The medieval town of Obidos comes highly recommended, so it’s a place I absolutely had to visit while in Portugal. About an hour or two from Lisbon, it made a lovely day trip, and I had a nice time exploring this gem of a town.

A Short History of Obidos

Though it’s known for its medieval heritage, the area of Obidos has been inhabited since prehistory and was a Roman outpost. When the Moors and the Mozarabs came in the 8th century, it was converted to a city with a castle – much like it is today. In 1148, when modern Portugal emerged, it was conquered for the new kingdom. It was given to Queen Urraca in 1210.

King Dinis I seems to have made the most changes to the town in the late 13th/early 14th centuries. He had the castle and walls reconstructed to reflect the European Portuguese style rather than the Moorish, and the city grew. He also gave his wife, Queen Isabel, the town as a wedding gift in 1282 and it became part of the queen’s dowry for 550 years – up until 1834. Even being partly damaged by the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, Obidos has retained its medieval heritage for centuries.

Things to See & Do in Obidos

The most notable feature of Obidos is its stunning medieval walls. I’ve been to many a medieval town but still *gasped* when I saw Obidos coming up in the distance. It is stunning! The walls date to around the 13th-14th centuries and encapsulate the old town.

There are several points at which you can walk up and take a stroll along the walls. However it can be very far up – may 20 or 30 feet? – and there’s no railing at any point in the walk. The parts you can walk on are about 2-3 feet wide, so not super skinny, but if you come around a corner and bump into someone you didn’t know was there (like I did) you might drop to your death (like I fortunately did not). Obviously most people are fine but it was a little jarring for me, a worry wart. Even more of a shock was watching people walk their dogs along the walls!

That being said, if you are willing and able, definitely do walk the walls. They have fantastic views over the countryside and over the town itself.

You can also see the Castelo de Obidos which is the town’s castle (I mean, what’s a medieval town without its castle?). The building is currently used as a hotel (click here to book) but you can go inside the courtyard and up the tower without having to pay or be a guest.

You will probably pass by when you enter the town but you absolutely have to see the gorgeous Porta da Vila. It has a beautiful little chapel with tiles lining the inside – quintessentially Portuguese.

If you come via car or bus, you’ll also probably see the aqueduct when you arrive. Aqueducts are typically associated with the ancient Romans but like much of Portugal, this aqueduct was constructed in the 16th century.

Something you also have to do in Obidos is try ginja (also spelled ginjaha). It’s a Portuguese liquer made of ginja cherries. It’s delicious – and a bit dangerous since it doesn’t taste very alcoholic! You will see ginja available in many parts of Portugal but in Obidos, it is served in a chocolate cup. Don’t worry about finding a place to get some because there are so many vendors along the streets selling it.

The town also hosts an International Chocolate Festival each year, and I was SO BUMMED because though I had scheduled to go, Sintra being closed messed with my schedule and I ultimately had to miss it. There’s also a medieval fair in July.

The small Igreja de Santa Maria is also a place to pop into. It’s free to visit this medieval church that was redesigned in the 16th century and it is quite cute inside. You can also stop in Sao Pedro Church.

To be frank, there’s not a lot to “do” in Obidos. It’s a place that’s nice to walk around and explore the streets, have a bite to eat, etc. Make sure you go down all the streets and alleyways to get the most out of your visit, and also be sure to go outside the city walls to the east because there are still some charming old buildings to see.

I think I spent about 4 or 5 hours in Obidos, which included a stop for lunch. It’s really not that big a place so even if you take your time exploring, it will probably be about a half day visit or a full day trip. I’ve also heard of many people using Obidos as a base to explore the immediate area, including the nearby coast.

The town itself is quite touristy but I felt the locals there were exceptionally nice, and didn’t think anything was overrated. It’s a very stunning place and well preserved, and absolutely worth the trip. Since it’s so close to Lisbon I’d even venture to say that it should be the first place to consider as a day trip outside the city.

I really liked my time in Obidos. It’s not a big place but very charming and a lovely glimpse into the past, and a definite place to visit when you’re in Portugal!

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