Things to do
BEACH
Sheltered from the fierce Atlantic winds and fringed by forests, Setúbal’s beaches are slices of sandy heaven. Hire a car and road trip along the coast to explore cliff-backed Praia de Figueirinha, and the powder-soft stretch of Praia do Creiro. Or ferry hop from the port to discover the Trois peninsula, lapped by transparent seas and sheltered by dunes.
NATURE
Strap on a pair of hiking boots and Setúbal is your playground. Walk the pine-scented coastline of the Arrábida National Park, and watch for dolphins playing offshore. Show-stopping views await once you’ve climbed to the 16th-century Convento da Arrabida, its white walls contrasting with the lush greenery of the forest. Take a bike to trace the Rota Moinhos, named for the traditional windmills dotting the route.
FOOD & DRINK
Lovers of gastronomy, look no further. You’ll have your appetite sated at Setúbal’s Mercado do Livramento, piled high with fresh produce and renowned across Portugal. As you’d expect from a harbour town, seafood reigns supreme: grilled sardines are a speciality, but everything from fried cuttlefish to butter mackerel are on the menu. Don’t leave Sebútal without visiting a vineyard to sample the local Moscatel wine in all its honeyed, golden sweetness.