By the GoÓbidos Team●20 October 2026
Walking Trails in Óbidos: 13 Routes Between Hills, Valleys and the Lagoon
There is life beyond the castle walls: marked walking routes through pine woods, ginja orchards, windmills and the Óbidos Lagoon.
In this article
Walking in Óbidos Forest Circuit (PR1) Sports Complex (PR2) Arnóia Greenway (PR3) Lagoon Greenway (PR4) Poças Route (PR5) Royal Ducks Trail (PR6) Fountains Route (PR9) Windmills Route (PR10) Aqueduct Route (PR11) Limestone Route (PR13) Panoramic Route (PR14) Ginja Orchards Route (PR15) Santo Antão Path (PR16) Frequently asked questions
There is life beyond the walls and castle of Óbidos, and that is exactly what the walking trails in Óbidos will show you.
Walking in Óbidos
The municipality has sixteen marked walking routes, all signposted and ready to welcome you. Some are more demanding than others: some follow the shores of the Óbidos Lagoon, others climb the hills around the village. Here are 13 of them.
If you would rather take a cultural tour with us, book one of our guided tours in Óbidos.
Forest Circuit (PR1)
Starting and ending at the east entrance of the park, it runs through the middle and upper areas of a large pine forest, past picnic areas, viewpoints and a hunting area, follows part of the sports circuit and climbs back to the start past the Cruzeiro da Memória.
Sports Complex (PR2)
A short 1.4 km route from the Municipal Pavilion through Bairro dos Arcos, alongside a section of the Usseira Aqueduct, a listed monument, and past the Arcos school complex and the municipal sports complex. Ideal for exercise, ideally walked several times in a row.
Arnóia Greenway (PR3)
From the Convent of São Miguel, past the Arnóia dam, the Roman ruins of Eburobrittium, thermal springs, the Cegonha and Paúl meadows, the village of Óbidos and the railway station, always along the Arnóia river and the Várzeas da Rainha, to where the Arnóia and Real rivers meet, by the Parque da Cativa.
Lagoon Greenway (PR4)
With several possible starting points (Parque da Cativa, Parque das Salinas, Covão dos Musaranhos, Bom Sucesso), this long route goes around the whole Óbidos Lagoon, past places of unique beauty and wildlife: the old Arelho salt pans, the mouths of the Arnóia and Real rivers, Bico dos Seixos, Ponta Branca with its reed huts, Bico dos Corvos, Aldeia da Lapinha and, at the end, the fishermen’s village by Bom Sucesso beach.
Along the way you can see flamingos, herons and many other birds, fish and crustaceans, and the traditional boats still used by local shellfish gatherers.
Poças Route (PR5)
Starting and ending at the parish council, the route goes down the main street of the village past the old wash houses, now a leisure area, and the Church of Our Lady of Piety, then into the dirt tracks of the lowlands once reached by the lagoon, now used for market gardens and orchards.
It follows the Real river to its meeting with the Arnóia, by the old airfield, goes around the small Poça da Cativa, and climbs to Coelheira for superb views. It then enters the majestic Poça do Vau, considered one of the best places in Europe for birdwatching, with many rare species that breed here.
Royal Ducks Trail (PR6)
From the Vala das Salinas, it follows the lagoon shore at Braço da Barrosa; at high tide there is an alternative past the viewpoint over the old salt pans. A nature trail for watching ducks, herons and flamingos in quieter parts of the lagoon, linking to Caldas da Rainha by the Rio da Cal.
Fountains Route (PR9)
From Largo do Coreto, by the fountain, the route passes many springs, mines and fountains. Leaving the historic centre, you see the old windmills, with views of the Arnóia reservoir and the Atlantic on the horizon.
Through vineyards and pine woods, it heads to the Church of Santa Maria Madalena, then along old paths lined with orchards and vegetable gardens, with views over the Arnóia reservoir and its wildlife, ending at the monumental threshing floor of the parish council.
Windmills Route (PR10)
From Praça Dr Azeredo Perdigão, by the fountain, the route passes the mine and the weir, crosses the Parque do Rio and heads to the Chapel of Jesus Maria José. It then crosses the EN114 and climbs through pine woods, vineyards and orchards to the top of the Amoreira hills and their windmills.
From here there are fine views over the Óbidos valley and its market gardens, the Cesaredas plateau, Sobral da Lagoa, the Várzeas da Rainha and the Atlantic. The descent follows paths through Mediterranean scrub and limestone outcrops back to the village.
Aqueduct Route (PR11)
From the parish council and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the route goes down through the village, along paths lined with the orchards typical of the area.
It passes the source of the Usseira Aqueduct (16th–17th century) and follows it, showing the engineering used in its construction. Old farm tracks then offer views of the village of Óbidos, the Atlantic and even the Berlengas islands, before reaching the upper streets of the village, with the best views in the municipality.
Limestone Route (PR13)
From Largo Joaquim Justino Marta, with its spring, bandstand, parish council and church, the route climbs through the lanes of the historic centre, with houses built into the limestone rocks of the Cesaredas plateau.
Centuries-old paths lined with dry-stone walls lead past unusual vineyards on rocky ground, with views of karst landscapes, the Óbidos valley and the Cesaredas wind farm. The descent follows ancient tracks used since prehistoric times, ending down the monumental rock staircase of the spring.
Panoramic Route (PR14)
A longer version of the Limestone Route, also starting at Largo Joaquim Justino Marta. It climbs onto the Cesaredas plateau along dry-stone-walled paths, with wide views of the karst landscape, the Óbidos valley and the wind farm, before returning through the historic centre.
Ginja Orchards Route (PR15)
From the old primary school, the route climbs to the highest point of Sobral, past old windmills, with views of the Óbidos Lagoon and the onion fields. To the east you can see Óbidos Castle, the Usseira hills and the Cesaredas plateau.
Down the west-facing slopes you find ginja (sour-cherry) orchards and market gardens. The return passes cherry trees in backyards, the historic centre, Largo dos Solares, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception and the Church of São Sebastião, ending at the oldest ginja producer in the area.
Santo Antão Path (PR16)
From the river and the Arnóia Greenway, just past the railway station, the route climbs towards the chapel steps and into “secret” trails with tunnels of native vegetation and limestone formations. To the west you can see Outeiro da Assenta, with the oldest traces of human presence in the region.
Rural tracks lead up to the rocky plateau of the 14th-century Chapel of Santo Antão, with superb views of Óbidos Castle and the Várzeas da Rainha. You descend by the monumental steps used every 17 January for the pilgrimage of Santo Antão.
Guided tour
Óbidos: Medieval Tales & Secret Spots
After the trails, discover the village with a local guide: castle, walls, churches and legends.
Frequently asked questions
How many walking trails are there in Óbidos?
The municipality has sixteen marked short routes (PR), from very easy circuits of 15 minutes to moderate walks of almost three hours.
Which trail goes around the Óbidos Lagoon?
The Lagoon Greenway (PR4), a linear route of about 11 km and 3 hours, with several possible starting points.
Which trail is best for birdwatching?
The Poças Route (PR5) and the Royal Ducks Trail (PR6), where you can see flamingos, herons, ducks and other species.
More about Óbidos
- Itineraries in Óbidos
- Óbidos Lagoon
- What to do in Óbidos
- Óbidos Castle
- Guided tours in Óbidos
- Explore Óbidos
This article was prepared by the GoÓbidos team, the local tourist guide to Óbidos. Please check dates, opening hours and prices with the organisers before your visit.