Obidos Castle & Town - Candid tips by Howard Hillman

Obidos Castle
and Town

Travel tips you can trust

Why
Obidos Castle & Town
are special

The castle walls and ramparts are photogenic. And the adjoining small town has narrow cobblestone streets lined with tile-roofed whitewashed buildings accented with colorful bougainvillea.

Obidos Castle and Town
tips and insights

Setting

The citadel and the old section of town sit on a hilltop overlooking a vast rural landscape.

Festivals

The local Medieval Fair and Chocolate Festival are two of Portugal's best.

Construction
history in brief

The castle site dates back to the 12th century. It was restored in the 16th century after being destroyed by an earthquake. That's the version we see today.

How to pronounce

Obidos = oh-bee-doughs

Day trips

Obidos is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Lisbon, making it a doable daytrip. But I recommended staying overnight so you can experience the site during the quiet hours before and after it's flooded with summertime daytrippers.

Obidos Pousada

This upscale government-run inn (pousada) resides within the walled castle.

Location in Portugal