A week from Lisbon: Cabo Espichel, Sines and the Sado estuary
A week on Portugal's Atlantic coast: out of Lisbon down the Tagus past the Belém Tower, the cliffs of Cabo Espichel, the fishing town of Sesimbra under its Moorish castle, Sines — birthplace of Vasco da Gama — the Sado estuary with its resident dolphins and the Arrábida hills, and Cascais on the way back. The loop of about 150 nm has legs of five to six hours, one short day in the estuary and a short last day. This is the ocean, not the Mediterranean: a long north-westerly swell, the summer northerly called the nortada and tidal streams in the Tagus and the Sado, so the route suits a crew that has sailed in open water before.
Day by day
Lisbon (Belém)
- Lisbon (Doca de Belém)38.695, -9.203
Boat handover at the Doca de Belém, twenty minutes from the airport. Next door are the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, both UNESCO sites, and the bakery that has made pastéis de Belém since 1837.
Lisbon → Sesimbra
- Cabo Espichel38.412, -9.225
- Sesimbra38.440, -9.105
Down the Tagus on the ebb past the Belém Tower and the Bugio lighthouse fort, then south along the Caparica beaches and round Cabo Espichel with its 130-metre cliffs. Sesimbra is a fishing town under a Moorish castle; night in the small marina or at anchor off the beach, sheltered from the northerly.
Sesimbra → Sines
- Sines37.950, -8.865
Open water across the mouth of the Bay of Setúbal to the south, five to six hours downwind. Sines is Vasco da Gama's birthplace: above the small marina by the old harbour stands the castle with his statue.
Sines → Setúbal
- Setúbal38.520, -8.887
Back north along the long Comporta beaches to the mouth of the Sado, in the morning before the nortada builds. Setúbal is a working fishing town with the Livramento market, and the local dish is choco frito, fried cuttlefish; night in the Fontainhas marina.
Setúbal → Tróia
- Portinho da Arrábida38.473, -8.984
- Tróia38.494, -8.902
A day in the estuary: in the morning to Portinho da Arrábida under the green Arrábida slopes for a swim and lunch, in the afternoon across the estuary to Tróia. The Sado has a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, most often seen right here; next to Tróia marina are the ruins of Roman fish-salting works.
Tróia → Cascais
- Cascais38.692, -9.418
The longest day: out of the estuary, back round Cabo Espichel and then north against the nortada, leaving at first light. Cascais is a former royal resort with a large marina by the old town.
Cascais → Lisbon
- Lisbon (Doca de Belém)38.695, -9.203
- Oeirasmarina38.676, -9.318
- Doca de Santo Amaro (Lisbon)marina38.699, -9.178
A short leg up the Tagus to Lisbon, timed with the tide so the stream is with you. Refuelling and handover.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Wind and swell: in summer the nortada fills in almost daily — a northerly of 15–25 knots, stronger towards evening and off Cabo Espichel and Cabo da Roca. So legs south are downwind, and legs north are sailed in the morning while it is lighter. An Atlantic swell always runs from the north-west, around one and a half to two metres in summer and more in autumn. The best months are June to September.
- Tidal streams: in the Tagus and the Sado estuary the tide runs at several knots, and with wind against tide a steep, short sea builds on the bar. Plan river entries and exits with the tide tables — for a fair stream and in daylight.
- Protected areas: the Arrábida coast from Cabo Espichel to Setúbal is the Luiz Saldanha marine park, where anchoring and fishing are restricted by zone, and stops at Portinho da Arrábida are on municipal buoys. Fishing floats and nets line the whole coast: don't motor close inshore at night, and keep a bow lookout when approaching harbours.
- Logistics: Lisbon airport is twenty minutes from Belém; charter bases also operate from other city marinas — Santo Amaro, Alcântara, Parque das Nações — and the route stays the same. Portugal is in the EU and Schengen, so there are no formalities along the coast.
How to get to the marina
- Doca de Belém, Lisbon
- Lisbon (LIS) — 15 km, 20 min by car
20–35 min · €15–30 per car
Taxi or ride-hailing car from the terminal along the riverside to Belém; longer at rush hour.
20–35 min · €30–45 per car
Pre-booked transfer: the driver meets you in arrivals and takes you straight to the marina.
50–65 min · €4–6 per person
Metro from the airport on the red line, changing to the green line for Cais do Sodré, then the Cascais-line train two stops to Belém.
Lisbon's charter bases are spread over several marinas — Belém, Santo Amaro, Alcântara, Parque das Nações; check which one is yours: they are five to twenty-five minutes apart by taxi.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
How long is the Lisbon — Setúbal route and where do you stay overnight?
7 days and about 148 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Lisbon. Overnight stops in order: Lisbon (Doca de Belém), Sesimbra, Sines, Setúbal, Tróia, Cascais. The longest leg is day 6, 36 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Lisbon — Setúbal route?
The route starts and finishes at Doca de Belém, Lisbon. The nearest airport is Lisbon (LIS), 15 km away. Fastest: taxi, 20–35 min, €15–30 per car. Cheapest: train and metro, 50–65 min, €4–6 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Lisbon — Setúbal route?
Around Lisbon the season runs May to October; June and September are the best months, with a weaker nortada than in July and August. The Algarve is sailed almost all year: winters are mild, with shorter days and more Atlantic fronts. In the Azores the window is June to September, when the Azores high sits over the islands.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
