Santarém

The Tagus Valley region of central Portugal, home to the Convent of Christ in Tomar and the pilgrimage site of Fátima.

Santarém District lies in central Portugal and roughly corresponds to the traditional Ribatejo region, with the Tagus River running through it and plains known for farming, horse breeding and bullfighting traditions. The Convent of Christ in Tomar, a legacy of the Knights Templar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Fátima, in the municipality of Ourém, is a world-famous Catholic pilgrimage site. The capital, Santarém, sits on high ground overlooking the Tagus and preserves numerous Gothic churches. Spring and autumn are pleasant, while summer is rather hot. The gateway is Lisbon Airport, and you can travel by train or car.

Destinations

• Tomar
• Coimbra
• Óbidos & Nazaré

Itineraries

• Lisbon to Porto Silver Coast – Drive north along the Silver Coast to see walled towns, three historic monasteries, a university city, and the canals o…
• Lisbon and Day Trips – Based in Lisbon, with day trips to Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos and Nazaré
• Porto and Northern Portugal by Train – Based in Porto, take trains to Aveiro, Braga and Guimarães, and spend a night in the Pinhão wine village in the Douro V…