Blue Coast
A wealth of natural and cultural attractions you’ll love to explore!
Since the art of Portuguese tiles to the dancing Dolphins in the Sado estuary, baroque churches of Setúbal or the unique flora of Arrábida Mountain, both culture and nature are integrated into a beautiful landscape that awaits you.
Welcome to the authentic nature of the Blue Coast!
This region has a wide natural diversity of landscapes, favored by the presence of the sea, and is a wonderful region to discover. Along the Atlantic Coast there are cliffs of wild beauty, sprinkled by picturesque villages, immense sandy strands as well as intimate small scale beaches. Besides this, it has a huge wealth of natural and cultural attractions, fueled by Lisbon proximity.
In a word: paradise!
Discover the Blue Coast
Blue Coast is the birthplace of excellent winemakers.
A visit to their estates is always a good excuse for learning about the local heritage, as well as the arts and crafts, architecture, traditions and obviously, the inseparable gastronomy. On this matter, both fish and shellfish bring the sea to the table, just like the herbs and spices season the different dishes, most of which have been passed down from generation to generation.
There are two types of landscape in the Península de Setúbal. One is characterized by vines planted on clay-limestone soils, between 100 and 500 meters high. In this case, Arrábida mountain protects the vines from the influence of the Atlantic. In contrast, the other area represents about 80% of the region, includes flat land or gently undulating land, consisting of sandy soil that is rather poor, particularly suited to high-quality grape production.
The Setúbal Peninsula is a pioneering region in the production of well-made wines, e.g. the case of the fortified wine, Moscatel de Setúbal. Despite the region has only been demarcated for the production of Moscatel since 1907, wine production in this area dates far back before.
A long cultural heritage worth visiting
A true landmark of this region, in the heart of Arrábida Natural Park, is the Convento da Arrábida. Originally founded by Arrabidino Franciscan friars, they built cells, a church, and even more outbuildings in 1542. It is a fascinating collection of buildings, resembling a small village and with magnificent sea views.
In case you want to know more about maritime life in this region, it is mandatory to visit the 17th century Forte da Arrábida! Once its original mission was to defend the coast, presently it houses the Oceanographic Museum from Arrábida Natural Park.
For castle lovers, the Blue Coast is the place: three main castles defended Lisbon from the south, East and West. Nowadays, we can walk inside its walls and wonder how such a small population could live and thrive in between Arab, Spanish and pirate attacks altogether!
No tour to Setúbal heritage will be completed until you have stopped by Espichel Cape. Here is located the sanctuary to Our Lady of the Cape: a cult place dating back to 1366. On this outstanding place, take a closer look at the religious heritage and enjoy the scenic landscape!
One Step from Paradise
All along the Blue Coast, nature is revealed in all its plenitude. A long coastline of gentle beaches, safe harbors, and inviting sands call for the pleasures of sunny holidays.
Furthermore, this region collects many awards: the only maritime park in Portugal, Club member of The Most Beautiful Bays in the World and Arrábida Natural Park candidate for World Heritage Site. Impressive, isn’t it?
This region offers a wide range of beaches. Here you can find a 25 kms coastline strip, with attention to Lagoa de Albufeira, a coastal lagoon, suitable for windsurfing and other water sports. Next to it lies Meco, a well-known naturist beach, and a little further south is Portinho da Arrábida. This calm bay is great for diving and enjoying the diversity of marine life! At Sesimbra, discover its beautiful beaches and enjoy some of the most amazing food in Portugal, based on the great fish and shellfish!
Further south, the Sado Estuary has another important Nature Reserve comunicating with the Atlantic Ocean. The 25,000 hectare Reserve has notably diverse landscape such as dunes with rare vegetation cover, sandbanks, vast marshes and reed beds. However, the main attraction of the reserve is, undoubtedly the dozens of dolphins, living in the estuary! They are unique in Portugal, very sociable and easily observed through boat tours!
Available Tours in Blue Coast
The Blue Coast extends into the interior, in a region with unforgettable beaches, two estuaries, mountains and quiet inland plains. Not to mention, a mixture of colors that radiate a unique light and, undeniably, a beautiful landscape!
