Is Obidos worth visiting? I wasn’t sure when we took a detour to this historic city in Portugal. The options that we had was spending the day at the beach or visiting Obidos. Shawn wasn’t very sure either. In the end my curiosity won out and I’m so glad that it did because Obidos is mesmerizing.
Quite frankly if you are looking for one of the unique locations in Portugal that will transport you back to medieval Portugal then you will find plenty of options. The best among all of them however is Obidos.
We actually passed the fort city a couple of times during our stay in the area and each time, the itch to return was always there. I know one thing for sure. The next trip that we take to Portugal, Obidos will be one of the destinations that I will pick to stay awhile.
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Table of Contents
Is Obidos Worth Visiting? – Pros
I’m going to apologize in advance. I loved Obidos a lot so you probably hear me sing its praises far more than when it comes to the other cities. I will however list some of the cons too. In my humble opinion, the pros definitely outweigh the cons when it comes to this city.
1. Obidos Is Pretty Laid Back
Is Obidos worth visiting you ask? Well one of the reasons why I liked Obidos is because the city is very very laid back. It is quiet despite the hordes of tourists that visit every day. It has plenty of places where you can just sit, have a drink (it doesn’t have to be alcoholic) and enjoy the view.
The view itself is pretty amazing. I personally loved sitting at the center of the city or in the square. You don’t even have to sit at one of the restaurants or cafes. We had picked up some fruits on our way over and we just sat eating them there. There was plenty of place for the children to run around safely which meant that they had fun too.
2. The City Is Famous For Its Literature
Not many people know this but the UNESCO declared Obidos a city of literature. Why? Well for one thing Obidos has just 3100 residents inside its walls but it houses over half a million books!
It was actually an interesting ambition. All the old and disused areas in Obidos were converted into thematic book shops.
One great example is Igreja de São Tiago where an old church is converted into a book shop. This means that the old monument is preserved at the space is used too.
Also since it is a pretty unique concept you will find plenty of people entering and exiting the shops and it promotes local artists, authors and Portuguese literature at large.
3. The Town Is Pretty Unique
Portugal has a lot of interesting cities and towns and we have been to so many of them. We love going off the beaten path so when I say we’ve been around I mean it! Obidos however is one of the unique towns in the country. First off it is on a hill and is surrounded by a fort. The medieval part of the city lies with the fort walls and this makes it a small but interesting place to spend some time at.
The small winding cobbled stoned paths, the white shops and houses and the ambiance is something that words cannot adequately describe. There is even a castle here. So is Obidos worth visiting? If you walk straight back into medieval Portugal, then this is one place that you should add to your bucket list. It will definitely awaken the artist in you!
4. There Are Plenty Of Things To Do In Obidos
Will you be bored? Obidos is small right? Well yes Obidos is small. Will you be bored? Probably not because there are plenty of things to do in Obidos. If you are the kind of person who loves to breeze through and head from attraction to attraction you will probably be done with the city in two hours. That’s why many tours combine Obidos with another spot like Fatima that is nearby.
If you love to take it slow, you will find that the city is entralling. So is Obidos worth visiting? I would say yes but if you expect something like Porto or Lisbon, you will be disappointed. This is because Obidos is just so much smaller and it does not have the same kind of museums and activities. I liked it much better than Aveiro though which is another small city in Portugal that is famous among the tourists.
5. You Can Taste Some Pretty Unique Alcohol Here
Ginja or ginjinha is an cherry liqueur that is made in the vicinity of Obidos. This is made using the sour cherries that are grown in the region. It is famous in Portugal but in Obidos you can try out some of the local brands. There are a number of stall that are set up so you can knock back a shot for a fee.
They are often sold in little chocolate cups. I prefer mine neat. What about you? Did mention that I carried some of the bottles back home with me as souvenirs from Portugal. Ginja isn’t the only alcohol you can taste here. If you move into the local restaurants you can also taste wine that is grown in the nearby regions or brought in from the Douro region of Portugal.
6. You Can Stay In A Castle
Ever wanted to stay like royalty? In Obidos you can actually do it. One part of the castle in Obidos has been restored and is now a luxury hotel. It has some of the best views in the city.
While you do have to climb up to it which can be a problem for anyone who has mobility issues, it is absolutely stunning inside. It lacks for none of the modern amenities and it even has an inhouse restaurant should you not feel like heading down to the main city.
So is worth Obidos worth visiting if you can fulfill a life long fantasy? I would think so! What about you?
7. Obidos Makes A Great Day Trip
Most people choose to stay in Lisbon because that’s the place they arrive at. Lisbon is great and there are plenty of unique things to do there but at some point you will look outside the city. Now there are many day trips that you can take from Lisbon.
Obidos is one of the cool ones and many people often choose between Sintra and Obidos. If you ask me both have their own charm but my personal favorite is the day trip from Lisbon to Obidos.
Is Obidos Worth Visiting? – Cons
1. There Are A Lot Of Tourists!
One of the biggest downsides to Obidos is that it is super popular and every year more and more people decide to visit. In fact, many people often try to decide whether it is better to visit Obidos over Sintra. So yes… Obidos gets crowded. The streets are narrow and are often bustling with people who are in the city just for an hour or two.
2. The City Is Small
I like to think of the city as small and quaint but if you want a fast paced itinerary then you shouldn’t plan a whole day in Obidos. In fact, it is often better to pair it with a city that is close by. Fatima is another choice. So is Peniche, Nazare, Batalha and the Mira de Aire caves.
So you can now see my thought process. Is Obidos worth visiting? I sure think it is. The major downsides that I see are the crowds and those have come about because the city is just so beautiful. It is quite unlike any other city in country. I’m just repeating myself now. So I’m going to leave it at this. If you have time, make sure that Obidos is on your itinerary!