Day Trips · Óbidos
A Day in Óbidos
40 minutes from Nazaré · Walled village & Moorish castle
Let's leave Nazaré for the day.
It's only about a 40-minute drive, but it feels like we've somehow travelled back 700 years.
Grab a coffee... or better yet, a glass of wine. We'll find a little café tucked inside the old village walls, order a plate of local cheese and fresh bread, and just watch the world wander by.
Just look at the cobblestone streets... the whitewashed houses with blue and yellow trim... the flowers spilling over balconies... look at all the history
People have been walking these same streets for centuries and the castle overlooking the village was first built by the Moors in the 8th century. Dom Afonso Henriques who was Portugal's first king, captured Óbidos in 1148 and it became one of the country's most important defensive strongholds, protecting the route between Lisbon and the north.
Fun fact
Now here's a fun fact for ya...for nearly 600 years, Óbidos wasn't just a castle town It was a wedding gift…back then Portuguese kings would give the entire town to their queens as a wedding present...Imagine.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can even walk along the top of the castle walls. There's no handrail in many places, so take your time, but the views over the red rooftops and surrounding countryside are super cool.
Then we can wander through some old churches that have become bookshops or the tiny shops tucked into centuries-old buildings are filled floor to ceiling with them.
Every summer in July, the castle comes alive during the Medieval Market. Knights battle in armour, musicians fill the streets, merchants sell traditional crafts, and for a few days it honestly feels like someone turned the clock back 700 years.
Now before we leave...there's one thing you have to try.
Ginja.
It's a sweet cherry liqueur that's famous throughout this part of Portugal. Most places serve it in a tiny chocolate cup, so when you've finished your drink...You eat it.
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