Quarto do Urso

Stretching along a mountain ridge, Óbidos is home to a medieval fortress originally built by the Moors in the 8th century. Stroll through the town’s cobbled streets, past whitewashed houses and along the crenellated fortifications, stopping to take in views of the vineyard-dotted valley below. Caldas da Rainha is renowned for its thermal baths, which were first discovered around the 15th century. The painter José Malhoa was born in the town, and a museum in the middle of lush Parque Dom Carlos I displays his works, alongside sculptures and decorative objects. The vibrant Praça da Fruta market is a riot of colours – from fruit and vegetables, but also flowers. Buddha Eden (25 minutes’ drive) is a vast Oriental-style garden created in response to the 2001 destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, in Afghanistan. It is filled with statues of serene, golden and reclining Buddhas, plus lotus ponds, pagodas and cherry trees. This splendid landscape sits in the grounds of a winery, so be sure to book a tasting tour, too.