Free walking tours in Tomar and what to see

Must-sees

Tomar was the seat of the Templars in Portugal and later of the Order of Christ, and its great monument recalls it: the Convent of Christ, at the top of the castle, a World Heritage Site. Inside, the highlights are the charola, the octagonal Templar rotunda, and the famous Manueline window of the chapter house, covered in ropes, corals and maritime symbols.

Below, the old town is laid out in straight streets around Republic square, with the Church of São João Baptista. By the Nabão river there are gardens, the Mouchão island with its water wheel and an old 15th-century synagogue, one of the best preserved in the country.

Free tours and guided visits

The offer in Tomar is small: there is a guided tour of the town that explains the Templar history and takes you to the Convent of Christ. The old town is easy to explore on your own.

Many day trips from Lisbon or Fátima include Tomar along with Batalha and Alcobaça. The Tabuleiros festival, every four years, fills the town with processions carrying trays of bread and flowers.

How long to spend

One day is enough: the morning for the Convent of Christ, which deserves at least two hours, and the afternoon for the old town, the synagogue and the walk along the Nabão. If you sleep here, you can combine it with Fátima, half an hour away, or with Almourol Castle, on an island in the Tagus.

Where to stay

The old town and the banks of the Nabão are the most pleasant areas: small hotels, restaurants and everything on foot. Going up to the convent is a climb of about twenty minutes. In the surroundings, by the Castelo do Bode reservoir, there are places to stay with a pool and water views, quieter and with a car.