The best way to learn about a place is from first-hand experience! This is my City Guide for Tomar to help you plan your trip.
Tomar is dominated by the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that is certainly the main event. To get there, start at the Praça da República, and head up the hill.
What to See
Praça da República
The plaza is paved with mosaic tiles and anchored on one side by a municipal building, behind which you access the road to the Convent of Christ. Across the plaza is the church of São João Baptista (Saint John the Baptist). Nearby, there is a small synagogue that we visited, but there are no pictures. That says something about our engagement level.
We had big plans. Madi was going to run into the flock of pigeons, and they were going to take flight, but the birds had other ideas. Disappointing.
Convent of Christ
Tomar was chosen as one of Portugal’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive takes less than two hours, making it an easy day trip from Lisbon. Upon arriving in the town, I thought we could see everything in an hour, just another cathedral – right? At first, this appeared to be a quick church visit. Not so! The Convent of Christ is a massive complex, and there are ruins of older churches enclosed in newer structures.
You do not want to miss this place. It is enormous, and a lot is going on historically and architecturally, starting with the Knights of the Templar in 1160 and evolving through the next five centuries. The place feels like the scene of a Dan Brown novel.
A World Heritage Designation Can Be a Blessing, or a Curse, NYT 4/25/2023
Hidden Inscription Linked to Knights Templar The History Channel 5/6/2022. The Curse of Oak Island, Nova Scotia.
Portugal’s UNESCO Sites
Don’t miss these UNESCO World Heritage Sites on your next trip to Portugal, including towers, cathedrals, and a terrifying walk atop an aqueduct.
Walk on the Aqueduct
On the way out of town, make a stop to walk along the aqueduct. Small children and those who are afraid of heights should not do this. Walking on top of the aqueduct will give you butterflies, even if you aren’t afraid of heights, particularly if you do this in the rain as we did.
To be sure, the aqueduct is really high. Also, there is no rail, and the walkway is narrow! So, in other words, terrifying. Oh, but the views are incredible.
Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays)
Every four years, Tomar hosts a ten-day festival where the young girls parade through town with trays of bread on their heads that are as tall as they are. This is on my bucket list! The next event is in July 2023.
Learn more about the Festival of Trays.
Where to Eat
Bela Vista
Generally, I avoid places on the main drag with the name ‘beautiful view’ because they are expensive and touristy, with mediocre food and bad service. However, this was not the case here. Surprisingly, it was full of locals, and the food and service were excellent.
Why You Should Eat Dessert First in Portugal
I’m not usually a dessert-eater, but in Portugal, I made a lot of exceptions. Learn where to find the top three most delicious pastries!
Getting Around
Tomar is a day trip from Lisbon in a rental car. Once there, we walked around the city, chasing pigeons in the Praça da República before taking a short walk to the Convent of Christ.
In addition to the city guide for Tomar – read more in my Portugal: Travel Guide
Portugal Travel Guide
Portugal is full of photo opportunities, over-flowing with palaces, cathedrals, and ancient ruins. Driving along the rocky coast brought us to the westernmost point in Europe, with waves that attract surfers from all over the world.
Photographs from Portugal
View my recent photographs from Portugal! Taking photographs is a huge part of my travel day. Sometimes I use my phone to document the experience, but I also have the professional gear to get images suitable for framing.
