Óbidos and Mafra Palace tour from Lisbon: Private guide

A walled medieval village, a grand palace corridor, and centuries of European baroque in one morning

A private tour from Lisbon takes you north to Óbidos, a fortified village conquered in 1148, and the National Palace of Mafra, the largest baroque palace built in 18th-century Europe. Your guide leads you through Óbidos's stone streets and the palace's 1,200 rooms, including its library of over 30,000 volumes. Hotel or cruise port pickup in Lisbon is included, as are all entrance fees and skip-the-line access.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. ÓbidosEntry included2h
2. National Palace of MafraEntry included2h

Visit Óbidos and Mafra Palace

• Pick up from Lisbon hotel or port
• Drive north to Óbidos and Mafra
• Explore Óbidos historic village
• Taste local Ginjinha and crafts
• Visit Mafra Palace and basilica
• Walk through Mafra Palace corridor
• See Mafra Palace library collection

The experience

You're picked up at your Lisbon hotel or cruise port and driven north with a private guide. Just your group and one professional. The route covers roughly 50 kilometers each way, passing through the region's limestone and marble country before arriving at Óbidos, a town whose walls date back to Portugal's first king, D. Afonso Henriques, who took it in 1148. Walking the narrow streets inside the fortification, you'll find local artisans selling Ginjinha (a sour cherry liqueur) and handcrafted goods. The village itself is the attraction. There's no separate museum to enter, just the medieval layout and the working shops and cafés within the walls.

From Óbidos, you drive to Mafra, where the National Palace dominates the landscape. Built starting in 1717 with wealth from Brazilian gold, it's a single structure housing four functions: palace, convent, basilica and library. The scale is the point: the building covers nearly four hectares with 1,200 rooms and more than 4,700 doors and windows. You'll walk the palace's longest corridor, a limestone and marble passage stretching 232 meters. The library holds over 30,000 volumes from the 15th to 18th centuries and ranks among Europe's most important collections. The basilica, designed by German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, anchors the facade between two towers. All entrance fees and skip-the-line access are included. You won't queue at the door.

The full outing runs about six hours from pickup to drop-off. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or German. You choose at booking. In July, Óbidos hosts a two-week Medieval Market with costumed performers, jousting displays and handcraft stalls, though those tickets cost extra. Winter brings chocolate and Christmas markets to the village as well.

What’s included

• Transportation in a private air-conditioned car or van.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or German.
• entrance tickets to the National Palace of Mafra, its library and monastery.
• entrance fees to Óbidos Historic Village.
• skip-the-line access at both sites.
• hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off in Lisbon.

Information

Lasts 6h, runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 09:00, from € 115 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German and Portuguese, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and FridayDeparts at 09:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate6 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and PortugueseOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Infant (under 13)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by TakingUThere

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Lisbon by hotel or cruise ship and have a morning or afternoon free. The private format means your guide adjusts the pace to your group alone, and the fixed six-hour window fits between a morning arrival and an evening departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 13).

What is there to do inside the walls of Óbidos besides walking around?

Óbidos is a working village, not a museum, so you'll find local shops selling Ginjinha and handcrafted goods, and cafés and restaurants built into the medieval streets. The main activity is walking the fortified town itself and taking in the layout that dates back to 1148.

How big is the Mafra Palace and what exactly will I see inside?

The National Palace of Mafra covers nearly four hectares with 1,200 rooms. You'll walk through the 232-meter corridor (the longest in any palace), tour the basilica at the center of the facade, and see the library holding over 30,000 volumes from the 15th to 18th centuries. The palace, convent, basilica and library are all integrated into one building.

Do I need to arrive at a specific time, or can I choose my pickup time?

Pickup is arranged at your hotel or cruise port in Lisbon at a time that works for your schedule. If you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll need to provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time when you book so the guide can time your return.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included. The tour runs about six hours, so you'll have time to eat in Óbidos or Mafra, but you'll arrange and pay for it yourself.

Can I visit the Medieval Market in Óbidos if I go in July?

The Medieval Market runs for two weeks each July in and around Óbidos castle, with costumed performers, jousting, horse displays and handcraft stalls. Entry to the market costs extra and is not included in the tour price, but your guide can help you arrange it.