Costa Azul Portugal

From the suburbs of Lisbon to the wide expanses of the Bay of Setubal, Portugal’s Costa Azul is a pretty region well within reach of the nation’s capital. It is easy to get to and easy to live in, with lots of sun and wide open beaches.

The climate is basically the same as Lisbon, as the Costa Azul, which covers the same area as the Setubal administrative district is adjacent to the capital. The weather is warm in the summers and cool, but not too cold in the winters with spring and fall being mild and moderate. The winter is wetter, and the ocean breezes can often moderate the temperature.

The northern part of the Costa Azul is essentially part of the Lisbon metro area. The largest city, Setubal, has a population of 120,000 and is about 40 kilometers from Lisbon. There is a commuter train which runs from the capital to Setubal, allowing people to commute easily into Lisbon and back again. Setubal is still one of the largest cities in the country and has a major port. It was once a home to the country’s sardine industry, but those days are mostly past.

Setubal lies on the Sado River, and across the city from the river is the Troia Peninsula. There is a ferry boat linking the city and peninsula, and several major resorts are either under construction here or in the planning stages. Adjacent to the city of Setubal is the Arrabida Natural Park. This park has several popular and picturesque beaches for local residents and visitors.

Sesimbra is on the Bay of Setubal just next to the Sado River and the Arrabida Park.  This town is becoming a very popular one for tourists and visitors. It has a nice, long beach and it is known for its nightlife. Further inland is the town of Palmela, which is developing a couple of new resort destinations. Located between Setubal and Lisbon, this town is in an ideal location for those who need to spend time in the city but want more of a relaxed life. Palmela also has a major auto plant and is known for its wine, produced a bit further inland.

Some of the closest suburbs to Lisbon include Barreiro, Seixal and Almada. Farther to the south is the industrial city of Sines, a large port and refinery town. The northern part of this region borders the Tagus River and there are two major bridges that cross over to Lisbon.

As the Costa Azul, or Setabul, region of Portugal is one of the smallest land areas outside of the Algarve, there is not a huge range of properties available. Much of what is for sale or lease in this area is in the suburbs of Lisbon along the Tagus. As you approach Setubal, there are several resorts along the waterfront or nearby where apartments and villas are available and there are some country villas and homes to be had. Most of the nicer existing housing is located around the cities of Setubal and Sesimbra, though there are other places to buy. There are some golf resorts with apartments, condos and villas for reasonable prices, beginning around €100,000.

Being so close to Lisbon, the Costa Azul is easy to get to. There is a commuter train system that runs from Lisbon to Setubal, so it is simple to get in and out of the capital for day trips whenever you want. The A2 and A13 autoroutes run from Lisbon into the Setubal region and the A2 continues down near the coast to the Algarve.

The Lisbon Airport, or Portela Airport (LIS), is located on the northeast side of Lisbon and is convenient to much of the Costa Azul. From the airport to Setubal is approximately 40 kilometers, less than an hour’s drive in most traffic conditions. From here are flights to major cities all over the world, and this airport is the home to Portugal’s national airline TAP Portugal. You can get flights to all over the Iberian Peninsula from here and most European destinations as well.