THE BREAKDOWN

Gran Traverse Setubal - Our Plan

Day 1:  Arriving in Setubal 

Depending on your arrival time, spend some time exploring Setubal. There may be time for an optional short hike to Forte de Sao Filipe where you will have amazing views of Setubal bay and Troia Peninsula. Your first accommodation is a family-run hotel just outside Setubal's town centre.

Optional walk: 4km; +133, -133; You can preview your walk here. 

Accommodation: Arrábida Guesthouse or a similar stay in Setúbal (Hotel Casa Palmela is an excellent, more upscale choice, though located slightly farther out )

Day 2: Setúbal Skyline & a medieval Castle (Setúbal - Palmela)

Leaving Setubal behind, you will be heading to Serra de São Luís. At the top of Serra de Sao Luis (395m), your first stop, you'll find a park rangers' watch post and the "Paradise Table" picnic spot. If you're lucky, grab a seat and enjoy a snack while taking in breathtaking 360° views of the Arrábida mountain, Setúbal skyline, and the Sado estuary. The route then takes you to the northern slope of Serra de Sao Luis and follows through valleys and vineyards to Palmela.  As it nears Palmela, the path winds trough an old roman road and arrive at Palmela Castel, offering sweeping vistas of both Setubal and Lisbon on clear days.

Walking for the day: 14 kms, +615m, -444m; You can preview your walk here. 

Accommodation: Pousada do Castelo de Palmela 

Day 3: The Windmill Trail: From Castle to Vineyards (Palmela to Azeitao)

Your day kicks off right from the hotel, winding through the charming whitewashed village of Palmela. Today’s journey offers a relatively gentle route along well-trodden paths, occasionally dipping into valleys.  2 kms into your walk, as you enter the Windmill trail (‘Caminho dos Moinhos’) you will find a bakery, Padaria Julião. Seemingly closed, just knock on the window and they’ll pop out and sell some deliciously warm and fresh bread. The route will pass a series of old windmills - there are ten windmills in total, but only two are still at work, grinding wheat into flour just as they have for centuries. You will be traversing a millennia aged path, as Roman ruins attest. Along the way, soak in stunning views—Lisbon’s skyline on one side, rolling mountains on the other.  On your final stretch, you come across Capel das Necessidades, a small chapel marking the beginning of Azeitao's exploration.

Walking for the day: 13 kms, +244m, -363m. You can preview your walk here.

Accommodation: Tonight you’ll be staying at Hotel Club d’Azeitão, though we’re happy to recommend alternative family-run properties as well. 

Day 4: On top of Arrabida - from the mountains to the sea (Azeitao to Portinho da Arrabida)

Your journey begins in the charming Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, nestled on the northern slopes of Serra da Arrábida. This well-marked but challenging trail takes you from Azeitão, over the highest peak of Arrábida, and down to the turquoise waters of Portinho on the southern side. Today’s route features the longest ascents of the program. The first 4 km,  as you wind your way up the mountainside, offer a gentle incline before you enter dense vegetation at the base of Alto do Formosinho, where the real climb begins. The trail becomes rugged and uneven, with some scrambling sections and a 1.5 km continuous steep ascent, reaching 501 meters above sea level. This section is physically demanding due to the steep slope, dense vegetation, loose gravel, and rocky terrain. At the summit, take a well-earned break and enjoy breathtaking 360° views—on a clear day, you can see Lisbon, Cabo Espichel, Setúbal, and Tróia.

The descent down the southern slopes of Arrábida offers spectacular views of Tróia and the Sado River. Along the way, you'll pass the historic Arrábida Convent. While the descent is easier, it still includes some climbing and can be tough on the knees. The final stretch follows a paved road through quaint summer homes, gradually leading you down to sea level. You'll have the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim and a delicious lunch before concluding your adventure and taking a transfer back to Setubal. 

Walking for the day: 10kms, +506m, -617m. You can preview your walk here.

Suggested place for lunch: O Farol (we can help you booking)

Transfer back to Setubal

What's Included?