obidos & the silver coast
obidos - foz de arelho - mafra - buddha eden - monte junta -NAZARE - salt flats
Love visiting medieval villages? Exploring beautiful lagoons and sandy beaches? Wandering around grand palaces imagining how the other half lived? Or something quite strange and unique? This is the tour for you!
After picking up from your accommodation we hop on the motorway up to the medieval town of Obidos. This historic town is best known for its well preserved medieval town, walls, and hilltop castle. Nestled amongst the history are dozens of boutiques and some of the freshest orange juice we’ve ever tasted. We will also take a moment to enjoy the famous ginja from a chocolate cup, a classic Portuguese cherry flavored spirit.
We will make our way through the town to the castle grounds and climb the city walls for stunning views of the surrounding area.
Then, with the roof down, it's a short drive to Foz do Arelho. This stunning beach is actually a spit of beach that pokes out into the water with a calm salt water lagoon on one side and the wild Atlantic Ocean on the other. This wide sandy beach is a favorite of visitors and locals alike, we will take lunch here.
Next, choose whether to visit the grandeur of Mafra Palace and the gardens and statues of Buddha Eden or admire the views from the top of Serra de Montejunto.
Visiting Mafra Palace is a humbling experience. Completed in 1755, this massive palace is an imposing complex consisting of a basilica, palace, convent, and extensive gardens. Close by is the tranquil Bacalhôa Buddha Eden, a peaceful garden dotted with statues of the buddha. This sanctuary was created as a reaction to the destruction of the Buddhas of Banyan.
If natural wonders are of interest, then a visit to the Serra de Montejunto is a must. It is no surprise that the government has designated this area as a National Protected Landscape. We will cruise to some of the most stunning vistas in the area to take in the natural beauty.
