A Day Trip to Batalha, Portugal

Batalha is a town in Central Portugal. It can be reached by car from Lisbon, Portugal, in around one and a half hours by taking A1 to A15. Porto, Portugal, is only two hours away by car. Tourists may stop in Batalha when traveling between Lisbon and Porto to experience its rich history and well-known monastery. Other worthwhile destinations within an hour of Batalha are Obidos and Nazare. Batalha is an excellent stopover when traveling between destinations in and around Central Portugal.

Tourists often visit Batalha to experience the UNESCO World Heritage site, Batalha Monastery. Officially known as the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria), Batalha Monastery was completed in the 1500s. Its exterior Gothic architecture is impressive, along with the interior chapels housing the tombs of past Portuguese royalty.

Batalha Monastery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (6:30 p.m. between April and mid-October), and tickets start at €10. Senior citizens, young adults aged 13-24, and people with disabilities can receive a 50% discount on the ticket price. Additionally, children 12 and under enter free of charge. Visitors should allot between one and two hours to fully explore Batalha Monastery. Arriving in the morning is ideal because there is a fantastic lunch spot only a few steps away.

Restaurante Burro Velho is a Portuguese restaurant located next to Batalha Monastery. Burro Velho offers an impressive menu featuring fresh fish, steak, and other Portuguese fare. They also have a full bar of wine, beer, and cocktails. Reservations are encouraged as it can get quite busy during lunchtime, which runs from noon to 3 p.m. Monday - Saturday (Burro Velho is closed on Sundays). You will not be disappointed in penciling in Burro Velho as your restaurant of choice during a day trip to Batalha.

After lunch, another destination worth visiting is only a three-minute walk from Burro Velho. Batalha has a museum called Batalha Municipal Community Museum (MCCB) or Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha. MCCB focuses on the history of Batalha, with exhibits spanning from before the prehistoric era to the present day. You can learn about the first humans roaming around Batalha, the construction of the Batalha Monastery, and much more at MCCB. Be sure to visit MCCB Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Note that MCCB is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. during days of operation. 

In summary, Batalha is a fantastic place to visit in Central Portugal. While Batalha only has a few noteworthy places to visit, it can provide a full day of activities. Here is a summary of the highlighted places to visit for a memorable time in Batalha.

​Day Trip to Batalha Itinerary

Morning - ​Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria)

Lunch - Restaurante Burro Velho

Afternoon - Batalha Municipal Community Museum MCCB (Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha)


For more Portugal travel information, check out my travel guide on how to skip the line at Livraria Lello.