Pristine and rugged coastlines, infinite roads, vast fields of olive and corks trees, few tourist, delicious and affordable foos and wine, hundreds of storks and so much more. Since we only had one week and didn’t want to fly too far, we traveled to the Alentejo region. Portugal is our favorite destination in Europe with so many different places to discover.
Setúbal and the Sierra da Arrábida
Our roadtrip starts in Setúbal, as we want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the capital Lisbon. Setúbal lies on a peninsula just below Lisbon, about a 40 minute drive, also ideal for a day trip when you visit the capital for a few days. A large part of the peninsula belongs to the Arrábida National Park with beautiful sheltered bays and crystal clear waters. Something you would not expect to find along the Atlantic coastline.
Setúbal is a fishing town, still very authentic and with hardly any tourists, unlike many other towns in the vicinity of Lisbon. The heart of the town is formed by a lovely boulevard, the Avenida Louísa Todi. Here you can just stroll or enjoy an ice cream on one of the benches under the trees. A short drive east of Setúbal you can find some of the best beaches in Portugal with the stunning backdrop of the Arrábida hills. Praia Figuerinha and Portinho do Arrábida both have beach restaurants with the local catch of the day. Make sure to order a ‘choco frito’ (no, it’s not a chocolate dessert!), a local dish of deep fried cuddlefish. Keep in mind that these beaches do get busy during summertime with the locals escaping the busy capital.
