terrace area. The terrace provides stunning views over the historic city center of ancient Évora. Check the renovated historic sites in Évora for more local landmarks to see. These sites offer a full view of the rich past of the city.

Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit

The chapel opens daily from 9:00 AM until 6:30 PM for all visitors. Doors close for a short lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM daily. Make sure to arrive before 6:00 PM for the final entry of the day. These hours remain consistent throughout the peak 2026 summer travel season in Portugal.

Mornings are usually the quietest time for a very peaceful and quiet visit. Most large tour buses arrive between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM each day. Visiting late in the afternoon also offers a much calmer and better experience. You will have more space to explore the very intricate bone displays.

Weekdays are less crowded than weekends or busy public holidays in the city. Plan your trip for a Tuesday or Wednesday if your schedule allows it. This allows you to take photos without many other tourists in your way. You can also explore best time to visit Évora historic monuments for more tips. This guide helps you avoid the largest crowds during your stay.

History and Significance of the Bone Chapel

Franciscan monks built this famous chapel during the sixteenth century in the city. They used bones from local cemeteries to save limited space for the living. The walls are covered with thousands of human skulls and bones today. This creates a powerful message about the shortness of human life on earth.

A famous inscription greets every visitor at the main chapel entrance door. It reads "We bones that are here, for yours we wait" in Portuguese. This phrase reminds everyone that life is only a temporary state for us. It is a striking example of "memento mori" art found across Portugal.

The chapel is part of the larger Church of St. Francis in Évora. Recent updates have improved the lighting and the visitor pathways for everyone. These changes make the experience more respectful and educational for all ages. You can see many new in Évora in 2026 features during your tour.

How to Reach the Chapel of Bones

The chapel is located in the heart of the historic center of Évora. You can easily walk there from the famous Giraldo Square in minutes. Most hotels in the city are within a short ten-minute walk away. Follow the signs for "Capela dos Ossos" to find the main entrance.

If you arrive by train, the station is located very near the center. A taxi or ride-share takes five minutes to reach the historic church. You can also take a local bus from the station every hour. Check the Comboios de Portugal (CP) website for the latest train schedules.

Driving to Évora is a popular choice for many travelers from Lisbon. The journey takes about ninety minutes on the modern A6 highway today. Park your car in the large lots outside the old city walls. Walking inside the walls is much easier than driving on narrow streets.