Today, many Americans are looking for the right place to relocate or  retire to. And Portugal is a perfect candidate. But where to go?

Lisbon is getting a tad pricey, and Porto is sure to follow. So our suggestion?  Tomar.  This city of 40,000 people is less than 2 hours from Lisbon. It is monumental and charming. And, a 3 bedroom is easy bought for less than $100,000. The city has a good hospital, is surrounded by parks, is set on a river and is one of the most monumental cities in Portugal. It also has rail service to Lisbon.

Readers' Digest magazine took a look at off the beaten path destinations that don't get their due in guidebooks, and they found Tomar as an "appealing town." 

Today, Tomar is a lovely city crowned by a castle that is a relic of the mysterious Templars, full of secret passages, symbolic paintings, and compelling art. The city below is well preserved with a 14^th century synagogue and Jewish Museum, a riverfront park with an Arab waterwheel, a main square flanked by a Gothic church and medieval city hall. The Templars built the Gothic Church of Santa Maria do Olival in the 13th as a built as burial ground for the Knights. 

US News pointed out that: “Portugal ranks as the 17th safest country in the world, the cost of living in Portugal is among the lowest in Western Europe, on average 30 percent lower than in any other country of the region. A retired couple could live here comfortably but modestly on a budget of as little as $1,500 per month. With a budget of $2,000 per month or more, you could enjoy a fully appointed lifestyle in the heart of the Old World.”

When moving abroad to enjoy retirement it is important to know the cost of living, if it is an area with high or low crime, the weather, real estate, health insurance, if the population speaks English even food. And all these reasons combined make Tomar worthy of a spot on you.