Obidos Half-Day Tours

Obidos can be seen from afar. The castle, standing on a hill with a huge wall surrounding the entire city. The wall is approximately 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) long and is considered one of the best-preserved medieval walls in Portugal. Once upon a time, this castle and this wall were supposed to serve as a deterrent to outsiders. They were a reliable guarantee of safety for the residents of the surrounding city. Today things are completely different. Its appearance, like a magnet, attracts travelers not only from the surrounding area but also from the farthest corners of the world. The fortress is still visited by many tourists, making Obidos one of the most popular attractions in the region.

The main street ("Rua Direita") leads from the city gate, decorated with eighteenth-century tiles, to the main square, Praca de Santa Maria, with a beautiful 15th-century fountain. There is also the Municipal Museum with exhibits ranging from archaeological finds from the 15th to 17th centuries to sculpture and painting, as well as the Church of Santa Maria (Igreja de Santa Maria), built on the site of a Visigothic church from the 8th century. This is where 10-year-old King Afonso V married his 8-year-old cousin Isabel in 1444. The inside of the church is completely tiled, and there is also the tomb of the city governor Joao de Noronha, a church pastor who died in 1575.

While a fantastic day trip destination, Obidos and Sintra suffer from their popularity. In the summer, the city is crowded with excursion buses and tourists who come here for one day, and all this huge mass of guests, crowding, moves along Direita Street up to the castle. Therefore, it is recommended to arrive in Obidos early in the day before the tour buses arrive (11:00 to 14:00) and while it is not too hot. Most tourists leave the city by 15:00, and the city becomes much quieter. You can walk around the perimeter of them by walking along the city walls, but be careful as you will have to walk on uneven surfaces, negotiate narrow areas, and constantly watch your step so as not to trip.

Since Obidos is a small town, it can be completely explored in just a few hours. Obidos is easily accessible from Lisbon by public transport; There is a regular bus service - details are given below in the article. If you are traveling to Obidos by car, you will find a large car park southeast of the city. If you book a tour, a day trip to Obidos can be combined with a visit to Peniche, Foz do Arelho, Nazaré, or Bacalhôa Buddha Eden.

For tourists who would like to relax, enjoying a truly Portuguese atmosphere away from the noisy and crowded beach towns, Obidos is perfect. After the tourists who came here on a one-day excursion leave the city, an atmosphere of calm and tranquility reigns in it again. Here you can spend pleasant evenings in family restaurants, enjoying traditional home-cooked food. Attractions in the Obidos region include the surf beaches of Baleal (near Peniche), the Batalha Monastery, the traditional resort town of Nazaré, and the Berlenga Islands. To get the most out of your holiday in Obidos, it is recommended to book a tour.