# 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b3-tagus-castles/

**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. 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 |
| Route | Lisbon → Portas de Ródão |
| Countries | Portugal |
| Updated | August 30, 2026 |

## 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

1. **Lisbon** (Portugal)
2. **Santarém** (Portugal)
3. **Almourol Castle** (Vila Nova da Barquinha, Portugal): A 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.
4. **Constância** (Portugal)
5. **Belver Castle** (Belver, Portugal): A 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.
6. **Vila Velha de Ródão** (Portugal)
7. **Portas de Ródão** (Vila Velha de Ródão, Portugal): A 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.

## 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.