For more than twenty years, the medieval town of Óbidos has hosted the Festival Internacional de Chocolate, a spring festival of chocolate sculptures, pastry chefs, workshops and tastings. The 2025 edition, the festival's 22nd, ran from 21 March to 6 April.
Dates for 2027 are still to be confirmed. The festival usually takes place over several weekends between late March and early April. We will update this page when the programme is published.
What to expect
Each edition has a theme, interpreted in large chocolate sculptures. There are demonstrations and masterclasses by Portuguese and international pastry chefs, workshops for children, and stands selling chocolate in every form. Then there is the town itself, which is worth the trip in any season: the walls, the castle and the narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses.
How to get there from Lisbon
Óbidos is about 85 km north of Lisbon, around one hour by car. Festival weekends bring large crowds and parking outside the walls fills early. A private driver drops you at the gate and collects you when you are done.
Suggested route
- Óbidos and the chocolate festival in the morning.
- Caldas da Rainha, 10 minutes away, for its fruit market and the hand-painted ceramics of Bordallo Pinheiro.
- Nazaré or Peniche for lunch by the sea and the Atlantic cliffs.
Good to know
- The festival has an entrance fee; tickets are sold by the organisers.
- Go early on Saturdays and Sundays; it gets very busy by mid-afternoon.
- Spring weather is changeable. A light waterproof is useful.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Óbidos Chocolate Festival in 2027?
Dates for 2027 have not been announced yet. It usually runs from late March to early April; in 2025 it ran from 21 March to 6 April.
How far is Óbidos from Lisbon?
About 85 km, around one hour by car.
What else can we see nearby?
Caldas da Rainha, Nazaré and Peniche are all within 40 minutes, so the festival fits easily into a full day on the Silver Coast.
Plan your trip to Óbidos International Chocolate Festival
Tell us your date and group. We reply by email within 24 hours with a route and a confirmed price. No payment is needed to enquire.
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Sources and official information: Óbidos Chocolate Festival on Time Out Lisboa. Dates and programmes can change; always check the official sources before you travel.
