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21 best things to do in Obidos (Portugal)

Last updated on February 15, 2022 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

Discover the magnificent medieval village of Obidos in Portugal.
A fantastic place to visit, where you can tour the fortifications for amazing views!
Below is my guide to plan your visit with map, photos, tips and the best things to do in Obidos (walls, castle, liquor...).

Castelo de Obidos Castle - things to do in Obidos Portugal Travel Guide

Table of Contents
Why visit Obidos in Portugal? 
Planning Tips and Map - Obidos, Portugal
Best things to do in Obidos & tourist map
#1 to 7 - Exploring the streets
#8 to 11 - Collecting the churches of Obidos
#13 - Admiring the Obidos Castle (Castelo do Obidos)
#14 to 16 - Walking on the Obidos fortification walls 
#17 - Tasting the famous Ginja De Obidos (Ginjinha de Obidos)
#18 to 22 - What to do near Obidos - Lagoon and more

This article contains affiliate links (Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


Why visit Obidos in Portugal? 

Is the village of Obidos worth a visit?

Yes, Obidos is worth a visit. It is popular, one of the most charming villages to visit in Portugal, for good reasons.
It offers:

  • Fortification walls all around offering beautiful views of the village and the region,
  • A maze of white houses with orange roofs,
  • A castle,
  • Good food and a historical vibe.
Village of Obidos, Portugal

Village of Obidos, Portugal

What is Obidos known for?

The main 3 reasons Obidos is a famous village are:

  • The fortifications where you can walk and enjoy great views
  • The liquor Ginja de Obidos, served in chocolate cups
  • The festivals, especially the medieval fair

Video - Virtual tour

Let's start with a short video showing what it is like to tour the village of Obidos Portugal:

This is one of the best places to visit in Portugal.

Many photos and details avec the planning tips.


Planning Tips and Map - Obidos, Portugal

Where is Obidos in Portugal? Map

  • North of Lisbon,
  • Not far from the Atlantic coast of Portugal
  • Lisbon to Obidos = 1h drive via the Motorway
  • Coimbra to Obidos = 1h20 drive
  • Porto to Obidos = 2h20 drive
  • Below is a map to help you get oriented:
Location village Obidos Portugal Map

Map - Obidos in Portugal

All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map and tips) in my travel guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Portugal road trip:

Plan your ideal road trip around Portugal

Portugal road trip guide ebook cover
  • 13 easy-to-plan Maps
  • 120+ pre-selected scenic locations
  • Planning tips to make the most of your time
  • 200+ large photos to decide where to go
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

LEARN MORE

How to get to Obidos

Because it is close to Lisbon and very popular, there are many ways to visit Obidos

  • By car - my favorite options to be able to visit at sunrise and sunset away from the crowds - access is very easy
  • Lisbon to Obidos by bus - the Rapida Verde Bus (Express Green) takes over an hour from Campo Grande Station in Lisbon (managed by Rodo Tejo)
  • By Day trips organized from Lisbon or Porto - if you want to just sit and relax and they are combined with other stops such as Fatima, Nazaré and the Monastery of Batalha - see options

Need to rent a car in Portugal?
My tips:

  • Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated sites!
  • Choose the car and company you prefer (remember the villages' narrow streets)
  • Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
  • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my 36 tips about renting a car in Portugal

View of Obidos Portugal

Arriving at Obidos

Obidos Parking

  • At the foot of the village, you can find several carparks with access to the entrance Porta da Vila.
  • They are around the aqueduct. One is paved, the others are dirt/gravel carparks.
  • Parts can be free when others require a small fee (donation towards the firefighters) - cash only
  • Sorry, I forgot to take pictures
  • Avoid entering the village with a car. The alleys are very narrow!

How much time to visit Obidos?

Half a day is the minimum to explore most of the village and get a feel for it.
However, to discover all its hidden gems and walk the entire wall, I recommend an afternoon, a night there and then a morning.
This way you can enjoy the stunning views at sunset and sunrise

Best time to visit Obidos?

 It is a very popular destination, probably the most visited fortified village in Portugal because of its proximity to Lisbon. Therefore, visit early or late to avoid the day trippers.
Also consider the festivals. Obidos is famous for them.
They mean a lot of fun but also a lot of people you have:

  • The medieval fair that takes place for 2 weeks every July 
  • The chocolate festival in Spring
  • The opera festival
  • The Christmas village 
Sunrise at Obidos

Sunrise at Obidos

Obidos opening hours

The gates to Obidos are never closed. You can enter any time.
However, churches and the museum have varying opening hours.
Normally, the museum opens every day, except Mondays, from 9:30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm.

Visit tips

  • Price - Access to the village is free
  • Wear good shoes because the streets are paved and the walls are uneven
  • There are plenty of cafés and restaurants within the fortifications and just outside

Obidos Hotels - Where to stay in Obidos?

Obidos is a touristic place, so you will find plenty of accommodations. You can stay inside or just outside the walls.
There are many small guesthouses, which is great to have a chat with locals!

Obidos Portugal hotels
  • Where I stayed - Casa de Fontanerio de Obidos just outside the wall. The atmosphere was excellent and the family owning the guesthouse was adorable -  see photos and availability
  • LUXURY AND HISTORY - a fantastic option is of course to stay in the Obidos Castle Hotel i.e. Pousada Castelo de Obidos. Some rooms even include stone walls!!! See photos and availability
  • INSIDE THE WALLS - if you want to stay inside you should consider Casal da Eira Branca. It has a beautiful terrasse to relax at the end of the day. Check photos and availability
  • FAMILY - It is a bit further away from Obidos (but not that far...), but you can fit many people in Valentine's House which is decorated with a lot of taste. This is one of the best rated accommodations on Booking.com - See photos and availability
  • CHEAPER OPTION - Hostel - For those on a budget the Hostel Argonauta has really good reviews and is really well located - See photos and availability
  • Or check out the best rated accommodations in Obidos

Best things to do in Obidos & tourist map

Best things to do in Obidos

I will list all the places to notice as you explore the village further down, but if you are limited in time, my top 5 things to do are:

  1. Admire Porta da Vila, the gate and its tiles, typical of Portugal
  2. Climb on the fortification wall at the opposite end of the castle for the best views of the entire village 
  3. Walk main street
  4. Enter the castle grounds to admire the impressive fortress
  5. Enjoy sunrise from the fortifications

Obidos Tourist Map

Close to the main gate, you can find a map of Obidos Portugal (left is South and right is North).
1 is the main gate (Porta da Vila) and around 6 is the access to the Obidos Castle.

Obidos Portugal Map

Warning

Walking on the wall is a lot of fun. However, it requires steep stairs and there is no protection in some places.
Be cautious and pay full attention, especially with children.

Danger of walking on the walls of Obidos

Brief history of Obidos

Before I take you on a visit via my photos, here are few interesting facts about Obidos Portugal:

  • It is thought that the name comes from the Latin word Oppidum that means fortified city
  • Archeological surveys indicate settlements on that hill back to the Celt and the Romans
  • In the 8th or 9th century, fortifications were established by the Moors

#1 to 7 - Exploring the streets

#1 - Admire the Main Entrance - Porta da Vila

The main entrance is from the Town Gate built in 1380 - Porta da Vila. Obidos has been a national monument since 1951. However, 2 other doors allow access to the village on the same side.

Portugal Obidos Gate

As you enter, you discover the oratory or Our Lady of Piety which was created during the 17th century. It is a covered with beautiful tiles (Azulejo) from the 18th century.

Oratory Obidos Gate

#2 - Walking up Main Street - Rua Direita

Main Street in Obidos Portugal

From the gate you can climb to the fortifications right away. And I will show you that later. But first let's discover the main street that leads you from the gate to the Obidos Castle. 
The main street is the busiest. This is where you can find all the souvenir shops and opportunities to drink the specialty Ginjinha de Obidos (see later in the post).

#3 - Leave the beaten path to discover side streets

Main Street in Obidos Portugal 2

Don't just stay on the main street, go explore and get lost! (Well, you can't really get lost, there is a wall and it is not that big...).
It is great to discover the side streets leaving from it.
Manu of them are colorful and decorated with flowers.

Visiting Obidos Portugal

#4 - Notice the tiles and changes in colors

Visiting Obidos Portugal 2

All the houses are white.
However, many have lines of colors. Colors vary: blue, orange, grey, brown... Have fun collecting colors!

Plus, on many of them you can find beautiful tile decors. Make sure to pay attention to the details.

Portugal Obidos Photo 2

#5 - Find the other gates

Obidos gate

Porta da Vila is the main entrance with a beautiful tile decor.
However, there is another access point to the village you can discover as you explore: Porta do Vale also known as Senhora da Graça.

And there is another gate for which I don't have the name.

#6 - Obidos Museum

The Museu Municipal de Obidos is a small one.
It houses different exhibits:

  • Sacred art (paintings and sculptures)
  • French and English weapons from the Peninsula war
  • Baroque pieces of furniture
  • Pieces of architectural ruins from around the village

#7 - Arco de Cadeia

Behind the Municipal museum of Obidos, you can find a steep street with the 3/4 of an arch. You can walk under it.


#8 to 11 - Collecting the churches of Obidos

For such a small village, there is an impressive number of churches and chapels...

#8 - Santa Maria Church

Igreja de SAnta Maria Obidos POrtugal

On your way to the castle, along the main street, you will walk by Santa Maria Church, a white and brown building.
It is on the main square of Obidos.
This is where King Afonso V and Isabella of Coimbra were married in 1441 when they were just kids.

#9 - Santiago Church 

Igreja de Santiago Church Obidos Portugal

And at the end of the main street, just before the castle, is Santiago Church between the 2 fort towers.
Once again, you can see the whitewashed building with lines of colors. For this one, the color is grey.

#10 - Misericordia Church

Next to it is also a small church.
If open, have a look inside for the chapels with typical blue tiles.

#11 - Igreja de Sao Pedro

Portugal Obidos Photo

Igreja de Sao Pedro is striking with its contrast in colors.
But I think it is best seen from the walls because of the beautiful top of the tower.

#12 - Capela de Sao Martinho

A hidden chapel in a primitive Gothic style.
One of the oldest buildings in the village


#13 - Admiring the Obidos Castle (Castelo do Obidos)

The main Obidos attraction, apart from walking on the walls (I will show you that soon), is the Obidos Castle a.k.a Castelo do Obidos in Portuguese.
The best view is from the back.
Go through the gate near the Santiago church and walk towards the North end of the hill.

Portugal Obidos Castle

Light would be better in the afternoon, with the sun rays hitting the façade, but it is still quite impressive. It is really massive with very few openings.

Castelo de Obidos

The entrance to the castle is actually on the city side of the wall. But the Castle cannot be visited because it is today a hotel: the Obidos Castle Hotel. 

Obidos Castle hotel

#14 to 16 - Walking on the Obidos fortification walls 

And here is the highlight of any visit: walking on the fortified walls of Obidos.

#14 - Climb on the fortification wall to admire the village 

Several staircases allow you to climb up there. They have between 40 and 60 steps each. The steps are high and uneven, but it is worth the climb!

The staircase near the main gate is actually one of the hardest. If you follow the fortification at the bottom on your right after entering, you will find a straight staircase that is larger and has only 40 steps.

Staircase wall Obidos Portugal 2
Staircase wall Obidos Portugal

How long to tour the Obidos fortifications?

It is possible to tour the whole fortifications. It is a 1.5km walk (so 1 to 2 hours depending on how many pictures your take).
Some sections are large and with a border, but others are narrower and with the big drop just next to you (be aware if you suffer from vertigo)

Here is the view right after the climb at the main gate.

Walking walls of Obidos
Walking walls of Obidos 2
Walking walls of Obidos 4

#15 - Head to the west side for views of the surrounding countryside

From the west side, you have beautiful views of the area and agricultural fields.

Walking walls of Obidos 5

The mix of stone wall and white houses is really stunning. Don't you think?

Walking walls of Obidos 6

#16 - Climb the Obidos Tower 

At the South end of the fortifications, you can continue climbing big steps to reach the top of the tower. It is quite impressive and definitively not for people with vertigo!!!
From up there you can see the whole village of Obidos in its length.

Walking walls of Obidos 3
Tower Obidos Portugal
Tower Obidos Portugal 2

#17 - Tasting the famous Ginja De Obidos (Ginjinha de Obidos)

Obidos is also famous for the quality of its cherry brandy liqueur: Ginjinha.
You can pay for a shot just on the stalls outside. However, the classic way is to drink it in a chocolate cup. Drink and eat!

Chocolate cup Ginjinha De Obidos
Ginja De Obidos

#18 to 22 - What to do near Obidos - Lagoon and more

You can also stay in Obidos to explore the region which has a lot to offer

Need to rent a car in Portugal?
My tips:

  • Compare car rental prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated sites!
  • Choose the car and company you prefer (remember the villages narrow streets)
  • Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
  • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my 36 tips about renting a car in Portugal

#18 - Sanctuary Senhor Jesus da Prada

Outside the town wall is a large Baroque church, a sanctuary.
Legend says that a long lost 15th-century cross was found during a drought and worshipping it brought the rain.
Opening times vary. But you can always see it from the outside.

#19 - Obidos Lagoon

Obidos is not right by the sea, but it is not far.
If you want a little of fresh air, you can head to the Obidos Lagoon for white sand and enjoyable waters.

#20 - Peniche

Berlengas Island

Berlengas Island

A beautiful peninsula. It is the access point to the Island or Berlengas and its fort
Obidos to Peniche = 30min

#21 - Nazaré

Coastal town famous for its giant waves during certain times of the year
Obidos to Nazaré = 35min

#22 - Batahla Monastery

Batahla Monastery

One of the most impressive monastery in Portugal with its famous unfinished chapels.
Learn more in my article
Obidos to Nazaré = 45min


Want to see more of the best Portugal has to offer?

  • 30 Most beautiful landscapes in Portugal - read article
  • Best things to do in Portugal - read article
  • The best beaches in Portugal  - read article
  • The best villages in Portugal - read article
  • Lisbon vs Porto - where to go? - read article
  • Driving in Portugal - read article
  • The best of the Algarve region - read article
  • The highlights of Sintra and the Sintra-Cascais Nature park - read article

Planning a trip to Portugal?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Plan your ideal road trip around Portugal

Portugal road trip guide ebook cover
  • 13 easy-to-plan Maps
  • 120+ pre-selected scenic locations
  • Planning tips to make the most of your time
  • 200+ large photos to decide where to go
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

LEARN MORE

And keep track of your own trip!

Portugal Travel journal

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MARVAO PORTUGAL

Portugal Travel Guide - Portugal destinations

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laurie says

    February 4, 2019 at 12:13 AM

    Looks amazing! I definitely want to add this village & castle for a future trip to our list.

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