Around one hour from Lisbon by car, Óbidos is one of Portugal's best preserved medieval towns.
The town was conquered from the Moors in 1148, during the reign of Portugal's first king, D. Afonso Henriques. In 1281, King Dinis gave Óbidos to his wife, Queen Isabel. From then on, it became part of the Casa das Rainhas, an estate connected to several Portuguese queens for centuries. This is why Óbidos is sometimes known as the Town of Queens.
Today, its castle, walls, white houses and narrow streets make it one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon.
🏰 WHAT TO SEE IN ÓBIDOS
Walk along the medieval walls
The walls offer beautiful views over the town, the castle and the countryside.
Walking along them is free, but some sections are narrow, uneven and have no protective railings. Wear proper shoes and be careful, especially with children or if you are not comfortable with heights.
Óbidos Castle
The castle has Muslim origins and was later expanded after the Christian conquest.
Today, part of the castle is home to the Pousada Castelo de Óbidos, which opened in 1951 and was one of Portugal's first historic buildings converted into a Pousada. You cannot simply visit all of the interior like a normal castle, but the exterior and surrounding walls are still one of the highlights of Óbidos.
Porta da Vila
This is the main entrance to the historic town and one of the details you should not rush past.
Inside, you will find a small Baroque oratory covered with beautiful blue and white tiles from around 1740 to 1750. They show scenes from the Passion of Christ. The gate itself has a defensive L-shaped entrance, designed to make an attack more difficult.
Igreja de Santa Maria
Located in the main square, this is the principal church of Óbidos.
According to tradition, the site was used as a mosque during the Muslim period and became a Christian church after the conquest in 1148.
The church you see today was largely shaped during the 16th and 17th centuries. Inside, look for the painted ceiling, tiles and works connected to Josefa de Óbidos, one of Portugal's most important Baroque painters.
The bookshops
Óbidos has been a UNESCO Creative City of Literature since 2015, and books have become an important part of the town's identity.
One of the most unusual places is Livraria de Santiago.
The former Church of Santiago was originally built in 1186, destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and later rebuilt. Today, the interior is filled with books. It is probably one of the most unusual bookshops you will find in Portugal.
Try ginjinha in a chocolate cup
Along Rua Direita you will find several small shops selling ginjinha, the Portuguese sour cherry liqueur.
In Óbidos, it is commonly served in a small edible chocolate cup.
If you have extra time
Walk outside the walls to see the Aqueduto da Usseira or the Santuário do Senhor Jesus da Pedra.
The sanctuary opened in 1747 and is one of the most interesting Baroque buildings in the area, with an unusual rounded exterior and hexagonal interior.
📅 WHEN TO VISIT
Óbidos is worth visiting throughout the year, but the atmosphere changes during its main events.
The town hosts the International Chocolate Festival, the Medieval Market, FOLIO literary festival and Óbidos Vila Natal. These events can be great fun, but they also bring much larger crowds, so always check the calendar before visiting.
If you prefer a quieter Óbidos, I would arrive early in the morning or stay until later in the afternoon, when many day-trip groups have left.
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