Óbidos and Nazaré Day Trip from Lisbon

Óbidos castle and its medieval walls

Óbidos sits on a hilltop about an hour north of Lisbon, wrapped in almost two kilometres of stone walls that date back to the Moorish period and were rebuilt after the Christian reconquest in the 12th century. For centuries the town was traditionally given by Portuguese kings to their queens as a wedding gift, which earned it the nickname of the Queens' Village.

Your Óbidos tour starts with about 30 minutes of guided walking around the castle, whose keep and towers now crown the northern end of the village. Your guide explains the town's royal history and shows you the best spots to climb onto the ramparts, where a narrow walkway without railings offers sweeping views over red roofs and the green countryside. Take care on the walls, especially with children, and wear shoes with good grip.

The lanes of Óbidos village

Inside the walls, Óbidos is a postcard of whitewashed houses trimmed in blue and yellow, with bougainvillea and geraniums spilling over doorways. You enter through the Porta da Vila, a gate whose inner chapel is lined with 18th-century blue-and-white azulejos, and follow Rua Direita, the main street, past craft shops, ceramics and small cafés.

During your hour of free time you can visit the Church of Santa Maria on the main square, with its walls entirely covered in 17th-century tiles, wander side streets to quieter corners, or try local sweets and pastries. Is Óbidos worth visiting? Absolutely: it is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Portugal, small enough to explore on foot, and it hosts popular seasonal events such as a medieval fair and a Christmas village.

Nazaré Fort and Lighthouse above Praia do Norte

After a 40-minute drive you reach Nazaré, a fishing town now famous worldwide for its giant waves. Entry to the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, the 16th-century fortress topped by the red-roofed lighthouse, is included. From its terraces you look straight down onto Praia do Norte, where in winter swells funnelled by the deep Nazaré Canyon, an underwater gorge reaching close to the shore, can rise to more than 20 metres.

Inside the fort, small exhibitions explain the canyon and the history of big-wave surfing here. The best time to see big waves is between October and March, although their size depends entirely on sea and weather conditions and is never guaranteed. Even on a calm day, the view of the long beach, the cliffs and the open Atlantic is unforgettable.

Sítio da Nazaré and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré

Sítio is the old upper town of Nazaré, perched on a cliff about 110 metres above the beach. Your guide leads you around its large square, where the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré, a 17th-century church with a baroque interior decorated with azulejos, has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Nearby, the tiny Memória chapel recalls a medieval legend of a knight whose horse stopped at the very edge of the cliff in thick fog.

The Miradouro do Suberco viewpoint at the edge of Sítio offers the classic panorama of Nazaré: the crescent beach, the white town below and the harbour to the south. Stalls on the square sell dried fruit, nuts and local crafts, and you will often see local women in traditional layered skirts selling their goods.

Free time in Nazaré by the beach

The tour ends with about two and a half hours of free time in Nazaré, including a lunch break. You can ride the historic funicular, opened in 1889, from Sítio down to the beach, or walk along the seafront promenade. Nazaré's restaurants are known for grilled sardines, fish stews and seafood, and lunch is at your own expense, so you choose what and where to eat.

On the sand you may still see fish drying in the sun on wooden racks, a tradition kept alive by local families, and colourful fishing boats pulled up on the beach. In summer the main beach is perfect for a paddle or a stroll; in winter it is the drama of the ocean that steals the show. The van then takes you back to Lisbon in about 1.5 hours.