Essentials
- City
- Tomar, Santarém District, Central Portugal
- Population
- 38,000 (City and Municipality)
- Internet Speed
- 100-500 Mbps via MEO or Vodafone fiber; 5G widely available in the center
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include Millennium BCP and Caixa Geral de Depósitos at Praça da República
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe, though some residents prefer filtered water for taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Vodafone, MEO, and NOS. A 30GB prepay data plan costs approx. €15-20
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut is widely used; local banks like ActivoBank (in nearby towns) are popular for no-fee accounts
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Idealista and Era Imobiliária
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Multibanco (MB Way) and contactless payments are accepted in almost all shops/restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (approx. €60-90/night) or Loft Tomar for stylish central stays
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel 2300 Thomar (approx. €25-35 for a dorm bed)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Centro Histórico (near the Templar Castle and Nabão River)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Urbanização dos Templários or the residential areas near Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes for balance and space
Other Services and Amenities
- Community Centers
- Casa do Concelho de Tomar
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Cafes near the high schools on Av. Norton de Matos
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Estoril (Short train ride to Cascais/Lisbon, 1.5h)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- CTT (Portuguese Post) at Av. Dr. Cândido Madureira
- Tech Repair Services
- Doctor IT on Rua Silva Magalhães
- Table Tennis Spots
- Ginásio Clube de Tomar
- Language Classes
- Portuguese for Foreigners at IPT (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal de Tomar (Quiet, good Wi-Fi, air-conditioned)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,800/m²; 40 m² studio = €72,000
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,200/m²; 40 m² studio = €48,000
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,600/m²; 60 m² 1-bed = €96,000
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,100/m²; 60 m² 1-bed = €66,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,500/m²; 80 m² 2-bed = €120,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,000/m²; 80 m² 2-bed = €80,000
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Reduced rates apply to first €50k for SMEs)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 28%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents; NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) scheme recently changed to NHR 2.0
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 48% (+ solidarity tax)
- VAT
- 23% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to entities in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- IMI (Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis) ranges from 0.3% to 0.45% annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- IMT (up to 7.5%) + 0.8% Stamp Duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa (D8) offers pathways for 15% flat tax under specific conditions
Food and Drink
- Wine Bars
- Taverna Antiqua (Medieval themed wine and mead experience)
- Street Food Stalls
- Usually found during the Festa dos Tabuleiros; seasonal chestnut roasters in winter
- Popular International Cuisine
- A Grelha (Italian-influenced grill) and various Sushi spots like Kenzo
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Eat.pt are the primary services in the city
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Feijoada de Caracóis or Cabrito Assado; dessert: Fatias de Tomar
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Bio-Thomar (Health shop and organic lunch spot) and 100 Sentidos
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelaria Estrela de Tomar for the famous Fatias (€1.80)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pingo Doce, Continente, and the Mercado Municipal on Friday mornings
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Worten.pt (Electronics), Amazon.es (Free delivery to Portugal for Prime)
- Grocery Delivery
- Continente Online and Mercadão (Pingo Doce delivery service)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua Infantaria 15 for bars; Refúgio Bar for craft beer vibes
- Local Brewery
- Cerveja Templária (Local craft beer found in specialty shops)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Convento de Cristo (UNESCO World Heritage Site, €10 entry fee)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museu dos Fósforos (Matchbox Museum, world’s largest collection)
- Historical Sites
- Aqueduto de Pegões (Ancient 6km long aqueduct)
- Religious Sites
- Church of Santa Maria do Olival (Pantheon of the Knights Templar)
- Annual Events
- Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays, every 4 years; next in 2027)
- Cultural Districts
- Jewish Quarter (Judiaria) featuring the 15th-century Synagogue
- Theater Venues
- Cine-Teatro Paraíso at Praça da República
- Local Markets
- Mercado Municipal de Tomar (Weekly on Fridays)
- Music Scene
- Regular live fado at local restaurants like Cervejaria do Fernando
- Street Art
- Murals near the train station and contemporary pieces in the Estaus festival areas
- Cooking Classes
- Workshops at the Hotel dos Templários (Periodic events)
- Art Galleries
- Casa Manuel Guimarães for rotating local exhibitions
- Historic Buildings
- Paços do Concelho (City Hall) at Praça da República
- Local Heritage
- Knights Templar Cross found throughout city architecture and layout
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes (Former Templar hunting grounds, free entry)
- National Parks Nearby
- Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros (30 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Walk along the Nabão River toward Mouchão Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Miradouro do Castelo for views of the entire city and river
- Birdwatching Locations
- Castelo de Bode Dam (Zêzere River area, 15 mins drive)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly limited to designated BBQ areas at Picnic parks like Valdonas due to fire risks
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- A Praça (Marketplace coworking) or the Creative Hub in nearby Abrantes (30 min train)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Estrelas de Tomar at Praça da República (Good Wi-Fi, historic atmosphere)
- Networking Events
- Tomar Tech Meetups (occasional) and events at the IPT (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Central Portugal Facebook Group; monthly meetups at Bio-Thomar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt is available, otherwise Taxi Tomar (Praça da República stand): +351 249 313 333
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Free city bikes (B_Tomar) provided by the municipality; pick-up at the Tourism Office
- Best Beach Nearby
- Praia Fluvial do Agroal (Cold water thermal beach, 15 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- TAP Air Portugal (Flying from Lisbon Portela Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, EasyJet, and Lufthansa (Operating from Lisbon, 1h 30m away)
- Highway Access
- A13 (North-South) and A23 (East-West) are the primary connections
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tomar Train Station (End of the line from Lisbon Santa Apolónia, €10-15)
- Public Transport Passes
- TUTomar (Urban transport) daily passes for €1.50 or monthly for €15
- Regional Travel
- CP Trains to Lisbon (2 hours) or Rede Expressos buses to Coimbra and Fatima
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Nossa Senhora da Graça (Public) and CUF Santarém (Private, 45 mins away)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Espaço Yoga Tomar (Classes approx. €10/drop-in)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Ginásio Clube de Tomar at Pavilhão Municipal; monthly membership approx. €35
- Laundry Services
- Self-service Laundry 'Lavandaria Self-service' on Rua Amorim Rosa (€5/wash)