Car & Van Hire - Setubal

The majority of landmarks are located between the train station and the harbour. In this area, you’ll find the Jesus de Setubal monastery, an impressive piece of medieval and Gothic architecture, which is home to an art museum.

Nearby is Bocage Square, in the heart of the city’s historical centre. The streets surrounding the square are full of beautifully restored buildings, such as the palatial city council building and Casa de Avenida cultural centre. Also, in the historical centre, you’ll find cultural attractions like the city’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography and Casa Bocage Photographic Archive.

From the historical centre, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the harbour, where the main attractions are the maritime museum and a shaded seaside promenade that’s particularly lively in the evenings. On the western end of the waterfront, you’ll find a couple of sandy beaches, Saude and Albarquel.

Also in this area is Sao Felipe Castle, whose hilltop location affords panoramic sea views. If castles are your thing, you’ll want to visit Palmela Castle, located a 20-minute drive from downtown Setubal. This impressive medieval castle rises high above Setubal’s countryside and is a popular destination for history buffs and families.

Setubal’s location between the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Sado River offers plenty of opportunities for exploration and scenic drives. Just 10 kilometres outside of town is Sado Estuary Natural Reserve, a protected area rich in wildlife and natural beauty. Popular activities in this area include dolphin watching, hiking, swimming and bird watching.

The beaches on the Atlantic side and on the Troia Peninsula are perfect for a day out driving and discovering the scenery at your own pace. On the way to the picture-perfect beaches of Galapinhos, Penedos and Baleeira, you can stop at Arrabida Natural Park, which offers a variety of hikes, including some family-friendly options.

The best places to sample local fish and seafood dishes are the waterfront restaurants near Saude Beach. In the historical centre, you’ll find more options, including tapas bars, pizzerias, coffee shops and fast food venues.

In this area, you can also explore independent stores selling fashion items, local wines and handicrafts. North of town is Setubal Retail Park, a large shopping complex with cinemas, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.

Popular events include the city’s Carnival parades, the International Music Festival (May) and Livescore Film Festival (October).

Generally speaking, the roads in and around Setubal are in good condition and driving here is easy even for first-time visitors. If you venture outside urban areas, there are some hazards to anticipate. For example, it’s common to find livestock and pets on the roads when driving in the countryside. You won’t always find road signs warning you about this, so it’s better to drive cautiously at all times.

In rural areas around Setubal, you may find traffic signs partially or fully obstructed by vegetation and not easily visible. Apart from this, local driving habits can pose a hazard, such as not using indicators, parking on roundabouts and failing to respect safe stopping distances.

There are toll booths on the A12 road between the airport and Setubal, though you may take an alternative and free route via the A2. Toll payments are collected via a pre-paid electronic system called Via Verde, which deducts toll charges automatically. If your rental vehicle isn’t equipped with a Via Verde sticker, you can pay for tolls with cash or a credit card.

Minimum and maximum speed limits on motorways are 50 km/h and 120 km/h, respectively. The limit when driving on other roads outside built-up areas ranges between 90 and 100 km/h, whereas in urban areas, you shouldn’t exceed 50 km/h. There are exceptions to this in some tunnels and bridges, such as the 25 April bridge on the way to Lisbon.

Fines for speeding are calculated based on road category and speed and can reach thousands of euros. Speeds are monitored by radar, and the use of radar detector apps or devices is prohibited by law and also subject to steep fines. Hefty fines also apply for using a mobile phone and for littering while driving. Testing positive for a drunk driving test (above the legal limit of 0.05%) means you will receive a fine, and your vehicle could be confiscated by traffic police.

Parking in Setubal’s historical centre can be complicated, as many streets are too narrow and pedestrian-only, but there are ample parking facilities in the waterfront area.