Where is preferences tab

Preference menu

iPad Settings > Safari ( there is menu item listed as preferences)

OS X Safari (in the menu bar) > Preferences

I know this sounds dumb but I cannot find anything that is marked as or looks like a menu bar. Toolbar, yes but any menu is missing.

On Safari on an iPad? There isn't one.

There's a workaround.

You can switch from one webpage to another by tapping the small white square bottom right corner of the Safari window.