Private Tomar Tour from Lisbon:
Convent of Christ, Almourol & Santarém

Tomar - Convent of Christ - Almourol - Santarém
Duración

8 Horas

Tipo de tour

Visita privada

Tamaño

Máx. 8px/Van

Recogida y entrega

Centro de Lisboa (fuera del centro bajo petición)

Aspectos Destacados

Tomar, Convent of Christ, Almourol, Santarém

Precios

Desde 330€ por vehículo privado (ver precios más abajo)

Calificado 5/5 en TripAdvisor.
basado en +3387 reseñas

Resumen del recorrido

  • Duración: 8 horas.
  • Salida: 09:00 from Lisbon city centre.
  • Devolver: Approximately 17:00 to Lisbon city centre.
  • Tipo de recorrido: 100% privado: solo para tu grupo.
  • Tamaño del grupo: Hasta 8 pasajeros.
  • Vehículo: Furgoneta privada con aire acondicionado.
  • Guía: Conductor-guía con licencia disponible en inglés, español, francés y portugués.
  • Destinos: Tomar, Almourol Castle, and Santarém.
  • Distancia total de conducción: Approximately 265 km.
  • Precio desde: €330 por vehículo.
  • Valoración de TripAdvisor: 5,0/5 según 3.387 opiniones.
  • Licencia: RNAAT 119/2013.
  • Política de Cancelación: Cancelación gratuita hasta 24 horas antes de la salida.

Resumen del tour

El Convento de Cristo en Tomar was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, it remains the most complete surviving monument of the Templar presence in Western Europe. On this 8-hour private tour from Lisbon, we continue south to Castillo de Almourol – a 9-tower fortress built on a Tagus River island by the same Gualdim Pais in 1171 – and finish in Santarém, Portugal’s Gothic capital and the burial place of Pedro Álvares Cabral, who led the expedition that reached Brazil in 1500.

Tomar, Almourol, and Santarém are not connected by any direct public transport route. The train from Lisbon to Tomar runs infrequently and takes approximately 2 hours. Almourol Castle has no bus or train connection. Santarém is on a separate rail line, and reaching it from Almourol by public transport requires backtracking to Lisbon. A private vehicle is the only practical way to cover all three sites in a single day.

The total driving distance on this tour is approximately 265 km: Lisbon to Tomar (136 km via A1/A23), Tomar to Almourol (34 km), Almourol to Santarém (30 km), Santarém to Lisbon (65 km). Pure drive time is approximately 3 hours 15 minutes, leaving around 4 hours 45 minutes for sightseeing and lunch.

Por qué los viajeros eligen este tour

3.387 reseñas verificadas · 5.0 Tripadvisor – Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2025; operador turístico privado mejor valorado de Lisboa en la plataforma.

Three stops, one historical thread – Gualdim Pais founded Tomar in 1160 and built Almourol Castle in 1171; no group tour connects these two sites to a single named figure from 12th-century Portugal. Santarém adds a chapter competitors skip entirely: the burial site of Pedro Álvares Cabral.

Castillo de Almourol is a unique stop – a National Monument on an island in the Tagus, accessible only by boat (~€4/adult); not included in any competitor itinerary for this price point.

Licencia RNAAT 119/2013. Operando desde 2013. Idiomas: EN, ES, FR, PT.

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Resumen del tour

Tomar – Portugal’s Templar Capital

Fundado en 1160, when King Afonso Henriques granted the territory of the Tagus valley to the Knights Templar. Gualdim Pais, who served as Grand Master of the Order in Portugal from 1157 to 1195, established the fortified town and began construction of the Charola – the circular oratory that became the symbolic centre of Templar power in the country.

Convento de Cristo – Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO

The Convent of Christ was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 (reference No. 265). The complex spans eight centuries of Portuguese history, from the 12th-century Templar fortifications through the Manueline additions of the 16th century.

El Rotonda, the original Templar oratory, is a 16-sided circular church modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It served as the castle chapel and was designed to allow mounted knights to participate in Mass without dismounting.

El Chapter Window, carved between 1510 y 1513 by Diogo de Arruda, is one of the most elaborate examples of Manueline decoration in Portugal. The carving incorporates maritime symbols – ropes, coral, anchors, armillary spheres – reflecting Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Entrada: €15/adult (2026 price). Allow approximately 90 minutes inside the complex.

Barrio Medieval de Tomar

Within walking distance of the Convent, Tomar’s medieval quarter contains three sites of particular historical significance.

Iglesia de Santa Maria do Olival (13th century): This Gothic church served as the proto-cathedral of the Templar Order in Portugal. It contains the tomb of Gualdim Pais and the burial sites of subsequent Grand Masters. The building predates the main Convent complex and was the primary religious centre of Templar Tomar for nearly two centuries.

Sinagoga de Tomar: Built between 1430 and 1460, this is the only intact medieval synagogue in Portugal. The Jewish community of Tomar was expelled in 1496 under the forced conversions decreed by King Manuel I. The building survived conversion to various uses over the centuries and now houses a small Luso-Hebraic museum.

Plaza de la República e Iglesia de São João Baptista: The church dates to the late 15th century. Its Manueline portal and a triptych painted by Gregório Lopes around 1538 are the principal points of interest.

Tomar also celebrates the Festa dos Tabuleiros every four years – a procession in which young women carry trays of bread and paper flowers up to 1.5 m tall. The next edition is scheduled for 2027.

Almourol Castle – Built by the Same Grand Master, Eleven Years Later

The man who founded Tomar in 1160 built Almourol Castle eleven years later – on a granite island in the Tagus with no land access. The boat crossing costs approximately €4. The castle entrance is free.

Castillo de Almourol stands on a granite island in the Tagus River, 34 km south of Tomar. It was built by Gualdim Pais in 1171 as part of the Templar defensive line along the Reconquista frontier. The castle is constructed in granite masonry, measures approximately 310 m long by 75 m wide, and rises 18 m above the waterway. Nine circular towers reinforce the perimeter walls. The keep is three storeys tall.

Almourol is a National Monument of Portugal. Access requires a short boat crossing (approximately 5 minutes each way) from the bank at Praia do Ribatejo. The crossing costs approximately €4 per adult; the castle itself has no separate entry fee.

Summer hours (April–September): 10:00–19:00. Winter hours (October–March): 10:00–17:00. Last boat approximately 30 minutes before closing.

Santarém – Where Pedro Álvares Cabral Is Buried

Pedro Álvares Cabral is buried here. He led the Portuguese fleet that reached Brazil on 22 April 1500 – and most guides list his burial site as somewhere in Lisbon. It is in Santarém, at the Igreja da Graça, in a city most visitors never visit.

Santarém is 65 km northeast of Lisbon, positioned on a plateau above the Tagus River plain. The Romans established a settlement here as Scalabis in the 2nd century BC. The city was under Moorish control until 15 March 1147, when Afonso Henriques captured it – the same year he captured Lisbon.

Today Santarém is known as the “Capital of the Portuguese Gothic.” It contains the largest and most varied ensemble of Gothic churches in Portugal, including the Igreja da Graça (burial site of Pedro Álvares Cabral, c. 1467–1520) and the Church of São João de Alporão, now a museum.

El Puertas del Sol (Gates of the Sun) is a walled garden built on the site of the former Moorish citadel. It offers a panoramic view over the Tagus River and the Ribatejo plain.

Torre das Cabaças (Tower of the Gourds) is a medieval watchtower that now houses a small museum dedicated to the history of timekeeping.

Regreso a Lisboa

Repletos de recuerdos y buenos momentos, volveremos a Lisboa, donde te dejaremos en el lugar donde fuiste instalado.

Llenos de recuerdos y buenos momentos, regresaremos a Lisboa, donde te dejaremos en el lugar donde te recogimos.

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Qué incluye

No incluido

Precios de los tours

Los precios son por vehículo privado (no por persona)

  • Hasta 2 personas €330
  • 3 a 4 personas €420
  • 5 a 8 personas €540

La recogida fuera del centro de la ciudad de Lisboa está disponible bajo petición y puede requerir una tarifa adicional (confirmada antes de la reserva).

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

Contáctanos y Reserva tu Tour

Mejor época del año para este tour

Abril–junio (recomendado): Temperatures 18–24°C in the Ribatejo valley. Boat operates until 19:00 at Almourol – flexible afternoon schedule. Convent of Christ gardens in bloom. Quieter than summer at all three sites. Best overall conditions.

Julio-agosto (temporada alta): Inland temperatures reach 38–42°C – the Convent of Christ has limited shade in the outer courtyards. Coach groups peak from late June through August. Early 09:00 departure gets you to the Convent before the main crowd. Almourol boat runs until 19:00; no timing pressure.

Septiembre-octubre (segunda ventana recomendada): Temperatures fall to 22–28°C. First weeks of October still warm. Almourol boat closes at 17:00 from 1 October – depart Tomar by 13:30 at the latest. Crowd levels drop sharply from September.

Noviembre–marzo: Temperatures 8–14°C. Almourol boat closes at 17:00. The Convent complex is excellent in low season; the medieval quarter of Tomar is quiet. Santarém is at its most atmospheric in winter light.

Preguntas frecuentes

Private transport for your group, a licensed driver-guide (EN/ES/FR/PT), hotel pickup and drop-off in central Lisbon, all fuel costs, and mandatory passenger insurance. Entrance fees (Convent of Christ €15/adult, Almourol boat ~€4/adult), lunch, and tips are not included.
€15 per adult in 2026. Tickets are purchased at the entrance on arrival — no advance booking required for individual visitors.
The castle sits on a small island in the Tagus River. Access is by boat from the bank at Praia do Ribatejo. The crossing costs approximately €4 per adult. The castle itself has no separate entry fee. Boat operates April–September 10:00–19:00, October–March 10:00–17:00.
Yes. As a private tour, stops can be adjusted based on your group’s interests. If Templar history is your main focus, we can allocate more time at the Convent or at Santa Maria do Olival. Contact us before booking to discuss your preferences.
Pickup at 08:30-09:00 from your Lisbon hotel. Return at approximately 17:00-17:30. Pickup time can be adjusted by arrangement.
The Convent of Christ has uneven stone surfaces and stairs. Almourol Castle requires a short boat crossing and has steep internal stairs. Santarém’s historic centre involves cobblestone streets. Mention any mobility concerns when booking so the guide can adjust the pace accordingly.
Lunch is not included. Tomar has several restaurants within walking distance of the Convent. Our guides can recommend specific places based on your preferences — including the sandwich shop mentioned in more than one client review.
Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour start time are non-refundable.
Up to 8 passengers. The price is per vehicle, not per person — which makes the tour significantly more cost-effective for groups of 4 or more.

Lo que dicen nuestros huéspedes

Hannibal52
En primer lugar, Kate fue una guía turística maravillosa. En segundo lugar, los castillos templarios que visitamos eran fascinantes y preciosos. Fue una experiencia de primera categoría en todos los sentidos. Se la recomiendo encarecidamente a cualquiera que esté interesado en la historia.
Darren L
Una excursión increíble; Kate estaba muy bien informada y fue muy atenta. Visitamos todos los lugares que queríamos ver e incluso almorzamos en una pequeña y preciosa tienda de bocadillos en Tomar. Estas excursiones privadas de Yellow Cab parecen más caras, pero valieron cada céntimo, ya que nos echaron una mano en el último momento cuando el operador de nuestra excursión en grupo la canceló a última hora. No puedo recomendarlas lo suficiente y, en el futuro, solo haré excursiones privadas. ¡Excelente!
Stefan E
Los guías más experimentados, excelentes conductores y el mejor conocimiento histórico que puedas pedir. Me sorprendió tanto que sentí que conocí nuevos amigos para el futuro en los dos días que pasé con ellos. Recomiendo encarecidamente sus servicios, el taxi amarillo es el mejor. Gracias Ruigeorge y Katarina por hacer mi estancia en Lisboa tan agradable. Un fuerte abrazo, Stefan Eklund.
Kay780
Esta es nuestra segunda excursión con esta empresa. Nuestra primera excursión fue hace 4 años, así que creo que dice algo el hecho de que hayamos vuelto para una segunda excursión. Esta vez fuimos mi esposo, su padre y yo (no había una opción para "familia" de adultos, así que supongo que "pareja" +1). Una vez más, hicimos una excursión privada y de nuevo, creo que fue la mejor decisión para nosotros. Nos gusta tener un poco de flexibilidad en cuanto al ritmo de las visitas y no tener que esperar a nadie ni que nadie nos espere a nosotros. ¡Tuvimos un día maravilloso con Jorge! Mi esposo y su padre disfrutaron de toda la extensa información histórica y de las charlas. Los lugares son hermosos y tuvimos un almuerzo delicioso e incluso pudimos detenernos en un par de tiendas por el pueblo. Mi suegro tiene problemas de rodillas y Jorge se aseguró de preguntar para asegurarse de que todos estuvieran bien con el ritmo al que íbamos. ¡Recomiendo encarecidamente esta excursión para los amantes de los castillos y la historia y que tengan a Jorge como su guía!
Sharon
Hacía un tiempo estupendo, así que Jorge pudo mostrarnos lugares preciosos, contarnos la historia y responder a todas nuestras preguntas sobre los Caballeros Templarios en Tomar. Además, a la hora de comer, Jorge nos descubrió un local secreto en una callejuela donde probamos el pollo peri-peri. Estaba delicioso y charlamos un buen rato. Esta visita guiada fue uno de los momentos más destacados de nuestro viaje.

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