Tomar castle

Really enjoyed a lovely walk around the exterior grounds/walls of this castle during our brief visit to Tomar - great views, very scenic! If visiting the Convento de Cristo (need to buy tickets for that; it's on the same site) it's absolutely worth taking some extra time to explore the grounds of the Castle for some fresh air and photo opportunities. We were there on a Thursday morning in late September and hardly anyone else was there at the same time, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Looks really cool at night as well, from the townsite, all lit-up.

This is a beautiful place with plenty of space for a walk! You will pass by historical walls, gardens, ruins, great halls, and many other fascinating parts of this castle. I think it will take around 2–3 hours, or up to 4 hours if you like to gaze at the details. The entrance costs 15 euros (and it’s worth every penny), but if you have a Portuguese NIF and can say the numbers in Portuguese, it’s free 😄👍. Inside, you can find a machine where you can make a souvenir from your 5-cent coin — it costs 1 euro and 5 cents 😄. I really liked it, and I recommend taking the coins with you for it.

I recently had the pleasure of exploring Castelo de Tomar in Tomar and it quickly became one of my favorite historical sites in Portugal. Originally built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, the castle and its adjoining Convent of Christ offer a fascinating mix of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Walking through the imposing stone walls, defensive towers, and the richly decorated Charola—an octagonal church inspired by the Temple of Jerusalem—was like stepping into a living medieval fortress. I loved the way sunlight filters through the ornate Chapter House window, casting patterns across the stone floors. The panoramic views from the ramparts over the town and the Nabão River are breathtaking, especially at sunset. The castle grounds are spacious, peaceful, and very well maintained, allowing me to wander at my own pace without feeling rushed. The ticket price is very affordable considering the depth of history and the number of monuments included, and the on-site explanations and museum displays provide clear context for the castle’s evolution over the centuries. One small downside is that some of the signage could be improved for non-Portuguese speakers, but friendly staff were available to help. Overall, Castelo de Tomar is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in architecture, history, or simply seeking a serene place filled with centuries of stories.

Lovely castle to visit and it’s free entry to the grounds , the walk up to the castle is steep and on an uneven cobblestone winding road , at the top you will enter the grounds through a couple of archways into an open enclosed area with spacious well maintained gardens filled with flowers and bushes. You can access the walls above the gates for excellent views and also the gardens that are lovely to walk around and enjoy . This is a nice castle to see and I feel it better to see this first then the Convent .

People confused this structure with the nearby convent. This is the old templar knighs castle and castle grounds. Well worth visiting, and it is free also. Lots of nocks and cranies to discover.

That is wonderful to walk around the castle and the garden for free! And the view is already very beautiful.

Ruins of the 12th century castle next to the Convent of Christ in Tomar. Previous headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. Worth visiting.

The original Templar experience is still perceptable under all the Catholic trappings, which attempt to undermine it. It's historical significance is huge and the deed of Gualdim Pais as the later rescuer of the Templar Impulse profound.

If you like the story of the Knights Templar you should come here. This was Called the Convent of Christ. It was the temple where the Knights Templar lived when they were betrayed by the king of France and disbanded by the pope and fled France. Those who survived fled to Portugal where King Dinis reamed them the Knights of Christ. The symbol of the Knights of Christ is slightly different than the Knights Templar but you can see the similarity. The inner chapel is very ornate and beautiful which showed the money that they had. I loved putting the history together with the actual place.

My wife and I were here on a Gate1 tour. The Convent of Chris is a former Catholic convent. It was nearby in Tomar, surrounded by the walls of the Tomar Castle. It was originally a 12th-century Knights Templar stronghold, when the order was dissolved in the 14th century the Portuguese branch was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, that later supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century. The convent and castle complex are a historic and cultural monument and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. It is really magnificent Romanesque Church.

A remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of unbelievable history. This the Portuguese headquarters of the Knight Templar from 1160 until it was disbanded in 1314. Sit on top of hill overlooking the old town. The church is magnificent. Then you see the dormitories. Small and very modest rooms.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a "must-see" when you're in Portugal. The twelfth century Romanesque round church is amazing, modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The heavily ornate Manueline architecture of the convent recalls the maritime exploits of the age of discovery. Allow plenty of time to explore this fascinating complex.

This is my last of the combo ticket I bought near middle of Portugal to visit. I am actually amazed by the beauty inside the church. This place is combine the Tomar Castle, the Convent, and the Templar church. It is a huge place. Minimum 1.5 hours. I still feel 1.5 hours may not enough for normal people to explore the entire compound. The castle wall walk is close during my visit. It is important to know there are two parking area. Because the top parking is always full, you need to know there is a lower level parking area. Parking is not free. The castle build around 11 century, the convent build in 13 century. This is UNESCO site has a lot history. The most important and beautiful chamber is the the Templar round church. I was amaze by the painted concave round ceilings. It one kind of architecture design. Beauty as it, I spend the most time to see every detail. The convent include the courtyard, infirmary, garden, spiral staircase and more. The famous chapter house window is nice to visit. The Cloister of the king also great to take a break and enjoy the fantastic architectural.

What can I say but that this place is amazing! The culture, history, and architectural structure of the building will leave you in aww. I definitely recommend reading a bit about the history of the place before going and taking a guided tour if that is an option. We were on a tour with GoCosmos and our local guide Sandra was simply amazing. She really had a way with words that engaged the audience while bringing History to life. My 11 y.o. son throughly enjoyed the tour. If you can visit I would recommend doing so, this is an experience you definitely do not want to miss. Other notes: there was a good sized dedicated parking lot, employees are scarce about the building and without a tour you may just find yourself wandering the large castle with questions since the signs are not all translated which is okay if that's your thin

Beautiful August day to tour this monastery! If one is in Tomar, Portugal don't miss the opportunity to visit!

beautiful old castle and convent. undergoing a bit of restoration now, but still worth the hike. acoustics in chapels are phenomenal.

This is one imposing fortress overlooking Tomar. We made this short stop on our way from Porto to Evora. My sister is a big fan of stuff like this and the Knights Templar so it was a must stop for her - for the rest of us it was OK. The structure itself is pretty cool and the circular "altar" is unlike anything I have ever seen. The signage is a bit sparse so I am sure we would have gotten more out of it if we were on a tour. After almost two weeks of churches, monasteries, castles, palaces, and fortresses I think I am getting history weary... One practical note: the top parking lot is very small so we parked on a nearby street only to discover on our way out that there was another parking lot on a lower level - no where did we see signs about the overflow parking....

This castle dominates the skyline of quaint Tomar, its quite omnipresence is further developed once you approach the imposing entrance. It is something out of a history book, battlements, courtyards, and murderholes. The gardens are beautiful, and just having a walk around outside is well worth it, however for a modest entrance fee you can tour the immense ancient monastery, with its seemingly endless courtyards, and lovingly crafted chambers. The visit Convento de Cristo is quite spectacular, there is a lot of walking, and a lot of things to see, so come ready to engage with the site.

Absolutely love it! If you like architecture, history and art prepare yourself to spend at least a couple of hours exploring the church, the convent, the ruins of the castle - so bring your comfortable shoes and do pay attention as steps can be uneven and slippery. Make sure you walk around the gardens before getting in because the exit is on the opposite side and you won't come back to the gardens. You need to take a photo at the manueline window that's in every history of architecture book! Get your camera ready but be respectful, it is a church after all and take in the fact that some of this was built in the 12th century! And count on being surrounded by tourists, being listed in the UNESCO World Heritage makes it a prominent site and you usually can hear multiple languages.