Convent of Christ and the Templars' Charola
2 h 30Everyone; teenagers interested in the TemplarsAll year
Visit · 2–3 h · World Heritage · Templar Charola
From €15
See the activity
Stay1–2 nights
AccessTrain or car from Lisbon, about 2 hrs
Must-doConvent of Christ
Next Festa dos Tabuleiros3 – 12 Jul 2027
What to do
What to do in Tomar
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Festa dos Tabuleiros, 3 to 12 July 2027
4 hEveryone; very crowded3 – 12 July 2027; the next, in 2031
Festival · Several days · 3 – 12 July 2027 · Free
Almourol Castle, on an island in the Tagus
1 hEveryoneAll year, if the river allows; break from 13:00 to 14:30
A Templar castle from 1171 on an islet in the Tagus, 25 km from Tomar, reached by boat with no booking. Admission €4; free up to age 6.
From €4
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Tomar, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Tomar
Spring and autumn for strolling without heat round the convent and the river. July is hot, but in 2027 it brings the Festa dos Tabuleiros, from the 3rd to the 12th. In winter there are very few people.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Tomar your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Tomar by car, with Almourol and Castelo de Bode
Tomar's centre is seen on foot, but the best of the surroundings needs a car: the Pegões aqueduct, Almourol castle on the Tagus, the Castelo de Bode reservoir and the medieval banquet of the Taverna Antiqua, on the outskirts.
60–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel dos Templários, beside the…
- Getting aroundFrom Lisbon, the A1 and…
- Where to eatTaverna Antiqua, in Madalena, from…
- ServicesBarcaça Atividades Náuticas, boat trips…
Where to stay
- Hotel dos Templários, beside the Nabão, with private parking
- Thomar Story, in the centre; ask where to park
Getting around
- From Lisbon, the A1 and A13, a little over an hour and a half
- Leave the car by the river and walk into the old town
- Almourol, about 25 km; Castelo de Bode, about 20 minutes
Where to eat
- Taverna Antiqua, in Madalena, from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime
- O Praça, on the main square, every day
Services
- Barcaça Atividades Náuticas, boat trips at Castelo de Bode
By train from Lisbon and on foot around Tomar
Tomar is the end of the line of a direct CP train from Lisbon, of about two hours, and its centre is flat and small: from the station you go on foot to the old town, the synagogue and the river, and the Convent of Christ is climbed in about fifteen minutes. Without a car you miss Almourol and Castelo de Bode, except by taxi.
55–110 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel República, on Praça da…
- Getting aroundDirect CP train from Lisbon…
- Where to eatO Praça, on the main…
- ServicesTomar train station, a few…
Where to stay
- Hotel República, on Praça da República
- Thomar Story, in the historic centre, with rooms with kitchens
Getting around
- Direct CP train from Lisbon to Tomar station
- On foot through the centre and the Mata dos Sete Montes up to the convent
Where to eat
- O Praça, on the main square, open every day
- Tabuleiro Restaurant, cheap Portuguese cooking on Rua Serpa Pinto
Services
- Tomar train station, a few minutes' walk from the centre
Flying to Lisbon, then train or car to Tomar
Tomar is about 130 km from Lisbon, which is the nearest airport, with direct flights from many Spanish cities. By hire car it is a little over an hour and a half along the A1 and A13. Without a car, a direct CP train leaves Lisbon and ends in Tomar in about two hours.
- Getting thereLisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS), about…
- Getting aroundHire car at the airport…
- Where to stayHotel República, on the main…
- ServicesTomar train station, next to…
Getting there
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS), about 130 km away
- Direct CP train from Lisbon to Tomar, about 2 h
Getting around
- Hire car at the airport, along the A1 and A13
- On foot around the centre of Tomar
- Car or taxi for Almourol, the Pegões and Castelo de Bode
Where to stay
- Hotel República, on the main square, if you arrive by train
- Hotel dos Templários, with parking, if you arrive by car
Services
- Tomar train station, next to the centre
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Tomar for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Tomar with the family, on the trail of the Templars
Tomar has what a historical visit needs to work with children: knights, a castle on an island and, in 2027, a festival that looks like something from a fairy tale. The rest is a flat, quiet town.
- What works bestAlmourol Castle, reached by boat
- Where to stayIn the centre, near the…
- Where to eatTomar sweets, such as fatias…
- Worth knowingThe convent has many stairs…
What works best
- Almourol Castle, reached by boat
- The Convent of Christ and its round Charola, with Templar stories
- The Festa dos Tabuleiros, from 3 to 12 July 2027
Where to stay
- In the centre, near the river and Praça da República
Where to eat
- Tomar sweets, such as fatias de Tomar, in the pastry shops of the centre
- Picnic in the Mata dos Sete Montes
Worth knowing
- The convent has many stairs: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
- The July festival is hot and crowded: water, a hat and a meeting point
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a carif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel dos Templários
Why we like it: Four-star hotel beside the Nabão river, five minutes' walk from the centre of Tomar, with gardens, an outdoor pool, a heated indoor pool, a spa and parking.
Hotel República
Why we like it: 19-room boutique hotel on Praça da República, Tomar's main square, decorated with Portuguese products and with the O Praça restaurant on the ground floor.
Thomar Story
Why we like it: 12-room guesthouse in a late 19th-century building in Tomar's historic centre, with balconies onto the Nabão river and the castle, and some rooms with kitchens.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Tomar
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
O Praça
What to order: the "tradição" cod, with vegetables and béchamel served in a homemade loaf, which is the house dish; for dessert, the lime and lemon tart.
Taverna Antiqua
What to order: the nobles' banquet (€35), with a starter board, soup, tasting platters and desserts; children up to 12 have their own menu at €20.
Tabuleiro Restaurant
What to order: one of the house cods, the dourado or the espiritual, or the oven-baked black pork cheeks; the cozido à portuguesa if you are hungry.
Nearby
Near Tomar
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
39.63° N · 8.67° W
Fátima and Batalha
By carBy plane
39.60° N · 9.07° W
Nazaré
By carBy plane
40.20° N · 8.41° W
Coimbra
Car-freeBy carBy plane
39.36° N · 9.16° W
Óbidos
By carLuxuryCar-free
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Convent in the morning
Arrive when it opens: the Charola without groups is another thing altogether.
- 2Walk down through the Mata dos Sete Montes
The park around the convent hill is the most pleasant way back to the centre.
- 3Almourol, in the afternoon
In low light, the castle on the Tagus is a postcard. Check beforehand that the boat is running.
Going to the Festa dos Tabuleiros without accommodation
On procession days the town and its surroundings fill up. If you can't find a bed, go for the day and arrive early.
How do you get there from Spain?
By car, via Badajoz and the motorway towards Abrantes and Tomar: about five and a half hours from Madrid. From Lisbon there are direct CP trains that terminate at Tomar in about two hours, and by car it takes a little under an hour and a half.
How do you get around Tomar?
On foot. The centre is flat and small, between Praça da República and the River Nabão; the convent is on the hill, about fifteen minutes' climb. For the Pegões aqueduct and Almourol castle you need a car.
Where to sleep and eat?
To sleep, the Hotel dos Templários is the large hotel beside the Nabão, with pools and parking; the Hotel República, a 19-room boutique hotel on the main square; and Thomar Story, a 19th-century guesthouse in the old town. To eat, O Praça is open every day on the square; the Restaurante Tabuleiro is the cheap Portuguese food on Rua Serpa Pinto; and the Taverna Antiqua, on the outskirts, serves a medieval banquet with a show from Friday night to Sunday lunchtime.
What is there to do outside the town?
The Pegões aqueduct, Almourol castle on the Tagus and the Castelo de Bode reservoir, where Barcaça Atividades Náuticas runs skippered boat trips. For all three you need a car.
What should you book in advance?
Accommodation, months ahead, if you are going to the Festa dos Tabuleiros in July 2027. The rest of the year, Tomar is quiet. Entry to the Convent of Christ can be bought online from Museus e Monumentos de Portugal.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Festa dos Tabuleiros?
From 3 to 12 July 2027. It is held every four years; the grand procession is on a Sunday.
How long do I need for the Convent of Christ?
Between two and three hours for the Charola, the cloisters and the Manueline window.
Can you get there by train?
Yes. There are direct trains from Lisbon to Tomar station, a few minutes' walk from the centre.
How do you visit Almourol castle?
On a short boat from the Cais de Almourol, about 25 km from Tomar. Crossings depend on the state of the river.
Is it a good visit with children?
Yes, if you tell them the story of the Templars. The castle on the island and the 2027 festival are especially popular with them.