The town boasts some lovely churches. In days gone by these were built when queens gave birth to a child.

The graceful castle is now a Pousada and perhaps the most romantic of all of the Pousadas de Portugal.

The town is stunning, full of well-preserved white houses with Manueline porticos and flower-laden window boxes; sinuous streets with romantic recesses; arcades and small squares. Look out for some amazing buildings too. Architectural jewels include the Misericórdia Church (15th c.), the São Pedro Church (18th c.) and the São Martinho Chapel (14th c.

), the Paço Real (Royal Palace) and the perimeter of the castle walls, from which you can see the aqueduct.

Finally, don’t miss the chance to savour the local cuisine, with dishes like caldeirada, made with fish from Óbidos lagoon, accompanied by special regional wines. Within the walls, numerous bars offer you a taste of ginjinha, a traditional liqueur.

So close to Lisbon, this is one of the most picturesque and most visited sites in the country, hosting countless cultural and tourist-oriented events.