Begin your visit with a scenic boat ride across the Tagus River to reach the Castelo de Almourol, a medieval fortress dating back to the 12th century. Enjoy the river views and surrounding landscape as you approach this iconic island castle. Step inside to explore the ancient walls, towers, and interior chambers, imagining life as a knight defending the fortress. Learn from your guide about the castleโs history, legends, and strategic role during the Reconquista. Climb the battlements for panoramic views of the river and lush countryside, and capture memorable photographs of this historic landmark. This experience combines adventure, history, and stunning scenery, offering an unforgettable journey into Portugalโs medieval past.
Enjoy free time in Tomarโs charming historical center, a perfect opportunity to stroll the streets, explore local shops, and soak in the atmosphere of this picturesque town. Take your time for lunch at one of the local restaurants or cafรฉs, sampling traditional Portuguese cuisine and relaxing before continuing your journey. Optionally, visit the Igreja de Sรฃo Joรฃo Batista, a beautiful church with historic architecture and serene interiors, adding a cultural and spiritual touch to your exploration of Tomar. This stop offers a flexible and relaxing experience, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in Tomarโs heritage, enjoy local flavors, and explore at their own pace.
Pass by the Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais, an elegant church in Tomar known for its historic architecture and cultural significance. Admire its stone faรงade, detailed windows, and traditional Portuguese design from the outside. Your guide will share brief insights into the churchโs history, its role in the community, and architectural highlights, offering context to this historic landmark. This stop allows travelers to appreciate Tomarโs rich religious heritage while enjoying a leisurely stroll through the surrounding streets, capturing photographs and soaking in the townโs atmosphere.
Step inside the Convento de Cristo, a magnificent 12th-century monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site, originally built by the Knights Templar. Marvel at its unique blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture as you explore cloisters, chapels, and grand halls. Learn from your guide about the history of the Templars, the monasteryโs role in Portuguese exploration, and the fascinating symbolism found throughout the complex. Walk through the elegant courtyards, spiral staircases, and ornate details, capturing photos of this historic landmark while immersing yourself in centuries of Portuguese heritage. This visit offers travelers a deep cultural and historical experience, combining architectural beauty, rich storytelling, and the mystique of one of Portugalโs most iconic sites.
Alex was knowledgeable, welcoming, and funny. We learned a lot on the tour and it was a great way to end the trip. The group was all from the United States so I think we wanted more time in Tomar and to eat but food service was slower than we expected. That might be something worth informing groups about ahead of time but it didn't put a damper on the day. Alex was great.
This tour was amazing!!! Our tour guide (Joรฃo Fujaco) knew so much about the history of the Templars; we learned so much! The Convent of Christ in Tomar was truly breathtaking! Joรฃo knew so much about the building, the history, and the surrounding area. He even recommended a place for lunch and gave us some suggestions for dinner later back in Lisboa! The drive there and back was relaxing and Joรฃo drove very safely. Hope to be back in Portugal soon and will definitely look up Joรฃo again!!
Tomar was very interesting and this tour is a great way to experience it and the surrounding areas. Camilla did a great job running our trip.
Amazing adventure. 100% worth the trip out to Tomar if you like history. Beautiful little town, amazing stops to see, we couldn't have been any happier with the trip. Our guide Hugo was absolutely fantastic and definitely made the experience the absolute best for us. His energy and excitement at the stops were infectious and we learned a ton from him on the local history. He was extremely respectful and helpful. The communication was excellent and instructions were easy to follow from the Tour company. Hugo totally made the trip top class for us. Thanks so much for the experience!!
The Templar tour is an absolutely must because The Convert of Christ in Tomar is so beautiful. Our guides Ines and Camilla were wonderful in adjusting the tour as we went along to avoid all the large tour groups . They did an excellent job of getting us around to see everything from superb vantage points. The trip include Almourol and the lovely town of Tomar too.
A lot more easy paced tour. Inez our guide was absolutely fantastic, she handled changes to our visit to the monastery due to other very large and inconsiderate tour groups with amazing ease, making sure we still saw and heard about all the parts and were able to get photos without lots of other people in them.
Super knowledge and incredibly friendly - we had a great experience! Joรฃo was fantastic! He gave us all the good insights and had fun entertaining our conspiracy theories.
Excellent guide who was able to enhance the tour with his knowledge of each of the stops. The castle despite the rain was spectacular as was tomar
It was a wonderful tour. We learned a lot. Miguel our tour guide was really passionate about the history of the Knights Templars. We would love to have Miguel do another tour with us
Our guide Hugo was great. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I was a little disappointed that the K Templar's castle was closed as was most of the town of Tomar but still enjoyed the trip.
The trip itself was ok regarding the rute. The big problem (from my point of view) was the guide: a very nice boy, with a lot of interesting facts, but he talked A LOOOOT, saying the same thing 5-10 times extremely loadly. To make matters worse, the other 3 clients "encouraged" him, so..for me, it was horrible in that regard
Our guide, Carllos, was excellent. Very knowledgeable and passionate about all of the points of interest on the tour. Also gave us some great guidance about other things to do in the area. Very happy with the overall experience.
Hugo was an excellent tour guide, between the flawless pick up and drop off, and his extensive knowledge of the sites he brought us to. My husband is a history fanatic and Hugo was eager to answer the many, many questions he had, which we appreciated a lot. Additionally, he pointed us in the direction of good food when it was time for lunch and all in all made the whole tour an unforgettable experience.
We went on the on the Templar Tomar, Convent of Christ & Almourol Castle tour. The boat ride over to Almourol Castle was incredible and a stand out part of the trip for us, the location and castle are stunning. Our tour guide Hugo, was very knowledgeable. You could sense his interest and enthusiasm for the places we visited and the history surrounding them. There was never a dull moment, he kept us interested throughout the tour. Big shout out for Hugo!!!! He made it a very special day for us. This was a fantastic tour, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Portugal! John & Kim
Couldnโt ask for a better Templar tour of Tomar and nearby towns Our tour guide Alex was exceptional and gave us so many facts truth we never knew about. Definitely go if youโre a history nerd or just like taking a trip back in time Very highly recommended Please go
1.. Confusion with pickup point. It was supposed to be at our hotel (Avani) but instead it was a block away. 2. The vehicle was uncomfortable, too small for my 6 feet 2 frame. My wife was also cramped in the back. 3. We could not visit the Almourol castle. We should have been informed ahead of time. (1.5 hour drive) 4. We based our choice on Viator publicity which did not meet our expectations. We did not get our moneyโs worth 5. Our guide Carlos was friendly and knowledgeable.
The tour was very informative and the guide provided a lot of great information on the Templar Knights and their role in the area. Visiting both castles gave a great perspective on how they built and used their buildings.
The tour of the Templar Almourol Castle was first, and was the highlight of and best part of this tour, very interesting and was worthwhile . Spending 2 hours at the Convento de Cristo afterward was much too long, we would prefer shortening that to one hour so the overall tour would be shorter like 7 hours instead of 8 hours. The town of Tomar was a let down, one street town, not much there other than lunch, mostly burger and sandwich shops. The tour was well organized with a good driver and tour guide who provided a lot of good commentary.
been to Sentra and fatima tours and they are worth the mony, this one not so much as there is not much to see. the convent of christ is beautiful, the free time at Tomar is not enough as the wait time to get luch used it all
Jose was a great guide, very knowledgeable. Drove us safely around and made great recommendations for lunch. Enjoyed the tour with him.
Awesome visit to castles! No tourists - you could hear birds! Boat ride to Almoural. Tomar was awesome as well- lunched at a medieval restaurant. Tour guide was knowledgeable and patient!
We really enjoyed this tour - the castle and monestery complex was amazing and we had lots of time to explore.
Visiting the Templar Castle was an eye-opening experience. It is very well worth your time. To think that the castle that we visit was one of important places that helped the Christians defeat the Moors. WOW!
This was a last minute decision and Iโm really glad I took it. Definitely places that are worth visiting if you are around Lisbon with really interesting history.
Ines (sorry for spelling) was amazing! Super friendly and informative. The Almourol Castle alone was worth the trip. So beautiful
We learned all about the Templar knights and their history. The castle/church/covent was amazing to visit. The tour guide did a great job despite the damage from a recent storm having closed or limited access to many of the site.s. We were able to view the castle in the afternoon but not visit it due to the river level. The guide was able to get the local tourist center open for us to see a video of what it would have been like to walk inside the castle. Also it was all done on a rainy day!
Hugo was a great guide. He knew a lot of history, and treated his guests well. He had an excellent presentation style.
Fabulous tour. Our guide was very good. A history teacher who knew his stuff. Was very informative and entertaining. We truly loved the entire day
This trip had the best guide Leo that I have ever had in 40 years of travelling. He explained the history of the knights Templar brilliantly and showed us the sights well
This tour was absolutely outstanding! We explored so much, and our guide, Rodrigo C., made the entire experience unforgettable. His knowledge of the Knights Templar was fascinating and he brought history to life in a way that truly felt like interacting with the past. The boat ride to Castelo de Almourol was amazing, and throughout the day Rodrigo was incredibly observant, patient, and considerate. He and his colleagues made sure everyone in the group was comfortable and taken care of. Excellent driver as well. More guides should be like him! The pacing of the tour was perfect, giving us plenty of time to savor each moment. Despite the changing weather, we adapted easily and never missed a thing. We saw so much. An extensive, immersive experience from start to finish. Highly recommend Cool Tours. This is our second tour with the company and we definitely want to explore more!
Wonderful guide Andreas and all went as expected. Lovely short boat ride to Templar Castle Got stuck in soccer match traffic returning bluey it was interesting to see fans in team colors and partying like at home
What a beautiful day! All the monuments were beautiful and our guide Leo was so knowledgeable! He made everything so interesting and easy to understand. I would do it all over again! 10/10!
Lots of stairs and uneven ground but well worth the effort. . Really enjoyed Rodrigez and he did a great job. Friendly and in formative.
We visited beautiful, history-rich places. Our tour guide, Hugo, presented all the relevant information clearly and engagingly, making the tour a truly pleasant experience. Hugo is exceptionally customer-focused and provided outstanding service. I gained valuable insights into Portugalโs history and culture.
Brilliant tour guided by Susanna. Seeing Almourol castle emerge from the river mist, and then against clear skies, was very atmospheric. The convent was impressive, while lunch in Tomar was enjoyably chilled. A must-do tour for anyone interested in the Templars.
Paolo was a very pleasant and accommodating guide with obvious experience and knowledge about the Templars. We visited all of the sites in a relaxed and timely manner. The van though needs maintenance since the door gets stuck in a closed position.
We met our guide Monica at the monastery. Well work having a guided tour and the history is fascinating and Monica did a great job. Knowledgeable and friendly. We left feeling like we understood so much more about the Knights of the Templar but also about monastic life at the monastery. She is a fantastic tour guide and she also gave us other helpful tips and the history of the acqueduct.
Great tour. Very nice pace. Leo our guide was very Knowledgeable and accommodating. Great coverage of the history of the Templars and their role in Portugal.
The overall experience was just average. We were expecting a much more detailed tour and information on the Knights Templar. We were given basic information that we mostly knew. We were supposed to visit the Templar church in Tomar. However, our guide decided to take us to a lunch spot early. The restaurant he recommended had good food. However, it took 1 1/2 hours to get our food and eat. The seating was horrible and uncomfortable and the length of time it took left us no time to explore the town and shops. When we finally made it back to the Templar church, it was occupied for a meeting of some sort and we werenโt allowed to go in. It was also inconvenient to be picked up and dropped off at different locations. This seemed to be more for the guide than the passengers. The front tires on the van were nearly bald and we felt that the vehicle wasnโt very safe. Oh, and the fact the driver and tour operator did not provide water was a major disappointment. This was the only tour we were on during the 12 days we were here that did not provide water.
We had a very good day with Leo. He was very knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend him.
We booked a Full Day from Lisbon: Tomar, Convent of Christ, and Almourol Castle tour with Get Your Guide. The day before the tour I received an email that said we needed to be at the meeting point 10 minutes prior to the start time. My email said the tour was being conducted by Cooltours (Cooltours have white vans with their logo) and the guide would be holding a yellow flag. Many Cooltour buses came and went, but not ours. At 0800 I called the number on Get Your Guide and they said he would be there soon in a grey van and they would tell him to use the flag. About 10 minutes later I see a grey van with people getting into it. I go over and yep, it's our tour. No flag and the guideโs (Paulo) shirt says Tugatrips. He has our name on a list so we get in. He tells us about his life and why he's late. After 1 1/2 hours we get to Almourol Castle. We are supposed to take a boat to the castle. The dock is underwater. He says he will check with another boat company. So while he is doing that, I Google it. It say โBeginning October 1 the Almourol Castle will be following winter hours. It is closed every Mondayโ. Well, this was Monday. I show him this on my phone and he says โGood to knowโ. So he proceeds to call us together to tell us about the castle in the parking lot but he does so in the middle of where men are using weed eaters to cut down grass so you canโt hear him. Then he tells us he will take us to a church where Templars are buried. We get to the church, it is closed. He then says, we will drive to Tomar and he will give us more time for lunch. He was already giving us 1 ยฝ hours for lunch. I donโt need 3 hours to eat. I told him I didnโt want more time to eat, I wanted a Templar tour. He said that the lunch would be 1 ยฝ hours and that we would get extra time in the Convent. As we walked down the street of Tomar the guide was telling us absolutely nothing. I asked about a statue in the middle of town, and he said that was the guy who established the town. Then he proceeded to tell us where to eat. He then told us after we ate we could roam around and take pictures as there were a lot of sites to see. (Well then why canโt he take us and tell us about them as I thought this was a tour!) We get to the Convent. He probably told us 3 or 4 things, then walked ahead of us, stood and scrolled on his phone. The only information that I got at the Convent I had to read on signs. We had to walk quickly to keep up with him. He couldnโt even keep 8 people that were on the tour together. He skipped numerous rooms. This was the absolute worst tour I have ever taken. A total waste of a vacation day in Lisbon. After the tour I complained to Get Your Guide, because that is who I booked through. They refunded me only 30%. I paid over $251 for the tour and got $75 back. When I told them that wasnโt acceptable, they told me that was their policy and provided a link to their policies. I would not recommend utilizing Get Your Guide. This is the first and last time I will use them as they do not stand behind their services.
Our guide Rui brought a lot of energy and knowledge about Lisbon and the Templar Knights to our tour. He made it a very enjoyable experience.
This was a very long day and due to some issues our small group tour became tripled in size and so one star off for that. Otherwise the Templar history was fantastic, the monuments all Iโd hoped for and the guide was very well informed. Iโd recommend this tour. Just be prepared for a long day.
Rui was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide! We learned a lot and enjoyed seeing the ancient sites.
We had a very satisfying trip with our driver/guide Hugo. He was very well informed and professional. He even added a drive out to the Aquaduct dos Pegoes per our request. We appreciated being able to choose our own lunch spot and free time to buy souvenirs. Hugo gave us a lot of Templar history and answered all our questions.
Very interesting sites all related to the Knights Templars. Our guide, Alex was great. He was extremely knowledgeable and went out of the normal route to show us some great scenery on the drive to Tomar.
It was a great day out. Paulo was an excellent guide, informative, fun. Would definitely recommend this trip. Very happy that there were no large bus tours there. A small experience.
The places we visited were excellent. The tour guide was very knowledgeable however we did have issues. The meeting time was 7:50 with an 8am departure. He didnโt show up until almost 8:20. He apologized and said he would make up the time on tour. So no problem we thought. The biggest issue was coming back there was a lot of traffic and said he wasnโt going to drop us off at meeting point but told us it would be very close. So again we went with the flow. The issue was it wasnโt close. It wound up being almost a 40 min walk back. Basically approx 2 miles. Us along with another couple in the group couldnโt believe it was this far. Overall good tour and during the day the guide was very good. Just being dumped off at the end was unacceptable especially for the cost of the tour
A wonderful trip to Tamar. A very knowledgeable, kind, and helpful guide, Nuno. It was a charming day. The sights are stunning. The tour organization was excellent.
Great tour with Ines to Tomar and the Convent of Christ. Had a good lunch at a cafe in Tomar.The Convent was stunning and we learnt a great deal of history and the Templars. Tour was well paced and recommend this as a day tour from Lisbon with Cooltours.
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