Source: http://www.ecmm.itn.pt/Travel%20Info.htm and http://residenciasantamarta.com.sapo.pt/

Tomar is located circa 130 km North of Lisbon.

Tomar can easily be reached from Lisbon by car, train or bus. 

In case you decide to come by car, you should exit the highway A1 at the point Torres Novas and then follow the road signs.

The train to Tomar departures from Gare do Oriente, which is very close to the Airport of Lisbon. The quickest way is to take a taxi (around 5 euros) or Carris Bus number 44 to Gare Oriente. Then take the train to Tomar (around 10 euros).

A taxi from Lisbon Airport to Tomar costs about 115 €, add 20% for night period (21h-  6h) and weekends. 

There are also buses to Tomar,  departing from Lisbon next to the Subway and train stations in Sete Rios.

Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ                                                                         

The Convent of the Order of Christ (Portuguese: Convento de Cristo) is a religious building and Roman Catholic building in Tomar, Portugal, originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century. After the Order of the Knights Templar was dissolved in the 14th century, the Portuguese branch of the order was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, which supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century.

The Convent of Christ of Tomar is one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments and has been in the World Heritage list of UNESCO since 1983.

In june and july of 1922 a film was shot at the Convent, named Sereia de pedra, directed by Roger Lion.  

Source image: http://www.destination360.com/europe/portugal/convent-of-christ-in-tomar

 Church of Santa Maria do Olival

The Church of Santa Maria do Olival is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Tomar, in Portugal.

The church was built in the second half of the 12th century by the provincial master of the Order of the Knights Templar in Portugal, Gualdim Pais. It was used as a burial place for the Knights Templar of Tomar and, later, by the Knights of the Order of Christ, which succeeded the Templars in the 14th century. Gualdim Pais is buried in the church, and his original tomb slab, dated from 1195 and bearing a gothic inscription, is still preserved inside.

The current building is mostly the result of a reconstruction carried out in the 13th century in early Gothic style. The main façade has a beautiful rose window and a simple portal with several archivolts, and is flanked by a free-standing bell tower. The interior is very simple. The church has three naves covered by a wooden roof, and the columns of the pointed arches of the naves are devoid of capitals. The main chapel of the apse is covered by a Gothic ribbed vault. The tracery of the small rose window in the Eastern wall of the nave has the shape of a pentagram.

In the 16th century the church was restored and several chapels were added to the Southern side of the church. Notable are the polychromed statue of the Virgin Mary and Child (early 16-century) in the main altar and the funerary monument of Diogo Pinheiro, first Bishop of Funchal, a fine Renaissance work dated from 1525, located on the wall of the main chapel.

Synagoge of Tomar

Tomar has the best preserved mediaeval synagogue of Portugal. It was built in the mid-15th century and has an interesting interior with Gothic vaulting and columns with classic capitals. Since 1939 it houses the small Jewish Museum Abraão Zacuto, with interesting pieces related to Jewish history in Portugal.

Source image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TomarSynagogue2.jpg

Church of Saint John the Baptist (São João Baptista)

The main church of Tomar is located in the main square of the town, in front of the Municipality (17th century) and a modern statue of Gualdim Pais. The church was built between the 15th and 16th centuries and has many interesting artistic details, like the flamboyant Gothic portal, the Manueline tower with a 16th century clock, the decorated capitals of the inner columns of the nave and several panels painted in the 1530s by one of Portugal's best Renaissance artists, Gregório Lopes.

Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception (Nossa Senhora da Conceição)

Chapel built between 1532 and 1540 in pure Renaissance style, begun by João de Castilho and finished by Diogo de Torralva. It was intended to be the burial chapel of King John III. Its beautiful and clear architecture turns it into one of the best early Renaissance buildings in Portugal.

Church and Convent of Saint Iria

Located near the Nabão river, this early 16th-century building has a nice Renaissance portal and altar, as well as Manueline architectonic details.

The streets and squares of the centre of Tomar

The streets and squares of the center of Tomar are organized following a chessboard pattern, a rare feature for a mediaeval city, which later inspired the pattern used for the rebuilding of Lisbon after the Earthquake in 1775.

Scattered throughout the town there are many interesting houses with Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic façades. By the river Nabão, near the bridge, there is a park and garden that offer nice views of the city and surroundings.

Source image: http://www.travelpod.com/s/tomar+portugal+hotels

Castelo do Bode

Castelo do Bode lake in central Portugal is a popular location for many holiday makers wanting to cool down in the heat of the Portuguese summer. The lake is actually the second largest reservoir in Portugal. It was opened in 1951 and spans 60 kilometers, wending in and out the valleys between Tomar, Abrantes to the south and Pedrogao Grande to the north.

Castelo do Bode lake is popular for all kinds of water sport activities including fishing, water skiing, swimming, canoeing and even scuba diving.

The lake is only a 10 minute drive from Tomar and is perfect for a relaxing day out with the family.

Accommodation

When you are staying for a long time in Tomar there are a couple of places where you can settle.

Students of the IPT can live at the residence of IPT. These rooms are always double or triple. The kitchens and bathrooms are shared spaces. A laundry service is also available.  A big advantage is that the residence is part of the school, so you don’t need any kind of transportation to get to classes.

Double room: €85 p.p./ month

http://portal.ipt.pt/portal

An alternative for staying at the university is the Santa Marta residence. This residence is a 15 minute walk from IPT. Individual and double rooms are present and laundry service and gym are available. Kitchens and bathrooms are private. This residence is a bit more expensive than the accommodation at IPT and is also more distant from the centre of Tomar.

Single room: € 250 p.p./ month

Double room: € 318 p.p./ month

http://residenciasantamarta.com.sapo.pt/

A third possibility is to rent an apartment. You can research some options in advance by using internet, but there are also real estate agencies in Tomar. If you like to be adventurous don’t arrange anything in advance, you can let the city surprise you and search for an apartment when you arrive.

When friends and family come to visit there are some options you can suggest them:

Hotels

Hotel Residencial Trovador

Average price/night: € 40 - €65

http://residencialtrovador.com.sapo.pt/

Estalagem Santa Iria

Average price/night: € 50 - €85

http://www.estalagemsantairia.com/

Hotel dos Templarios ****

Average price/night: € 65 - €110

http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/dos-templarios.en.html

B&B’s:

Casa Das Flores

Average price/night : €30

http://www.casadasfloresportugal.com/

Prado Sonolento

Average price/night : €30

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312717-d1442989-Reviews-Prado_Sonolento-Tomar_Estremadura.html

Casa Rosden

Average price/night : €40

http://www.casarosdenportugal.com/

Rio Azul

Average price/night: €35 - €50

http://www.rio-azul.com/en

Exclusive B&B

Casa da Avo Genoveva

Average price/night: € 75 - €145

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312717-d304356-Reviews-Casa_da_Avo_Genoveva-Tomar_Estremadura.html

Transportation

When visiting Portugal there are options for transportation for every budget:

Bus/ Tram

In cities you pay the driver a flat fare. In Lisbon and Oporto there are special tourist tickets at Carris (Lisbon) and the Lisbon Underground or STCP (Oporto) information kiosks, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Train

There are Express trains from Lisbon through Coimbra to Oporto (Alfa trains) and regional trains (Inter-cidades and Inter-regionais) connecting the different areas of Portugal.

First and second class are available (except for local and suburban trains). Special tickets include tourist tickets (valid for 7, 14 or 21 days). There are special rates on "Blue Days" offering return tickets with discount for trips over 100 km. Train timetables are available from information desks at stations and tourism offices.

Taxi

There are plenty taxis in Portugal. They are usually painted green and black, although these colors are being gradually changed to beige. They have an illuminated taxi-sign on top of the car. In the cities they charge a standard meter fare, outside the cities taxi-drivers may charge per kilometer and are entitled to charge for the return fare. The usual amount to tip is 10% of the fare.

Car rental

Average price of a car for one week: €144

Car rental companies can be found in all major towns and at the international airports. You must show proof of identity and a valid driver’s license. A green card is essential and it's wise to take out insurance coverage and collision insurance. Cars can’t be hired by anyone under 21 years old. www.hertz.com

Warnings and dangers 

It's important to keep in mind the following warnings and dangers when visiting Portugal. These warnings are particularly useful when visiting big cities like Lisbon and Porto.

Taxis

When exiting the airport in Portugal you must be careful for dishonest taxi drivers. They might charge you in excess. It’s important to set the fare before entering the taxi.

Pickpockets

It’s a common problem in most major cities but in Lisbon pickpocketting on public transportation seems to be particularly bad. Take precautions, such as not keeping your wallet in your back pocket, to avoid theft. Also, watch out for people bumping against you.

Strong sun

During summer months the sun can be very strong. So if you are on the beach, make sure you apply frequently sunscreen. In Portugal doctors recommend that you go to the beach before 11am or after 5pm. Even if you are not at the beach but visiting a city, you may also get sun burnt. It’s advisable to always wear sunscreen and to carry some water with you.

Tomar is a very peaceful city, you'll easily feel welcome and safe. Yet it is always advisable to be cautious.