9 Awesome Things to Do in Obidos, Portugal

Obidos may be one of the most underrated places to visit in all of Portugal! Maybe it’s because we didn’t do too much research beforehand but Obidos completely blew us away. Just to let you know, this isn’t your ordinary city! 

This is a city WITHIN a castle! Obidos Castle has one of Portugal’s best bakeries (in our opinion) inside the castle wall and some of the best views of the Portuguese countryside we’ve come across during the 2 months we spent there.

Obidos Castle has an enormous castle wall that you can walk on that has no guard rails for protection from falling off the wall. It’s such a unique place and there are so many things to do in Obidos so that’s exactly what we’re here to share! 

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9 things to do in Obidos you can’t miss

Most people we’ve met don’t know much about Obidos and that’s why we’ve created an ultimate guide to Óbidos that shares everything about the city. Maybe the name of Obidos Castle has popped up once or twice but after finding this really unique campsite right outside of Obidos Castle we decided we had to make the trip inland and see what Obidos is all about. 

No matter what time of year you come to Obidos you’ll be in for a surprise. There are always events going on at the castle. Whether it’s a theatre play or a chocolate market, Obidos Castle is always buzzing with people. 

We came right as they were getting all the Christmas decorations up and it was absolutely beautiful. They even turned the castle into a Christmas present. There’s always something going on at Obidos Castle and we really want to highlight this little gem so you don’t miss it.

#1 Walk the Obidos Castle Walls

Just a quick heads up, if you’re afraid of heights then maybe skip out on this one. Basically, the whole castle wall has a steep drop off on the inside part of the wall and there’s no railing or anything to protect you from falling. Especially when it’s busy and you have people walking both ways it can get a little bit scary.

BUT! If you’re not afraid of heights then this is one of the coolest things you can do in Obidos. Like we mentioned before, Obidos Castle isn’t your ordinary castle. So as you walk the castle walls you’ll see the whole “city” inside Obidos Castle from above. It’s quite cool seeing all the rooftops and narrow streets from a bird’s eye view.

There are also plenty of wonderful viewpoints along the castle wall that are worth taking in. One of our favourites is this “hole in the wall” under one of the towers. You’ll be able to get the most breathtaking picture through it and even if you’re a little scared of heights (Jo is) it’s worth it!

#2 Visit the Capinha d’Óbidos Bakery

There’s a good chance you’re going walk by this place while exploring Obidos but if you don’t take the extra second to stop, you’d probably just walk right past it and miss this absolute gem. 

Without a doubt, Capinha de Óbidos has to be one of Portugal’s most authentic bakeries and a reason why it made it onto our ultimate guide for Óbidos. I mean there’s a lady literally making buns, cakes, and sweets right in front of your eyes. The variety of sweets and pastries is out of this world! 

We had the most delicious brownie and bread with Chouriço. We also noticed some people getting what looked like a hot chocolate with some whipped cream and chocolate syrup on top. Although we didn’t try this, it looked absolutely delicious!

Sit inside this cool little bakery or grab your sweets for the road because this is definitely not a place to miss! Especially if you have a sweet tooth! 😉

#3 Hang out on the Obidos Swing

We have no idea how we came across this and it was more sheer luck because it is a little challenging to find. At least for us, since we didn’t even know there was a swing (baloiço) with a viewpoint in Obidos. Remember, we did zero research before visiting Obidos.

Thankfully, you can put it into Google Maps if you search “Baloico Óbidos” you’ll find the directions on how to get there. 

It’s really cool since it’s a bit of a maze to get to the swing but once you’re there the view is completely opened up and you get an amazing view of the castle and the city. A cute little romantic spot that hopefully won’t be too busy when you get there. 

For extra fun try not to search for “Baloico Obidos” on Google Maps and just try and find it yourself. It’s not that hard but it’ll take some walking around to get there. See it as a treasure hunt! 😉

#4 Check out the Obidos Castle Hotel

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The exact name of the Obidos Castle Hotel is Pousada do Castelo de Óbidos and it’s one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever seen (well from the outside at least as we couldn’t afford to stay there😬).

The hotel itself is actually a part of the castle and we can just imagine the view from the hotel rooms must be absolutely incredible. 

So if you fancy staying in a historic hotel in one of Portugal’s 7 Wonders you can see the prices for a room at Pousada do Castelo de Óbidos here. Otherwise, you can just roam around the entrance area and the courtyard and just admire how beautiful this hotel really is. 

There’s a beautiful viewpoint right in front of the main entrance of the hotel, and there’s also a trail that leads to the castle wall from the entrance. Make sure to check out this special spot.

#5 Walk down the main street

It’s touristy and has most of the standard tourist shops but it’s still super cute! The main street basically leads you up towards the main church at the top of the street but along the way, it has plenty of cute little tourist shops on both sides. 

If you get the chance you have to try Ginja while you’re there. It’s Portuguese cherry cinnamon liquor shots and you’ll see them in front of plenty of shops on the main street. Basically, it’s a shot of cherry liqueur inside a little chocolate cup that you can eat after. It’s super sweet, usually costs 1€, and it’s a must-try while you’re in Portugal.

There are also some great restaurants and buildings you can visit along the main street. Make sure to walk all the way to the end of the main street because that’s where the church lies and where you’ll find some of the best views of the castle grounds!

#6 Check out the campsite next to Óbidos Castle 

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This campsite outside of Obidos Castle Walls has to be one of the coolest and most unique places we’ve ever camped in Portugal. Even if you’re not staying at the campsite it’s worth checking out. 

There isn’t much to the campsite itself but right next to it you can find the famous arches that go all the way up to the castle. It’s a great spot for a photoshoot – especially during Golden Hour (just after sunrise and before sunset).

We did a little shoot with our Portugal By Van here and we think it turned out quite well 😉

#7 Try some local cuisine at JamonJamon 

JamonJamon is a restaurant located right outside the medieval castle walls and is one of the more well-known restaurants in Obidos. It’s locally run and the owners make some of the most delicious food!

It kind of has a Spanish concept to it since it’s more of a tapas-kind-of restaurant but the food itself comes from Portuguese roots. If you like wine, cheese, meat, and veggies that are all done to perfection give JamonJamon a go. 

It’s conveniently located and within walking distance from everywhere in Obidos. The staff is super friendly and we’re sure you’ll have a wonderful time trying out this little restaurant in the middle of the medieval castle.

#8 Find the hole in the wall

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We randomly stumbled upon this “little hole” in the castle wall that looked out to this beautiful mill. It’s not that hard to find if you walk around the inside perimeter of the castle wall. But if you just want to go straight there you can find it here on Google Maps or if you search “Porta de Villa”.

Even if you’re scared of heights you don’t have to walk far on the castle wall to see Porta de Villa. Don’t worry it may look scary but the drop-off below the “hole in the wall” actually isn’t much of a drop-off at all. 

The view from this spot is incredible though! Especially in the evening when the sun is setting behind the castle and all the surrounding farmers’ fields start to glow. Óbidos is filled with beautiful viewpoints but this one is probably our favourite!

#9 Óbidos International Chocolate Festival

Yes, you heard that right! An international chocolate festival is held in Óbidos EVERY single year. So if you’re lucky to be in Óbidos at the right time you’ll be able to stuff yourself with sweets.

Usually, the chocolate festival takes place between April and May so you might have to do some planning to make sure you time it right. I mean it’s some of the best chocolates and sweets from around the world. Eating delicious chocolate while exploring a medieval city…sign us up! 

It really has become a tradition thought in Óbidos and the festival runs every single year with people from all around the world coming to showcase their treats and also tourists like you and us from all around the world coming to sample them! 😉 

You may also like…

• The Ultimate Guide to Óbidos
• The Best Ways to Get From Lisbon to Óbidos
• The Most Unique Camping Spot in Óbidos
• Everything You Need to Know About Campervan Rental in Portugal
• The Ultimate Guide to Camping in Portugal

Recap of all things to do in Óbidos 

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If it’s just a day trip from Lisbon or you’re planning on camping in Óbidos for the night we hope you enjoy this beautiful and historic city. There’s a reason it’s one of Portugal’s 7 wonders! 

No matter what time of year you come, you’ll have a great time. Maybe the castle will be covered in Christmas lights and cherry chocolate liquor. Or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch a beautiful sunset from the swing we mentioned. 

The list definitely doesn’t capture all of Óbido’s fun but it’s a good list to get you started and keep you busy while you explore this famous castle. Enjoy the food, people, and the views and remember don’t look down while you’re on the castle wall!

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