Tomar is the town that the Knights Templar built - and built so completely that the order’s fingerprints are visible everywhere, from the circular Charola oratory to the ring of castle walls on the hill above. The Convento de Cristo is UNESCO-listed and one of the most architecturally complex buildings in Portugal, with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline elements accumulated over five centuries. The town below is a proper Ribatejo river town - unpretentious, well-kept, and genuinely pleased to see visitors who arrive outside coach-tour hours. See our Tomar guide for the full sightseeing overview.
Search Tomar hotels on Booking.com to compare rates and availability.
Tomar Areas: Where to Stay
Historic Centre (Cidade Baixa)
The lower town between the River Nabão and the hill is the core of Tomar - the main square (Praça da República), the synagogue of the old Jewish quarter, the São João Baptista church, and the access road to the Convento. Hotels and guesthouses here are within 10–15 minutes’ walk of both the convent entrance and the town’s best restaurants. This is the first choice for most visitors.
Near the Castle Hill
A handful of properties are positioned slightly above the lower town, closer to the castle walls and the convent gardens. Quieter and more atmospheric, but with fewer restaurant options immediately at hand.
Nabão Riverside
The riverside stretch south of the centre has a few accommodation options with views over the Nabão and its characteristic gardens. A pleasant 5-minute walk from the main square.
Tomar Hotels by Budget
Budget - approximately €65–€95 per night
Residencial Cavaleiros de Cristo (Historic Centre) - a family-run guesthouse near the main square named for the Templar knights. Clean rooms, good breakfast, and a central position. Approximately €65–€90 per night as of 2026.
Hotel dos Templários (budget rooms) - the large riverside hotel has a range of room types; older rooms at the lower price band offer good value for the location. Approximately €70–€95 per night.
Pensão Nuno Álvares - a simple pension near the town centre with basic rooms and low prices. Good for solo travellers and budget-focused visitors. Approximately €60–€80 per night.
Mid-range - approximately €95–€150 per night
Hotel dos Templários (Riverside) - Tomar’s largest and best-known hotel, situated on the Nabão riverfront with a pool, restaurant, and views toward the convent hill. A reliable choice with consistently good reviews. Approximately €100–€145 per night.
Hotel Tomarense - a well-positioned hotel in the historic centre with comfortable rooms and a terrace. Good for couples and families who want convenience over style. Approximately €95–€135 per night.
Quinta do Valle - a rural property a few kilometres outside Tomar with a pool and garden. Requires a hire car but offers a quieter, more spacious alternative to the town hotels. Approximately €100–€140 per night.
Luxury - approximately €150–€200+ per night
Hotel Palácio de Santa Iria - a small manor house property near Tomar with individually decorated rooms and a garden. One of the more refined options in the area. Approximately €155–€200 per night.
Compare all options - Search hotels in Tomar.
Practical Advice for Tomar
Arrive early at the Convento de Cristo. The site opens at 9am and the first hour is genuinely quiet. By 11am, coach tours from Lisbon and Fátima begin arriving. The Manueline window - an extraordinary piece of stone carving on the west side - is best seen in morning light. Entry costs approximately €6.
The Judiaria is one of Portugal’s best-preserved Jewish quarters. The 15th-century synagogue on Rua Dr Joaquim Jacinto is one of the few intact Sephardic synagogues in Portugal - it survived the expulsion of 1496 intact and is now a museum. Entry costs approximately €2.
The Castle of Almourol is 20km south. The Templar castle on a rocky island in the Tagus River is one of the most photographed in Portugal. Access by rowboat from the riverbank at Constância. A 45-minute drive from Tomar makes it an easy half-day addition.
Fátima is 22km south. See our Fátima hotels guide for accommodation options at the pilgrimage site if you want to split a trip between the two.
Before you go: Sort travel insurance and a Portugal eSIM online before you leave.