Tomar from Porto: Convent of Christ, how to get there and how long it takes
Tomar, about 200 km south-east of Porto, is visited mainly for the Convent of Christ, the former seat of the Knights Templar in Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By car allow about 2 hours; by train you usually change at Entroncamento (about 3 hours in all according to secondary sources, October 2026, to be checked on cp.pt). Allow 2 to 3 hours for the convent and old town, which makes a long day from Porto: many travellers prefer to stay overnight, or combine it with Fátima.
Highlights
The Convent of Christ
A complex of cloisters, chapels and the Charola, the Templar rotunda, with a spectacular Manueline facade. It is the reason for the trip.
The Templar castle
Tomar castle is part of the same fortified site on the hill.
The old town
Pedestrian streets by the Nabão river, to be covered in an hour.
Practical info
Tips
- A guided tour avoids train changes: Fátima, Tomar and Convent of Christ tours mostly leave from Lisbon; from Porto, the Fátima and Coimbra tour does not necessarily stop in Tomar: check the programme. For a closer medieval destination, see Guimarães from Porto. Convent hours and entry prices are not confirmed: check the monument's official website before you go.
How to get there
By car, about 200 km (about 2 h). By train, from Porto-Campanhã to Entroncamento then a regional train to Tomar (about 3 h in all). A guided tour is an option with no changes.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.