Obidos

Restaurants in Obidos

The addictive delicacies of Óbidos are hidden on every street corner and you won't have any trouble finding them. In fact, the famous Jinginia cherry liqueur and local favorites you will find in abundance at authentic street stalls and eating at them can easily replace the restaurant. However, it is a quite desirable destination, characterized by quite expensive tourist restaurants. The recommended ones are Pousada de Castelo - a prestigious chef's restaurant located in the heart of the city fortress and very worth going to; A Nova Casa de Ramiro offering authentic Portuguese cuisine; Memory which specializes in grilled meat and fish delicacies; and- XII Apóstolos which is considered by many to be the best Italian in town. 

In addition, in Óbidos there is a hot corner for the chocolate culture that has become a household name here. Every year in April, the city celebrates the Chocolate Festival (recommended!) and the rest of the year you won't have any trouble finding a selection of stalls and restaurants with surprising sweet desserts based on particularly fine chocolate. 

Another tip regarding the local restaurants: most of them serve cheese, butter, olives and bread in the center of the table as an appetizer. You do not have to eat them, but if you have tasted and eaten, you will be asked to pay for them around 1-4 euros per diner in addition to the payment for the meal itself.

Attractions in Óbidos

Castle of Obidos

The main attraction in the city focuses on a famous castle towering over the city. The Óbidos Castle was built in the 13th century and had to undergo extensive reconstruction, after it was almost completely destroyed in the terrible earthquake of 1755. From the castle you can observe the beautiful and mesmerizing countryside areas that are adjacent to the city and its many fortifications are suitable for trips, photographs and history buffs. 

Buddha Eden

The crazy sculpture garden located near the town includes a huge variety of Buddha statues in all sizes, colors and poses. These statues are surrounded by green and magnetic gardens, ornamental gardens, natural pools and a wide selection of animal statues, soldiers and more. You can tour the place on foot or by a small train that covers all the areas of the place in its journey.
The entrance fee is 7 euros. 

Obidos Lagoon

A wild, open and magical stretch of beach awaits you on the outskirts of the city, on the way to Valdes de Rinha. The beach has irregular contours and in fact creates a natural separation between the Atlantic Ocean and the ecosystem that was built for the benefit of the waters of the Foz do Arlo River with its many dunes. The connection to the sea is made through a channel where the flow is restricted, so you can enjoy many land areas along the coastline. 

Church Santa Maria

A beautiful and authentic local church not to be missed! It was built in the 8th century AD and is largely the heritage of the city. Over the years it became a mosque and then a monastery and only in 1148 it returned to function as a church and the bell tower was added. After the great earthquake the bell tower was rebuilt. From the inside, the appearance is no less impressive: colorful tiles, the special Renaissance tomb, wall paintings that use the natural lighting from the outside to project the figures, and more. 

Porta da Vila

At the main entrance of Óbidos stands an impressive and unique prayer hall, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Óbidos. Here there are wall tiles painted in blue and white depicting the king's wedding and the granting of the city as a wedding gift to the queen. There is a small balcony and a number of changing musicians that will entertain your time outside the place. 

Right Street

As a typical medieval city, Óbidos is built over narrow streets and alleys, authentic pavements and entrance thresholds to the residents' houses. Roa Dirita is the most central street in the city. It is narrow, ornate and beautiful, and a convenient passageway for walking was paved in it, while the authentic stones remained as decoration on the edges. Here are many souvenir stalls, food and drink stalls, local foods and liquors (jinginia) and more. During the season, this is a particularly crowded and busy place, so it is recommended to arrive early in the morning or late in the evening. Please note that the cost of the souvenirs and foods sold here is relatively high compared to other places. 

Other things to do in Óbidos

The city itself provides a great touristic pleasure and offers a large selection of special souvenirs made of leather, lace, ceramics, wicker and more. You can get lost in the alleys, enjoy the small cafes and take pictures at every possible corner. Don't miss the special stone pillar that stands in the center of the city (Pillory) and is considered a symbol of the independence and power of Obidos and the special aqueduct that is accompanied by high arches over vineyards and orchards. If you come here in July, don't miss the annual festival and buy tickets as soon as possible!

Car rental in Óbidos

Due to the fact that the city's appearance is particularly authentic and its streets were built in periods that are not suitable for the passage of modern vehicles, it is not possible to enter it by car. If you are staying here for several days, no rental is required at all. You can experience the city through your feet and in relatively short distances. For those arriving from outside with a rented car, it must be left in the designated parking lot outside the city. 

Flights to Obidos

Many travelers come to Óbidos as part of the "bigger" itinerary, which includes a trip between Porto and Lisbon. Since Óbidos does not have its own airport, it is possible to use the airports of these two cities from which to travel to the city in a rented car. The distance by car is about an hour and a half from Lisbon and about two hours from Porto. 

Both airports are accessible and convenient and there are flights to them from Israel with a wide selection of airlines. Most of them focus on connecting flights through other European cities. In the summer season, you can fly with the companies El Al, TAP Portugal and sometimes Arakia without intermediate stops to Lisbon.

Porto itself is characterized by flights that land in Lisbon and then you have to board a connecting flight. You can also fly to both cities through a connection in another European city and enjoy excellent flight conditions through the companies Lufthansa, Iberia, Austrian, Air France, British Airways, Aegean, Turkish and more. For Turkish Airways in particular, there are many recommendations on the service and comfort on the flight.

If you want to significantly reduce flight costs, you can choose the discounted low-cost routes offered by the leading airlines EasyJet, Wise Air, Pegasus and more.

The low-cost revolution has made foreign tourism more accessible and possible and provides an opportunity to fly to a variety of destinations throughout the year, without having to stick to huge savings and high costs. These companies mainly fly to Lisbon and will provide you with a comfortable and discounted flight, which will allow you to enjoy the balance of the budget in Óbidos itself.

When should you fly to Óbidos? 

Portugal is convenient for trips throughout the year and is characterized by a reasonable temperature even in winter (unlike many countries in Europe). Therefore, if the cold does not deter you, Óbidos can be relevant even in winter and provide a more attractive and nostalgic look and above all leave the place almost devoid of tourists and crowding.

However, the rainy season that takes place between the months of November and March disables a large part of the activities of the street vendors and the local stalls, so this must be taken into account. 

Despite its many beauty and charms that take place all year round, there are two attractive and recommended dates for arriving in the city:

Medieval festival

Every year in July, the city holds an amazing festival accompanied by a full reenactment of the Middle Ages: flags, horsemen, clowns, traveling singers, stall holders dressed as merchants, soldiers and lots more. You can purchase traditional souvenirs and watch performances depicting battles, costume parades, knight parades and more. 

The Chocolate Festival

Every year at the end of April, the annual chocolate festival is held, which is a gathering for both amateurs and professionals. Every year there is a uniform theme around the festival and it is accompanied by magnificent chocolate sculptures, plenty of stalls, innovative flavors, performances, chocolate houses for children, experiential workshops, professional courses and more.