Tróia-Mar and Bico das Lulas beaches

The Tróia peninsula is a long spit of sand between the mouth of the River Sado and the Atlantic, facing Setúbal across the water. Its northern tip is built up as a resort, and two of its beaches sit right there: Tróia-Mar and Tróia-Bico das Lulas. They share the same resort area, car parks and style of beach, so we cover them together.

Grândola council, which runs Tróia’s beaches, describes both the same way: a calm sea with low swell, and a view across to the Serra da Arrábida. For children that means flat, friendly water, and for parents it means you can see the green hills and Setúbal while you sit on the sand.

The simplest way to Tróia from the Lisbon side is by boat from Setúbal. Atlantic Ferries runs a passenger catamaran that takes about 15 minutes and arrives next to Marina de Tróia, and a car ferry that takes about 25 minutes and docks at Cais Sul. Our page on the Setúbal to Tróia ferry has the fares, the 2026 timetables and tips for children; under-6s travel free.

For a toddler, a short boat ride followed by a calm beach is a very good day. If you take the car ferry, children who like vehicles get to watch the cars and lorries drive on and off.

Grândola council describes Tróia-Mar as a beach in the most built-up part of the peninsula, with a bar-restaurant, toilets and parking. It’s reached by wooden boardwalks over the dunes, with several places to rest along the way, which the council suggests make good walks in their own right.

Tróia-Mar is an accessible beach: it’s listed as one by APA for 2026 and by the council. APA’s profile also lists showers, sunshade hire and a first-aid post. With a buggy, the boardwalks make the approach much easier than soft sand.

Bico das Lulas is the more northerly of the two, closer to the tip of the peninsula. The council calls it an urban-style beach with a beach bar, toilets and parking within the Tróia development, and says its calm, low-swell water makes it good for kitesurfing and windsurfing. APA lists lifeguards, a first-aid post and sunshade hire. On breezy days, expect kites and sails on the water, which children enjoy watching from the sand.

Both beaches are lifeguarded during the bathing season, which for Tróia ran from 30 May to 30 September in 2026, longer than most beaches in the region. Both have a Blue Flag for 2026, and the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) rates the water at both as excellent. Grândola council also lists both as Qualidade de Ouro beaches (a water-quality award from the environmental group Quercus) and describes them as meeting the ISO 14001 environmental standard.

Calm water still needs watching: stay near the lifeguard, and keep clear of the kitesurfers’ area on windy days.

Both beaches have a beach bar and toilets, and Tróia-Mar has a bar-restaurant. The council notes more restaurants and places to stay in the resort next to the beaches. There’s little natural shade on the sand, so bring or hire a sunshade.

Tróia-Galé is a third Blue Flag beach on the peninsula, with the same calm water, a bar, toilets and parking, according to the council. If Tróia-Mar and Bico das Lulas are busy, it’s the obvious alternative.

Tróia has a history lesson on the doorstep. The Tróia resort’s page on the Roman ruins says the site was the largest fish-salting centre in the Roman Empire, with factories, houses, tombs and baths. The latest opening schedule it showed when we checked was for 2024 (Wednesday to Saturday in June and September, Tuesday to Saturday in July and August), with under-12s free, so check before you go.

You need a boat or a long drive round to get here, and the ferry costs add up for a big family. Out of season there are no lifeguards, and on windy days the kitesurfers take over part of the water.

Back in Setúbal, Praia de Albarquel has a playground next to the sand, and you can look for the Sado’s resident dolphins on a dolphin-watching trip from Setúbal.

How do you get to the Tróia beaches from Setúbal?

By boat. The Atlantic Ferries catamaran takes about 15 minutes to Marina de Tróia, and the car ferry about 25 minutes to Cais Sul. Children under 6 travel free.

Are the Tróia beaches good for toddlers?

Yes. Both Tróia-Mar and Bico das Lulas have calm water with low swell, lifeguards and toilets.

When is there a lifeguard at Tróia?

During the bathing season, which ran from 30 May to 30 September in 2026.

Is Tróia-Mar wheelchair accessible?

Yes. It’s an accessible beach, reached by wooden boardwalks.

Can you take a buggy to Tróia-Mar?

Yes, along the boardwalks over the dunes. Once you’re on the sand itself, it gets harder.