Private Tomar & Coimbra Tour from Lisbon – Templars & Heritage
Description
Travel back in time on a private journey that weaves through Portugal’s soul—where sacred legends, royal grandeur, and quiet beauty come to life. Begin in Tomar, the once-mysterious home of the Knights Templar. Explore the majestic Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that still echoes with centuries of power and devotion. Walk the winding lanes of the old town, where stone walls whisper ancient stories. Then, head north to Coimbra—Portugal’s cradle of knowledge. Wander the halls of its historic university, marvel at the baroque Joanina Library, and feel the rhythm of a city shaped by poetry, music, and memory. Gaze over the Mondego River, where past and present meet. With private transport, a relaxed pace, and your own guide to bring it all to life, this is more than a tour—it’s a deep, unforgettable journey through Portugal’s heart.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up
The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a monumental complex with deep historical significance. Originally built as a Templar stronghold in the 12th century, it later became the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal. The complex includes the iconic Templar Castle and the Charola, a remarkable round church with intricate architectural details. Renowned for its Gothic and Renaissance elements, the Convent of Christ is a testament to Portugal's medieval history and craftsmanship. Visitors can explore its courtyards, cloisters, and chapels, experiencing the unique blend of military and religious architecture that makes this site a captivating cultural treasure.
Coimbra, situated in central Portugal, is a city steeped in history and academic prestige. Home to one of Europe's oldest universities, the University of Coimbra, the city exudes a vibrant student atmosphere. The historic university buildings, including the Joanina Library and the Royal Palace of Alcáçova, showcase impressive architectural and cultural heritage. Nestled on the banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra offers a picturesque setting with charming streets, historic squares, and panoramic viewpoints. Its rich tapestry of culture, from Fado music to ancient Roman ruins, makes Coimbra a captivating destination for those seeking a blend of academia, history, and traditional Portuguese charm.
Coimbra University, perched majestically atop a hill overlooking the Mondego River in central Portugal, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. Founded in 1290, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a rich history and architectural splendor. The university's iconic Joanina Library, a Baroque masterpiece, houses an impressive collection of rare manuscripts. The Royal Palace of Alcáçova, another highlight, reflects the grandeur of Portugal's royalty and is an integral part of the university complex. Steeped in academic tradition, Coimbra University's atmospheric courtyards and historic halls provide a captivating glimpse into centuries of scholarly excellence.
The Joanina Library, a jewel within Coimbra University in Portugal, is a captivating blend of architectural beauty and academic history. Built in the Baroque style in the 18th century, the library houses a remarkable collection of rare manuscripts, ancient books, and scholarly treasures. What sets it apart is its unique feature – a colony of bats that help preserve the delicate manuscripts by preventing insect damage. Visitors are enchanted by the library's ornate interiors, including gilded woodwork and frescoed ceilings. The Joanina Library stands not only as a testament to the pursuit of knowledge but also as a living, breathing example of innovative preservation techniques in the world of academia.
Tomar is a historic town located in central Portugal, known for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance. At the heart of Tomar stands the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former headquarters of the Knights Templar. The convent includes the Templar Castle and the Charola, a unique round church. Tomar's medieval streets, traditional architecture, and charming atmosphere create a captivating backdrop for exploration. Visitors can also enjoy the scenic surroundings, including the Nabão River, and immerse themselves in the town's unique blend of historical and contemporary elements. Tomar is a destination that offers a glimpse into Portugal's past and a chance to experience its cultural richness.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The guide will be waiting outside the given address and will be identified with our logo. Private option: Pickup and drop-off available anywhere in Lisbon, Almada, Sesimbra, or Setúbal. We collect from hotels, apartments, Airbnbs, the Port of Lisbon (cruise terminal), and Lisbon Airport.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
This review is an 4.5. Our guide, NuNu was very kind and knowledgeable. He did everything to make us comfortable on the trip. He gave interesting information about the sites. To make the trip even better, I would have liked time for lunch and also for him to go into the sites with us and explain. We liked touring with NuNu so much we are planning to book another tour with him this trip.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us! 🌟 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Nuno and that his knowledge and kindness made your trip special. We truly appreciate your feedback regarding the time spent inside the sites. While we always aim to provide a balance between guided explanations and free exploration, we’ll certainly take this into account for future tours to ensure an even better experience. As for lunchtime, we always allow at least an hour and a half for a relaxed meal, but we understand that sometimes guests prefer to use that time to explore more sites instead. We’re happy to adjust to each group’s preferences whenever possible! It means a lot that you’re considering booking another tour with us—Nuno will be thrilled to see you again! Looking forward to welcoming you back soon for another unforgettable experience. Kindest regards , YesExperiences Portugal
Coimbra's old-world charm is very captivating. The city is full of history. Ricardo, our tour guide, did so well in introducing us to many interesting and beautiful places around and we really enjoyed the tour. Thanks Ric!
Thank you for sharing your experience exploring Coimbra's captivating old-world charm! We are delighted to hear that Ricardo, our tour guide, made your tour enjoyable by introducing you to the city's rich history and beautiful places. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Ricardo! We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more adventures in the future. Kindest regards, YesExperiences Portugal
This tour was a enjoyable tour we covered a lot of territory in just one day traveling from Lisbon to Coimbra and Tomar home of the Templars. Ricardo was knowledgeable, helpful courteous, thorough, and interested in what we wanted to do. Good guide.
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found Ricardo to be knowledgeable, helpful, and courteous. It's great to know that you covered a lot of territory and had a good time exploring Coimbra and Tomar with us. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again on another adventure soon! Kindest regards, YesExperiences Portugal
We had a full day (10 hour) 2 city trip with a car and driver/guide. It began by the driver calling at 9 AM to say that he was running late. He showed up in a 13-year-old van with 300,000 km on it, with a stained roof, a cigarette burn in the seat and a broken arm rest. The driver/guide smokes incessantly (although thankfully not in the van) and his clothes and person reek of smoke. When we arrived in Coimbra, the driver had difficulty finding his way up the hill because of road construction. One would assume that a local guy should know his way around. He said he was picking up the tickets for the famous library. I had read they were hard to get and often they sold out. I assumed he booked in advance. We had about 15 minutes to get the tickets and get to the library for the alleged time-slot. As it turned out, he did not book the tickets in advance. So we then had three hours to spend in the city before the 2:20 slot he was able to get. I asked if we could see some of the other sights at the university. he said the tickets covered everything and we would probably be able to see the chapel and great hall. Unfortunately this was not true as everything was closed for lunch until 2. Shouldn't a local guide know that? We arrived in the second city, Tomar, at 4:30. Allegedly this gave us 2 hours to see the famous castle/chapel. He bought the tickets but did not accompany us which surprised me because the place is large and some guidance would have been nice. 15 minutes into the visit, a guard advised us we had to “move along” because they were closing early for an event. The driver/ guide did try to show us some other things. he took us to see the church in the downtown area and to a nearby aqueduct. Overall I was disappointed. I paid $593.96 to see two cities in a relaxed manner and instead was rushed seeing the important things I booked the tour to visit. I know Viator will say they contract out the service, but shouldn’t they do a better job of vetting the people they contract with?
We are truly sorry to hear about your experience during the city trip. Your feedback is valuable to us and we apologize for the inconveniences you faced with the minivan (it’s one of the top models of Mercedes Benz, used for various tours, so may have a couple of stains, which we will pay more attention), the tour guide (which we will talk to, since we always strive to provide an excellent service and he is a certified and experienced tour guide, who happened to arrive 10 minutes late due to bad traffic in Lisbon city center, but we don’t allow smoking etc and will make sure this does not happen again) and the tour itinerary (usually at lunch time we give free time to have something to eat at a local restaurant, since you didn’t want to, the guide explained the area and the Temple of Christ in detail, which we can’t control when they have events and close earlier, so that you could explore. Regarding the library tickets, when you booked your tour with us, it’s was already sold out online for the date of your tour, but sometimes they have tickets available on site, so the guide tried that option). We strive to provide a high-quality service and we regret that we fell short of your expectations on this occasion. We will address these issues with the tour guide and our partners to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. Thank you for bringing this to our attention and we appreciate your understanding.
Ricardo was incredible with all the information he provided to us. Extremely professional and courteous. Even though it was a rainy day, he went out of his way to make sure we had a wonderful time. It was truly a pleasure having him as our guide.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that Ricardo provided you with incredible service and made your experience enjoyable, despite the rainy weather. We strive to ensure all our travelers have a wonderful time, and we are delighted to hear that he went above and beyond for you. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back in the future! Kindest regards, YesExperiences Portugal
It was our first excursion after landing in Lisbon, so our lovely guide Nuno was kind enough to point out various points of interest and give us the back story of each right from our hotel even before the actual days itinerary began. We had read about a matchbox museum - something that wasnt part of the advertised tour that we wanted to see and he very graciously accommodated the little detour to stop in and visit. Tomar itself was wonderful and merited a whole day. Nunu accompanied us for a portion of the visit giving us some history and directions to follow to locate some not to be missed highlights of Tomar as we continued to explore things on our own. Nunu also gave us some great recommendations for dinner close to our hotel at the end of the tour. The library abd Coimbra university are not to be missed.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience of your excursion from Lisbon with our guide Nuno. We are truly grateful for your kind words and it’s wonderful to hear that Nuno provided you with a personalized and informative tour, tailored to your preferences, including a visit to the matchbox museum. It's fantastic to know that you had a great time in Tomar and that Nuno's guidance added to your enjoyment. We are glad you found the recommendations for dinner and the must-visit places like the library and Coimbra University helpful. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable experience. Thank you for choosing us! Kindest regards, YesExperiences Portugal
