This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Tomar.
Tomar, Portugal, is located in central Portugal, in the municipality of Santarem. Although definitely not as well known as some other destinations in the country, it is a wonderful gem of a city and it should not be missed if you really want to experience Portuguese culture from the inside.
Although inhabited from the Roman times, the city gained importance around the twelfth century with the Portuguese reconquista, when it was officially commissioned for construction as the very last Templar city. This was the time that the magnificent castle and monastery were erected, and they are still in an excellent shape and are open for visitors. The place gained special importance with Henry the Navigator, who invested much of the wealth brought back from his voyages into the Convento de Cristo monastery, which today is a World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO.
Going to Tomar feels like stepping back in time. The whole town is surrounded by a massive wall, inside of which history is very much alive. Walking along the old, typical Portuguese cobble-stoned streets, you stumble upon something to catch your sight every minute. Old churches, aqueducts, and synagogues line your way as well as cute, whitewashed, traditional houses with their Azulejos mosaic decorations. A pleasant walk can take you through the narrow historic streets, where everybody will find the perfect souvenirs in the little gift shops where you can watch the memorabilia being made, or along the river, which, according to the popular Portuguese legend, flows upward.
An overnight stay here is highly recommended to get the real feel of the place, as night is the time the tiny squares start filling with people and the place comes to life. For the budget traveler, there are a few Tomar, Portugal hostel options available, each offering something completely different. Your Tomar, Portugal hostel options can offer a central, impeccably clean and neat place, the design of which is a merge between modern art and traditional Portuguese thematics, as well as a real experience of Portuguese countryside living, with traditional architecture and furniture in a beautiful rural setting.
Written by local enthusiast for Tomar hostels
JudyM
