Casa Pinheiros

Discovering the medieval town of Óbidos is one of the most popular excursions you can take from Lisbon, around an hour to the south. It’s a regional highlight due to its pretty centre of narrow, cobbled streets, and its centrepiece castle. You can also totter along the precarious Old Town walls and admire the spectacular views this experience rewards you with.

Tourists may arrive in Óbidos by the busload, but if you step away from the main drag you are likely to have many of the side-streets to yourself. An evening in Óbidos, when many of the day-trippers have gone home, shows the place at its best, with a relaxed ambiance and an authentic Portuguese vibe coming to the fore. There are lots of lovely restaurants in the town, many run by local families. Downing a shot of cherry-flavoured Ginjinha liqueur is perhaps the iconic Óbidos experience, but you need not wait until dinner – stalls serving it are not hard to find at any time.

The castle aside, the town isn’t packed with landmarks, but the Porta da Vila which serves as a gateway to the town is worth slowing down for. The elaborate blue-tiled wall, baroque balcony and decorated, arched ceiling which are found between the two gates will have you reaching for your camera before you even emerge onto Rua Direita, the town’s main street.

More impressive architecture can be found in Caldas da Raínha, a larger city around 11km north of Óbidos. From its 18th-century City Hall on the impressive Praça da Fruta square, to the eye-catching church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Pópulo, this is a handsome spa town with some romantic sights. Its peaceful park, named after former monarch King Carlos I, is one such highlight, with a boating lake and bandstand adding to its appeal.

West of the city, the dramatic lagoon, Lagoa de Óbidos, leads you down to picturesque Foz do Arelho. The town’s lovely beaches are reason enough to visit, and something of a water-sport hotspot – you are likely to see some kite-surfers doing their thing, and if it looks like fun, you can get some lessons yourself.

Read more about Silver Coast

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ABOUT THE SILVER COAST

The Silver Coast in Portugal, or Costa de Prata, is a stunning stretch of coastal towns on the western side of Portugal, neighbouring the Atlantic Ocean. The region remains largely unknown and therefore untouched by tourism, meaning those who do visit can bask in the extraordinary “silver” sand.

Another of the many reasons to love the Silver Coast in Portugal is its proximity to Portugal’s major cities. With Lisbon to the south and Porto to the north, the Silver Coast is well situated in between both of Portugal’s largest urban centres. At the same time, it is inexpensive, authentic, and relatively undiscovered.

The Silver Coast is home to some of the best beaches you’ll ever see in Portugal. Since it’s away from the main crowd of the country, the beaches here are wilder and more pristine. Also, being popular for fishing is a great place to try local cuisine and experience the culture.

The cuisine from the Silver Coast in Portugal is some of the finest that Europe has to offer and forms an integral part of the region’s culture. The area has a rich heritage, and tourists love the narrow, picturesque streets of the towns and villages that dot the countryside. The regional agriculture also adds an authentic touch, with numerous small farms, vineyards, windmills as well as fruit trees. Many local farmers grow soft fruits such as grapes, melons, pumpkins, and maize.