Day trip from Lisbon to the Arrábida hills

The plan

The day at a glance

Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.

09:30
Leave Lisbon 45 min by car
25 de Abril Bridge and A2 to Setúbal
10:30 1
The high road of the Serra da Arrábida
ER 379-1 along the ridge · stops at the viewpoints
10 min by car5 km
11:30 2
Arrábida beaches, from Figueirinha to Galapinhos and Portinho
Portinho or Figueirinha · in summer, by bus
15 min by car12 km
14:00 3
Tasca da Fatinha
fried cuttlefish facing the Sado · on Sunday until 18:00

Avenida José Mourinho, 58, 2900-633 Setúbal · +351 265 232 800

Restaurant €€
Book
45 min by car38 km
17:00 4
Cabo Espichel, the sanctuary and the dinosaur footprints
sanctuary and cliffs at sunset
19:00
Back home
you reach Lisbon around 20:00

Approximate cost About €20–35 per person

Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.

The route

The high road of the Serra da Arrábida

A day trip from Lisbon to the south of the Tagus: the Arrábida hills drop sheer into a green, still sea, with white-sand coves at their foot. The plan follows the ridge road, goes down to a cove, has fried cuttlefish in Setúbal and ends at Cabo Espichel, with its Baroque sanctuary above the cliffs, as the sun goes down.

The day, hour by hour

9:30 · Leaving Lisbon. Over the 25 de Abril Bridge and the A2 to Setúbal, about 50 km.

10:30 · The mountain road. The ER 379-1 follows the ridge between Setúbal and Azeitão, with lay-bys above the sea and the Tróia peninsula. Stop at the viewpoints.

11:30 · A cove. Portinho da Arrábida or Figueirinha. From 4 June to 15 September the beach road is closed to private cars from 7:00 to 20:00 and you go down by bus from Setúbal: in those months, change the order.

14:00 · Fried cuttlefish at Tasca da Fatinha. A family fish restaurant facing the Sado since 1985. On Sunday it is open from 12:00 to 18:00, without a break; it is closed on Monday.

17:00 · Cabo Espichel. West of Sesimbra, the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo above the cliffs and dinosaur footprints in the rock. Free.

19:00 · Heading back. You are in Lisbon around 20:00.

Time1 h

Portinho da Arrábida seen from the mountain slope

Pemanuelp · CC BY-SA 4.0

Change the route

With young children, if it rains or if you fancy something else: another stop that fits the same day.

Coast of the Arrábida natural park with turquoise water

If you fancy paddling beneath the cliffs: Kayaking beneath the cliffs of Sesimbra and PortinhoGuided sea kayaking beneath the Sesimbra cliffs or off Portinho, in the Arrábida marine park: 3 hrs, from €40.

A bottlenose dolphin in Sado bay, opposite Setúbal

Dolphin boat from Sesimbra: Sado dolphins and the Arrábida coast by boatBoat · 2–3 hrs · With a marine biologist · From €50

Where to eat

Where to eat?

Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.

A plate of fried cuttlefish with chips and salad

Tasca da Fatinha

Restaurant · Setúbal · €€€€

What to order: the fried cuttlefish, which is what gives Setúbal its fame, and a grilled fish from the display case to share.

Map

The stops, in order

With where to park at each one.

What to do Eat 88 €Stay Services

Getting there

By car or without one?

By car

A2 to Setúbal and the mountain road. To Cabo Espichel, via Sesimbra.

When to go

When to go to Serra da Arrábida

In spring and autumn, with a calm sea and the beach road open. From 4 June to 15 September the coast road is closed to cars during the day and you go down to the beaches by bus.

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Best timeGood timeLow season

Tips

Worth knowing first

1
Check the summer dates
With the beach road closed, leave the car in Setúbal and go down by bus.
2
Bring swimwear
The water in the coves is calm and clear.

Questions