CityCentral Portugal / Beira459 km to Santiago de Compostela

Tomar

A historic town built around the UNESCO World Heritage Convent of Christ, the former headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. One of the most impressive stops on the entire Camino Portugues.

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About Tomar

Tomar is one of the most historically significant towns on the Camino Portugues, built around the UNESCO World Heritage Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo). Originally the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal, the convent complex spans several centuries of architectural styles and is considered one of the most important monuments in the country.

The town has a full range of services including hotels, hostels, restaurants, supermarkets, ATMs, pharmacies, and a train station. The old town along the Rio Nabao is charming, with narrow streets, a medieval synagogue (one of the oldest in Portugal), and the Church of Santa Maria do Olival.

Pilgrims should allow time to visit the Convent of Christ, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime sight. The Aqueduto dos Pegoes, a 6 km aqueduct built to supply the convent, is also impressive. Tomar is an ideal rest day destination.

Where to stay

Beds in Tomar, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

October 15 to October 28Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

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Thursday, October 15Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

Explore

Explore Tomar

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

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Things to do

Things to do in Tomar

6 things

FoodEat Fatias de TomarThe local speciality is fatias de Tomar, a traditional convent sweet made from eggs and sugar. Like many Portuguese desserts, it originated in the convents where nuns used egg yolks left over from starching habits. The town's restaurants serve good Ribatejo cuisine: grilled meats, river fish, bean stews, and simple salads. The cafes around Praca da Republica are excellent for a morning coffee and pastel de nata before continuing your walk.

SightVisit the Convento de CristoA UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important historical buildings in Portugal. The complex was founded by the Knights Templar in 1160 and expanded over five centuries. The Charola, the original round Templar church, is the emotional centrepiece. The Manueline window, carved with maritime imagery of ropes, coral, and seaweed, symbolises Portugal's Age of Discovery. The seven cloisters range from austere Templar stone to ornate Renaissance elegance. Allow at…

RelaxationWalk the Riverside ParkThe Rio Nabao runs through the centre of Tomar, and the tree-lined park along its banks is one of the most pleasant spots in town. The old waterwheel, the medieval Ponte Velha bridge, and the Mouchao island park (a small island in the river with gardens and a bandstand) create a peaceful setting. In the evening, locals stroll here and the cafes along the riverbank fill up. After days of open farmland walking, the shade and the sound of water are restorative.

SightExplore the Old QuarterThe narrow streets between the river and the castle hill are lined with whitewashed houses, small shops, and tiled facades. The Praca da Republica is the heart of the old town, with the Igreja de Sao Joao Baptista on one side. The church has a late Gothic/Manueline portal and interior paintings attributed to Gregorio Lopes, one of Portugal's great Renaissance painters. The streets behind the square lead uphill towards the convent and are worth wandering slowly.

HistorySee the Synagogue of TomarThe 15th-century synagogue in the old quarter is one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal. It was built during a brief period of religious tolerance before the expulsion of the Jews in 1496. The building later served as a prison, a chapel, a warehouse, and a hay barn before being rediscovered and restored. It is now a small museum. The acoustics of the vaulted interior are remarkable, and the history it represents adds a quieter, more reflective layer to…

RelaxationTake a Rest DayIf you started in Lisbon, you have been walking for five days through long, often exposed stages. Tomar is the best rest day opportunity between Lisbon and Coimbra. The Convento de Cristo alone justifies a full day, and the town has enough restaurants, cafes, and atmosphere to make a non-walking day genuinely enjoyable. Rest here. Your body will thank you for the next eight days to Porto.

Getting here

Getting to Tomar

How to reach your starting point from major cities and airports.

By train

By Train

CP trains run from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Tomar (approx. 2 hours, change at Entroncamento). Trains also run from Coimbra (2 hours). The station is about 1 km south of the Convento de Cristo.

By trainBy Train

CP trains run from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Tomar (approx. 2 hours, change at Entroncamento). Trains also run from Coimbra (2 hours). The station is about 1 km south of the Convento de Cristo.

By airBy Air

The nearest airports are Lisbon (1.5 hours by train or car) and Porto (2.5 hours). Most pilgrims fly into Lisbon and take the train to Tomar.

By busBy Bus

Rede Expressos buses connect Tomar from Lisbon (1.5 hours), Coimbra (1.5 hours), and other towns. The bus station is centrally located.

By taxi or transferBy Taxi

Taxis from Lisbon or the local train station are available. Tomar is a small town and everything is walkable once you arrive.

Arrival day

What to do on arrival

Your checklist for arrival day in Tomar.

Visit the Tourist Office on Avenida Dr. Candido Madureira or the local church to obtain your credential. If unavailable here, you can collect one in Coimbra or Porto.

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Places to stay in Tomar

Our Koala Picks first, then donativos, albergues and hostels, hotels, and everything else. Within each group the best-reviewed places lead.

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