Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges
Up the Tagus from Lisbon to Gothic Santarém, a castle on an island, riverside villages and the vulture cliffs of the Portas de Ródão.
- Distance
- 219 km (136 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 01 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Portugal
- Updated
- August 7, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 219 km (136 mi) with 7 stops, from Lisbon to Portas de Ródão. About 3 h 01 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Portugal · More road trips from Lisbon
Route description
Leave Lisbon north on the A1 and cross the Ribatejo, the flat country of horses and bulls beside the Tagus, to Santarém. Its Gothic churches and the Portas do Sol viewpoint, above a wide sweep of river and plain, make a good first stop.
Continue up the river to the Almourol Castle, a Templar fortress on an island in the Tagus, reached by a short boat trip from Tancos when the river allows. Just upstream, Constância is a pretty village where the Zêzere joins the Tagus, with whitewashed houses on the hillside.
From here the A23 and quieter roads lead east past Abrantes to Belver, where a small castle stands high above the river and a river beach lies below. The landscape becomes wilder, with pine and eucalyptus hills and fewer villages.
End at Vila Velha de Ródão, where the Tagus cuts through a quartzite ridge at the Portas de Ródão. Griffon vultures nest on the cliffs; walk up to the King Wamba tower above the village or take a boat trip through the gorge. There are riverside aires for motorhomes along the way, and spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Lisbon
Portugal - 287 km
Santarém
Portugal - 345 km
Almourol Castle
HistoryVila Nova da Barquinha, PortugalA Templar castle on a rocky islet in the middle of the Tagus, reached by a short boat ride from Tancos. Boats do not run when the river is high.
- 45 km
Constância
Portugal - 541 km
Belver Castle
HistoryBelver, PortugalA compact medieval castle on a hill above the Tagus, with a river beach below. The views up and down the valley are the reason to come.
- 638 km
Vila Velha de Ródão
Portugal - 73 km
Portas de Ródão
NatureVila Velha de Ródão, PortugalA gateway of quartzite cliffs where the Tagus cuts through a ridge, home to a colony of griffon vultures. Walk up to the King Wamba castle tower above the village, or take a boat trip through the gorge.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Lisbon → Santarém · 87 km · 1 h 12 minOvernight nearby, for example: Ebenézer - Rua Gil Conceição Escapa (7 km); River Park (19 km).
- Day 2: Santarém → Constância · 50 km · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Almourol Castle.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Pelinos (18 km); ParqueTejo (13 km).
- Day 3: Constância → Portas de Ródão · 82 km · 1 h 08 minOn the way: Belver Castle, Vila Velha de Ródão.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, July–August and November–December. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Portugal: Electronic tolls by number plate. Some motorways only have electronic tolls; register your plate or rent a transponder. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
- Lisbon: Low-emission zone. Older vehicles may be banned, and foreign vehicles often have to register before entering.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges?
3-day road trip of about 219 km (136 mi) with 7 stops, from Lisbon to Portas de Ródão. About 3 h 01 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 01 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges start and end?
It starts in Lisbon and ends in Portas de Ródão.
Which countries does Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges pass through?
Portugal.
Where can you camp along Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges?
OpenStreetMap lists 40 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping Pelinos, Lisboa Camping and Fábrica do Braço de Prata.
When is the best time for Along the Tagus: Templar castles and river gorges?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, July–August and November–December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
More like this
© Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0Down the Guadiana: Beja to Castro Marim
© Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0The hidden Algarve: villages and the Serra de Monchique
© Marmontel · CC BY 2.0