Setúbal to Tróia ferry (Atlantic Ferries)

For some children the boat is the whole attraction. The Setúbal to Tróia ferry, run by Atlantic Ferries, crosses the mouth of the River Sado between the city of Setúbal and the long, sandy Tróia peninsula opposite. It is a working ferry that local people use every day, which is part of its charm: you queue with cars, vans and lorries, watch them roll aboard in lines, then stand at the rail while the city shrinks behind you.

There are two ways across. The car ferries, called Pato Real and Rola do Mar, carry up to 500 passengers and about 50 cars each and take roughly 25 minutes. The catamarans, Garça Branca and Roaz Corvineiro, are passenger-only boats for up to 350 people and make the trip in about 15 minutes. All four are named after local wildlife: a mallard, a turnstone, an egret and the bottlenose dolphin.

The loading is the show. Cars, motorbikes and heavier vehicles drive up the ramp and are guided into place by the crew, and at Tróia they drive off the other end. For a child who loves vehicles, this is better than anything on the far shore. If you’re driving, the driver’s fare includes the car and the driver; everyone else in the car pays a passenger fare.

Out on the water there’s the estuary itself: the Setúbal waterfront and harbour, fishing boats, the Arrábida hills to the west and the flat, sandy tip of Tróia ahead. The Sado estuary is home to one of Europe’s few resident groups of bottlenose dolphins, but they are not a feature of the ferry and you shouldn’t promise them. If spotting dolphins matters, book a dedicated dolphin-watching trip on the Sado.

If you’re going over for the beach without a car, the catamaran is faster and a little cheaper. It leaves from a different terminal in Setúbal (Rua Teotónio Banha) and arrives at Marina de Tróia. Bikes are not allowed on the catamarans, only on the car ferries. Catamarans run through the night, so they are also the late option home.

The fare table on the Atlantic Ferries site (in force since 23 January 2025 and still shown in September 2026) listed:

• Foot passenger on the car ferry: €5.50 each way
• Catamaran: €4.90 single, €9.30 for two trips
• Car or other light vehicle up to 3,500 kg, including the driver: €21 each way, €37.80 for two trips
• Motorbike: €12.50
• Bicycle (car ferry only): €5.50

Children aged 0 to 5 travel free on both the ferry and the catamaran. From six, children pay the normal passenger fare; the site lists no separate child fare. Tickets are sold at staffed and automatic windows at the terminals, by cash or card, and cars can pay with Via Verde. When we checked, the company said online sales were still being developed.

The service runs 365 days a year. The car ferry timetable changes with the seasons:

• From 1 January to 29 May and 14 September to 31 December 2026, car ferries leave Setúbal every hour at half past, from 07:30 to 19:30, then at 20:40 and 22:00. From Tróia they leave on the hour from 08:00 to 20:00, then at 21:15 and 22:40.
• From 19 June to 13 September 2026 they run about every half hour from mid-morning, with late sailings after 23:00 on Fridays, weekends and holidays.
• There is also an intermediate season from 30 May to 18 June with its own timetable.

Off-peak catamarans leave Setúbal hourly around the clock (on the hour through most of the day) and Tróia at half past. Timetables are published as PDFs on the Atlantic Ferries website, and it’s worth downloading the current one before you go.

Each car ferry takes about 50 cars, so on a busy summer day a car may not fit on the first sailing; a foot passenger always has more options, including the catamaran. If you’re only going for the ride, going on foot is simplest. The boats are exposed to the wind at the rail, so bring a layer even on a warm day, plus sun cream and water, as there’s little shade while you queue.

Pets travel free as long as they stay in the car or in a suitable carrier. Atlantic Ferries doesn’t publish information on step-free access or on-board facilities, so if you’re bringing a wheelchair or a large buggy, contact the company (geral@atlanticferries.pt) before you travel.

Toddlers often love this trip, because 15 or 25 minutes is about as long as a small child wants to be on a boat. Vehicle fans of any age get the loading. Older children and teens may find the ferry a bit ordinary unless it’s the start of a beach day on Tróia. For a child who gets seasick, the short crossing time is the main reassurance.

On the Setúbal side, Casa Santiago on the main avenue fries the city’s famous cuttlefish, and the beach at Portinho da Arrábida is a short drive west. The Sado dolphin boats leave from the same waterfront. Setúbal’s summer Feira de Santiago is another reason to come in late July.

How long is the ferry from Setúbal to Tróia?

About 25 minutes on the car ferry and 15 minutes on the passenger catamaran.

Do children pay on the Tróia ferry?

Children aged 0 to 5 travel free. From six, they pay the standard passenger fare of €5.50 on the car ferry or €4.90 on the catamaran (September 2026).

Can you book the ferry online?

Not when we checked. Buy tickets at the terminal windows; cars can also pay with Via Verde.

Can you take a dog on the Tróia ferry?

Yes. Non-dangerous pets travel free, as long as they stay inside a vehicle or in a suitable carrier.

Can you take bikes?

Yes on the car ferries (€5.50 each way), but not on the catamarans.