The white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, the green of the Serra da Arrábida, and a gastronomy rich in fresh fish and, of course, the delicious fried cuttlefish, make the city of Setúbal, just over 30 minutes from Lisbon, one of the places to visit at any time of the year, although it is in summer that you can best enjoy all these attractions.
Setúbal is one of our country’s great coastal cities, just 50 kilometers from the capital. With just over 90,000 inhabitants (2021 data), who move around its almost 52 square kilometers, Setúbal is among the 10 largest Portuguese cities.
West of Setúbal you have Sesimbra and to the northwest Barreiro, places that you can also put on your list of future trips.
Also nearby are the Troia Peninsula and Comporta, perfect places for a trip when the weather is milder, especially in summer.
Among the many historical landmarks you’ll find in Setúbal, we’d highlight the São Filipe Castle, the Bocage Gardens, the Santa Maria da Arrábida Fort and the São Julião Church .
You also have the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, which offers breathtaking views of the city from across the estuary.
In this guide, we’ll show you the best Setúbal has to offer its visitors.
Table Of Contents
Serra da Arrábida
Those who visit the beaches of Setúbal always pass through the wonderful green Serra da Arrábida, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in our country.
And, whatever time of year you visit, it will always be breathtakingly beautiful, with dense and very diverse vegetation, where the maquis stand out.
The Serra da Arrábida Natural Park, which has been in existence since 1976 , covers an area of around 10,500 hectares and, in addition to the vegetation, you can also enjoy caves, castles and a breathtaking landscape that covers a large part of the Sado Estuary and, on the other side, the Troia Peninsula.
Here’s our suggestion for climbing to the highest point of the mountain, Serra do Risco. Let us know what your experience was like!
Dream beaches
At the foot of the Serra da Arrábida are the beautiful beaches. They are dreamy, with white sands, clean, crystal-clear waters and a landscape that will make anyone’s jaw drop.
The proof of this is that one of the beaches in this area, Praia dos Galapinhos, was considered by The Guardian, as one of the most beautiful in Europe.
We would add, from all over the world, because in fact they are the ones that make us go to Setúbal more often: Galapinhos, Galapos, Coelhos, Portinho da Arrábida, Figueirinha, among others that are just as spectacular.
Historic area
You will also find many souvenirshops and restaurants in the city center, the most historic area, with traces of ancient Phoenician and Roman civilizations.
This area of Setúbal is also home to the statue of our Portuguese poet Bocage, located in Praça do Bocage.
From here you can also visit the House of Culture, the Convent of Jesus or the Church of São Julião.
Try the Setúbal Style Fried Cuttlefish
Speaking of delicacies, fried cuttlefish is one of Setúbal’s most typical dishes: small strips of breaded cuttlefish accompanied by a quarter of a lemon (for squeezing) and fries.
The sauce, if you like it as much as we do, should be lemon mayonnaise and coriander. Hummm… it’s delicious!
It won’t be difficult to find a restaurant where you can try this delicacy from Setubal, as almost all of them have it on the menu, either as a starter or as a main course.
Shopping on Avenida Luísa Todi
If in Lisbon we are well equipped with the Rua Augusta and with Avenida da Liberdade as far as shopping is concerned, in Setúbal, the right place to window shop is on the city’s main avenue, Avenida Luísa Todi.
This avenue is where almost everything happens, where the main stores are and, of course, where all the city’s festivities take place, such as New Year’s Eve and Christmas.
What we like most about this avenue is its playful side, with lots of green spaces where you can relax and unwind while you do the last of the day’s shopping.
Livramento Market
We love visiting a traditional market, and the Livramento Market is undoubtedly one of the must-see sights in the city of Setúbal, being the most famous market in the region.
It has been like this since 1930, the historic date of its inauguration. It’s all covered in tiles, which makes it even more attractive to passers-by.
In this market, as well as all the goods you’d find in a traditional city market, you’ll find plenty of places to eat, where you can sample some of the region’s best-known delicacies.
Parks and gardens
The beaches and the mountains take most of the attention away from the city’s various gardens and parks, but for those who appreciate these leisure spaces more, Bonfim Park and Albarquel Urban Park are undoubtedly our best suggestions, as well as the aforementioned green areas on Avenida Luísa Todi.
Bonfim Park is located close to the historic area and city center and was designed by King Manuel I, who demanded that various species be planted here.
The Albarquel Urban Park, on the other hand, covers around four hectares and offers fantastic views of the Sado Estuary and Tróia.
It also has a children’s playground, a bar with a terrace, an exhibition gallery and various sports areas.
St. Philip’s Fortress
Anyone who goes to Setúbal to visit and get to know the city must pass by one of the most important tourist attractions: the São Filipe Fortress.
One of the capital’s most important bastions on the River Sado against pirates from northern Europe and Africa, it is also known as St. Philip’s Castle.
From its walls you can see some of the most spectacular panoramic views over Setúbal and the bay.
The Fort of Santa Maria and the Fort of Santiago do Outão are other places you can visit, also strongholds of the Portuguese flag against attacks on the nation.
Mourisca Tide Mill
It is located in Herdade da Mourisca, in the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, one of the four best-known tidal mills in the Sado Estuary, with a privileged location for birdwatching.
It was a 280m2 structure that allowed up to eight millstones to operate simultaneously until the 50s.
After being abandoned for many years, today it can be visited by anyone who wants to take advantage of the various activities that take place there: guided tours, birdwatching, boat trips on the Sado, themed workshops, tasting of oysters and regional products, among many others.
Tróia and Comporta
Our last suggestion on this list is a kind of 2-in-1, combining the Troia Peninsula with the nearby Comporta Beach .
Opposite Setúbal is Tróia, where you can go by ferry or car. We suggest crossing the Sado River by ferry, a trip you’ll enjoy to the full. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot the dolphins that spend part of their days here.
Once in Tróia, which has undergone tourist transformations and improvements over the last few years, you’ll not only find paradisiacal beaches but also several fish and seafood restaurants, a casino, Roman ruins and, of course, plenty of hotels to spend the night in.
Praia da Comporta is one of these beautiful beaches, located at the southern end of the peninsula. Very popular in the summer, both with locals and national and foreign tourists, Comporta is a very well preserved area, full of vegetation and dunes.
The beach offers white sand and crystal-clear waters, sometimes with some swell, perfect for practicing sports such as surfing or kitesurfing.
This area also has an excellent gastronomic offer, where you can taste practically all the delicacies from the other side of the Sado.
Map of places to visit in Setúbal, and the list for your phone!
Esta é a Área Metropolitana de Lisboa que não sabias que existia