Óbidos is one of Portugal's jewels. And that's not lip service. The story goes that the medieval town was given as a wedding gift by D. Dinis to his wife Isabel during the nuptials held there and remained so for around five centuries, being part of the dowry of all Portuguese queens. So you might be asking yourself: what’s so special about Óbidos? Lots of things: a unique small town charm, colorful and with flowers in the windows of the whitewashed houses; beautiful views of the highest points of the village, a castle of Roman origin and a 14th century wall, restaurants, craft shops and several stalls selling ginja de Óbidos, the city's traditional drink.
And there is another very important fact: the distance between Lisbon and Óbidos is 80 kilometers, which can be done in an hour by car or a little longer by bus. In other words, it is a great option for a day trip from the Portuguese capital. Which, of course, does not exclude an overnight stay in the village, especially if the idea is to visit other nearby attractions, such as the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça and the Sanctuary of Fátima. See how to get there and what to do in Óbidos:
What to do in Óbidos
It only takes a few hours to explore the entire village. There are two main streets, which connect the city portal to the region close to the castle – they contain restaurants, souvenir shops, churches and bookstores, which have already given Óbidos the title of Literary City by Unesco. In addition to the two largest roads, there are several cross streets, where the fun is in walking and appreciating the painting of the houses, the small doors, and the windows decorated with colors and flowers.
One of Óbidos' main monuments is right at its entrance: the Porta da Vila, with a chapel covered in blue tiles from the 18th century, in honor of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, patron saint of the village. Then, just follow the main street, Rua Direita. At the end of it is the famous castle, considered one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal.
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Porta da Vila de Óbidos is part of the medieval wall that surrounds the village
Those who prefer to have a different view of the city can take the stairs to the left, reaching the top of the wall that surrounds the entire town. It is possible to walk on it, from where you have the most privileged view of the entire city. Just be careful: there are no guardrails and the height, in some points, can reach more than ten meters.
Along the main street of Óbidos, Rua Direita, stroll slowly, admiring the white houses with colorful frames and flower-filled windows. On this same cobblestone road, take the opportunity to try two of the town's classics: chocolate and Óbidos sour cherry, which can even be tasted together, with the drink being served in a small chocolate cup (average value of 1 euro). One of the most curious points to visit on this route is the Livraria do Mercado Biológico, where the shelves are made from reused fruit boxes. At one end, books give way to natural products, ranging from food to cosmetics.
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Organic Market Bookstore
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Sour cherry from Óbidos
In Praça de Santa Maria, in addition to the pillory, there is the church of the same name, where the cousins Afonso V and Isabel were married, in the middle of the 15th century, when they were between 8 and 10 years old. Further ahead, close to the castle entrance, is the Church of Santiago, whose interior now houses a bookstore. There, there are books scattered everywhere, including on the altar – it's worth a visit, even if it's quick!
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Santiago Church in the background
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Bookstore inside the church
Óbidos Castle
The charm of the medieval town, beyond the wall, is in the castle whose construction date is uncertain, but which began to be documented from 1153. Today the building is considered one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal and has been completely restored. The castle houses a Pestana chain hotel and, therefore, its interior is closed to visitors. One way to get to know the inside, however, is to have a meal at the hotel's restaurant. Or, take the opportunity to stroll around the surrounding area, trying to imagine, even from the outside, what life was like there a few centuries ago.
Furthermore, get lost (in a completely figurative way, as it is impossible to get lost there) in the alleys of this village! Enjoy the calm to replenish your energy, drink a good coffee, feel the medieval air and watch the coming and going of tourists who attest: Óbidos is a jewel of Portugal.
Where to stay in Óbidos, Portugal
Travelers who prefer to spend a pleasant night in the village will find good accommodation options. We have selected some of the best hotels in Óbidos, Portugal, in the table below. Check out:
| Hotel | Note on Booking | Daily rates (from) | Reservations |
| House of S. Thiago de Óbidos | 8.8 | R$ 311 | Book here |
| Hotel Vila D'Óbidos | 8.1 | R$ 361 | Book here |
| Casa Picva | 9.7 | R$523 | Book here |
| Josefa D'Obidos Hotel | 8.5 | R$439 | Book here |
| House Ladies Queens | 8.4 | R$543 | Book here |
| 8.3 | BRL 929 | Book here |
How to get to Óbidos
- By bus: generally those who visit Óbidos from Lisbon prefer to go by bus, a one-hour trip. The Rápida Verde line is made by the company Rodoviária do Oeste/Tejo – see the timetables here. Buses depart daily (and with good frequency) from the stop located next to the Campo Grande metro station, in Lisbon. The ticket costs an average of 8 euros and is purchased from the driver. Therefore, it is recommended to arrive at least half an hour in advance (even more, in high season), to queue up and guarantee a seat on the bus. In Óbidos, the embarkation and disembarkation point is close to the village entrance portal, close to all points of interest
- By car (with a suggested route through cities close to Óbidos): the distance from Lisbon to Óbidos is just over 80 kilometers. The journey by car can be done in just over an hour via the A8 (fastest) or A1. There is free parking around the village, one of them next to the aqueduct.
- By train: Although Óbidos has its own train station, to reach the medieval village from Lisbon you need to change and the journey can take up to three hours. Furthermore, the station is a little far from the city center – so, for many reasons, it is not the most recommended means of transport.
Itinerary in Óbidos plus nearby destinations
As the village is very small, it only takes a few hours to walk around it. So it's worth thinking about a day trip from Lisbon including other cities not so far away, such as Fátima, which is an hour and a half from Lisbon and less than an hour from Óbidos. On the way between Fátima and Óbidos, other points of tourist interest are the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça. If you spend a night in this region, you can visit practically all of the attractions mentioned.
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Batalha Monastery
A route through the region by train or bus is practically unfeasible, as the train stations are far from tourist attractions and the bus lines are infrequent and do not connect destinations directly.
Read more:
Trip to Portugal: information and tips for you to plan yours from scratch
We loved the tour we took through the village and highly recommend Óbidos to all travelers visiting Portugal! Have you ever been to this Portuguese gem? Leave your impressions and tips in the comments!
