By the GoÓbidos Team●14 January 2015
Óbidos Christmas Village: Father Christmas, Ice and Magic Inside the Castle
An ice rink, a Ferris wheel, Father Christmas’s house and shows every day: our guide to the Christmas festival designed for children.
In this article
A Christmas for children Tickets and prices What to do Our tips Practical information Other festivals in Óbidos Frequently asked questions
The Óbidos Christmas Village (Óbidos Vila Natal) brightens the end of the year. Throughout December and into early January, Father Christmas brings joy to the youngest visitors, and the castle is the perfect setting.
With puppets, magicians, theatre and workshops, the programme changes every year so that Christmas in Óbidos is different from any other.
A Christmas for children
Children can burn off energy on the ice rink, slide down the ice ramp or ride the magic carousel. The Óbidos Criativa team creates the setting, with elves, reindeer, penguins and snowmen all around the enclosure.
Tickets and prices
Prices change every year, so check the official Óbidos Vila Natal website. Tickets are sold online, on platforms such as BOL, and at the entrance.
The general ticket does not include every attraction: some are paid separately inside the park, so check what your ticket covers.
What to do
A full day can feel short. Attractions vary from year to year, but usually include:
- Shows on the Christmas Balls and Soap Bubbles stages
- Father Christmas’s house
- Ice rink and ice ramp
- Ferris wheel and magic carousel
- Face painting and soap bubble workshop
- Tunnel of illusions, Christmas games and nativity scene
- Father Christmas’s train and virtual reality simulator
Our tips
Arrive as early as possible: queues are long and early arrivals can park for free. If you can, visit on a weekday, as weekends are much busier. Buy your ticket online and bring cash, because there are few cash machines in the village.
Practical information
Staying inside the walls gives you the atmosphere of whitewashed houses and narrow streets, but cars cannot enter, so you will carry your luggage. Outside the walls, parking is easier.
Other festivals in Óbidos
The Christmas Village closes one year and opens the next, but the calendar is full: Holy Week with its processions, the Chocolate and Pastry Festival, Latitudes, the Medieval Market, FOLIO and the SIPO piano festival.
Recommended guided tour
Make the most of your Christmas visit: a local guide shows you the castle, walls and legends of Óbidos.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Óbidos Christmas Village?
It runs from December to early January. Check the official website for this year’s dates and hours.
Does the ticket include all attractions?
No. The general ticket gives access to the park, but some attractions are paid separately. Check what each ticket includes.
What is the best time to visit?
On a weekday, early in the day. Weekends are much busier and the free car parks fill up quickly.
More about Óbidos
- Festivals in Óbidos
- Óbidos Castle
- Óbidos events guide
- What to do in Óbidos
- 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.