Setúbal

Setúbal is a port city in the Setúbal district, located southeast of Lisbon on the Portuguese Atlantic coast. The city stretches along the northern shore of the Sado estuary and is bordered to the south by the Serra da Arrábida, while the river opens westward toward the ocean.

The settlement emerged from Roman Cetobriga and developed during the Middle Ages into a major port on the Atlantic route. In 1860, the place officially received city status under King Pedro V.

The name derives from Latin Cetobriga and appears today in the shape of a coastal city with large harbors and shipyard facilities. Many people in the city earn their living through fishing and seafood processing, which shows in the restaurants and shops along the waterfront promenade.

Regular train connections run between the city and Lisbon, while ferries carry passengers to the Tróia Peninsula during the day. The central area can be explored on foot, with the waterfront zone easily accessible and offering several docks for boat tours.

In the Sado estuary, a permanent colony of bottlenose dolphins has lived since 1981, remaining in these coastal waters throughout the year. Visitors can observe the dolphins on guided tours that usually depart from the harbor and head into the calmer sections of the river.

Location: Setúbal

Inception: January 1, 1249

Shares border with: Grândola, Alcácer do Sal, Palmela, Barreiro, Sesimbra

Email: geral@mun-setubal.pt

Website: https://mun-setubal.pt

GPS coordinates: 38.52431,-8.89261

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:34