Obidos, Portugal is a lovely old castle town just an hour from Lisbon so perfect for a day trip. There are many things to do in Obidos and tour agencies in Lisbon organise day trips, but it’s actually a really easy trip to do independently. Details about how to get to Obidos can be found at the end of this post.
It’s not a huge town, so it’s easy to explore by yourself. Many of the guided tours only make a brief stop in Obidos before heading to another town, giving you just enough time to walk down the busy main street, the Rua Direita. But with more time, you can lose yourself in the charming backstreets, thus avoiding the throngs of tourists. Yes in the summer months and especially during festivals, it can get busy but step off the main street, and it’s a whole other world!
It’s lovely to explore the tiny back streets and cobbled lanes, and it’s also possible to walk the town walls. You need to be reasonably fit to walk the walls and watch where you put your feet at times. But from the walls, you get great views of the roofs, the painted houses of Obidos and the surrounding countryside of Portugal.
Things to do in Obidos, Portugal
So, apart from walking up the main street with all its trinket shops and exploring the back and side streets, what else is there to see?
Well, when you enter through the main gate into Obidos, look up, and you’ll see a gorgeous blue and white tiled chapel that overlooks the main thoroughfare. The entrance to the town, the Porta da Vila has two staggered archway entrances, built to prevent a direct charge from attackers. This type of entrance was very common with late gothic castles in Portugal.
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There are the castle and the castle grounds. The castle is now a luxury hotel, the Pousada do Castelo de Obidos, although we have never stayed there, it gets good reviews on Trip Advisor. Wouldn’t it be cool to sleep in a castle? Some of the features date back to the 9th century!
Visit the Church of Santa Maria
This is where King Alfonso V married his cousin Isabel in 1444. He was only 10 at the time, and his bride was 8! In front of the church, is a 15th-century pillory to which criminals and wrongdoers were tied to naked for punishment and public humiliation.
Admire the 16th-century aqueduct that’s just on the edge of town and visit the large Baroque Church, Santuario do Senhor Jesus da Pedra, that you can’t help noticing from the castle walls. According to legend, during the droughts of the 1730s, a farmer found a 15th-century cross at the site where the church now stands to which he was ‘demanded’ to worship and then the rains came!
Drink Ginja de Obidos
Obidos is famous for its Ginja de Obidos, a cherry liquor. It sounds vile but it’s actually quite nice, and you can’t say you’ve been there if you haven’t tried this drink. You won’t have to look very hard to find some as pretty much every other stall along the main street sells it. Just a euro for a shot which is typically served in a chocolate cup, so you get to the eat the cup too.
Visit the Book Exchange run by the Silver Coast Volunteers
Although we had heard about this place, we only actually discovered it a few weeks ago. Just by the main entrance to the Main Gate to Obidos is the book exchange. Here you will find loads of books in many languages but predominantly English. You can take, swap or donate books, it’s up to you. At the moment, it’s only open Mondays – Fridays between 2-4pm. Reading a proper book is so much nicer, than one that’s downloaded, don’t you think?
Visit the Festivals of Obidos
It seems that there is always some kind of festival or event happening in Obidos – here are some of our favourites! Most of the festivals take place with the grounds of Obidos Castle.
Chocolate Festival
– The chocolate festival takes place every year in late February, early March and it’s a chocoholic’s dream. The best bit is the chocolate statues. When we visited the festival, the theme was music. Could you have guessed who these chocolate characters are?
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- Bob Dylan
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- James Brown
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- Madonna
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- Carmen Miranda
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- Michael Jackson
Medieval Fair of Obidos –
The Medieval Fair takes place Thursday to Sunday from mid-July to mid-August. It’s a fun festival. The whole town joins in and returns to the Medieval ages. Here you will come across jousting events, parades, jesters and of course, plenty of good old medieval wine and food!
Obidos Buskers Festival
This takes place over a weekend in September. In 2018, the festival will be held on 8-9 September. Many weird and wonderful acts take place in different parts of the town, some so bad that they are good!
Obidos Christmas Village aka Obidos Vila Natal
More for kids this one but having lived in SE Asia for so long where Christmas Day never feels like Christmas, it was fun to see the lights and Santa Claus and feel a little Christmassy.
Other events that take place in Obidos include opera in the castle grounds. We really enjoyed that last year, hope that one happens again.
Not far from Obidos is the Obidos Lagoon aka Lagoa de Obidos
Not far from Obidos and easier to get to, if you have your own transport is Obidos Lagoon. Obidos Lagoon is the largest saltwater lagoon in Portugal. It’s an excellent place for walking, cycling, bird watching and kite surfing. The best beach is near Foz de Arelho on the northern bank which faces both the calm waters of the Lagoon and the not always so calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. On the southern bank, there is the quieter beach of Bom Sucesso, and there are some great hikes from here. Around the lagoon, there are many quieter beaches. Our dog Angel loves going for walks around here.
How to get to Obidos
By car – Follow the A8, just an hour if you are coming from Lisbon.
By bus – There are regular express buses between Obidos and Lisbon Campo Grande Bus Station which takes just over an hour. The bus company is the Rapida Verde (Green Express). For up to date information on bus schedule and tickets, see here.
http://www.rodotejo.pt/wp-content/uploads/rapida_linha_verde.pdf
By train – It’s also possible to go by train, but this takes just over two hours. It’s not an express service!
Perfect timing—I’m planning a trip to Portugal for December! I’m so overwhelmed by the number of day trip options from Lisbon… But I don’t think I can miss that gorgeous castle! Would you recommend giving Obidos a full day, or would a half-day do?
It’s easy to do in a half day but if you get the chance to stay overnight, it’s worth it. Once the crowds leave, it’s even better 🙂
What a fabulous city! I just love to wander the streets in European towns. I feel like they are all so charming. Thanks for a great share!
You’re welcome, it’s a lovely town to visit.
What a beautiful place to explore! The cherry liquor sounds so good, I would love to try some. My daughter would love the Christmas village!
That cherry liquor is surprisingly good and I don’t even like cherries:)
When I look at these pictures, I feel like being there would be like being back in time. Those buildings are just so beautiful.
It is like stepping back in time, it’s beautiful there.
I’m loving all photos; those are saying how charming is this town!!! Good to know even possible to explore independently.
Thank you. It’s so much nicer to travel independently, isn’t it?
I love your photos! What a beautiful little town, I’d never heard of it. The first shot reminds me a little of the old city walls of Dubrovnik in Croatia
Thank you, we want to visit Dubrovnik!
Your photos are gorgeous! I’d love to visit Portugal – it’s definitely on my list!
I had not heard about this town in Portugal till now. What a beautiful city.. adding it to my must-visit places in Portugal 🙂
I swear Portugal is the most beautiful city in Europe. Great guide. It’s refreshing to see a Portugal guide that isn’t Lisbon. I was starting to think that was the only city in Portugal haha.
Sooo great to know about the book exchange place. It can be so hard to find good reading material when you’re on a long trip! And I would always rather leave my book somewhere I know it will be used again at the end of my trip if I don’t want to cart it home.
Loved the rustic nature of the building and the authentic portugi=uese style Missed out on my last trip. Will try and fit it in next time!
I am happy to have added a new place on our list of travels – Obidos, the lovely old castle town. Had a virtual tour through this read and could actually visualize wandering on the streets, trying Ginja de Obidos and standing in front of the beautiful entrance of the castle. The lagoons seem like not to be missed when visiting Obidos! Handy guide for planning the trip.
Oh how I love Portugal! I have already been to Obidos and I’m 100% in love with this city. unfortunately my husband and I just stayed here for some hours. I would love to go back and spend more days here. It’s a beautiful place!
I love those European towns where the best thing to do is simply stroll around, taking in the energy of the place, exploring its nooks and crannies, getting a taste for its cuisine and finding hidden gems. That Santuario do Senhor Jesus da Pedra looks pretty stunning though.
Good to know that Obidos is an easy day journey from Lisbon. The streets look ripe for exploration. I would be tempted to spend the night at the castle though! And what a great idea to try the Ginja de Obidos shot in a chocolate cup – drink and dessert combined!
Photos are stunning! Obidos Portugal is such a beauty! I love the book exchange place part since I’m bookish and whenever I explore a city, I’d always look for a new book to read! Obidos Lagoon is a plus! How about kite surfing!
What an absolutely charming and delightful place to visit! I can’t wait to get to Portugal one day. I think I’d be happy just to wander through all those beautiful streets. As for the tiles at the entrance to Obidos Castle – how stunning are they!
Wow, this kind of place is for me. I love such quirky towns with colorful streets. I am adding Obidos in my Portugal list as it has lovely medieval fairs, colorful tiled works on buildings, castles, lagoons and all. A perfect day trip from Lisbon. Thanks for sharing this hidden secret from Portugal and all its tips about how to reach here from Lisbon.