Caldas da Rainha: Market, Ceramics and Spa Town

Caldas da Rainha is a spa and market town near Óbidos, famous for its daily fruit market, its ceramics tradition and the playful work of the artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. It’s an authentic stop on a Silver Coast trip.

Quick answer: Caldas is about 1 hour north of Lisbon, 10 minutes from Óbidos. See the morning fruit and vegetable market in Praça da República, the Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics museum and factory shop, and the elegant D. Carlos I park. See places to stay in Caldas da Rainha.

Things to do

• The fruit market: a daily morning market in the main square, one of the liveliest in Portugal.
• Bordallo Pinheiro: the famous ceramics brand, known for cabbage-leaf plates and quirky animal pieces, has a museum and factory shop in town.
• Parque D. Carlos I: a 19th-century park with a lake and rowing boats.
• The thermal hospital: founded by Queen Leonor in the 15th century, giving the town its name, “the Queen’s hot springs”.
• Sweets: try the cavacas and beijinhos from local pastry shops.

Nearby

• Óbidos: see Óbidos.
• Foz do Arelho: see Foz do Arelho.
• Peniche: see Peniche.

Tips

• Market: go in the morning.
• Souvenirs: Bordallo Pinheiro pieces make great gifts. See Portugal souvenirs.

More: the Silver Coast and where to stay in Óbidos.

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