Unique things to do in Portugal-Óbidos A Medieval Castle Town

Óbidos, Portugal is a medieval castle village. It’s like a castle museum with it’s preserved walls and it’s beautiful whitewashed houses nestled along the streets within the castle walls. It’s one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders and a UNESCO world heritage site. Parts of the castle date back to prehistoric times before the Roman’s followed by the Moors and then eventually the Portuguese. In 1283 King Dinis I gifted it to his Queen Isabel as a wedding gift and after that it always belonged to the Queens of Portugal and their court and servants. This is a popular tourist destination. The summer months are very crowded. The weather and crowds are much more tolerable at anytime besides July and August. The late spring and early fall can be busy as well but much more comfortable as far as crowds go. Proper comfortable foot ware is a must otherwise it will not be very enjoyable. Walking sticks recommended if you have trouble with walking due to uneven cobble stones in some areas. Some spots can also be slippery so extra caution is better than not. There’s a huge parking lot across the street but in peek season it will be full and you will need to find street parking. Dropping off close to the entrance is possible. The parking lot has a kiosk and I believe the price varies based on the amount of time.