What is the Chapter Window in Tomar?

The Chapter Window (Janela do Capitulo) is the defining image of Manueline architecture, built between 1510 and 1513 by Diogo de Arruda. Located on the exterior wall of the Chapter House at the Convent of Christ, it encodes maritime symbols (ropes, coral, armillary spheres), the Cross of the Order of Christ, and Portuguese royal iconography. It is approximately 4 m wide and 7 m tall.

What is the difference between this tour and the Tomar and Almourol Tour?

The Tomar and Almourol Tour focuses on the Tomar area, adding Almourol Castle (a 12th-century Templar fortress on a river island) and Santarém — but does not include Fatima. This Tomar and Fatima tour covers the Convent of Christ and the Fatima Sanctuary. Both tours include the Castle of Tomar.

Are there entrance fees at Fatima?

No. All religious sites at the Fatima Sanctuary are free: the Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, and Basilica of the Holy Trinity. No advance booking or timed entry is required.

Private Tomar & Fátima Tour from Lisbon: Convent of Christ & Fátima Sanctuary

2 Cities in 1 unforgettable full day tour

Duration

8 Hours

Tour Type

Private

Group Size

Max. 8px/Van

Pickup & Drop-off

Hotel or apartment pickup in Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, or anywhere along the coast

Main Highlights

Convent of Christ, Santa Cruz Monastery, University of Coimbra, Biblioteca Joanina

Pricing

From €350 per private vehicle (see pricing below)

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Rated 5/5 on TripAdvisor.
based on +3.387 reviews

Tour at a Glance

Duration: 8 hours.
Departure: Suggested 08:30–09:00 – hotel or apartment pickup in Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, or anywhere along the coast.
Return: ~17:00–17:30 to your pickup location.
Tour Type: 100% private — your group only.
Group Size: Up to 8 passengers.
Vehicle: Air-conditioned private van.
Guide: Licensed driver-guide available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Destinations: Tomar and Fátima.
Total Driving Distance: Approximately 300 km.
Price From: €350 per vehicle.
Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5 based on 3,387 reviews.
License: RNAAT 119/2013.
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Tour Overview

This private full-day tour from Lisbon covers two of Portugal’s most historically significant sites: the Convent of Christ in Tomar – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and the former headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal – and the Fátima Sanctuary, the most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site on the Iberian Peninsula, which received 6.2 million visitors in 2024.

The Convent of Christ was founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, on a hilltop above the Nabão River. It remained the operational headquarters of the Order of Christ – the Templar successor in Portugal – through the 15th and early 16th centuries, when Henry the Navigator (Governor of the Order, 1420–1460) used Tomar as the logistical base for Portuguese Atlantic exploration. The wealth from those voyages funded the Manueline additions to the Convent, including the Chapter Window (1510–1513), considered one of the most elaborate examples of Manueline architecture in existence.

Fátima, 34 km southwest of Tomar via the IC9, is the site of six reported Marian apparitions in 1917 witnessed by three shepherd children from the village of Aljustrel. The Sanctuary complex grew over the 20th century to include the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (consecrated 1953) and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity (dedicated 2007, capacity 9,000), flanking the central esplanade around the original Chapel of the Apparitions (built 1919).

This tour is 100% private. Total driving: approximately 300 km. This tour differs from the Tomar, Almourol & Santarém Tour – that itinerary includes Almourol Castle and Santarém but does not include Fátima. It also differs from the Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos Tour – that route combines Fátima with the northern circuit but does not include Tomar or the Convent of Christ.

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

3,387 verified reviews · 5.0 Tripadvisor – Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2025; highest-rated private tour operator from Lisbon on the platform.
Only private tour combining Tomar and Fátima the Convent of Christ (UNESCO 1983, ~2h) and the Fátima Sanctuary (6.2 million visitors 2024, all sites free) are only 34 km apart. No competitor offers this specific combination in a private per-vehicle format.
The Templar-to-pilgrimage arc in one day from the Knights Templar military-religious fortress (1160) to the 20th century’s largest Marian shrine in Portugal; the guide connects both sites within the broader narrative of Portuguese Catholicism across eight centuries.
All Fátima sites are free – Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Basilica of the Holy Trinity; no tickets, no advance booking, no timed entry. Only the Convent of Christ requires an entry fee.
RNAAT licence 119/2013. Languages: EN, ES, FR, PT. Operating since 2013.

What You Can See on This Tour

Castle of Tomar (Castelo de Tomar)

The Castle of Tomar was built in 1160 by Gualdim Pais on orders from King Afonso Henriques as the military headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. The castle sits on a forested hill (Morro do Castelo, approximately 100 m above the town) directly above the Nabão River valley. Its crenellated walls enclose an area of approximately 1.5 hectares. Seven square towers and two polygonal towers punctuate the perimeter.

The castle was never successfully besieged and remained under Templar – and later Order of Christ – control throughout the medieval period. After the dissolution of the Templars by Pope Clement V in 1307, King Dinis I of Portugal persuaded the papacy in 1319 to allow the Portuguese Templars to reorganise as the Order of Christ, with Tomar remaining their headquarters. The castle and convent together were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The castle grounds are freely accessible from the road below. The Convent of Christ within its walls requires a paid entry ticket – see pricing below.

Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) – UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Convent of Christ is the most architecturally layered monument in Portugal, containing Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, and Mannerist elements built across five centuries. Entry: €15/adult (museusemonumentos.pt). Free on Sundays and bank holidays until 14:00. Free for children under 12.

The Charola (Templar Rotunda): The oldest structure in the complex, built around 1162–1165, is a rotunda designed in conscious reference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Templars considered the circular form the appropriate architectural expression of the sacred – soldiers were meant to ride around the central altar on horseback, remaining mounted for Mass. The Charola contains 12th-century frescoes and later Renaissance paintings commissioned during the Order of Christ period.

Main Nave and Chapter House (1510–1514): When Manuel I commissioned the expansion of the Convent in the early 16th century, architects João de Castilho and Diogo de Arruda created the Main Nave connecting the Charola to the new Chapter House. The nave is a single hall with Manueline vaulting, incorporating the Charola into a conventional Christian basilica layout.

The Chapter Window (Janela do Capítulo): Built between 1510 and 1513, designed by Diogo de Arruda – the defining image of Portuguese Manueline architecture. The window frames a door on the Chapter House wall and is encrusted with a carved stone programme incorporating: coral, seaweed, and ropes (maritime expansion); the Cross of the Order of Christ (political-religious authority); armillary spheres (King Manuel’s personal device and the navigation instrument of the Age of Discovery); cork oak roots (the Iberian landscape); and human figures. The window is approximately 4 m wide and 7 m tall.

Eight Cloisters: The Convent contains 8 cloisters built across different periods. The Main Cloister (Claustro Principal) was designed by Spanish architect Juan de Castillo and completed between 1557 and 1591 in Renaissance style. Two-storey: Doric columns on the ground floor, Ionic on the upper level.

Tomar Town Centre and River Nabão

Three of Tomar’s most significant medieval buildings are within 10 minutes’ walk of one another and the lunch restaurants on Republic Square: the only intact medieval synagogue in Portugal (1430–1460), the burial site of the Templar Grand Masters (13th century), and a church with a Manueline portal and a 1538 triptych by Gregório Lopes.

Igreja de Santa Maria do Olival (13th century): Gothic, burial site of Gualdim Pais and subsequent Templar Grand Masters.

Synagogue of Tomar: Built 1430–1460, now the Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto Museum. Only intact medieval synagogue in Portugal; four-column Gothic-vaulted interior survives. Jewish community expelled 1496 under Manuel I.

Praça da República and São João Baptista Church: 15th–16th century. Manueline portal and triptych painted by Gregório Lopes around 1538.

The Pegões Aqueduct is visible on the approach road to Tomar. Built 1593–1614 (some sources: 1593–1619) to supply fresh water from the Pegões spring, 6 km away. It has 180 arches, reaches a maximum height of approximately 30 m.

Fátima Sanctuary

The Fátima Sanctuary received 6.2 million pilgrims in 2024 – the highest annual total in the Sanctuary’s recorded history. It is the most-visited Catholic site in the Iberian Peninsula. Entry to all religious sites in the Sanctuary complex is free.

Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha das Aparições): Built between April 28 and June 15, 1919, by stonemason Joaquim Barbeiro, on the exact site of the first reported apparition (May 13, 1917). The Chapel was destroyed by anti-clerical forces in October 1922 and rebuilt. Mass is celebrated continuously throughout the day.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary: Construction began 1928. Consecrated October 7, 1953. Architect: Gerardus Samuel van Krieken (Dutch). Tower 65 m, crowned by a bronze corona weighing 7,000 kg. 15 side altars for the 15 mysteries of the Rosary. Minor Basilica status granted by Pope Pius XII in 1954.

Basilica of the Holy Trinity: Dedicated October 12, 2007 (90th anniversary of the apparitions). Architect: Alexandros Tombazis (Greek), selected in an international competition in 1997. Circular plan, 125 m diameter, capacity 9,000 (8,633 seats). Winner of the 2009 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

The three children who reported the apparitions: Lúcia dos Santos (b. 1907, d. 2005), Francisco Marto (b. 1908, d. 1919, canonised 2017) and Jacinta Marto (b. 1910, d. 1920, canonised 2017) were from the village of Aljustrel, 2 km south of the Sanctuary. Francisco and Jacinta were the first non-martyr children canonised in the history of the Catholic Church.

Return to Lisbon

After a day filled with legends, devotion, and meaningful discoveries, we make our way back to Lisbon. Along the route, enjoy a final look at the rural beauty that defines the center of Portugal.

This itinerary is carefully designed for an unforgettable experience—but the choice is always yours.

Let yourself be guided through the grandeur of Tomar and Fátima, where history and faith come to life.

Yellow Cab TT Tours – always at your service, with the care and quality our customers know and trust.

What’s Included

8 Hours Tour
Private air-conditioned van for your group (up to 8 passengers)
Hotel/apartment pickup and drop-off in Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, or anywhere along the Estoril Coast
Mandatory Insurances
Fuel, motorway tolls and parking at all stops

Not included

Tour Prices

Prices are per vehicle, not per person.

Up to 2 Pax €350
3 to 4 Pax €450
5 to 8 Pax €570

Cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable.

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Observations

Best Time of Year for This Tour

The key dates to avoid on this tour are May 13 and October 13 – the Fátima pilgrimage anniversaries when road access near the Sanctuary is severely restricted. Within those constraints, the main seasonal variable is heat in Tomar’s inland climate: summer temperatures in the Ribatejo valley regularly reach 35–38°C.

March–May: Temperatures 15–22°C. Tomar’s historic centre and the Convent gardens are at their best in April–May. Book 10–14 days in advance to avoid April peak. Avoid May 12–13 (Fátima pilgrimage anniversary).

June–August: Temperatures 25–33°C inland at Tomar. The Convent of Christ summer opening extends to 18:30 (last admission 18:00). Early 08:30 departure places the Tomar visit in the cooler morning hours. Fátima in late afternoon is manageable. Reserve 2–3 weeks in advance.

September–October: Temperatures 18–26°C. Recommended. Avoid October 12–13 (Fátima anniversary). The rest of September and October offers mild weather, reduced summer crowds, and rich autumn light at both sites.

November–February: Temperatures 10–16°C. Low season. Tomar town centre and the Convent cloisters are nearly empty on weekday mornings. The Convent winter hours (09:00–17:30, last admission 17:00) are manageable with the 08:30 departure. Fátima in winter has a distinctive, quiet quality outside of the pilgrimage calendar.

FAQ

How far is Tomar from Lisbon?

Tomar is approximately 136 km north of Lisbon via the A1 and IC9 motorways, approximately 1h 20min by private vehicle. Fátima is 34 km southwest of Tomar, and approximately 130 km north of Lisbon via the A1.

Do I need to buy tickets for the Convent of Christ in advance?

No advance booking is required. Entry is paid on arrival. Entry is free on Sundays and Portuguese bank holidays until 14:00. Your guide pays the entry fee on the day; the cost is excluded from the tour price.

What is the Chapter Window and why is it famous?

The Chapter Window (Janela do Capítulo) in Tomar’s Convent of Christ was designed by Diogo de Arruda and built between 1510 and 1513. It is the most cited example of Manueline architecture — a specifically Portuguese style that integrates maritime symbols (ropes, coral, seaweed, armillary spheres) with religious iconography (the Cross of the Order of Christ). The window is approximately 4 m wide and 7 m tall.

What is the difference between this tour and the Tomar & Almourol Tour?

The Tomar & Almourol Tour focuses on the Tomar area, adding Almourol Castle (a 12th-century Templar fortress built on a river island in the Tagus) and Santarém — but does not include Fátima. This tour replaces Almourol and Santarém with the Fátima Sanctuary. Both tours cover the Convent of Christ and the Castle of Tomar.

Can non-Catholics enjoy the Fátima portion of this tour?

Yes. The Basilica of the Holy Trinity (2007, architect Alexandros Tombazis) and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (1953) are among the most architecturally significant religious buildings in Portugal. The guide presents the history of the 1917 apparitions and the development of the Sanctuary factually. Participation in religious observances is entirely optional.

Are there entrance fees at Fátima?

No. All religious sites at the Fátima Sanctuary are free: the Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Basilica of the Holy Trinity. No advance booking or timed entry is required.

Does the tour include Ourém Castle?

No. Ourém is a 14th-century hilltop castle town between Fátima and Tomar. Some competitor tours include Ourém as an additional stop, which reduces time at both the Convent of Christ and Fátima. We focus on the two primary sites to allow adequate exploration time at each.

Can we attend Mass in Fátima?

Yes. Mass is celebrated continuously at the Chapel of the Apparitions throughout the day. If attending a specific Mass is important to your group, inform us at booking and the guide will adjust the Fátima arrival time accordingly.

Should we avoid visiting on May 13 or October 13?

If you are not attending the Fátima pilgrimage, yes. Up to one million people arrive on those dates and road access near Fátima is severely restricted. The Tomar portion is unaffected, but the Fátima portion becomes a large crowd experience. If you want to visit specifically on those dates, book 4–6 weeks in advance and inform us.

What languages does the guide speak?

English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable.

What Our Guests Say

First of all, Kate was a wonderful tour guide. Secondly, the Templar sires we visited were fascinating and beautiful. It was an altogether first rate experience. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in history.

Amazing tour, Kate was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We visited all the sites that we wanted to, and even had lunch in a beautiful little sandwich shop in Tomar. These Yellow Cab private tours seem more expensive, but it was worth every penny as they stepped in last minute when our group tour operator cancelled last minute. I can’t recommend them enough and would only do private tours in the future. Outstanding!!

The most Experienced guides, excelent drivers and absolute the best historien knowledge you can ask for. I am so suprised that I felt I met a new friends for the future on the two days I spent with them. I strongly recomend their servesis, the yellow cab is the best. Thank you Ruigeorge and Katarina for making my stay in Lissabon so nice. Big hugs Stefan Eklund.

This is our second tour with this company. Our first tour was 4 years ago so I think it says something that we came back for a second tour. This time it was me, my husband, and his dad (there wasn't an option for "family" of adults so I guess "couple" +1?) Once again, we did a private tour and again, I think it was the best decision for us. We like having the little bit of wiggle room in terms of pace of sites and not having to wait on anyone else or have anyone else wait on us. We had a wonderful day with Jorge! My husband and his dad enjoyed all the extensive history information and chatting. The sites are beautiful and we had a delicious lunch and even got to pop in a couple of shops along the way around town. My FIL has bad knees and Jorge was sure to check in to make sure everyone was doing okay with the pace we were going at. I highly recommend this tour for the castle and history lovers and having Jorge as your guide!

We had amazing weather so Jorge was able to show us beautiful sights, tell us the history and answer all of our questions regarding the Knights Templar in Tomar. Jorge also shared a side street secret at lunch time of Peri Peri chicken. It was amazing and we shared a lot of conversation. This tour was a highlight of our trip.