Parque Natural da Arrábida
Limestone ridge meets the ocean at the southern tip of the Setúbal Peninsula, with small beaches and coves near Lisbon.
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Arrábida Natural Park covers the southern tip of the Setúbal Peninsula, near Lisbon. It spans about 176 km², of which roughly 123 km² is land and 53 km² is sea. Here the limestone Serra da Arrábida meets the ocean in a way closer to the Mediterranean than to the long sandy beaches found along much of the Portuguese coast. The park was created in 1976, after a reserve was set up on the same land in 1971, and became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2025.
Visitors from Lisbon and Setúbal often head for Galapinhos, Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha, the most popular beaches. The 16th-century Convent of Our Lady of Arrábida, a former monastery, overlooks the three main beaches. Past them, beaches are rare and small along the Sesimbra coast, and many coves are mostly reached by boat. Gruta do Frade, a karst cave, and the cliffs of the Cabo Espichel area add more to see. August is the warmest month, with daytime highs of about 24 to 28 °C and nights of about 16 to 17 °C.
Parque Natural da Arrábida in five
- Check the summer car rules before driving to the covesSetúbal council runs a yearly programme limiting cars to Albarquel, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida. The 2025 season ran 7 June to 15 September; dates and gates change, so read the current year's notice.
- Use the free shuttle or walk for Galapos and GalapinhosThe 2025 programme had a free shuttle bus, run under a council protocol with TML, to Galapos and Galapinhos via Creiro. Confirm that the shuttle runs this year and where it starts before you plan the day.
- Go early or choose a shoulder monthParking is limited and roads can close when the lots fill, so arrive early or visit in spring or autumn. Weekday visits are calmer than summer weekends.Setúbal travel guide
- Respect fire risk in summerMediterranean scrub dries out in July and August. Check the IPMA fire-risk map, do not light fires or barbecues, and follow any park or council closure notices.
- Keep a fallback beach for crowded daysWhen the car lots fill and roads close, Tróia across the Sado offers long flat beaches by catamaran from Setúbal.Setúbal Peninsula
Things to do in Parque Natural da Arrábida
See all attractions in Parque Natural da Arrábida
Need to know
- Airport
- Lisbon (LIS), roughly 1 hour by road to Setúbal
- Getting there
- Fertagus train to Setúbal, then taxi or the seasonal shuttle
- Getting around
- Walking, cycling and the seasonal shuttle; cars are limited
- Best base
- Setúbal for ferries and hotels; Lisbon for a day trip
- Time needed
- A day for the coves, two with Setúbal and Tróia
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, greenFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, walkingAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, walking
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, greenMayClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm, beachJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beach
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low17°Hot, fire riskJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, fire risk
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, quieterSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Mild, calmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Cool, rainNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Cool, wetDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
Average daily high and low in Setúbal, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Parque Natural da Arrábida
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 30%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Parque Natural da Arrábida
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today25°11°0%Monday: Clear. High 25°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue21°11°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed20°7°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu19°10°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri19°9°34%Friday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat19°17°72%Saturday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Sun19°18°92%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 92%.
Updated 04:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Parque Natural da Arrábida
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- JulSuper Bock Super RockSetúbal, a day trip
- JulNOS AliveLisbon, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to Parque Natural da Arrábida
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Parque Natural da Arrábida, checked
- Setúbal council's 2025 beach season ran 7 June to 15 September with car limits at Albarquel, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida; a new plan is issued yearly.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Parque Natural da Arrábida
Ferries, fish market and the estuary
Read the guideSetúbal PeninsulaTrains, ferries and the wider region
Read the guideLisbon travel guideThe gateway city and its airport
Read the guideCascais travel guideAnother coastal day trip from Lisbon
Read the guideCar and rail in PortugalTrains, ferries and when a car helps
Read the guideAll of PortugalCities, coast and entry rules
Read the guideParque Natural da Arrábida FAQ
Can you drive to the Arrábida beaches?
In the beach season, only under the council's rules. The 2025 programme ran 7 June to 15 September and limited cars to Albarquel, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida, with a free shuttle for Galapos and Galapinhos. Check the current year's notice.
Is Arrábida worth visiting?
Yes for the limestone scenery, clear water and walks above the sea, especially outside July and August. It is a poor choice for a no-planning summer weekend by car, when access can be restricted.
How do you get to Arrábida from Lisbon?
By Fertagus train to Setúbal, then a taxi or the seasonal shuttle, or by car outside the restricted period. Day tours from Lisbon often bundle transport, a hike and a boat or wine stop.
When is the best time to visit Arrábida?
April to June and September to October are mild, with fewer cars and no summer heat. July and August have the clearest sea but the busiest roads and the highest fire risk.
Can you swim at Arrábida?
Yes at the beaches, where water is clear but can be cool and currents occur. Swim near lifeguards when available, avoid rocky edges and check local flags and notices.