We’ve traveled a lot through Portugal. While most of the places in the country are beautiful, Obidos is a whole different level of gorgeous. The walled city is visible from afar amidst the rolling hills that surround it. This itself left a big impression on us. Once we started wandering around it, we found ourselves engrossed in all the things to do in Obidos and there were a surprising number of them too!
The city was supposed to be a quick stop on our journey to Peniche. I honestly thought that there weren’t many attractions in Obidos and I was proved wrong because we spent the whole day here. A part of the reason why was because there was a gaming festival that was being held in the Castle. That kept us and the kids entertained for long.
Games aside, the city was vibrant and we would have still hung around even if the festival wasn’t being celebrated. That’s not because of the number of things to do in Obidos but because the vibe was really nice. We enjoyed the views, the laid back meals, the leisurely strolls and the general ambiance.
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Where To Stay In Obidos
Pousada Do Castelo De Óbidos
⭐️ Rating: 8.3/10 (848 Reviews) Price: $284 per night 📍Location: Paço Real, Óbidos Details: Read more on booking.com now!
One of the most iconic spots to stay in Óbidos is in the famed castle of Óbidos itself. While you can walk through a section of the castle, a part of it is renovated and houses a very luxurious hotel called Pousada Do Castelo De Obidos. Can you imagine staying inside one of the wonders of Portugal? That’s exactly what the hotel has to offer.
The beauty of Pousada Do Castelo De Óbidos is that it combines 14th century architecture with current day luxury. So even though it looks old, it does not feel it.
The rooms are large, spacious and fully airconditioned with these cool four poster beds that really make you feel like royalty. Each one comes with its own ensuite bathroom.
“The history, the lovely decor, the friendly staff. Breakfast Buffet was exceptional, almost anything you could want in a beautiful setting. Loved having our own private castle balcony across from our room with amazing views.”
Elizabeth (read more reviews now!)
Now some of the unique facets to this accommodation is the activities that they provide. You could arrange to go horse riding or hire a guide to take you hiking. This is something that you won’t find easy to arrange unless you are staying here. Definitely something to consider if you would love doing some of the offbeat things to do in Obidos.
Casa S. Thiago Obidos
⭐️ Rating: 8.8/10 (1,693 Reviews) Price: $107 per night 📍Location: Largo De S. Thiago, 1, Óbidos Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Obidos is one of the prettiest towns in Portugal. Its medieval charm is not lost on the visitors. Casa S. Thiago Obidos is one of the accommodations in Obidos that merges perfectly with its surroundings. Its a family run guest house and has a really homey feel to the place.
The rooms are spacious and are decorated in the traditional Portuguese style. A lot of the furniture are actually antiques which is what adds to the charm. There’s also a spacious living room with a fireplace where you can hang out at and interact with the people who run the guest house. Unlike the posher hotels this feels more like a home stay. Makes it a great place to stay at with kids.
“It is full of character and its location within the walls of Obidos was perfect for enjoying this historic place when the tourists had gone home. We loved sitting by the bedroom window enjoying a beautiful view across gardens and the village.”
Paul (read more reviews now!)
Another big draw to this accommodation is one of the places that provides breakfast in the room rate. The breakfast has some of the traditional Portuguese food. They also use seasonal ingredients so you get to taste what is made locally in each season.
Definitely one of the best budget options if you want to stay in the town and explore the things to do in Obidos from a home base.
Things To Do In Obidos, Portugal
1. Castelo De Obidos
One of the main attractions in Obidos is the Castle that lies inside the walls of the city. Interestingly enough the word Obidos actually means citadel or fortified city. Well, the Latin word oppidum does and Obidos was derived from this word. I could not find out just how old this castle is but from what I gathered, it was built somewhere between the 12th and 14th century.
Now entrance into this castle is free and you can roam all over the place including the terrace at the back where the major town festivals are held. We however could not enter because the whole venue was taken up by a gaming festival. Needless to say, we paid the gaming tickets and entered the castle either way. It was a lot of fun to partake in all the old games and a bit nostalgic.
The best part of our time however was exploring all the different parts of the castle and trying to get up onto the walls. To be fair, not much of the interiors remains in the places where you can wander around for free. The preserved part of the castle is a hotel and to explore that, you will need to actually stay in it. But you can see why the castle is one of the top things to do in Obidos when you visit.
2. Baloiço Óbidos
Once you are done wandering around the Obidos castle, you will find the next item on our list of things to do in Obidos is just meters away. This is the Baloiço Óbidos. The spot is a fun view point with swings that you can settle into. The area has a lot of shade thanks to the trees that spread above it which makes it a great spot to stop at when the sun is at its zenith.
3. Church Of Saint Mary
The Church of Saint Mary is located in the heart of the walled city. The church has a large courtyard in front of it and as you walk about the city streets your gaze will immediately be drawn to the building. Compared to many of the churches and Basilicas that we have visited the exterior of the church is plain by comparison. But as you look closer you will appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of the artistry.
The inside of the church however is a whole different matter. The azulejos or iconic blue and white Portuguese tiles adorn many of the walls give then church a very grand feeling. It isn’t very large but you can see that the church is sufficient for the people who live in the area.
Entrance to this church is free so make sure you step inside if it is open when you are visiting. It is one of the things to do in Obidos that you should not miss.
4. São Pedro Church
A little bit away from the Church of St. Mary is the São Pedro Church. You could be forgiven for walking by without noticing its presence because it is on one of the streets with lesser foot traffic when it comes to tourists.
This church is free to enter and it is much simpler than the previous one. It has an ornate gold altar that is the center of attention in the church. Simple benches line the church where devotees can sit and pray.
5. Porta Da Vila
I definitely have to mention Porta Da Vila. This is the double walled gate of the city. You will pass through it when you enter and exit the city. Most people are highly enthusiastic when entering and tired when leaving so they don’t really pay attention to it.
It is by far on of the noteworthy things to do in Portugal. Aside from the double walls, you will notice that there is a sort of cove inside. Here there are intricate tile work in the characteristic blue and white azulejos of Portugal.
We found this corner always occupied by street performers. Their music echoed down the streets nearby and was pretty soothing.
Most people do not even realize that they have just walked through one of the iconic things to do in Obidos. In fact, I realized it only when I was exiting the town.
6. Walk Along The Fort Wall
One of the things to do in Obidios that you should really not miss is walking along the walls of the fort. The walls are broad and the part along the gate side of the city has doubled walls so that you can easily let the kids move about on their own. The rest of the walls however do not have a barrier so keep younger children close.
The view from the top is gorgeous. Not only can you see the city of Obidios below but you can see outside the city walls and the rolling green of the hills is something that words cannot truly describe.
7. Visit The Bookshop In Igreja de São Tiago
Just outside the Castle of Obidos, you will notice the façade of the Igreja de São Tiago. We entered thinking that the church was functional but were surprised to find a bookstore inside.
I love how the book shelves were arranged. You can still see where the altar used to be but other than that the church is for all purposes just a shop.
If you love reading then this is definitely one of the unique things to do in Obidos that you should check out.
8. Try Some Ginja
Ginja or Ginjinha as some people call it, is a cherry liqueur that is made in this region of Portugal. I must confess that I love it and the little pop up shops drew my attention from the moment we entered the city. Ginja can be served neat in a tiny little glass or it can be served up in a chocolate cup.
I personally love both but am happy to have it neat. Try both and see which one piques your fancy more. You can even buy a bottle to take back home with you. Most of the pop up stores in the area have a shop behind them that sells Ginja. I know that I packed a couple into the car when I was there.
In fact, I know that there are many people who don’t get a chance to take a day trip to Obidos, actually buy Ginjinha as a souvenir from Lisbon itself! Whether you look at it as a tourist trap, an experience or just something local to try out, tasting Ginjinha remains one of the many things to do in Obidos that everyone recommends.
9. Buy Souvenirs
One of the other popular things to do in Obidos is to go souvenir shopping. There are loads of souvenir stalls and shops all over the city. One of the things that you need to understand is that while Obidos is a medieval city, it has also become a major tourist spot for people who want to head out of Lisbon to explore a bit of the Portuguese countryside.
The locals have capitalized on it and you can see a lot of souvenir shops have popped up all over the place. The one thing that I liked was that most of the souvenirs were not over priced. So if you want to go shopping, this is not a bad place to do it.
10. Aqueduto De Usseira
Aqueduto De Usseira is a historic monument that is located on the outside of the walled city of Obidos. Visiting it is one of the things to do do in Obidos but we never really got to doing it. One of the big reasons was that the kids were very tired after walking around the town.
The aqueduct was built in the 16th century to bring drinking water to the people of Obidos. The gorgeous arches are visible even from the distance. We could see the aqueduct from our parking lot and it looked pretty from the distance.
11. Take A Walking Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (74 Reviews) Price: $39 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍Meeting Point: Óbidos Tourist Office Details: Read more on Viator!
Lastly, you could easily see all the things to do in Obidos on your own. You don’t need a big plan or a way to optimize your time. All you have to do is wander along the cobbled streets and take in the sights. That’s what makes Obidos brilliant.
So why take a tour? Well one facet to visiting a city or town is to learn about its history and stories of the past. The best way to do this is with a local. If you take a walking tour, your guide will talk about the interesting stories related to each site. Definitely worth it if you are a history buff.
“Ivo was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about Obidos and history of Portugal. It was an enjoyable 2 hrs. Wish we had arranged a longer tour of the area.”
Hinda (read more reviews now!)
And there you have it. These were some of the top things to do in Obidos that we checked out. Generally speaking though, my favorite part of our trip was chilling in all the public places and enjoying the vibe of the city.
Have you been to the Obidos? What were your favorite things to do in Obidos? Let me know in the comments below.
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