Setúbal

Setúbal is a coastal town, known for its fishing activities, traditions and industrial area. It's the capital of the Setúbal district. You might also want to check out Serra da Arrábida, for the nature part of Setúbal.

By plane

Lisbon/Portela

By train

You can access Setúbal by trains from Lisbon, and most towns in the surrounding area. You also have lots of trains from anywhere to Lisbon, if there is not a direct train to Setúbal, you might want to consider getting one to Lisbon, and then to Setúbal.

By car

It shouldn't be a problem to find your way, Setúbal is a major town in the area, so, if you are around, you will have signs to point out your way.

By bus

There are buses that serve from Lisbon to Setúbal every day and almost every hour a day, if you're in the capital it won't be a problem. There are also buses that serve the surrounding area towns.

By boat

The Tróia is a peninsula near Setúbal, and that is probably the only way to commercially reach Setúbal by boat.

• Catamaran TROIA

  phone: +351 265 235 101
  Atlantic Ferries

Buses serve the whole town and are generally OK on schedules and quality.

• Zé da Mota Tuk Tuk Tours

  phone: +351 919 145 558
  address: Avenida Luísa Todi 279, 2900-429

The city of Setubal lacks in attractions. There isn't much to see in the city, but a lot to admire in the surrounding areas: the Castle of Palmela, the Tróia Peninsula (quite adorable beach and architecture with the new luxury resorts), Serra da Arrábida (combining mountain areas, picnic spaces and the beach), the beautiful beaches and traditional fishing places in Sesimbra, the ancient but modern big cities of Almada and Seixal (closer to Lisbon) overlooking the Tejo (Tagus river), are all quite nice & lovely.
Downtown Setúbal is probably the place to go if you want to see the best parts of the city. Just ask how you can get to Avenida Luísa Todi, and the rest will work out just fine. You can see some of the nicer monuments, architecture and daily life there. Also, at the end of the venue you will enter Arrábida. And anywhere to the sides is filled with shops and typical streets with humble tascas (small coffee shops) where some of the best seafood in the country is served at cheap prices.

• Livramento Market

  address: Avenida Luisa Todi 173, 2900-462

• Castle of S. Filipe

  address: Estrada do Castelo de São Filipe, 2900-300

• Casa da Baía

  phone: +351 265545010
  address: Avenida Luísa Todi, 468, 2900-456 Setúbal

• Moinho de Maré da Mourisca

• Galapinhos Beach

• Figueirinha Beach

• Albarquel Beach

• Galápos Beach

• Creiro Beach

• Coelhos Beach

You might want to go to Arrábida to enjoy nature at its best in the Setúbal area, but be careful, it's really not that hard to get lost there. Also, in Avenida Luisa Todi, and if want to experience the typical morning for many people, you can go to the fish market and see things around. Theatre Luisa Todi, if you are a theatre fan; shows will be in Portuguese, though.
You can also go for a walk in Bonfim park; it's near the bus terminal, and near the Luisa Todi venue.
Watch football ie soccer at Vitória FC, who play in Primeira Liga, the top tier of Portuguese football. Their home ground Estádio do Bonfim (capacity 15,000) is next to the park.

• Vertigem Azul

  phone: +351 265 238 000
  address: Rua Praia da Saúde 11D, 2900-572
  Dolphin watching

There are several schools in Setúbal, and a polytechnic institute that is becoming nationally famous for its quality. It offers courses on the most varied areas ranging from Sports to Business Administration, Nursing or Mechanical Engineering.

There are many shops spread around the city, as normal. In the Luisa Todi area you will find many small shops and bigger clothing shops mostly. And there is the Shopping Center Alegro Setúbal, for your bigger needs.

• Livramento MarketFresh food market

• Bolacha Piedade

• Pedaços de Mar

  phone: +351 265 533 019
  address: Rua Vasco da Gama 34, 2900-179

There are many typical restaurants where you can eat good grilled fish and typical food. There's also a good deal of fast-food shops and pizza places. You can also find Indian and Japanese food.

Budget

• Tasca Kefish

  phone: +351 265553493
  address: Praça Machado dos Santos nº8, 2900-178

• Taberna Típica o Pescador II

  phone: +351 265 533 369
  address: Travessa Álvaro Anes 8

• Tasca do Xico da Cana

  phone: +351 265 233 255
  address: Travessa Seixal, 10, 2900-174

Mid-range

• 490 Taberna STB

  phone: +351 934760982
  address: Avenida Luisa Todi 490, 2900-456

• Novo 10 Restaurant

  phone: +351 265 525 212
  address: Avenida Luísa Todi 420, 2900 - 455

• La Famiglia

  phone: +351 937 510 969
  address: Rua. do Barão do Rio Zezere 5, 2900-593

• Adega Leo do Petisco

  phone: +351 265 228 340
  address: Rua da Cordoaria 33, 2900-333

• Pérola da Mourisca

  phone: +351 265 793 689
  address: Rua da Baía do Sado 9, 2910-014

Splurge

There's a nice selection of bars in downtown Setúbal.

• Bar Absurdo

  phone: +351 91-9838978
  address: Avenida José Mourinho 24, 2900-633

• Taifa

  phone: +351 265 231 642
  address: Avenida Luisa Todi 558, 2900-456

• Corktale - Winebar

  phone: +351 265 410 297
  address: Rua Plácido Stichini 2, 2900-558

Most hotels and accommodation you can find are probably downtown (once again, Luisa Todi Avenue) and there is also a hotel near the Bonfim, which is near the bus station.

Budget

• Hotel Ibis Setúbal

  phone: +351 265 700 900
  address: Rua Cidade de Porto Seguro, 2910-831
  2-star hotel.

• Hotel Laitau

  phone: +351 265-752672
  address: Avenida General Daniel de Sousa, 89, 2900-345
  2-star hotel.

• Hotel Mar e Sol

  phone: +351 265534868
  address: Av. Luisa Todi nº 606, 2900-457
  2-star hotel.

• Hotel Campanile Setúbal

  phone: +351 265 752 672
  address: Rua das Caravelas, 2910-706
  2-star hotel.

• Hotel Manteigadas

  phone: +351 265 709 650
  address: Rua da Manteigada nº2, 2910-241
  2-star hotel.

Mid-range

• Solaris Hotel

  phone: +351 265 541 770
  address: Praça Marquês de Pombal, 12, 2900-562
  3-star hotel.

• Hotel Aranguês

  phone: +351 265525171
  address: Rua José Pedro da Silva, 15, 2910-575
  3-star hotel

• Hotel Novotel Setúbal

  phone: +351 265 739 370
  address: Rua Alexandre O'Neill, 2910-781
  4-star hotel.

• Luna Esperança Centro Hotel

  phone: +351 265 521 780
  address: Avenida Luísa Todi, 220, 2900-452
  4-star hotel.

• Hotel do Sado Business & Nature

  phone: +351 265542800
  address: Rua Irene Lisboa, 1, 2900-028
  4-star hotel.

Splurge

• Pousada do Castelo de Palmela

  phone: +351 212 351 226
  address: Avenida Cavaleiros Santiago e Espada, 2950-317 Palmela
  This historic luxury hotel is on top of an imposing hill, and it is one of the best architectural fortresses in Portugal, specially known for its location and the views that it has to offer.

• Pousada de Alcácer do Sal - D. Afonso II

  phone: +351 265 613 070
  address: Castelo de Alcácer do Sal, 7580-197
  The Pousada de Alcácer do Sal, D. Afonso II, is in the thousand year old Alcácer castle that overlooks the river Sado, which runs through a vast green valley.

Setúbal is considered a generally safe area but it has some of the major problematic neighbourhoods in the country.
There are some parts of the city you might want to avoid, but the shabbiness will warn you of that. By day even in those parts you shouldn't have any problems, but be cautious. Take the usual precautions, mostly at night, in downtown Setúbal, but usually you won't have a problem. Avoid being alone but if you find yourself in that situation, just walk in very well lit places and with many people around or call/grab a taxi to take you to your destination.

• Alentejo coast / Milfontes
• Almada
• Évora
• Beja