A lot of people come to Evora just for a day trip from Lisbon. That is such a shame, and they are missing out on so much in Evora and the Alentejo region. There are a lot of things to do in Evora city itself, much more than you can do in a day, and then there are so many beautiful and fascinating places to visit in the region too. If you are wondering where to stay in Evora Portugal, congratulations! You’ve made the first step and decided to spend at least one night here. You should spend at least two. Whether you are a budget traveller or simply want to experience the hospitality and friendliness of the people of Evora, you can’t go wrong with the Heaven Inn Hostel Evora. One of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in, Heaven Inn feels much more like a boutique hotel in Evora than a hostel!
I enjoyed a complimentary stay at Heaven Inn Hostel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and the fact I loved the hostel clearly influenced my review!
Location of Heaven Inn Hostel Evora
The Heaven Inn is in a perfect location, very close to the Chapel of Bones in Evora. It is on a pedestrian street, and the upper floors have views of the chapel on one side, and the rooftops of Evora on the other side. It is about 15 minutes’ walk from Evora train station and 5-10 minutes to the Cathedral and Temple of Diana.
The Staff at Heaven Inn Hostel
All of the staff I met at Heaven Inn were women. I’m not sure if that was a coincidence but I love finding female-focussed businesses and all the ladies here made me feel like one of the family. From the owner Paula to the receptionists and cleaner everyone made me feel very welcome and comfortable here. The ladies on reception spoke excellent English and were quick to help with all of my questions about what to do in Evora as well as restaurant recommendations.
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Décor at the Heaven Inn Hostel Evora
Wow. This is one of the most beautiful hostels I’ve ever seen. The hostel was opened in June 2018, and everything still looks brand new. The soft furnishings in the lounge area and bedrooms are made locally, using materials, patterns and colours typical to the region. Alentejo is one of World’s top producers of cork, and the bedside tables and some light fittings were made from cork. The bathroom tiles also matched the patterns on the walls and everywhere felt bright, airy and cosy at the same time.
I also loved that there were some decorations simply there to look pretty – from dried flowers in my room to the cute pottery by the lockers. When a hostel really makes the effort to look this good, I think the guests also make an extra effort to keep it clean and tidy too!
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My Bedroom
I had a private room at the Heaven Inn, the only one at the hostel but it really did feel more like a hotel in Evora than a hostel! The room was spacious and bright, with a super comfy double bed and stylish décor like the lounge and common areas. There was a large en-suite bathroom, and glass doors opened up onto a semi-private terrace area, which was separated from the rest of the hostel terrace with planters.
There was a TV in the room, and an air-con/heater unit which was welcome on a chilly day in January! There were towels and toiletries provided, and the cleaner came in to service the room every day. It doesn’t sound like your average hostel, does it??
Shared Facilities at the Heaven Inn Hostel Evora
The hostel has several dorm rooms which vary in size. I had a look in some of the rooms and they were all spotlessly clean and well finished too with sturdy beds, lockers and similar décor as the rest of the hostel. The dorm rooms share a male and female bathroom, each of which has several showers, toilets and sinks, which are all kept spotlessly clean. There is a computer by reception which is available for guest use, as well as a compact but well-equipped kitchen so you can make your own meals if you like.
The social areas include a breakfast bar by the kitchen (mainly for eating), and a large lounge area which also has separate seating for eating or working and a large comfortable sofa. On the second floor, there is a large outdoor terrace which is lovely in the afternoon sunshine, and a pop-up bar during the summer which serves drinks and light meals, which wasn’t open when I visited in January. Although it was shady in the morning, the sun came round in the afternoon which was very pleasant for a cheeky evening glass of wine!
Breakfast & Food
Breakfast was included during my stay, and when I checked in, Ana on reception asked me to fill in a breakfast request form, where I could choose from various items to make my ideal continental breakfast, as well as what time I’d like it. I slept so well that I was late for breakfast, but it didn’t matter! Within a few minutes, my breakfast was ready – a croissant, ham, cheese, orange juice, hot chocolate and a piece of fruit. YUM! I had my breakfast in the lounge area, although in the summer I bet it would be lovely to have it out on the terrace.
Security at the Heaven Inn Hostel Evora
As a solo female traveller, sometimes I am surprised and disappointed by the security in some hostels, but not here! When I checked in, I was given an electronic key card which opened my room and the front door to the hostel. Someone was on reception 24 hours a day, and I felt very safe here. Evora is also a very safe city in general, and I had no concerns walking around by myself at night, exploring the pretty streets. Of course, still be aware of your surroundings but I’d be very surprised if you had any issues here!
What I Loved about Heaven Inn Hostel Evora
Everything! The décor is beautifully done, the location couldn’t be better, and I slept like a log. Everyone is friendly and kind, and I can honestly say this is one of (if not the best) hostels I have ever stayed in!
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Anything I didn’t like?
The only downside was how quiet the hostel was. Heaven Inn only opened in June 2018, and although they were fully booked in the summer, the winter time is very quiet. In fact, the whole city was pretty quiet during the evenings too. Unfortunately, many people choose to visit Evora on a day trip, and they don’t stay overnight here – I hope I can help change this and encourage more people to spend more time in this beautiful city! Then the hostel will be buzzing all year round! Having said that, I love to get some peace and quiet, so it wasn’t a problem for me during my stay.
Have you been to Evora in Portugal? Would you stay at this hostel in Evora? I’d love to hear what you think, please leave your comments below.
Read more about Evora:
Things to do in Evora Portugal
Visiting the Bone Chapel in Evora
Feel Inspired to Book Heaven Inn Hostel?
Great! You can book directly on the hostel website here, where you can get discounts for off-season bookings and bookings over 30 days in advance. Alternatively, you can also find Heaven Inn on Hostelworld here.
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Last updated: February 15, 2020
I’ve never stayed in a hostel but that looks like a good one. I was unfamiliar with Evora but now I may have to check it out the next time I’m in Portugal. The Bone Chapel looks similar to the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora, Czechia, and I love places like that (although they do creep me out a little). 🙂
With your private room, this hostel really looks more like a hotel! You found a gem!
For a hostel, this looks pretty nice, clean and cozy but above all, colourful. Would love to stay here as I can feel the good vibes from the post, however I near heard of the town of Evora. This would give me a reason to go there and explore it alone 🙂
Such a sweet place this is! I love it when small spaces make up for it by innovating in decor…and this is one of those examples. The breakfast looks tempting too. What else does one need in a hostel?
I love Portugal and was bummed I missed out on Evora on my last trip. I love how bright and airy the Heaven Inn Hostel is and that there is a good mix of privacy and community here.
When the worst thing you can say about a hotel is that it’s too quiet than you must have had a good stay. The decor looks super cute and they seemed really interested in helping you have a good stay. I would definitely consider staying at the Heaven Inn. (I’m not an angel but I did stay at the Heaven Inn….)