Wondering what to see in Óbidos? Bookworms like me will feel right at home in this small Portuguese town, famous for its medieval walls and a delicious liqueur named ginjinha.
It’s 6.55 p.m., the bus to Óbidos is leaving in 5 minutes, and we still haven’t figured out where it departed.
Finally, I decided to ask the guy at the ticket office where it was. He pointed to this hidden green building, just off the main street. How was I supposed to find that?
We rushed off to the stop, and we got in just in time! With almost no places left, we settled for two separate seats. An hour went by until I spotted the medieval walls of Óbidos.
When we arrived on Friday night, the town was completely empty, a stillness that seemed a thing of the past the next day. We saw people lining up for the Christmas market, and all the restaurants were fully packed.
The best way to avoid the crowd is to step away from the main street and wander through the little narrow streets instead.
What to see in Óbidos
Óbidos Wall Walk
The first thing we saw when we arrived was the last thing we visited! They say to save the best for last, and climbing up the medieval walls of Óbidos was definitely worth waiting for.
The easiest way to enter is close to the castle on the right side. The walk takes approximately 45 minutes and offers breathtaking views of the town.
While you’re up there, you can snap a selfie or peek into people’s houses and admire their colorful gardens!
Senhor da Pedra Sanctuary
Before the sun sets, make sure to go to the Senhor da Pedra Sanctuary, an architectural monument that you probably spotted while you were up on the walls.
Walking back from the sanctuary to the town with the orange sky in the background was mesmerizing 🙂
Ginjinha in Óbidos
Of course, we couldn’t help but have at least one sip of the traditional ginjinha.
You can spot this drink in every corner of Rua Direita, served in glass or chocolate cups. If you want to sit down and properly enjoy it, though, I suggest heading to IBN ERRIK REX.
How long should you stay in Óbidos, Portugal?
A weekend in Óbidos is more than enough to see what this town has to offer. You can even make it a day trip from Lisbon if you want.
One of our biggest mistakes, however, was to buy tickets for the Christmas market. Unless you have kids, you can skip it! Instead, try visiting during the summer season and experience living in medieval times at the Óbidos Medieval Market.
Where to eat in Óbidos, Portugal
Óbidos might be small, but it does have a good selection of restaurants. I would recommend heading to O Caldeirão or A Nova Casa de Ramiro.
If you want a small snack, you should try the house cake or the chorizo bread at Capinha d’Óbidos. Tip: It’s better when it’s fresh off the oven!
Where to stay in Óbidos
We stayed in this lovely Airbnb with a garden. But, next time, I might try booking a room at The Literary Man, a hotel for book lovers.
How to get from Lisbon to Óbidos
- By car – It takes around one hour to reach Óbidos from Lisbon. The best part of driving is that you can stop in a few places along the way, like Ericeira or the Budha Eden Garden. Here’s an idea for a Portugal road trip passing through Óbidos.
- By bus – This is the easiest option if you don’t have a car. The bus departs from Campo Grande (green metro line) in Lisbon and drops you off in the center of Óbidos. You can check the schedules here.
- By train – You can take a train from Santa Apolónia or Oriente to Óbidos, but it would take between 2h30 to 3 hours. The train station is about a 10-minute walk from the town. If you’re still interested in this option, you can check the schedules here.
Óbidos Travel Map
If you’re looking for a little Óbidos itinerary, I’ve created a travel map below with all the spots you should visit. Don’t forget to bookmark it for your next trip!
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