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Portugal is a treasure trove of small, picturesque medieval towns like Obidos. It’s a charming walled city whose highlights can be seen in just a few hours. At only an hour’s drive from the capital, it is ideal for a day trip from Lisbon.

While a day tour from Lisbon to Obidos would have spared us from a bit of confusion, we would have sacrificed our story:  The sun was nearing the horizon as we drove up the narrow, windy, cliff edge dirt road that leads to the walled city of Obidos. The road was a bit nerve-racking, but when we reached the top, the real problem was staring us in the face. The closed Obidos city gates had a padlock and chain holding them tight. The sign plastered across the former entrance informed us of an upcoming Medieval Fair that starts in four days.

Our pre-paid apartment was inside those gates, the ability to turn around was difficult, and darkness was descending. However, we made our way back down, parked the car outside a pedestrian gate, and found our apartment. We shared a laugh with the proprietor, and he shared a Ginja with us.  Then he went with hubby to move the car just outside a nearby walk-in entrance.

It was a long day. We opted for dinner and an early night.

Things to do in Obidos Portugal:

Study the Porta da Vila

Inside the main (south) gate into Obidos is Porta da Vila, a small Baroque chapel decorated with traditional azulejos tiles that depict the Passion of Christ.

Porta de Vila is the main pedestrian gate into Obidos Portugal
Called Porta de Vila, the main gate into Obidos contains this intricate 18th-century tiled chapel depicting the passion of Christ.
Looking down onto Porta de Vila, we get a different perspective.

Walk the cobblestone streets

Fragrant and colourful flowers climb of the houses and shops along the Rua Direita, the main street of Obidos Portugal.
Fragrant and colourful flowers climb on the houses and shops along the Rua Direita, the main street in the old town.

Climb the steps to the city wall and walk the perimeter

Steps up to the city wall in Obidos, Portugal
One of the several sets of steps that lead to the top of the city wall.
City Wall in Obidos, Portugal
View of the terracotta tiled roofs from the rim of the wall.
Standing on the intact city wall in Obidos, Portugal
Our teen enjoys the view from the city wall rim. While some parts are narrow, missing any safety rail, or otherwise unnerving, the wall is intact and the perimeter can be walked in about an hour.
Looking outside the old city of Obidos from on top of the city wall in Portugal
Also from the rim, this time we are looking outside the wall at the lush green gentle hills that seem to define many of the regions of Portugal that we visited. You can see the Santuário do Senhor Jesus da Pedra outside the wall.

Partake in a Ginja in a chocolate cup

Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region.

Ginji served in chocolate cups in Obidos, Portugal
Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. After drinking the cherry liqueur, we ate our cups.

Medieval churches

The Church of Santa Maria de Obidos was erected in 1148 in Obidos Portugal
The Church of Santa Maria da Obidos was erected in 1148. The church is best known for a wedding in 1441 between 10-year-old King Afonso V to his  9-year-old cousin, Princess Isabella of Coimbra.

Admire the flowers that seem to grow everywhere

Obidos, Portugal
It is a date, rather than a street number.
Obidos, Portugal
Another example of the flowers that seem to be everywhere.

Stand under the Aqueduto of Óbidos

Roman aqueduct on the outskirts of Obidos, Portugal
On the outskirts of the city is a 16th-century fully intact aqueduct. While not nearly as dramatic as the Segovia Aqueduct, it is still quite impressive.

More things to do in Obidos Portugal

  • Fantastic and far off views will reward your efforts if you climb the stairs in the tower along the wall.
  • Visit the Obidos Castle (any time of year other than the few days before the Medieval festival).
  • If you plan well in advance, you can stay at the castle as it is now a hotel.
  • Enjoy the Museu Municipal de Óbidos, the local art and municipal museum.
  • Play golf at one of the two nearby courses.

Note: there is no Obidos parking (or driving) inside the city walls. In fact, there is only one car park, and it sits outside of the main gate to the south.

There are two festivals in this town worth note

Mercado Medieval de Óbidos

The Medieval Market and Festival takes place at the castle for three weeks each July. The next Obidos Medieval Festival takes place from July 12 to Aug 5, 2018.

The Obidos Castle closes for a time before the event, so we didn’t get a chance to enter. We did enjoy a medieval festival in the medieval portion of La Coruna Spain.

The International Chocolate Festival

This delicious event takes place in April or May each year. The 2019 dates are not yet announced. Check their website for details.

Take a Tour of Obidos

Obidos is a town that can be enjoyed in just a few hours which is what makes it such a popular day trip option from Lisbon. Not only is a guide interesting, but you can also avoid the hassle of parking in Obidos.

TOURHIGHLIGHTSDURATION
Fatima Nazare and Obidos Small Group from LisbonGuided tour of the Fatima sanctuary
Attend mass at Fatima’s famous basilica
Visit Obidos and Nazare		8 hrs
Private West Tour – Peniche, Obidos, Sao Martinho do porto from NazareVisit coastal villagesSao Martinho do Porto,Foz Do Arelho, Peniche, Obidos and Caldas Da Rainha
Private small group tour from Nazare		8 hrs
Obidos medieval village & Buddha EdenStroll the town of Obidos and its castle
Taste Ginja
Visit the Buddha Eden wine farm
Wine tasting		3 to 4 hrs
Fatima, Obidos and the Atlantic Coast from LisbonVisit the Batalha Monastery
Obidos and Ginja Liqueur Tasting
Have lunch in Nazare
See the sanctuary of Fatima
Drive along the Atlantic Coast		9 hrs
Natural Caves – Alcobaca – Nazare – West Coast – Obidos from LisbonStop at Porto de Mós Medieval Castle
See the natural caves in Candeeiros Natural Park
See the Cistercian Monastery of Alcobaca
Visit Nazare, Sao Martinho do Porto, Foz Do Arelho and Obidos		8 hrs

Where to Stay in  Obidos Portugal:

If you choose to spend the night, there are plenty of options. If you are planning on attending either of the festivals be sure to book early, as Obidos accommodations fill up. Here are our recommended places to stay in Obidos:

  • Casal Da Eira Branca – this is where we stayed and where we recommend. There are hotel rooms as well as apartments, all rustic, decorated with local wood, natural stones and tiles. Modern amenities and a shared kitchen for those who want to use it. We stayed in a huge two bedroom apartment with our own kitchen.

 ⇒ Check availability at Casal Da Eira Branca

  • Pousada Castelo de Obidos – this is the castle and generally requires booking well in advance.  With modern facilities, castle room features, and breakfast included, it is your chance to stay in one of the seven wonders of Portugal.

 ⇒ Check availability at Pousada Castelo de Obidos

We entered Portugal from the west, our first stop being Evora followed by Sintra, Obidos, and Alcobaca before driving north and returning to Spain.

Obidos is a chamring and colourful medieval village in Portugal surrounded by a fully intact roman wall.

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Comments

  1. Obidos looks like a charming Portuguese town that makes for an enjoyable day trip from Lisbon. Definitely, think I’ll visit Obidos when I head down that way now. The gorgeous historic center and its labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and flower-bedecked, whitewashed houses livened up with dashes of vivid yellow and blue paint, call out for an enchanting stroll.

    Reply

  2. Thanks for bringing in another place close to the capital of Lisbon. I loved the charm of Obidos, which are reflected in your beautiful pictures. The city looks like a perfect place for a lazy vacation. Ginji looks too tempting!

    Reply

    • Truth be told, there is a huge parking lot outside the walled city. We just didn’t read enough before we arrived, as we were so taken in by Sintra. Plus we arrived much later than we had thought, again due to Sintra.

      Reply

  4. Looks like a quiet place for to stay. I would probably get lost trying to explore the architecture of the place. Also looks like and offbeat destination,

    Reply

  5. So is it a car-free city? Sounds like an interesting place, walled medieval cities are certainly charming, those cobblestones though, oh ouch you need good shoes

    Reply

  9. Thank you so much for the tour, i had fun and been informed. I smiled at eating the cups after drinking the content. Of course the photos are always awesome. I would like to share this in my FB wall for my friend who missed Portugal.

    Reply

  10. Such a lovely town! The traditional houses and buildings are always fascinating. It tells us history as well as its beauty. Everything seems magical and comes from a different time! Looks like you and your family had a great time exploring the town! If you do love a traditional place you guys definitely should come and visit Bali. The traditional life is still thick! You’d love it here, so come and please do check our website out, thank you.

    Reply

    • I had my first exposure to Indonesia a few months ago with only one day in Bali. And you are correct, I loved it. We spent most of our time in Ubud and I cannot wait to go back.

      Reply

  11. Lovely photos as always! So glad you decided to repost your trip to Portugal! It really
    makes me smile after looking out at our dreary rainy weather. You and your family really have a lifetime
    of magnificent memories from your travels.

    Reply

  13. Superb place to visit. I love old city walls to walk around, few left on the UK. That certainly looks like a date on the door lintel

    Reply

  15. You keep surprising me with your beautiful pictures of Portugal. This town is another one for the list. I enjoy small but picturesque places like this.

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    • It’s a bit farther off the beaten track, depending on where you are headed, but worth a visit. We were heading back to Spain to the North, so it was on our way.

      Reply

  25. Gorgeous place with lovely building, balcony and chocolate cups for special drink ~ glad you are enjoying it and bet the teen(s) are too ~ What an opportunity for them ~ thanks,

    Wishing you delightful days in your week ~ ^_^

    Reply

  30. What a lovely place to visit. I will never go there, but you already know that. Some are meant to travel and I’m not one of them.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

    Reply

  31. Hi Rhonda,

    This looked like an amazing trip! The liquor filled chocolate cups really caught my attention. I love your photos too. Hopefully someday we will make it to Europe. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

    Safe Travels,
    Cheryl

    Reply

    • LOL – that liquor filled chocolate cup photo is well cropped. It is possibly the worst photo I have of hubby and I when we are trying to look good for the camera. I am glad it works in its tiny format.

      Reply

  33. Hi Rhonda – amazing place – and how lovely you were able to stay there … wonderful photos – and another place I’ve added to my list should I get to the south of Portugal… fantastic to see – and I’ll have some of the Ginji … cheers and thank you – Hilary

    Reply

  34. Too bad you missed the Medieval Fair. I bet it would be awesome in such a scenic place. At least you made it inside despite padlocked gate and enjoyed lots of lovely sights!

    Reply

    • I know, and it was the same evening that we visited Sintra, a town that was having a medieval fair that we didn’t stop at as there wasn’t time to do it all. I was not popular with one of my girls on that day. Of course, we would have had to plan for Obidos overnight during the fair well in advance, something we are not too good at doing.

      Reply

  36. Looks wonderful. I think the more you travel, especially in fascinating places like this, the harder it will be to stay put in somewhere like Auckland. Well at least it will make you want to spend several months of the year travelling.

    Reply

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