Destinations: Portugal > Portugal west coast > Obidos

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Obidos

Cobbled alleys, old whitewashed houses and a magnificent castle

Obidos has always been seen as a jewel of a town. In medieval times it was traditionally given by the King of Portugal as a wedding gift to his new Queen and even today it is one of the most picturesque Obidos has always been seen as a jewel of a town. In medieval times it was traditionally given by the King of Portugal as a wedding gift to his new Queen and even today it is one of the most picturesque towns in the whole of Portugal. Set on a hill and surrounded by high fortified walls, it has a real medieval feel, complete with narrow cobbled streets and steep staircases leading up to the ramparts. It is crowned by its wonderful castle, now a pousada, a very classy hotel. Make sure you visit the Museu Municipal on the handsome main square, and admire the works by Josefa de Obidos, Portugal’s most famous woman painter. There are some lovely craft shops here, selling the beautiful ace and ceramics, while the local cherry liqueur, Ginjinha, makes a good souvenir too. Obidos is in the Estremedura region, which is well-known for its beautiful scenery of green rolling hills as well as its lovely coastline, so there are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore. Meanwhile, for golfers there is the Praia d’el Rey golf complex, one of the top golf resorts in Europe. And there are plenty of good restaurants in and around the town, where you can sample some of the delicious local specialities. Read More...

Beaches Obidos itself lies a few miles from the coast, but there are some very good beaches within easy reach along the unspoilt coastline here. There are some delightful beaches just beyond the town of Foz do Arelho, where the river meets the sea, while the main resort nearby is São Marinho do Porto. To the west of Obidos is the port of Peniche, and its long beach whose Atlantic rollers offer the best surfing in Portugal.

Lisbon A stay in Obidos is the perfect opportunity to visit Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon, one of the most visually exciting cities on Europe. It’s built on a series of steep hills, complete with cable cars and funiculars and is famous for its art nouveau shops and cafés, beautiful tiles and colourful street life. There is a host of attractions to enjoy here, including fabulous artworks at the Gulbenkian Museum, the tomb of Vasco da Gama and an enormous oceanarium.

Sightseeing Estremedura has some of the finest scenery in Portugal, with lush green hills and fertile valleys, and it’s a delight to explore by car. Don’t miss a visit to the old spa town of Caldas da Rainha, and the ancient port of Peniche. For something different, take the boat trip to Ilha da Berlingha, a small island off the coast. This atmospheric place is completely unspoilt and boasts a famous bird reserve as well as some dramatic rock formations.