The 7 Best Things to Do in Tomar (Including One Most Visitors Miss)
Discover the best things to do in Tomar, Portugal—from Templar castles to hidden gems and unforgettable walking tours.
If you’re visiting Tomar, you’re stepping into one of the most fascinating and often overlooked, historic cities in Portugal.
Famous for its connection to the Knights Templar, Tomar is packed with castles*, churches, hidden symbols, and stories that most visitors walk straight past.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best things to do in Tomar, including one experience that many travellers say becomes the highlight of their trip.
1. Explore the Convent of Christ
No visit to Tomar is complete without exploring the Convent of Christ.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. Inside, you’ll find stunning Manueline architecture, hidden symbolism, and centuries of layered history.
But here’s the truth:
Most visitors walk through it without really understanding what they’re seeing.
2. Walk Across the Medieval Bridge and Old Town
Tomar’s old town is compact, beautiful, and full of character.
Cross the river, wander through cobbled streets, and soak up the atmosphere around the main square. This is where daily life meets centuries of history. There are lots of stories about the bridge including the gruesome tale of our patron Saint.
Look closer, and you’ll start to notice:
- Architectural details
- Religious symbols
- Clues from different time periods
3. Visit the Church of Santa Maria do Olival
This church is one of the most important Templar sites in Portugal, and one of the most overlooked.
The mysteries surrounding this church are endless and if you are lucky enough, find a local to explain them to you.
It served as a burial place for Templar masters, and its design holds subtle meanings connected to the order.
Most tourists spend just a few minutes here.
Those who understand it?
Stay much longer.
4. Discover the Tomar Synagogue
Tomar is also home to one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal.
It tells a powerful story of Jewish life, prosperity, and eventual persecution during the late 15th century.
It’s a small space, but historically, it carries enormous weight.
Massacres, murder and mass baptisms.
5. Walk the Aqueduct of Pegões
Just outside the town, the Aqueduct of Pegões stretches across the landscape in dramatic fashion.
Built to supply water to the Convent of Christ, it’s an impressive engineering achievement—and far less crowded than the main attractions.
If you like exploring beyond the obvious, this is worth your time.
6. Enjoy Local Food and Slow Down
Tomar isn’t just about history—it’s about atmosphere.
Sit down at a local restaurant, try traditional Portuguese dishes, and take your time. The pace here is slower, and that’s part of the charm.
Take a Storytelling Walking Tour (The One Most Visitors Miss)
Here’s what many travellers don’t realise:
Tomar isn’t just a place you see.
It’s a place you need to understand.
That’s why more visitors are choosing to take a storytelling-led walking tour—an experience that brings the city’s history to life through narrative, humour, and hidden details.
Instead of just visiting landmarks like the Convent of Christ, you begin to see:
- The meaning behind symbols
- The stories behind the buildings
- The human side of history
One highly rated option is Tomar’s Most Entertaining Walking Tour, which focuses on Templar secrets, hidden stories, and the side of Tomar most visitors never discover.
Many guests describe it as:
“Not just a tour—but the highlight of their trip.”
👉 If you want more than surface-level sightseeing, this is worth considering.
Tomar may be small, but it’s packed with history, mystery, and character.
Whether you’re exploring the Convent of Christ, wandering the old streets, or uncovering hidden stories, this is a destination that rewards curiosity.
If you take the time to go deeper, you’ll leave with more than photos.
You’ll leave with stories.