The 700-rating day trip scores 4.8, and the convent in its title is bracketed in its inclusions
This is the most-rated way into this monument, by a factor of four
700 ratings. The next-largest on any listing that reaches the Convento de Cristo is 173, on the plain ticket. So if you are looking for the thing most people actually do, this is it: a coach out of Lisbon, Almourol in the morning or the afternoon, Tomar in the other half, back the same evening.
And ten written reviews were recovered from those 700, all five stars. One rating in seventy carries a sentence. That ratio is worth holding on to while you read them.
Not one of the ten mentions the option, in either direction
Nobody writes that they had to buy their own convent ticket. Nobody writes that theirs was included. Diana was plainly inside the building, because she describes it mid-restoration:
“while parts of the Convent were under renovation when I went, it was still great to see what was available, to see the architecture, and to hear the history of the Knights”
“It was an absolutely magical experience of misty boat rides and ancient castles, monasteries, and churches.”
“Very pleasant trip. The guide was courteous, friendly, and could tell us a lot about the Templars and Tomar. Marcos”
What that means for you is simple and slightly annoying: the written record cannot tell you which option those reviewers bought. Check the option you are selecting in the booking widget before you pay, and if the convent is the reason you are going, make sure it is the one with the convent in it. The three listings in this catalogue with conditional admission are named and quoted on all eighteen listings.
The reviews are about the guide, and the same names come round
Four of the ten name Carlos. Two name Paulo. The pattern across this site is that a small number of guides work several listings, so what you are reading here is less a verdict on a product than a verdict on a handful of people.
“Carlos was an excellent guide and his knowledge about the area was awesome. Carlos was very welcoming and drove us around with ease. We loved Tomar and the boat ride to Almourol Castle was just perfect.”
“Was a great day Carlos was very knowledgeable and we had great conversation.”
“A unique experience, a great schedule, an outstanding tour guide, and places that were more than interesting both in terms of scenery and history.”
Two reviews I am not quoting, and why
Two of the ten name a guide called Inês — one with the accent, one without. That is my name. I do not work this listing and I have never met either reviewer, and there is no way for you to verify that from here, which is exactly the problem. Praise of a guide called Inês, reprinted on a page written by a guide called Inês, is worth nothing to you even when it is honest. So they are counted in the ten and they are not quoted anywhere on this site.
This listing’s own inclusions
- A professional guide, and transport out of Lisbon and back
- Entrance to Almourol Castle with the boat ride, flat and unconditional
- A guided tour of the church of Santa Maria do Olival
- Insurance
What is not in them
- The Convent of Christ, unless you select the option that includes it
- Lunch
- Any guarantee it runs — it cancels below three participants
If the Convento de Cristo is the point of your day, the sister listing from the same city names the entrance fee flat, with no bracket and no option to pick wrong. It is reviewed here and it costs more.
The alternatives from Lisbon
Ticket and lunch inFrom Lisbon: Tomar, Christ Convent & Almourol Castle Tour
Templar-specialist guideLisbon: Knights Templar Tour - Almourol, Tomar and Convent of Christ
Capped at eightSmall-Group Tour of Tomar from Lisbon – History of the Knights Templar
Whether a day trip is the right shape at all — against two hours on a train and a night in Tomar — is argued on day trip or stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Convent of Christ entry included in this Lisbon day trip?
Only if you select the option that includes it. The listing's inclusions say “Entrance to the Convent of Christ (if option selected)”, while Almourol Castle and its boat ride are included flat. The convent is in the title of the listing either way, which is why this page exists.
How reliable is the 4.8 on this tour?
It rests on 700 ratings, which is more than four times the next-largest count on any listing that reaches this monument, so as scores on this site go it is the best evidenced. Ten written reviews were recovered from those 700 and all ten are five stars, but ten out of 700 is one in seventy, so the writing is a thin slice of it.
Do the reviews say anything about the convent being closed?
One does. Diana writes that parts of the convent were under renovation when she went and that it was still worth seeing. Restoration is under way and its scope changes, so the visiting page points you at the operator rather than listing what is shut.