Óbidos
- Jorgen Kirchhoff
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 2
A Short Step Back in Time
Summary
Just 20 minutes from the golf courses around Óbidos, you’ll find one of Portugal’s most charming small towns. Óbidos is not a place that demands a full day – but it is a perfect short excursion, especially when combined with lunch or dinner. Medieval walls, narrow streets and a calm, authentic atmosphere make it an easy and rewarding break from the golf course.
A Town with Deep Roots
Óbidos is more than just “medieval” in style – it is genuinely old.
The town was fortified already during Roman times, but the walls and fortress you see today mainly date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when Óbidos became an important strategic stronghold after the Christian reconquest of Portugal.
For centuries, Óbidos belonged to the Portuguese queens and was often given as a wedding gift from king to queen. That royal connection helped preserve the town rather than modernise it – which is one of the reasons it still feels so intact today.
You don’t need to know the history to enjoy Óbidos, but knowing that you’re walking inside walls that have stood for 800–900 years adds something quietly special to the experience.
Why Óbidos Is Worth a Visit
Óbidos is compact, walkable and easy. Inside the walls you’ll find cobbled streets, small shops, cafés, wine bars and restaurants – all within a very small area.
It’s the kind of place where you don’t need a plan. You walk, look around, stop when something catches your eye, and take it at your own pace. For golfers, it works particularly well as a half-day or evening outing rather than a full sightseeing programme.
Ginjinha
One small local tradition worth knowing about is Ginjinha (many times called Ginja) – a sweet cherry liqueur made from sour cherries ("Ginja"), alcohol, sugar and spices.
Óbidos is one of the places where ginjinha is most closely associated with the town itself, and it is commonly served in small cups, sometimes even in a chocolate cup. Many visitors try it as a quick stop while walking through the streets – a simple, very local experience that fits perfectly into a short visit.
An Easy Excursion from the Golf Area
From the golf courses around Óbidos, it takes around 20 minutes by car.
When driving to or from the highway (A8), you’ll often pass the town’s walls rising above the landscape. You don’t always see them, but when you do, it’s a subtle reminder that history here is never far away.
Parking is straightforward just outside the walls, and from there everything is within walking distance. Remember to pay in the machine.
Combine It with a Restaurant Visit
One of the best ways to experience Óbidos is to combine a visit with lunch or dinner.
The town has several very good restaurants, and visiting Óbidos in the late afternoon, walking around for an hour and then sitting down to eat is, in our experience, the perfect rhythm.
We strongly recommend O Conquistador - read more here.
Events Throughout the Year
Óbidos also hosts several well-known events during the year, which can add an extra layer to a visit:
International Chocolate Festival (spring)
Medieval Market (summer)
Christmas Village (Christmas Time)
All of these events are big enough to deserve their own recommendations, but only one is taking place during the Golf Season:
Read more about the International Chocolate Festival.
Even without an event, Óbidos is always worth a visit.
Why We Recommend It
At WestGolf Portugal, we focus on experiences that fit naturally into a golf stay. Óbidos does exactly that.
It’s close, authentic, easy to visit and doesn’t require much planning. It’s not about ticking a sightseeing box – it’s about stepping out of the golf bubble for a few hours and experiencing a historic place that feels genuinely Portuguese.
That balance is exactly what makes Óbidos such a good recommendation.
Jorgen/Living on the West Coast of Portugal
Small moments • True gems • Real Portugal
If our inspiration can help you get more out of your time in Portugal – both on and off the course – then we're happy.
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