Encircled by medieval walls and defended by a Moorish castle, Óbidos is a village that immediately takes you back in time. To many it’s known as the ‘finest walled village in Portugal’ and for anyone looking to get more out of a trip to Lisbon its one of the top day trips available.
An hour by road, or around two hours by public transport makes it an easy trip too! This popularity lends itself to a hectic day trip, but taking in the walls, or just wondering off the main street, you’ll discover charming village life. It’s a stunningly preserved medieval village, and well known as one of the best tourist destinations in the Lisbon region, and a common stopping point for visitors travelling between Lisbon and Porto.
An Introduction to Óbidos
It’s believed today that Óbidos gets its name from the Latin oppidum. Which means walled city, and those surrounding walls were built in the 1300s. Historically it was known as a place of beauty and wealth and was traditionally owned by the Queen of Portugal. This tradition started in 1282 when the town was gifted to Queen Isabel on her wedding day by King Dinis. It was held by the Royal family of Portugal all the way up until 1883. Today it’s also known as creative town and is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Attracting a wide range of artists and creatives, and holding a yearly Literary festival called FOLIO (International Literary Festival of Óbidos).
What to see and do in Óbidos ?
Wondering the streets of Óbidos you’ll discover whitewashed houses, cobbled alleys, colourful flowers, and in many ways, living history. The castle walls give you an amazing view of the entire village and the surrounding area, and are well worth the hour or two spent walking around the entire village.
The Porta da Vila
The Porta da Vila is the main gateway into Óbidos from the south. It’s the usual entry point for people arriving by car, or by bus. It’s the closest entry to the bus stop and both free and paid car parking.
The Porta da Vila is an impressive and somewhat unusual double gateway, with a chapel and balcony in the middle of it. The gateway was designed like this to prevent cavalry charges and a storming of the city, by forcing attackers through an elbow. You’ll find other examples of these fortifications at other city and castle gateways in Portugal like in Silves.
From the outside of the gate, the door to the right of the gateway enters the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, the patron saint of Obidos. Between the two gateways and inside of the elbow, you’ll find a balcony which served as an oratory, and lavish Azulejo tiles that depict the Passion of Christ. These beautiful painted blue and white tiles date to around 1740.
Continuing through the gate will lead you straight to Rua Direita – Óbidos’ main street. However, before heading down this street we recommend you taking in the incredible city walls and Porta da Vila from above.
Muralhas da Cidade – The Town Walls of Óbidos
An immediate left after walking through the Porta da Vila will lead you to a steep staircase which will take you above the open air double gateway. Here you can see the defensive idea behind the elbow gateway. With two doors and a tight corner to force themselves through. Any attacker of Óbidos would then have to face the defenders striking them from above while attempting to storm the towns second gate.
It’s here you can also decide to take on the full walk of the town walls, or even just a section of it. The ancient town walls encircling the historic centre of Óbidos remain surprisingly intact, thanks in part to their restoration in the 1930s.
Walking Óbidos Walls
It’s possible to walk the entire length of the walls, a complete lap is around 3km and will take you around the Castelo de Óbidos and all the way around the town. However, the path can be steep and uneven at times, and there is no guide or safety rail. Children need to be supervised, and if you’re afraid of heights or steep drops, it’s probably not recommended.
There are also several narrow sections with people passing on both sides of the walkway, so you’ve been warned! That said, we loved it, and found it a fascinating and peaceful walk. Away from the main sections, the Porta da Vila and the Castle you’ll find very few people attempt the full walk!
Baloiço Óbidos – Óbidos Swing
Is there an Insta famous location in the world that doesn’t have a wooden swing and it’s accompanying hash tag? You’ll find Óbidos’ very own version slightly hidden and a little bit more adventurous to get to. You’ll need to walk the eastern section of the walls, and head down a stair case into a small wooded area. Or find the stairs upward from a very quiet street below. Being slightly hidden means it’s also very quiet, it’s a shady spot to relax, take in Óbidos array of historic rooftops and get your Instagram post!
Castelo de Óbidos – Óbidos Castle
Following the castle walls will lead you directly to Castelo de Óbidos. There’s no way around or through the castle so you’ll have to head down from the walls and walk across the front of the castle. The castle dates to around 1148. Although it’s believed to originally be the site of a Roman fortress, that was then adapted by the Moorish. In 1138, it was conquered by the Christian armies, repaired, and once again expanded. During the reign of King D. Manuel I, a luxurious palace was constructed within the castle walls.
Today that palace is an upscale Pousada that you can stay the night, or more if you wish! It’s one of the most luxury hotels in the Óbidos area so you’ll have to pay for it (€150 a night in the low season, and as high as €300 in the high season). However, you’ll get to experience the restored rooms and traditional architecture, as well as the historic setting within the castle walls.
Igreja de São Tiago
Just a few steps from the castle is Igreja de São Tiago. The original church dates to around 1150 and was intended as a place of worship for the castles royal inhabitants. It was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt to align with Rua Direta. Today it’s an auditorium and a bookshop and has to be one of our favourites in Portugal. Despite looking every bit like a church from outside, you’ll find shelves of books, cosy corners, and sofas. During the literary festival it hosts authors and sit downs.
Rua Direita
Rua Direita is the main street and serves as the commercial hub of Óbidos. It runs directly from the main gate – Porta da Vila, all the way to the Castle. It’s lined with lots of shops, cafes and even a few restaurants. You’ll find souvenirs, both the tacky and upscale kind, as well as local arts and crafts, all housed within the buildings of an original medieval street. It’s one of the most popular, and hectic parts of Óbidos and can often feel like a funnel.
As the main thoroughfare from one end of Óbidos to the other, it can feel very hectic and overcrowded. However, it is part of the Óbidos experience, with many people enjoying the hectic nature, standing café spaces on the street, and the mix of buskers. That said, during the late afternoons, once the day trippers and coach tours have moved on, the overall pace of the street gets a lot more relaxing, allowing you to take your time, shop, and even taste ginjinha at a much slower pace.
Ginjinha d’Óbidos – Sour Cherry Liquor
Mentioning ginjinha, it’s probably about time we dived in. What exactly is ginjinha, and what’s it got to do with Óbidos? Ginjinha which is often shortened to Ginja, is a Portuguese liqueur made by infusing ginja berries (sour cherries) in alcohol – usually a local brandy (aguardente) or a wine spirit. Supposedly, and many of the ginjinha sellers in will tell you that it originated with monks in Obidos, but that’s firmly disputed. It’s a drink that’s associated with Lisbon, as well Alcobaça, and Covilhã. That said it is still a very typical drink from Óbidos and firmly part of the tourist experience.
You’ll find multiple brands and distributors, some of the large ones that you’ll find in supermarkets, as well as a few more artisanal producers too. The hardest decision will be whether to have it with, or without the chocolate cup. Traditionalists will tell you the chocolate cup is a recent invention, to appeal to the tourists, but it’s also the go to method of serving. No need to clean, or dispose of a cup, when the cup is edible!
For people not wanting an alcoholic drink, or children, you’ll find other types of drinks also available – we tried a non-alcoholic lemonade flavoured with ginja that was delicious.
A Day Trip to Óbidos?
Óbidos is widely regarded and advertised as one of the best day trips in the Lisbon region. For visitors to Lisbon it offers an experience that can not be found within the metropolitan city. Óbidos is convenient in that it is only around 1 or 2 hours travel (depending on if you are taking public or private transport), and can be explored in a few hours.
Quick visits can be done in 2 hours, but we do recommend a few hours at least! Óbidos is also a fantastic stopping point for travelers between Lisbon and Porto, providing a rest and some sight seeing on the journey between the two cities.
Óbidos for More than a Day Trip?
Óbidos can make a fantastic day trip but also suffers because of this. During the day the arrival of public transport, and coach trips means continual waves of tourists. Not to mention school trips and younger tourers. This can often mean that the main entrance gets ‘clogged’, and Rua Direita seems exceptionally busy.
However these waves of tourists rarely venture from the main sites, and generally move on quite quickly. For that reason we do recommend you to visit early in the morning, or late in the afternoon. During the summer season, the heat of the sun during the day can also be a bit much! The lunch time rush can also be exhausting. However, in the late afternoon, the town feels completely different, relaxed dining and drinking with the few visitors that decided to stay.
Organised Tours to Óbidos
As one of the most popular trips, there are a wide variety of tours and trips available to be booked. Several trips are available that only go to Óbidos for around and these can be found for around €50 a person. Do note that these are large group tours – coach trips that will start in Lisbon and bring you back in the same day.
Alternatively, you’ll find larger, multi-destination tours that are combined with nearby Batalha, Nazaré, Fátima, or Alcobaça. These are a great way of seeing lots of towns and sites in a short space of time. However, they are often rushed and don’t allow you much time in each place. Many only allow an hour in Óbidos which is usually just enough time to walk along the Rua Direita to the castle and back, and a quick stop for a ginjinha. You can also opt for a private organised tour, which are usually much more customisable, and much more expensive. You’ll have the benefit of a private guide, who can tailor your trip exactly to what you need. Here’s our pick of our favourite and best reviewed tours:
- Lisbon: Day Trip to Fatima, Alcobaça & Óbidos with Transfers (€75 per person)
- From Lisbon: Fátima, Óbidos, Batalha and Nazaré Group Tour (€80 per person)
- From Lisbon: Fátima, Nazaré and Óbidos Private Tour (€375 per group)
Should you Stay in Óbidos?
For the more adventurous traveller, Óbidos can make a fantastic base to explore the wider central Portugal region and coastline. Its convenient location means you can access the coastal towns of Peniche, Foz do Arellho, and Nazaré very easily, without having to experience the resort feeling and hectic atmosphere of those towns during the summer months.
As we’ve said, after the peak hours, Óbidos changes completely. Drinking wine as the sun sets over the surrounding landscape is an experience like no other. That said, staying in Óbidos is not for everyone, it is a quiet town and after dining there really is not much to do other than wonder the streets!
The best places to stay in Óbidos
As a town of 3000 in a small area, Óbidos has a very small number of hotels, guest houses and private accommodation. For equal parts of luxury, and character, than the best place to stay is the Pousada Castelo de Óbidos, there is simply nothing else like it anywhere nearby. However, for something more reasonable in cost, but no less charming, the Óbidos History Hotel is also located within the city walls in a historic building. Do note that all the hotels and guest houses within the walled town are housed within historic and often small buildings! For the full list of available accommodation, you can check this list here.
How to Get to Óbidos from Lisbon – Public transport between Lisbon and Óbidos
Lisbon to Óbidos is the most popular route and the most common type of trip. Óbidos can be reached by both bus and train. The quicker of the two methods is the express bus operated by Rodatejo. Which departs Lisbon from a bus stop in Campo Grande. If you’re staying in Lisbon, you can reach Campo Grande on the metro by using either the green (Verde) or yellow (Amarela) metro lines from anywhere in the city.
A single bus ticket costs €8, and you need to by two separate single tickets as no return tickets are available. On week days there are hourly departures from 7am, at weekends and on public holidays, departures are approximately every two hours starting from 7.30am. The route is called the Rápida Verde and the full timetable is listed on the Rodatejo website.
Can you Take the Train from Lisbon to Óbidos?
Alternatively, you can take the train as Óbidos has its own train station. However, the train takes longer and can be more complicated. The quickest and most direct train departs Lisboa Entrecampos, and stops at Sete Rios before continuing north on the regional line.
This train takes around 2 hours and costs €8.50 but can take over three hours depending on the route. Alternative routes are available from Rossio and Oriente, but these involve multiple train lines and stops to swap trains. For this reason, often the bus is the recommended method of transport between Lisbon and Óbidos. The full time tables can be found on the Comboios de Portugal website.
What to Combine a Day Trip to Óbidos with?
Have longer, or want to get more out of a trip to Óbidos? This area of Portugal is dense with historical towns, beach resorts, and other incredible sites, so its easy to combine Óbidos with visits to other nearby places. The UNESCO heritage site of Batalha and its monastery is 45 minutes away by car.
The beach resort and surfers paradise of Nazaré is even closer at around 30 minutes away. Not to mention the smaller beach towns of São Martinho do Porto, Foz do Arelho, and Peniche. This region of Portugal is dense in activities and sites for you to explore. Slightly further you have the religious town of Fátima, and another UNESCO world heritage site in the riverside town of Tomar. There’s a lot more to this region than just Óbidos!
- Batalha Portugal: The Ultimate Guide to Batalha [2024]
- Alcobaça Portugal: The Ultimate Guide to Alcobaça [2024]
- Nazaré Portugal – The Ultimate Guide to Nazaré [2024]
Should you Visit Óbidos?
Óbidos is a wonderful place to visit, or even base yourself in to explore the slower paced Central Portugal. Not only is it an authentic village that offers a very different experience to Lisbon. But you’ll find great food and local history. Óbidos makes a great day trip, and can be combined with nearby Batalha, or Nazaré for a complete experience to fully absorb yourself in Portuguese history and culture. It’s also a great stopping point for travelers heading north of Lisbon and well worth a visit!
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