Serra do Bouro to Peniche - 3-5 Days

Portugal is one of the richest European countries in dinosaur fossils, particularly from the Jurassic period. So far, more than 20 different genera have been identified. Although dinosaur remains have been found in various parts of the country, the most significant discoveries are in the Oeste region, especially in Serra do Bouro.

In this coastal area, you can find dinosaur footprints scattered along the cliffs. Here, you’ll have the chance to observe them up close, try to identify which species they belonged to, and learn more about the fascinating process of fossilization.

Following the coastline, we suggest stopping at the Foz do Arelho viewpoint, where the stunning Óbidos Lagoon unfolds in all its splendor. For an even more special experience, we recommend a picnic on its shores, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility and natural beauty of this unique place.

After lunch, we invite you to visit the Lourinhã Museum, home to the largest Iberian exhibition of Late Jurassic dinosaur fossils. Its collection is one of the most significant in the world, making it a must-visit destination for paleontology and natural history enthusiasts.

The second day begins with a visit to the Roman City of Eburobrittium.

The Roman city of Eburobrittium is located in Óbidos, approximately 800 meters from the edge of the walled village.

The city is located on a gentle hillside, surrounded by hills in the south and east, a plain in the north, and by a semicircular meadow, where it is believed that in the Roman period the Óbidos Lagoon ended.

Here you can glimpse the beautiful landscape over the Óbidos castle, while visiting the ruins of this ancient city, which two millenniums ago was a very important town in this region.

Then we recommend you to take the path that leads to the beautiful medieval village of Óbidos.

This medieval town was conquered by D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, on January 11, 1148. This village was always a crossroads of diverse peoples and cultures, such as Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Jews.

In all this multicultural heritage, is in the Muslim inheritance, that still remains in the irregular plant of the tortuous and narrow streets, that make the Village of Óbidos one of the Portugal Wonders.

You can have lunch in the Pousada do Castelo restaurant, where you can taste delicious regional cuisine while enjoying a fantastic Portuguese wine, in a warm and refined atmosphere that will awaken all your senses.

Then you can continue to explore the beautiful Óbidos village, which holds centuries of history between its walls, a place of election between Kings and Queens.

The third day begins with a visit to the Peniche Fortress.

This fortress, of military architecture, is located in the city of Peniche, and it´s classified as a National Monument.

Throughout the years it has served many purposes, namely and the best known, as political prison during the “Estado Novo” period between 1934 and 1974.

In fact, the Fortress has an area dedicated to the anti-fascist resistance, allowing the visitants to enter the old prison cells.

At the moment it holds the Municipal Museum of Peniche, where you can see collections of underwater archeology, malacology, shipbuilding and local handicrafts (the well-known “Renda de Bilros”).

In the Fortress you can also have a glimpse of the beautiful Island of Berlengas, a natural heritage that anyone who visits Peniche can´t miss.

The Berlenga Island was classified in 2011 by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. This Island covers a vast area of marine reserve that surrounds the entire archipelago. It is rich in fauna and flora, and some species found here are unique on earth.

Here you can have lunch in full communion with nature while surrounded by sea, and visit the Island and know all its secrets.