Knights Templar tour from Lisbon: Tomar & Almourol Castle

A castle on an island, a church buried two meters underground, and the marks Templars left across a city.

A private guided tour from Lisbon to Tomar and Almourol Castle, exploring the Knights Templar's influence across Portugal with a live guide in your chosen language. The tour covers nine hours and includes hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and accompaniment to all monuments. Lunch and museum tickets are separate. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Almourol Castle45m
2. Tomar30m

Visit Templar sites in Tomar and surroundings

• Visit Almourol Castle on Tagus River island
• Explore church with Templar funerary monuments
• See Templar marks in Mata dos Sete Montes
• Visit Tomar Synagogue and learn cohabitation history
• Tour Templar Castle and Convent of Christ
• Visit Tomar Castle
• See Pegões Aqueduct near Tomar

The experience

The day starts with Almourol Castle, a fortified stronghold built on a small island in the Tagus River. The Templars chose this spot for protection, and the castle still sits where Roman forces once occupied the same ground. From there, the route moves into Tomar itself, where the Templar Church stands as the first seat of the Order: its facade carries the Signum Salomonis, the mark of the Knights Templar, and inside are the funerary monuments of Guladim Pais, the city's founder, and other Grand Masters. The church sits two meters below street level, which is why it reads smaller from outside than it actually is.

Tomar earned its name as the city of the Templars, and the guide walks you through the evidence: the Mata dos Sete Montes, where tradition holds that Templar rituals took place, and marks scattered throughout the streets that show how much pride this city held for the military order. A stop at the Tomar Synagogue, built in the 15th century, shifts the focus to a different history: Portugal's centuries as a place where Christians, Muslims and Jews lived in relative peace. The Synagogue sits in the city center and stands as a reminder of that coexistence.

The Templar Castle, also called the Convent of Christ, was the Order's seat until 1314, then became the seat of the Order of Christ from 1357 onward. The castle dates to 1160, and its octagonal sanctuary, built in the late 12th century, shows Romanesque style with Oriental influence. Before heading back to Lisbon, the tour stops at the Pegões Aqueduct, six kilometers outside Tomar: a 16th-century engineering work that supplied water to the castle and convent. The drive back to your accommodation takes the afternoon into evening.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Lisbon accommodation with an air-conditioned vehicle and WiFi on board.
• a private guide in your chosen language accompanying you to all monuments.
• pickup and drop-off at your hotel.
• compulsory insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 19

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Kitzel Tours Portugal

Is this one for you?The nine-hour day moves at a steady pace with stops at each site rather than long stretches of walking, so it suits anyone interested in Templar history without requiring high fitness levels. Book this one if you want a guide who can explain what you're standing in front of. The private format means the pace stays flexible around your questions and interests.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is Almourol Castle and why did the Templars build it there?

Almourol Castle sits on a small island in the Tagus River, built by the Templars on ground that Romans had occupied centuries before. The island location gave it strategic protection, which is why the Templars chose it as a stronghold.

Can I visit the Templar Church in Tomar, and what will I see inside?

Yes, the Templar Church is one of the main stops on the tour. Inside you'll see the funerary monuments of Guladim Pais, the founder of Tomar, and other Grand Masters of the Order. The church is built two meters below street level, so it's larger inside than it appears from the street.

How long is the full tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs nine hours and includes private transportation from your Lisbon accommodation, an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, a private guide in your chosen language, and accompaniment to all monuments. Lunch and museum entry tickets are not included.

Will we visit the Pegões Aqueduct, and how far is it from Tomar?

Yes, the aqueduct is a stop on the tour, located six kilometers outside Tomar. It's a 16th-century structure that supplied water to the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, and it's considered an excellent example of architectural work from that period.