ÓBIDOS
As part of a big road trip around Portugal, we were always on the lookout for charming towns to explore. Luckily, Portugal has an abundance of medieval towns and villages full of history, stunning architecture and tradition. Óbidos is possibly one of the most picturesque and well-preserved of them all. Being just an hour away from Lisbon, it is the perfect place for those who fancy a peaceful day trip from the city. Walk through the town gates to feel as if you’ve jumped back in time and immerse yourself in a town that takes slow living extremely seriously. Below are just a few reasons why you have to add Óbidos to your list of places to visit in Portugal.
THE FLORAL FLAIR
I often forget how often smells are associated with places we have travelled and that could not be more true than in Óbidos. As soon as we entered the town gates, a floral scent overtook the senses. It didn’t take long to work out why. The occupants of the town really go for it on the flower front and each medieval window that sat upon the whitewashed buildings was filled to the brim with flowers.
THE ROMANTIC HISTORY
If you are travelling with your other half, Óbidos is one of the most romantic places you could choose to visit in Portugal. Óbidos was gifted in 1282 to Queen Isabel of Portugal as a wedding present from King Dinis. Upkeep of the town ever since has been devoted to making the town look as charming and beautiful as possible. It truly is one of the most picturesque towns we visited in the whole country. Choose to stay the night when most of the tourists have headed back to Lisbon and you’ll have the town almost all to yourselves, cobblestones lit by the warm streetlights, with the gentle sounds of a serenading Fado performance in the background.
HOME OF THE BEST GINJINHA
Ginjinha is a must-try in Portugal and there is no better place for a taste-test than in Óbidos. Ginjinha is a cherry-based liqueur, that is more often than not served in chocolate cups, making it the dreamiest aperitif. The cherries grow particularly well in the valley surrounding Óbidos and so it is rumoured that the Ginjinha in this region tastes especially good. It is said that this drink was first enjoyed in Óbidos by Portuguese monks as early as the 17th century, and so we figured we would be foolish not to follow in their footsteps!
UNIQUE SOUVENIR SPOTS
I don’t care what anyone says, i love a tourist souvenir! The more serious of travellers among us might roll their eyes at the sight of an over-filled souvenir shop and vow to never get sucked in, but I can’t help it. A treat though, is that Óbidos has more than your average gift shop, with contemporary bookstores, artisan foodie spots and artsy boutiques down every cobble stoned street. We came away with a lovely hand-painted oil lamp, painted the same yellows and blues that decorate the town that sits pretty in our home to remind us of romantic Óbidos.
ÓBIDOS IS LITERARY HEAVEN
UNESCO has named Óbidos as a City of Literature, a title given to only a few other places in the entire world. And so, it is home to a good handful of wonderful bookstores that stock everything from classical literature to coffee table contemporary reads. If you are a book lover like myself, then you can think of nothing more lovely than visiting a town that is both pretty on the outside, but has a sophisticated core at its heart! Perhaps my favourite bookstore of the entire town is Livraria de Santiago in the Church of St James, because who doesn’t love a historical building turned unique bookstore? Visit Óbidos in October and you’ll get to experience the annual literature festival too.
THE TOWN WALLS OF ÓBIDOS
The whitewashed buildings and cobbled streets of Óbidos sit pretty inside the medieval walls that stand tall around them. Climbing up for a walk along the walls is a great way to look over the town and is one of the best things to do during your visit. Unmatched views of rural Portugal roll out into the distance and it is such a fun way to get a different perspective of the town. A warning for all, there is no railing along the wall so it might be best to skip if you are not a fan of heights! Some on the other hand, may say it’s the perfect spot to dangle the legs over, bite into a pastel de nata and appreciate the views!
THE CASTLE OF ÓBIDOS
Beautifully preserved and truly the gem of Óbidos, the Castle of Óbidos has stood on top of the hill to observe Portugal’s incredibly colourful history for centuries. It is enough to marvel at the sight of the castle alone, but if you are feeling extra fancy, live like a royal and spend the night as the castle is now a luxurious hotel!
Portugal is a treasure trove of that towns that are equal parts beautiful and historically important and any trip to Portugal will prove so pretty quickly. Óbidos is no exception and is one to be added to the list of places you have to see in Portugal.
