3 Things You Must do on a Day Trip to Tomar, Portugal

A day trip to Tomar from Lisbon takes you back in time to the 12th century. Tomar was the seat of the Knights Templar in Portugal. 

The templars brought their influence and wealth to the area. There’s more to do than visit the convent. This post will walk you through everything you need to know!

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Is Tomar worth visiting?

There are so many great day trips from Lisbon. We spent more time on day trips near the city than in the city!

Tomar struck our interest because of the connection with the Knights Templar. They are this mysterious group we’d heard of but didn’t know much about.

In addition to the convent/castle, the city is a fun one to walk around. It’s small enough to explore in a day but definitely worth exploring!

Who Were the Knights Templar?

Turns out, they were the Knights of the Crusade. This wealthy group of fighters fought the “Holy Wars.”

They were also financially savvy and started a bank-like system.

The Templars used their wealth to build residences like this convent/castle.

The order was started in the 11th century and lasted about 200 years.

When the rest of the Templars fell, the Portuguese King kept his version around with a new name, the Order of Christ, so he could hold on to their property and wealth.

Getting there

Tomar is 130 km (about 80 miles) from Lisbon.

Getting there is easy, which is part of what makes it a great day trip from Lisbon.

We arrived by train around 12 p.m. and left around 4 p.m. We traveled fast and were looking for a shorter day trip.

We weren’t as interested in the aqueduct mentioned later. We had plenty of time to see the other sites of Tomar without feeling rushed. If you want to see the aqueduct, you’ll need more time. On your trip, take an earlier train and spend more time in the city.

Getting there by train

Traveling by train is my favorite. The trip from Lisbon to Tomar by train is easy. Hop on the R4430 train at the Lisboa – Santa Apolonia station.

It will take 2 hours. This a great rest day when your feet and legs are tired from all of the hills in Lisbon.

Get there by car

The drive from Lisbon to Tomar will take an hour and a half. If you’re renting a car and comfortable with the parking situations in smaller towns, it would be an easy drive straight up the E1 to A23.

Take a tour

For those who want to avoid planning their own trip and prefer to ride along, check out a tour of the city. An added bonus is a guide to give you insight into the Templars on your trip.

Things to do in Tomar

These are things we loved in Tomar but not necessarily in order from best to worst. The convent is definitely the most significant draw. But don’t start your visit there.

1- Church Santa Maria do Olival

You can start the day by heading up to the Convent of the Knights Templar, but the Santa Maria do Olival is a 15-minute walk from the train station. You’ll cross the Nabão River on the way, making it a relatively picturesque walk through the newer part of an old city.

The church was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century. It served as the burial ground for the Knights and the order.

The facade of the church is beautiful. There was a wedding on the day we went, so we didn’t venture in, but you should! There is a graveled area at the front of the church. From here, look back toward the convent for a great photo opportunity.

2- Serpa Pinto and Praça República

If you go to the church before the convent, it will be about a 20-minute walk. If not, it is a 15-minute walk from the train station. Coming from the church, cross the Nabão River using the Ponte Velha.

It’s a beautiful bridge, but it will also take you into the old town via a street with some photo ops, the Serpa Pinto.

When you make it to Praça da República spend a few minutes to take in the scene. It’s a beautiful square lined with restaurants. The most amazing part is the black and white checkerboard mosaic that covers the ground of the entire plaza.

If you didn’t bring lunch or grab lunch at the Bio grocery store, look for a restaurant in the area. Visiting the convent will take a couple of hours, and you don’t want to be hungry during your visit!

3- Convento de Cristo

You’ll notice when you’re in the Praça da República that you are at the bottom of a hill, and the convent is at the very top of it. There are tuk-tuks in the square if you want a ride up the hill. We were silly cheapos and didn’t do this. It was hot, and I regretted it the whole way up. The hike isn’t terrible but consider what you’d like to do. Don’t be afraid to take the tuk-tuk!

When looking at tickets, you visit the Convent of the Knights Templar. The convent is the castle. Don’t be thrown off. For this trip, the words convent and castle mean the same thing. 

The convent is the big draw in the city and is open most days from 9:00 a.m. The tickets are €6.

The Castle

The castle is part of the tour of the convent. The building started as a humble building and was built into its current convent. From the rest of the city, the building will look much more like a castle than any convent or church you’ve ever seen.

The Church

I knew the building was going to have a religious component. I did not expect to see the ornate church inside the castle! The room is relatively small but very tall. It is decorated with biblical scenes and images of saints and angels. A massive altar will take your breath away in the middle of the room. It’s so big and the room so small that photos can’t do it justice.

The Cloisters

There are a series of cloisters in the convent. You’ll walk around them as you make your way around on your tour. Citrus trees and the Knights Templar cross decorate the courtyards with white walls and some blue azulejo tiles along the interiors.

The Chapterhouse window

One of the things to look out for is the Chapterhouse Window. There were originally three of these windows, but this is the only ornate one remaining. It was designed to represent the influence and power of the order. It’s easy to walk by the window and not recognize what it is, even though it is undoubtedly one of the more ornate parts of the castle.

The Living Area

I didn’t see this part of the convent listed on any of the itineraries I saw, but it was one of my favorite parts! You can see the convent’s kitchens, dormitory, and dining area. The kitchen is massive, and the dining tables seem to go on forever. There isn’t much of a crowd, so you may even be lucky enough to get a whole video with no one else in it!

Orange Festival

We happened to visit during the Tomar Orange Festival. The courtyard was decorated in oranges, and there were booths set up by local groups. They were selling orange juice, baked goods, and orange-themed items. People dressed up as the Knights Templar with music and some dancing too!

The festival is in April. If you get a chance, grab a fresh squeezed orange juice and support a local school group.

Other things you can do in Tomar

This hits the highlights in Tomar, but there are several ways to make your day trip to Tomar longer or shorter, depending on your time and how you feel.

Consider getting a tuk-tuk tour out to the Acueducto de Los Pegões. This old Roman aqueduct is in excellent condition, and you can walk on it! If we were adding one thing to our trip, this would’ve been it.

You’ll pass 7 Hills National Park (Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes) on your walk from the castle to the train station. If you’re not trying to make a train, take some time to wander around the gardens.

Alternatively, you can walk/hike in the gardens near the convent.

If the day isn’t too warm, take a stroll along the Nabão River. There are bridges and parks along part of the way.

Gluten-Free Travelers

There isn’t a lot for you in Tomar in the gluten-free variety (definitely not like the options in Lisbon). Most places had some idea, and I could get a more traditional meal of fish and vegetables and be pretty safe. There is a store near the church Santa Maria do Olival called Bio Thomar Grocery Store. They have smoothies and a few options that could work for you too. The chef was out when we visited, so I snagged a popsicle.

Day trips are one of the best parts of traveling in Europe, and the day trip to Tomar was no exception. You get to experience something new and don’t have to change hotels!

Other Day Trips From Lisbon

Sintra – Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and more

Portugal’s Golden Palace in Mafra

Portugal’s Chapel of Bones in Évora (bonus of a great gluten-free restaurant)

If you’re heading to Porto I’ve got you covered there too!