Pousada Castelo Óbidos: One Night in a Medieval Castle
If you’ve ever dreamed of actually sleeping inside a castle, not just touring one, Pousada Castelo Óbidos needs to be on your list. This was, hands down, one of the most special places we’ve ever stayed. We slept in the tallest turret of the castle, overlooking the rooftops of the medieval walled town of Óbidos, and it still feels a little unreal looking back on it.
Why We Chose It
We were on our honeymoon and wanted at least one stay in a castle. Óbidos itself is one of Portugal’s most beautiful walled towns, and the idea of actually staying inside the castle that overlooks it was impossible to pass up. If you want the full picture of why this town deserves a stop on your Portugal itinerary, check out our Óbidos Travel Guide.
We booked through Pousadas de Portugal, a collection of historic hotels — castles, monasteries, palaces — spread across the country. This was actually our second time booking with them, and just like the first, we came away thoroughly impressed with how well they preserve these historic properties while still making them comfortable to stay in.
The Room
We stayed in the tallest turret of the castle, and it was unlike any hotel room we’ve ever stayed in. Getting up to the tallest turret takes a little time – that section of the castle is not accessible to the public, so you use your room key to get in and out. This means that hotel guests have the entire upper levels of the castle all to themselves to explore and enjoy.
The turret room itself was called the Special Suite, and it was unique, a little quirky, a little spooky, and completely fun. It was windy and you could occasionally hear the wind howl through the slits in the stone walls (once used in battle), but it made the room feel cozy. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and an old, medieval-looking bed – it was designed to make you feel fully immersed in medieval history.
To get to the bedroom you have to climb a set of narrow, steep stairs that look original to the castle. The downstairs section of the hotel room has a luggage area, a mini fridge and the bathroom. The bathroom was quite nice – the shower was a completely enclosed glass structure and the outside was draped in curtains.
We absolutely loved the room and the vibes and I’m so glad we stayed here!
A note about accessibility: This particular area of the hotel is not accessible for those who are not able to climb stairs. The medieval castle still has the original, very narrow staircases and they are steep, so bear that in mind. All that being said, a valet helps you bring your bags up to your room, which is much appreciated given the climb. There were also several other parts of the hotel, including a cottage that I did not see that likely had accessible rooms available.
The Views
One of the best parts of this hotel was the absolutely epic view from the castle walls. The views over the medieval town from up there were especially beautiful in the early evening as the sun was setting. It was romantic and memorable.
The Staff & Price
The staff were incredibly kind and attentive from the moment we checked in. Since we mentioned it was our honeymoon, they surprised us with a bottle of champagne on our first night. They delivered it to our room and had it waiting in an ice bucket for us – it was lovely to have a glass on the castle walls. The valet was amazing and brought all of our luggage up to the room – even up the turret stairs.
I found the room price to be very fair for the experience. It came out to about $500 USD after currency conversion, but it is among the most expensive rooms in the hotel. There are other less expensive rooms to choose from where you’re still able to stay in the hotel or cottages, so there are more budget-friendly options available. We had planned to splurge on the room for the turret experience, and I found it to be well worth it.
Breakfast and Dining
The breakfast spread was excellent — a generous buffet with plenty of variety including jamón, and honestly a great way to fuel up before a day of exploring the town’s medieval streets.
The Pousada also has an on-site restaurant with regional Portuguese cuisine if you want to make a full evening of it, though we didn’t dine there ourselves during our stay.
How Much Time You Need
We only stayed one night, and we found that to be enough time to properly explore Óbidos. The town is small and very walkable, so a single night lets you settle in, wander the walls and streets, and still enjoy the hotel itself without feeling rushed. That said, if you want a slower pace or you’re combining it with day trips nearby, two nights would definitely let you explore the surrounding area as well.
My Verdict on Pousada Castelo Óbidos
Pousada Castelo Óbidos is one of those hotels that becomes part of the story of your trip, not just a place to sleep. Between the turret room, the castle-wall champagne toast, and the sheer novelty of staying inside a medieval fortress, it’s an experience we’d recommend to anyone visiting this part of Portugal — honeymoon or not.
For more on planning your visit to this stunning walled town, take a look at our Óbidos Travel Guide, and for more special stays like this one, visit us at Lily B Travel.
