Óbidos International Chocolate and Pastry Festival: A Guide for Chocolate Lovers

The Óbidos International Chocolate and Pastry Festival is probably the sweetest festival in western Portugal. Every year, in spring, the village fills with visitors looking for one thing: chocolate.

White, milk or dark, plain or filled, with or without liqueur: the festival brings together Portuguese and international chocolatiers. Inside, you can learn from professionals in cookery workshops where chocolate is always king, while children head for the Chocolate House and the chocolate sculptures.

Related: Festivals in Óbidos

Where it takes place

The festival is held every year inside the castle walls. Enter the village through the main gate, walk up Rua Direita and you will reach the entrance. Most of the activities for children are inside the castle enclosure.

Tickets and prices

Tickets are sold at the ticket offices by the village gate and on Rua Direita, near the entrance, and online on the official website. As a guide, recent editions charged:

• Children up to 11: free
• Adults (12 and over): €6.50
• Groups of 5 to 14 people: €6 per person
• Groups of 15 or more: €5.50 per person, booked and paid in advance

Prices change from year to year, so check the official website before your visit.

Opening hours

The festival usually opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 8pm. Hours can change, so always check the official programme.

How to get to Óbidos

Óbidos is about 45 minutes north of Lisbon. By car, take the A8 motorway (around €5 in tolls from Lisbon). From Porto, take the A1 to Leiria and then the A8 towards Lisbon.

By bus, Rede Expressos leaves from Sete Rios and Rodoviária do Oeste from Campo Grande, both in Lisbon. The train is slower and the Óbidos station is some distance from the centre of the village.

Practical tips

The organisers note that access is limited for people with reduced mobility, wheelchairs and pushchairs. Visitor numbers rise sharply on festival days, so plan ahead:

• Parking: free car parks by the fire station; paid, supervised parking by the aqueduct
• Cash machines: by the Porta da Vila and on Rua Direita; bring cash just in case
• Tourist office: outside the walls, next to the main (paid) car park

Where to eat and sleep

If you stay for lunch or dinner, the village has traditional, Italian and vegetarian options. Some of our favourites are Jamón Jamón, A Nova Casa do Ramiro and O Caldeirão.

To avoid the queues and traffic at the end of the day, consider staying the night: Casal da Eira Branca, Hotel Josefa d’Óbidos, Casa das Senhoras Rainhas and Praia d’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort are good options.

Our experience

We have been to several editions and the visit is always worth it. It gets busy, so patience is a virtue, but the variety of shapes and flavours is huge and the big brands are usually there. Between tastings, visit the museums of Óbidos or join one of our guided tours.

Before or after the festival

After eating everything possible (and impossible), explore the region:

• Almagreira Beach: cliffs and sand that are often almost empty
• Senhor Jesus da Pedra Sanctuary: an 18th-century Baroque church just outside the village, with unusual inverted windows (see the listing)
• D. Carlos I Park, Caldas da Rainha: a romantic park with a lake where you can rent a rowing boat in spring and summer
• Boisias windmill: a restored windmill in Caldas da Rainha with a wide view; open on the first Sunday of the month
• São Martinho do Porto: a shell-shaped bay with calm water, ideal for a walk by the sea
• Salir do Porto dune: one of the highest dunes in Portugal, more than 50 metres tall; children love running down it
• Foz do Arelho: beach, the Óbidos Lagoon and clifftop boardwalks with views of the coast

Frequently asked questions

When is the Óbidos Chocolate Festival?

It takes place every year in spring, usually between March and May, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Check the official website for this year’s dates.

How much is a ticket?

In recent editions, adult tickets cost about €6.50 and entry was free for children up to 11. Group tickets are cheaper. Prices change every year.

Where do I park?

There are free car parks by the fire station and paid, supervised parking by the aqueduct, all outside the walls. Arrive early on weekends.

More about Óbidos

• Festivals in Óbidos
• Óbidos events guide
• 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.