Make a holiday rental apartment or villa in Tomar, Portugal your home away from home

The charming city of Tomar lies in most fertile region of Portugal, along the banks of the Nabão River, to the northeast of Lisbon. Once the headquarters of the Knights Templar, the city has an interesting history and many monuments that attract tourists to Tomar accommodation.

Things to do in Tomar, Portugal

There are plenty of things to do in Tomar, from sightseeing to outdoor activities. The countryside that surrounds is filled with vineyards, orchards and forests and is ideal for hiking or horse riding. If you want to enjoy the lovely Portuguese weather in the outdoors there is also a lovely park near the bridge over Nabão River that has nice views of the city and surroundings and is a lovely place to have a picnic.

The best way to explore the old city center with its beautiful gothic, medieval and renaissance architecture is by foot. From the town’s elegant main square, the streets radiate out in a grid pattern, making them easy to navigate. You can pick up a souvenir at one of the shops that sell local crafts such as handmade tiles or pottery, or stop at one of the charming cafes to taste local produce such as olives, figs and wine. Wine coinsurers can go wine tasting at Casal das Freiras vineyard.

Tomar’s most popular tourist attraction, and one of the most important monuments in Portugal, is the Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ. This 12th Century UNESCO World Heritage Site was a Templar stronghold, and played an important role in defending the border of the Christian territory against the Moors. The Castle of Almourol, another important Templar building, is located 20km outside of Tomar on a little rocky island on the Tagus River.

Other fascinating buildings include Church of Santa Maria do Olival, which served as a burial place for Templar Knights, the mediaeval Synagogue of Tomar and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception.

Places to go on holiday in Tomar, Portugal

There are a variety of interesting towns and places of interest that make good day trips for those staying in Tomar apartments. Nearby is Portugal’s bullfighting capital Santarém as well as the town of Vila Franca de Xira, which hosts bull-running festivals in July and October each year. The picturesque fishing village of Nazaré, the ancient city of Leiria and the pilgrimage town of Fatima where you can go karting, abseiling or play paintball, are all within easy driving distance of villas in Tomar.

Weather in Tomar, Portugal

The temperate climate of Tomar means that summers are warm with temperatures in the mid 20°Cs, and winters mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C. The warm weather has made Tomar villas popular with tourists throughout the year.

Flights to Tomar, Portugal

The closest international airport to Tomar villas is Lisbon (LIS), which is 120km away. EasyJet, TAP and British Airways offer regular flights to Lisbon at reasonable prices. From there visitors can hire a car and travel just over an hour to their accommodation in Tomar. There are also daily trains between Lisbon and Tomar.