Tomar Group Tours

Tomar is a historical gem right at the center of Portugal. The city was founded by the Knights Templar with their headquarters being the Convent of Christ monastery. The monastery stands up to today, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tomar is also a cultural center and home to lots of cultural events including the festival of trays that happens every four years. In this festival hundreds of women come out carrying large trays of bread and flowers on their heads. The trays with bread and flowers symbolize harmony in the community. The city is also home to lots of architectural masterpieces including Roman-era bridges and Gothic Churches.

There are lots of hidden gems in Tomar and without a good guide you are likely to miss some of them. Being a city that was founded in the 12th century, some of these attractions have undergone some reconstructions, while others still stand as they were. Some of these hidden gems include:

• The Aqueduct of Pegões. This is an aqueduct built in the 16th century to supply water to the Convent of Christ. The aqueduct is 6000 m long. 
• The Match museum. This is a museum with 43,000 match boxes collected from 122 countries across the globe.
• Synagogue of Tamor. This was once a synagogue but acts as a Jewish museum today.

For you to visit all the attractions in Tamor, and have ample time on each of them, you will require 2-3 days. This is enough time to go to each attraction and learn its history and significance in shaping Tomar to what it is today. Most of these attractions have some deep history that needs some time to understand and appreciate. One such attraction is the Convent of Christ. This is a huge complex, hosting many medieval buildings of historical importance, and can easily take you a whole day to learn and understand how each building played a crucial role in those days.

Weekdays are the best days to visit Tomar. There are fewer people, especially during the tourist low season months. Weekends tend to attract more crowds and you may find long queues and congestion in the popular attractions. During the peak season, weekday mornings are the best time to explore to get enough time to appreciate the attractions. On the weekends, the market is also crowded and it will be a hustle to walk around and get what you may be looking for.

Like most cities in Portugal, Tomar is safe. Being a tourist destination, the police put in extra effort to ensure everyone is safe. You will notice frequent police patrols in the streets as you go about your exploration. The locals are also very friendly, and always willing to assist whenever they can. But like all tourist destinations, you should avoid putting yourself in positions that may expose you to unpleasant experiences like magging or even snatching. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone in secluded places.

Yes, you can and you should. This is the best way to explore Tomar. The city has a train and bus service. The train and bus drop you off at the city center from where most attractions are within walking distance. For guided tours, you will be dropped somewhere outside the city so that you walk into the city as you move from one attraction to the other. This is the best way to experience the city and truly appreciate the attractions she has to offer.