Hello,
We are a family of four who are looking to enjoy Tomar. Is it worth renting a car from the city to enjoy the scenery along the way? How many days is suggested for Tomar? I understand there is a train that takes 2 hours both ways from Lisbon. We could spend one night, but will need to get back to Lisbon.
Open to suggestions.
Thank you.
Susan
Suggest a web site: thecrazytourist.com. Pics of the crazy sites in Torres Novas, Tomar, and Santarem. We drove a rental car from the Lisbon airport to Torres Novas (freeway!). Suggest 2-3 nights at Hotel Aires da Serra (family owned), dinner at Restaurant Papa Fig (attention to detail). The drive north from Torres Novas to Tomar on a lovely country road with black piglets in their world. Tomar castle is a wonder site and a must! Tomar's water front is lovely. We ate at a family eatery where all the locals were. Cash, side street from square to river and across from the site they were peeling potatoes. Back at Torres Novas, we ate at a pizza place between tall apartment buildings, locals and more locals. No, I do not speak Portuguese, and I ending up with pineapple on the pizza. We attempted to go to the roman site but they had just closed. We drove to the top of the hill for the Dinosaur preserve. Lovely view below and an alternative site from all the churches in Lisbon. Torres Novas to Santarem (east then south) on the road camino walker were on. The views from the old town park were lovely over the river.
I think I would opt for the train, if all you want to see is Tomar. Taking the expressways, the scenery isn’t that wonderful and driving will add to the stress of the trip - especially driving around Lisbon.
If you book your train tickets 7-30 days ahead, the tickets are 40% off, making them very inexpensive.
Once in Tomar, I suggest taking a tour of the Knights Templar convent, church, etc. Its pretty amazing and more so if you get the history of what you are seeing.
Thank you, Kathryn. I think we have landed that the train is best. Have a wonderful day.
