Tomar and Mafra Small Group Tour from Lisbon
Uncover the secrets of the Knights Templar and a royal palace of extraordinary scale in a single unforgettable day.
This Tomar and Mafra day tour from Lisbon takes you beyond the well-worn tourist trail to two of Portugal's most historically significant sites. From a medieval Templar fortress to an immense royal palace, the day offers a rare depth of history rarely covered in a single excursion.
Tomar is one of those Portuguese cities that rewards the curious traveler. Its Convent of Christ, founded in the twelfth century by the Knights Templar, is a layered architectural masterpiece that charts the full arc of Portuguese history from the Crusades to the Age of Discoveries. Walking through its Romanesque rotunda, Manueline church, and Renaissance cloisters is to walk through centuries of ambition and faith.
Mafra offers a completely different kind of spectacle. The National Palace of Mafra stretches for 220 meters and contains more than 1,200 rooms, 4,700 doors and windows, and one of the finest libraries in eighteenth-century Europe. Its scale alone is astonishing, and the stories embedded in its walls speak to both royal power and eventual political upheaval.
The tour also allows time to experience the city of Tomar at a human pace. The river Nabão cuts through its historic center, and the old streets carry traces of a once-thriving Jewish community alongside centuries of Portuguese civic life.
Tour Highlights
Visit the Convent of Christ in Tomar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally built by the Knights Templar in the twelfth century.
Explore the Templar castle, the Romanesque round church, and the remarkable Manueline window, one of the icons of Portuguese architecture.
Discover how the Knights Templar evolved into the Order of Christ and became a driving force behind the Age of Portuguese Discoveries.
Wander the historic streets of Tomar, a beautifully preserved riverside city with a rich Jewish heritage and traditional Portuguese character.
Marvel at the sheer scale of the Mafra National Palace, with its 220-meter facade and more than 1,200 rooms to explore at your own pace.
Step inside the palace's legendary library, home to a colony of bats that have long served as natural guardians of its rare book collection.
Learn how the Mafra Palace played a pivotal role in the events that brought the Portuguese monarchy to its end.
Itinerary
The tour begins with a drive north from Lisbon through the agricultural heartland of the Ribatejo region. The landscape shifts gradually as the city gives way to open farmland and river plains on the approach to Tomar.
The group visits the Convent of Christ, ticket included, exploring its Templar castle, Romanesque rotunda, Manueline church, Renaissance convent, and monastic precincts. The guide explains the transition from the Knights Templar to the Order of Christ and the order's central role in Portugal's maritime expansion.
After the convent visit, there is free time to explore the city of Tomar and enjoy lunch at one of its traditional restaurants. The guide provides context on the city's Jewish quarter and its historic streets before guests go their own way for the midday break.
The group drives to Mafra and enters the National Palace, one of the largest royal residences ever built on the Iberian Peninsula. Highlights include the infirmary, the ceremonial rooms, and the extraordinary baroque library with its resident bat colony.
Before departing, there may be time to sample a traditional local pastry at a nearby cafe, at guests' own expense. The group then returns to Lisbon, completing a day that has spanned more than six centuries of Portuguese history.
What Is Included
Included
- Professional licensed guide throughout the tour
- Entrance ticket to the Convent of Christ in Tomar
- Entrance ticket to the Mafra National Palace
- Private or small group transportation from Lisbon
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not Included
- Lunch in Tomar (free time, own expense)
- Traditional pastries or drinks in Mafra (own expense)
- Gratuities for the guide or driver
- Personal travel insurance
Important Information
Book Your Place on This Tour
Spaces on this small group tour are limited. Secure your spot today and step into the history that shaped Portugal and its golden age of exploration.
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