Lake Alqueva, in the heart of the dark-sky reserve

Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0

What to do · Monsaraz

Stargazing at the Cumeada Dark Sky observatory

Astronomy · 1 h 15 · Telescopes under one of the darkest skies in Europe · From €25, under-7s free

InformationFrom €25 per person

From: €25 per person
Duration: 1 h 15
Season: All year, Tuesday to Saturday, by reservation
Who it's for: From age 8 with attention; under-7s free

The official Dark Sky Alqueva observatory is in the village of Cumeada, about 20 minutes from Monsaraz. The guided session begins an hour after sunset, explains that night's sky and carries on with telescopes: constellations, nebulae, clusters, galaxies and planets. Book on arrival and check the moon: with a full moon the Milky Way cannot be seen. Bring a coat even in summer.

As a familyWith teenagers

Who runs it

Dark Sky AlquevaGuided night observation at the Cumeada observatory From €25 per person · 1 h 15 · Tuesday to Saturday; €30 from May to September and €25 from October to April Visit their website

Directions See all of Monsaraz

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

A meat dish with a leaf salad, to which the sauce is added at the table

Herdade do Esporão restaurant

Winery · Reguengos de Monsaraz · €€€€

What to order: one of the two menus with the house wine pairing, and book the cellar visit the same day.

Monsaraz from the air, the walled village on the hill where the restaurant stands, with the Alqueva reservoir behind

Sabores de Monsaraz

Restaurant · Monsaraz · €€€€

What to order: the house roast lamb, and to start Alentejo cheese and Iberian pork paio.

To stay nearby

The courtyard of the monte, with ivy-covered walls

São Lourenço do Barrocal

Agricultural estate · Rooms and cottages · Spa and pool · Views of Monsaraz

Why we like it: A hotel on an Alentejo estate with a winery, at the foot of Monsaraz: rooms in the old farm houses, cottages, spa, pool and cooking with its own produce.

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The pool among palm trees and sun loungers, with the house behind

Monte Alerta

At the foot of Monsaraz · Gardens and lake · Pool from May to October · Regional breakfast

Why we like it: Rural guesthouse at the foot of the Monsaraz hill, 2 km from the Alqueva Nautical Centre, with gardens, a pool from May to October and a breakfast of local produce.

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More to do nearby

Itineraries

Features in these plans

Itinerary · 1 night A Stargazing Night in Monsaraz, an Hour and a Half from Badajoz Monsaraz · 5 stops

From €25 per person
Where to buy tickets

Book

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/alentejo/monsaraz/things-to-do/alqueva-stargazing