{"id":27805,"date":"2022-07-14T07:05:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T07:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seabookings.com\/blog\/things-to-do-in-setubal-portugal\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T13:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:58:13","slug":"things-to-do-in-setubal-portugal","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.seabookings.com\/de\/blog\/things-to-do-in-setubal-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Dinge zu tun in Set\u00fabal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Only a 45 minute drive south of Portugal\u2019s capital,<\/a> Set\u00fabal is one of the biggest cities in Portugal & with many things to do in Set\u00fabal. Set\u00fabal is a rising tourism destination, mainly because of the broad range of ways to enjoy the Set\u00fabal Peninsula, but let\u2019s first check out a bit about its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city of Set\u00fabal<\/a> has grown exponentially after the train connection implemented in 1900, connecting the city to Lisbon. Along with Lisbon and Porto, Set\u00fabal represents a major industry market in Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the case of Set\u00fabal, the industry of salt and fish are the most important ones, obviously related to its geographical location on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary to the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, Set\u00fabal produces a lot of salt and the fish harbor is the most crowded and lively spots during the morning hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Things<\/a>
Setubal by night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We definitely recommend you to visit the fish harbor if you are an early bird. Early in the morning, the first fisher boats come in, here you can see that Portugal still has a strong fishing culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, and still nowadays, the port of Set\u00fabal is one of the busiest in Portugal and has one of the biggest fish fleets in Portugal. Beyond fish and salt, Set\u00fabal is notable for the industries of pulp, paper, cement, phytopharmaceutical products, thermal power, shipbuilding and ship repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city center of Set\u00fabal, Cidade Antiga (Old Town), is located at the back of Pra\u00e7a da Rep\u00fablica, next to the harbor. To go to the old city center you have to cross the busy Avenida Luisa Todi. In the old city center you can find a few beautiful squares, courtyards and ancient streets with traditional shops. In general, the cityscape is still determined by modern neighborhoods with high-rises and modern shopping centers with trendy coffee shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of accessibilities and transport, most sights in Set\u00fabal are within easy walking distance of the pedestrianized center. The bus station is only about 150m north of the city center and the main train station about 700m north of the city center of Set\u00fabal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Tr\u00f3ia<\/strong> is a picturesque peninsula located on the southwestern coast of Portugal, just a short ferry ride from Set\u00fabal and about an hour\u2019s drive from Lisbon. Known for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and peaceful atmosphere, Tr\u00f3ia is a hidden gem ideal for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil getaway. To go to Tr\u00f3ia, frequent ferries shuttle across the Rio Sado from terminals around Doca do Com\u00e9rcio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to see in Set\u00fabal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Set\u00fabal has several churches, fortresses and monasteries that are worth a visit. For instance, the Igreja de S\u00e3o Juli\u00e3o (St. Julian’s Church), the main church (matriz) of the city, is an 18th-century church located on the Pra\u00e7a de Bocage in Set\u00fabal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another place to visit if you like some local history is the Monastery of Jesus (\u201cMosteiro de Jesus\u201d in Portuguese) which served a monastery of Poor Clare nuns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is one of the first buildings in the typical Portuguese Manueline style, the local version of late Gothic that includes details related to the ocean that played and still plays a big role in the Portuguese History.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mosteiro<\/a>
Set\u00fabal – Mosteiro de jesus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also like the \u201cForte de S\u00e3o Filipe de Set\u00fabal\u201d or Castle of Saint Filipe in English –  a mandatory visit – located on a dominant position on top of a Hill, right next to Set\u00fabal, on the left side of the estuary of the Sado River and the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transformed into a guesthouse in the twentieth century, the panorama and feeling from the 16th century fortification is outstanding. The superb views over the town, the Setubal Bay, Troia Peninsula, the Sado River and the Atlantic are a must-see and we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll click a good amount of pictures there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also the “Santa Maria” Fort, located in the idyllic Portinho Arr\u00e1bida, overlooking the sea, built in 1670, by order of King Pedro II, to protect the coastal zone, is surely worth a visit. This Fort is nowadays the local Oceanographic Museum and a center for marine biology, part of the Arr\u00e1bida Natural Park, definitly a nice thing to do in Set\u00fabal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Arrabida<\/a>
Set\u00fabal – Arrabida<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Experience Set\u00fabal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the cultural things to see mentioned before, Set\u00fabal has many other things to do, specialy for nature lovers and active travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For ocean lovers, departing from the harbor of Set\u00fabal, you have all kind of things to do. For instance, there are many boat tours from Set\u00fabal. Most of the boat trips are related to dolphin observation since there is a resident dolphin pod or the Sado River (Natural Park).<\/p>\n\n\n