Obidos Castle & Town

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