Óbidos Vila Natal – Why you need to visit this Portuguese Christmas Market

I knew before I even got to Óbidos in Portugal that it was going to be a place that I’d fall in love with. Located in the Lisbon region, the medieval walled settlement is one of the most charming and characterful towns in the whole of the country.  Its cobblestones, its imposing castle and its colourful houses would be reason enough for a visit. But in December, the narrow streets fill with light. The town transforms as if it has fallen under a sprinkling of festive fairy dust. The Óbidos Christmas Market, also known as Vila Natal is a magical experience for the entire family.

What you need to know

The Óbidos Christmas market is open from 29th November 2019 till the 5th January 2020. So YES, this absolutely means you still have time! Admission costs €7 for adults with concessions available for children aged between 3 and 11 years and senior citizens. Under 3’s are free of charge. Family tickets are also available. The admission price includes a number of activities but there are still some attractions in the market that require an additional fee. And of course, you will definitely want to take some extra pennies along for the abundance of food on offer.

Now that the official  bit is out of the way, let me share with you the photos of an already beautiful town, all dolled up for Christmas.

To get to the Óbidos Christmas Market entrance you have the pleasure of walking through the streets of the town. Here you’ll find traditional painted houses, quaint little shops, back alleys filled with flowers and a plethora of cafes and restaurants. Cars are prohibited in Óbidos so it’s absolutely perfect to explore and you can wander to your heart’s content. There are also four churches within these walls so despite the town being small, I guarantee there is plenty for you to see. Oh and whilst you’re here don’t pass up on the opportunity to sample ginjinha, the town’s local cherry liqueur.

Once inside the actual Óbidos Christmas Market you’ll be spoilt for choice over what to eat, what to see and what to do. There is an entire eating area situated just in front of the castle that offers several fast food options and also tables and benches. But if eating on the go and sampling different delicacies is more your thing, there are plenty of pop up stalls dotted around. Home-made chocolates, bubble waffles, pastries, crepes, candyfloss, roasted nuts, speciality coffees…… it’s all there for the tasting.

Entertainment wise, there are several shows taking place throughout the day which are included in your ticket price. A visit to Santa is also thrown in but if, like mine, your kids aren’t all that fond of sitting still; there is much to keep them busy. There’s an ice rink, trampolines, face painting a giant 6 metre ice slide (yes Charlie went on this and yes I was pooping myself), a mini assault course, a train ride and a carousel. You’ll also find a beautiful nativity scene on display in front of the castle. On top of this there are a bunch of very energetic and enthusiastic characters parading around the market. From superheroes to ballerinas to giant fluffy penguins. I don’t think I’m underestimating when I say that the Óbidos Christmas Market more than ticks all of the boxes for the kiddywinks.

So would I recommend that you visit Óbidos Christmas market? I most certainly would. This was actually my first ever European Christmas market visit (I booked a trip to Brussels and Bruges a couple of years ago but got there a week too early for the markets in true Beth style). I was definitely impressed with just how family orientated it was. There are less food and local artisan stalls here than I’ve seen at the UK markets but I don’t think that detracts from the experience whatsoever. In fact, I was just so happy that Charlie could join in and enjoy so many of the things on offer (not the giant penguin by the way, he DID NOT like the giant penguin) and I imagine that’s the goal for all parents that visit. If the kids are happy then the parents are happy. And if you get a mulled wine or two on top of that, well then that’s just a bonus.

If you’re in Portugal in any of the other 11 months of the year then I would still urge you to pop Óbidos on your itinerary. Christmas Market aside, it’s just the most beautiful little place. It’s so easy to get to as a day drip from Lisbon – roughly a one hour bus journey (please see timetable here) and the buses run throughout the day. But if you can plan to spend a couple of days here, even better. This way you can experience all the joys of this charming, historical town before and after the crowds (in high season it’s VERY popular with tourists) arrive and disperse.

So perhaps you weren’t even aware that Portugal had Christmas markets before reading this post….. I know I had never really considered it as a Christmas break location before actually being there. I guess that’s why travelling is so rewarding, because we’re learning, challenging and changing our perspectives all of the time. If you’ve been to Portugal for Christmas or if you’ve visited Óbidos then I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

And now I’m signing off for Christmas folks. Thank-you so much for being here and for always supporting my writing and photography. I hope you all have the most amazing and peaceful Christmas with the people who make you beam from ear to ear.

Beth Anne xoxo