Knights Templar Tour: Explore Castles and History

Explore medieval castles, embark on a boat trip, and uncover Knights Templar history on this immersive small-group tour from Lisbon to Tomar.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Castelo de Almourol - Begin your incredible medieval adventure at Almourol Castle, a renowned symbol of Portugal and one of its most iconic ‘postcards.’ Perched 18 meters (60 feet) above sea level, this small granite island measures 310 meters (1,000 feet) in length and 75 meters (245 feet) in width, situated in the middle of the Tagus River.
  • Tomar - Tomar was granted as a fief to the Templars and gained significant importance in the 15th century as a hub for Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of the Order of Christ, the successor to the Templars in Portugal.

Here, you can explore the Church of Santa Maria do Olival, the headquarters of the Knights Templar and the pantheon of all Grand Masters.

  • Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais - Visit the Church of Santa Maria do Olival, the headquarters of the Knights Templar and the pantheon of all Grand Masters.
  • Convento de Cristo - Conclude your day in grand style at the Convent of Christ, a stunning monument and former Templar stronghold built under the orders of Gualdim Paes, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What's Included
  • Boat ride to Almourol Castle (weather permitting)
  • Entrance and guided visit to Convent of Christ and Almourol Castle
  • Professional guide
  • Meeting Point - 8:00 AM - Praça da Figueira
  • Local pastry tasting
  • Small-group tour (max 8 people)
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • Drop-off at Marquês de Pombal
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks (including meals), unless specified
  • Hotel Pick-Up & Hotel Drop-Off
  • Personal Expenses
  • Tips & Gratuities
Additional Information

We promise you a journey back in time, castles that were built by the legendary Knights Templar and then later used by the Knights of Christ, the guys that set up the Age of the Discoveries. At the first stop, there will be a short boat trip that will take the group to the island of the Almourol Castle, the most stunning medieval castle you can find in Portugal, with breathtaking views and sceneries around. Next the medieval journey will take you to Tomar, a city founded by the Knights Templar that turned out to be also important a few centuries after when Henry, the Navigator, was the leader of the Knights of Christ. In Tomar there is a stop at Santa Maria do Olival Church, former mausoleum of the Masters of Knights Templar in Portugal, and at the Convent of Christ, one of the most outstanding and important buildings for Portuguese history, an UNESCO site since 1983. It also includes a surprise to sweeten you mouth. Join the Knighthood!

  • Please contact the company at least 24 hours before the activity for exact Meeting point
  • Meeting points: 8:00 - Praça da Figueira or choose option with pick up
  • Drop off at Marquês de Pombal.
  • Please be reminded that there may be more than one language spoken during the tour (max. two languages).
  • English, Spanish and Portuguese are available all year round.
  • Please note that infants and children occupy a seat.
  • Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.
  • Child rate applies only when accompanied by, at least, 1 paying adult.
  • Maximum of 8 persons per vehicle.
  • It’s a good idea to wear tennis shoes or other appropriate footwear for the tour and bring along a bottle of water. In summer bring your sunscreen and in winter it gets very cold so make sure you bring a jacket.
  • A minimum of 2 people and maximum of 8 people per booking is required: there is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved.
  • Boat ride is subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given an alternative.
  • In case of adverse weather conditions (e. g. heavy rain), the tour will not be canceled, unless there are warnings and alerts by official organisms.
  • We are not responsible for any traffic congestion in the city, resulting from cultural, sport and religious events, or even demonstrations / strikes, etc. However we will always offer alternatives to avoid these situations; one of them is to change the pick-up and drop-off locations. Unfortunately, this may be transmitted without prior notice.
Location
Praça da Figueira
8:00 - Front of the Statue
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(586 Ratings)
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Naomi_f
Aug 30, 2024
Fun day! - Had a great experience on this tour. Francisco was an engaging and informative guide, I particularly liked that we were given time to explore each site without feeling rushed. Each location was interesting, but the Convent of Christ was the highlight - such a fascinating building representing many aspects of Portuguese history. I recommend this tour and would be happy to have Francisco as a guide on any future tour in the Lisbon area!
Review provided by Viator
Amckenzie92
Aug 25, 2024
Excellent Tour, Fantastic Tour Guide - Our tour guide was excellent (I think his name was Hugo). He was informative, fun, friendly and always willing to answer any questions that we had! We also thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him about his time working in the film industry and as a tour guide. He is one of the best tour guides we’ve had on a day trip and would love to be on another tour with him. The tour itself is excellent and I would highly recommend it. Everything from beginning to end was an experience to remember!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexander_m
Aug 25, 2024
Excellent Tour, Fantastic Tour Guide - Our tour guide was excellent (I think his name was Hugo). He was informative, fun, friendly and always willing to answer any questions that we had! We also thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him about his time working in the film industry and as a tour guide. He is one of the best tour guides we’ve had on a day trip and would love to be on another tour with him. The tour itself is excellent and I would highly recommend it. Everything from beginning to end was an experience to remember!
Review provided by Viator
Tatianemoura
Aug 17, 2024
Wonderful experience - It was a wonderful tour with the Guide Francisco! He told in detail the history of the places we passed by and more. It was a very hot day and the comfort of the trolley and powerful air conditioning made total difference! I ⁇ indicate the company!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrea_f
Aug 4, 2024
Learn about Portugal's rich history - Fantastic tour of Tomar to learn indeth history of Portugal and it's impact on Europe, it was fascinating. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Lorons13
Jul 25, 2024
Amazing history, informative guide and transport - A comfortable tour run by our guide Miguel who brought a vast amount of knowledge and stories of the templars. Very comfortable ride and the walking was not extreme at all. The castles and churches visited are awe inspiring. At the end s comfortable walk around Tomar with s little lunch was perfect. The 8 hrs absolutely flew by.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M3361vmdavid
Jul 20, 2024
Well paced. Amazing scenes. - The visit was great. It was very well paced with the perfect amount of time at each area. It was 34 degrees in Tomar when we went and the thick walls on the convent and castle meant we did not feel overheated at all and the car had such great AC that it was almost cold during the drive. You see some beautiful architecture and castles from 100s of years ago. The views from the castle in the river are amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay60504
Jul 16, 2024
Must see! Great tour! - Daniel was our guide that day. What I loved about this tour was Daniel’s depth of knowledge on the Templars and his enthusiasm in conveying all the history. He cared about our comfort and timed the breaks just right. Very professional, we felt confident having Daniel as our guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ernesto_m
Jul 13, 2024
Awesome tour - An excellent tour. Our guide (Francisco) was very knowledgeable and guided us through fortes, castles and towns giving us super useful and detailed information.
Review provided by Viator
Raymond_s
Aug 17, 2024
Templar fans might be disappointed - The tour guide and company were great, very professional and courteous. However, being a Templars enthusiast, there is not much Templar content that was too interesting. It was mostly a tour of a convent that while was once a Templar headquarters, has since been converted/rebuilt into a convent with almost no vestige left of the Templars.
Review provided by Viator
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1 Adult
September 2024
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