Portugal: What to do in Óbidos – 1 day itinerary

Last updated: 11/27/2022

Discover the friendly Óbidos, a medieval city located in the north of Portugal, surrounded by walls and full of history.

THE VILLAGE OF ÓBIDOS

Óbidos is a medieval village located less than 90 km north of Lisbon, which has just over 2,000 inhabitants. In 2007, the historic Castle of Óbidos was elected one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal and, for this reason, many people started to include the city in the itinerary.

The name Óbidos originates from the word Oppidum, a Latin term used to refer to the main settlement in any administrative area of the Roman Empire, of which it was once a part. In fact, the region where the village is located has been occupied since prehistoric times.

Several peoples have passed through there, including pre-Roman Iberian peoples (known as Lusitanians), Romans, Visigoths and Muslims, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Portugal. Óbidos was taken by the Moors in 1148 and officially became a Portuguese town in 1195.

CURIOSITY: GIFT FROM THE QUEENS OF PORTUGAL

Over many centuries, Óbidos served as a gift to the wives of Portuguese kings. In 1210, D. Afonso II donated the village and the Castle to his wife, D. Urraca de Castile and, in 1282, it was D. Dinis's turn to give the village as a wedding gift to Queen Santa Isabel.

From then on, the village became part of the dowry of all queens of Portugal until 1834, including D. Phillipa de Lancaster in 1387 (wife of D. João I), D. Leonor of Aragão in 1428 (wife of D. Duarte) and D. Leonor de Avis in 1451 (wife of D. João II). For this reason, the city became known as “gift from the queens”.

THE SOURCE OF ÓBIDOS

Ginja is a small red fruit that resembles a cherry, but is quite bitter. A very sweet liqueur is produced from it, typical of Portugal, known as ginja or ginjinha.

Ginja de Óbidos is one of the most famous in the country and is very easy to find in several little shops on Rua Direita, the central street of Óbidos. Ginja de Óbidos is a recipe that was born in monasteries, probably made from the 17th century onwards. In general, the liqueur is made with sour cherry, water, alcohol, sugar and ingredients to flavor it, such as cinnamon or vanilla. The liqueur is served in a tiny glass, sometimes dark chocolate, as the drink has an alcohol content of around 20%.

We cannot indicate any specific place because we received Ginja de Óbidos as a courtesy at the hotel where we stayed in the city, the Hotel Casa das Senhoras Rainhas🇧🇷 As the drink has a very high alcohol content and is very sweet, one drink was enough for us.

WHEN TO VISIT OBIDOS

Óbidos is an excellent destination to visit at any time of the year. If you want to participate in some of the main annual events that take place in the city, you need to plan ahead.

Although summer is always the busiest time (and also when hotels are more expensive due to the increasing number of tourists), with a series of musical events and music festivals, there are interesting activities throughout the year. Check out some of the main events:

• INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL (March April): At this delicious festival, you can see life-size chocolate sculptures, as well as participate in workshops to make your own chocolates.
• MEDIEVAL FAIR AND MARKET (July August): In this event, the castle returns to its medieval origins with activities where visitors can have experiences to get a taste of what it was like to live in medieval times. The atmosphere is even more interesting because many people go in medieval costumes and those who don't have to pay a fee to enter the fair.

• LITERARY FESTIVAL FOLIO (September October): In 2014, the city started the Óbidos, Vila Literária project, providing the renovation of some abandoned buildings and transforming them into bookstores. Thus, the Folio – Literary Festival was created, integrating dozens of activities such as round tables, interviews, concerts, exhibitions, theater plays, film sessions and various activities with dozens of Portuguese and foreign writers.
• VILA NATAL (November to January): The city turns into a Christmas village, a mystical place to delight people of all ages with many decorations, lights and activities.

HOW TO GET THERE AND GET AROUND OBIDOS

Being in the city, the best way to get around is on foot. The historic city center is relatively small and super nice to walk around. Only one of the mentioned attractions is farther from the city center. Check below which are the main options to get to the city of Óbidos.

• CAR: A good option is to take a trip with a rented car to Aveiro, so you can stay as long as you want.
• TRAIN: The nearest train station is about 2 km north of Óbidos centre. For those going from Lisbon, the trip takes just over 2 hours and tickets cost, on average, between €7 and €11. Once there, you can take a taxi or Uber to get to the city center. See timetables and prices at official site of the Portuguese trains.
• BUS: Another option is to go to the city by bus, which takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The ticket costs around €10 for the company Rapida Verde 788 from Rodoviária do Oeste. See routes and schedules in this link.
• EXCURSIONS: One of the most popular ways to get to the city is by joining a tour from Lisbon. It is an excellent option for those who want to explore several places in one day without having to worry about public transport or renting a car. Check out some options below and click for more information.

WHAT TO DO IN OBIDOS

To help you plan an amazing visit to Alcobaça, we've put all the information on the interactive map below. attractions are in blue, tips from shopping and restaurants are in red and hosting and other important points in black. Then check out more details about each of the attractions.

1. DOOR OF THE VILLAGE AND ORATORY OF NOSSADAS DA PIEIDADE

Porta da Vila is the main entrance to the walled medieval town of Óbidos, probably built in the 14th century, during the reign of King Fernando. The construction was ordered by King D. João IV during the Restoration of Independence in 1640, in gratitude for the protection received from Nossa Senhora da Piedade, patron saint of Óbidos. Above this monumental entrance is an inscription “The Virgin Our Lady was conceived without original sin”. Inside, a small chapel-sanctuary was built in honor of the saint with a balcony decorated with tiles dating from 1740 and 1750, with allegorical motifs to the Passion of Christ, representing the agony and imprisonment of Jesus.

• Address: R. Josefa de Óbidos 2, 2510-001 Óbidos, Portugal

2. RIGHT STREET

Crossing the Porta da Vila, you arrive at Rua Direita, the main street in Óbidos, completely dedicated to pedestrian traffic. This historic street is narrow and leads from the main city gate to the castle. Although it dates back to the 1300s, it was enlarged in the 16th and 17th centuries. It has always maintained many of its portals and Gothic windows and leads to the picturesque main square, where the main church of the city, the Church of Santa Maria, is located.

This is the perfect street for those looking for traditional handicrafts, a souvenir or a place to taste the city's famous liqueur, Ginja de Óbidos. The street is full of shops, restaurants, cafes and some small galleries, such as New Ogiva Gallery which focuses on contemporary art. On this street is also the Óbidos Tourist Office, the tourist information centre.

3. BIOLOGICAL MARKET BOOKSTORE

O Organic Market of Óbidos It is an organic market that sells a range of products such as wines, fresh fruit, olive oil, handmade soaps, jams and other products. Located inside an old fire station, inside the market is a beautiful bookstore whose shelves are made with reused fruit boxes. Among the books for sale are new and used books on travel, gastronomy, wine, among others.

• Address: R. Direita 28, 2510-102 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: daily from 10 am to 7 pm

4. LARGO SÃO JOÃO DE GOD

>> CHURCH OF SÃO PEDRO & CHAPEL OF SÃO MARTINHO

Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, the St. Peter's Church it was a Gothic basilica with 3 naves and a Gothic portico on the outside. It was destroyed during the 1755 earthquake and only the gilded main altar and the bell tower with stone staircase and snail shape survived. It was later rebuilt in a much simpler way, with a single nave. It houses a beautiful baroque altarpiece from the 17th century. The painter Josefa de Óbidos and the priest Rafael Malhão da Silveira are buried in the church.

• Address: Largo São João de Deus, 2510-039 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: from October to March from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm | April to September 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
• Entrance: free

>> CHAPEL OF SÃO MARTINHO

Opposite the church of São Pedro is the Chapel of Saint Martin, a small Gothic chapel built in 1331. as a private sanctuary to house the tombs of the clerics of the Lisbon Cathedral. And the the only surviving completely medieval building in Óbidos, as all the others were completely or partially destroyed by earthquakes over time. Since 1998, it has been state-owned.

5. MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF ÓBIDOS

The Municipal Museum of Óbidos seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of the region with research, documentation, conservation and restoration activities. The exhibitions seek to show visitors the artistic and religious productions of the history of Vila de Óbidos, highlighting the work of the artist Josefa de Óbidos. The works of the museum include articles of religious art, cult objects, paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 18th century, archaeological artifacts, among others. The exhibition rooms are divided as follows: 20th Century Room, Altarpiece Room, Josefa d'Óbidos Room, Baroque Room and Archeology Room / D. Maria.

• Address: R. Direita 97, 2510-086 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm | closed on mondays
• Entrance: free

6. CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA - MATRIX DE ÓBIDOS

The Church of Santa Maria is the most important church in Óbidos🇧🇷 It is not known for sure when it was built, but it was sometime during the period dominated by the Visigoths. When the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by the Muslims, the church was converted into a mosque and returned to being a church after D. Afonso Henriques reconquered the village in 1148. Between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the church was renovated and new structures were built, at the request of Queen D. Leonor, wife of D. João II, including the bell tower and the Chapel of Our Lady of Piety and the renaissance tombs of D. João de Noronha, mayor of the village, and Isabel de Sousa. In 1441, Infante D. Afonso (later King D. Afonso V) married his cousin Isabel. In 1570, the structure of the building was threatened by an earthquake and new renovations were initiated at the request of Queen Catherine of Austria, becoming as we know it today.

As it has been greatly modified over the centuries, the church is a mixture of architectural styles, with elements Manueline (late Portuguese Gothic), renaissance, mannerists and baroque🇧🇷 Among the highlights of the church are: a mannerist portal at the entrance with the image of the patron saint Nossa Senhora da Assunção; walls lined with tiles; O altarpiece by João da Costa on the high altar and the altarpiece of Santa Catarina by Josefa de Óbidos; O wooden ceiling decorated with paintings from the 17th century; in addition to paintings and Gold carving (carved wood covered with a gold film). In front of the church, there is a stone pillory decorated with a fishing net. It was the way in which D. Leonor honored the fishermen who collected the body of her son, D. Afonso, when he suffered a hunting accident on the banks of the Tagus River.

• Address: Santa Maria Square, 2510-001 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm | closed on mondays
• Entrance: free

7. MUSEUM ABILIO DE MATTOS E SILVA

This museum is named after the artist Abílio de Mattos e Silva, a painter, designer, set designer and costume designer. The building that houses the museum was built in the early 16th century and was restored in 1665. Before housing the museum, it served as Town Hall, Municipal Court, Jail, Municipal Museum. The Abílio de Mattos e Silva Museum is a space for the dissemination of performing and graphic arts through exhibitions with varied themes, with emphasis on the areas of theatre, opera and dance. In 1966, it was he who did the first creative works for the airline TAP.

Although not originally from Óbidos, Abílio had been raised in the city and lived there with his wife, interior designer Maria José Salavisa. She carried out the architectural rehabilitation and interior decoration of the Casa-Museum of Arco da Cadeia (Address: R. Padre Nuno Tavares, 2510-070 Óbidos, Portugal), a 14th-century building opposite the museum that was the couple's home and can be visited by appointment.

• Address: Santa Maria Square, 2510-086 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm | closed on mondays
• Entrance: free

8. MISERICÓRDIA CHURCH

Founded in the 15th century by Queen D. Leonor, this church was built over an old chapel, known as Capela do Espírito Santo. The Igreja da Misericórdia is a milestone in history, as it has a gate from 1596 which is considered the first work of baroque art in Portugal🇧🇷 There is an image of the Virgin in blue porcelain on the entrance portico. Highlights of the church's interior include walls covered in blue and yellow tiles hand-painted between 1625 and 1678; a Mannerist altarpiece covered in gilded carvings; the tomb of D. Maria Luísa, aia of Queen D. Maria Ana of Austria; and several paintings dating from 1628 and 1630. Today, the church is more of a museum than a place of worship, displaying various works of art.

• Address: 2510-039 Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: Friday to Wednesday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm
• Entrance: free

9. CHURCH & LIBRARY OF SANTIAGO

At the entrance to Óbidos Castle is the Church of Santiago…or at least it used to be. Built in Baroque and Neoclassical style in 1186 by order of Dom Sancho I, the Church of Santiago was a collegiate church in the service of the castle. Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela used to stop at this church, before it was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. It was rebuilt in 1778, in a style very different from the original Gothic style.

Originally it had three naves and was connected to the interior of the castle and was intended for use by the royal family when they were in Óbidos. Currently, the church functions as a bookstore that has a wide variety of books and also promotes events such as film screenings, book launches and exhibitions. Its 16th-century altarpiece depicting St. James is now on display at the Municipal Museum.

• Address: Largo de Sao Tiago do Castelo 2510-106, Óbidos, Portugal
• Schedules: from sunday to thursday from 10 am to 7 pm | Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm
• Entrance: free

10. CASTLE OF ÓBIDOS

Although the castle has been documented since 1153, it is believed that it was the Muslims who built the first fortification on the site, as there are sections of the wall that surrounds the castle with traits similar to Moorish architecture. Óbidos Castle is located in the top of a hill, about 79 meters above sea level.

After the Reconquista, many constructions and repairs were made to the castle from 1148 onwards. The keep was built by D. Dinis around 1325 and, in 1375, the main towers were built, which in addition to having military role protection, they also served as royal palace.

Under the reign of D. João II (1481-1495), Queen D. Leonor moved to the Castle after the death of her only son, Prince D. Afonso. In the 16th century, the Castle underwent a series of renovations. However, the 1755 earthquake caused serious damage to the structure, leaving it almost completely in ruins. The Crown did not have enough financial resources to completely rebuild it, although some adaptations to the towers were made throughout the 19th century. From the old castle, you can still see Manueline windows (Portuguese late Gothic) from the 1500s and the royal coat of arms over a portal.

Subsequently, the main building – where the king used to stay when he was in the city – underwent an extensive restoration project and, in 1932, was converted into a hotel🇧🇷 Due to the various interventions over the centuries, the architecture of the castle mixes architectural elements from the Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline and Baroque styles.

HOW TO VISIT THE CASTLE OF ÓBIDOS

Óbidos Castle is not open to visitors. For this reason, there are two ways to get to know it from the inside: staying at the castle (if you want an original stay, make sure you are in a room on the old side of the castle, as there are rooms on the newer side that do not have the features of the old castle) or making a meal at the restaurant from Pousada Castelo de Óbidos, which prepares dishes with fresh products from the region. Although it is not possible to see the interior unless you are staying at the hotel, it is possible to see the small terrace and garden.

11. WALL OF ÓBIDOS & PORTA DO VALE OR SÃO DA GRAÇA

The Walls of Óbidos surround the castle and the city within the walls. They have more than 1.5 km long and, in some stretches, they reach the 13 meters high🇧🇷 The area of the walls is also reinforced by towers.

It's possible walk the walls, enjoying incredible views of the city. However, care must be taken because there are no handrails or places to lean on or walk safely, and it is not recommended to leave children or elderly people unattended full time. Wear comfortable shoes to avoid the risk of slipping.

We totally advise people who are elderly, children, with limited mobility and afraid of heights to walk along the walls. The floor is all uneven and there are very bad stretches to walk.

Access inside the walls can be done through four doors and two wickets, highlighting the Porta da Vila or Porta de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, mentioned in item #1 at the beginning of this article, where the access stairs to the top of the walls are located, and the Porta do Vale or Porta da Senhora da Graça.

It is a gateway to the city, whose interior houses an oratory-chapel in honor of Nossa Senhora da Graça. According to legend, the place already had an image dedicated to the saint in gratitude after the siege of 1246. Over time, the place was transformed into a temple with a chapel, altarpiece, choir and even sacristy on the initiative of Bernardo de Palma, who fulfilled a promise from his daughter, who had fallen in love with a young man from Óbidos. The nave of the chapel is just an internal passage to the street.

12. OUTSIDE THE WALL: ÓBIDOS AQUEDUCT & MEMORY CRUISE

A little further away from the center is Aqueduct of Deaths, also called Usseira Aqueduct, was built in 1570, at the request of Queen D. Catarina of Austria, wife of D. João III. With about 3 km, it is made of stone masonry and connected Usseira (a parish in the municipality of Óbidos) where the water source is located to Óbidos. The purpose of the construction was to transport water to supply the city's fountains.

Next to the aqueduct is the Memory Cruise, a monument built to celebrate the reconquest of Óbidos from the Moors by D. Afonso Henriques. The idea was to mark exactly the place where he needed to set up camp before conquering the village.

WHERE TO EAT IN OBIDOS

Óbidos is a super charming city with several restaurants located in the center of the city with their tables installed in the medieval stone streets. Then check out some options:

WHERE TO STAY IN OBIDOS

The city of Óbidos has some accommodation options inside and outside the wall. If you are driving, parking inside the wall is complicated, as access is difficult and there are few parking spaces. We did that and we had some trouble. Parking outside is quieter and there are many more options for parking spaces. If you prefer to stay in a city with more infrastructure, our tip is to stay in Caldas da Rainha, which is about 9 km north of Óbidos (see options here🇧🇷 Then check out some hosting options that we separate.

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