What to see in Setúbal
Praça de Bocage is the main square, with the town hall and the Igreja de São Julião on its edges and a monument to the poet Bocage, who was born here. The Mercado do Livramento, the Igreja de Jesus and the Fort of São Filipe are the other fixed points of a city visit. Outside the centre, the sights are on the water and in the hills: dolphins in the Sado, the beaches under Arrábida, and the Tróia peninsula across the estuary.
Treat the list below as a menu rather than a single day. Hours and prices are for 2026 and can change, so check them on the day.
Our picks: something active in Arrábida
If you have seen the viewpoints and want more, this adventure circuit in the hills comes with the safety gear.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Things to do in Setúbal: tours and excursions
Dolphin boats, Arrábida trips and day excursions, with live prices and availability.
What to visit in Setúbal's old town
The fixed points of a city visit.
Igreja and Convento de Jesus
This Manueline ensemble dates from 1490 and is attributed to Diogo Boitaca. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. On Sundays it opens from 15:00 to 19:00 from June to September and from 14:00 to 18:00 from October to May. The church has shorter hours and is open until 17:00 Tuesday to Saturday. Both are closed on Mondays and public holidays. The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Old town →Mercado do Livramento
The market stands at Avenida Luísa Todi 163 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 07:30 to 14:00. It is closed on Mondays and on 1 January, 25 April, 1 May, 15 September and 25 December. Fresh fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and regional goods are sold here. Choco frito, fried cuttlefish, is a local dish worth asking about in the town.
Fort of São Filipe
The fortress stands above the city and the Sado. Construction began in 1582, and the chapel has azulejos from 1736. Check the current visiting hours before you climb up.
Museu do Trabalho Michel Giacometti
The museum occupies a former fish cannery and shows how fish was processed and how people worked. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Admission is about €2.00 to €2.05, so check at the desk. Check Saturday hours before you plan around it.
On the water and in the hills
Setúbal's biggest draws are outside the grid of streets.
Dolphin watching
A resident group of bottlenose dolphins lives in the Sado estuary.
Arrábida Natural Park
Nature, trails and the convent on the hillside.
Beaches near Setúbal
Portinho da Arrábida, Galapinhos and Figueirinha.
Tróia
Ferry from the port, long beaches and Roman ruins.
The summer access rules matter here. From 4 June to 15 September 2026, certain beach roads are controlled from 07:00 to 20:00 and shuttle buses serve the beaches. Read the beaches page before you drive.
Day trips from Setúbal
Four places that fit into a half or full day.
Tróia
The ferry takes about 25 minutes and the catamaran about 15 minutes. A catamaran single is €4.90, and the Roman fish-salting ruins on the peninsula are open in season only, so check before you go.
Tróia →Azeitão
Azeitão is known for Moscatel de Setúbal wine and for Queijo de Azeitão, a cheese made from raw sheep's milk. The Palácio da Bacalhôa offers guided visits of about 1.5 hours, at 10:00 and 15:00, and is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Azeitão →Sesimbra and Cabo Espichel
Sesimbra has a castle that is open daily, from 07:00 to 19:00 in winter and to 20:00 in summer. The sanctuary at Cabo Espichel stands on a plateau above sea cliffs. Do not count on a direct bus from Setúbal to the cape; check connections first.
Sesimbra →Palmela
Palmela castle holds the Igreja de Santiago and museum areas inside its walls. The tourist information office there is open from 09:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30. These are office hours, not the opening hours of every gate.
Setúbal Peninsula →Things to do in Setúbal: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Setúbal?
Give one day to the old town and a boat trip, and another to the Arrábida coast or Tróia. Azeitão and Sesimbra each deserve a trip of their own.
What is there to do in Setúbal on a rainy day?
The Convento de Jesus museum, the Museu do Trabalho Michel Giacometti and the market are indoors. The market closes at 14:00, so go in the morning.
What is free in Setúbal?
Walking the old town and Praça de Bocage costs nothing. The Convento de Jesus museum is free for visitors up to 23 and from 65, and for everyone on the first Sunday of each month.
Is Setúbal worth visiting without a car?
Yes. The town, the market, the ferry to Tróia and the dolphin boats are all reachable without one. A car is useful for Azeitão and Sesimbra.
When should I visit?
July and August are the driest and warmest months, while spring and autumn are cooler and wetter. The weather page has the monthly averages.