Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal: what the photos don't tell you
Short answer: Sand beach facing south-east. Mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 07:25 (59 min after sunrise) to 19:15, 1 h 47 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 11 h 50 of sun in all.
Also called Galapinhos beach. Lisbon coast: Cascais, Sintra, Arrábida.
Thu 15 July 2027
Sun on the sand 07:25–19:15
Direct sun on the sand from 07:25 (59 min after sunrise) to 19:15, 1 h 47 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 11 h 50 of sun in all. Sunset at sea level: 21:01.
Each block is half an hour from 05:00 to 22:00. sun on the beach · sun up but behind the cliffs or hills · sun down.
Reality check
- Surface
- Sand (OpenStreetMap)
- Water shoes
- Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins. (From the surface)
- Climb back up
- No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat. (Elevation model + OpenStreetMap)
- Beach clubs and free sand
- No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds. (OpenStreetMap)
- Natural shade
- Hills 24° high behind the beach shade it some hours before sunset. Midday sun is full: bring an umbrella. (Calculated from the terrain)
- Water depth
- Shelves gently: shallow water a long way out, good for children. 200 m out about 3 m deep, 400 m out about 3 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.) (EMODnet Bathymetry)
- Toilets and showers
- None mapped within 400 m. (OpenStreetMap)
- Sea temperature
- August: 19 °C on average. Warmest August (19 °C). (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020 average)
Plan it
Arrive before the sun reaches the sand to get a spot, or come for the last hours of sun when the day crowds leave. A boat trip reaches coves with no road access.
Through the year
Times on the 15th of each month, local time.
| Month | Sun on the sand | Lost to cliffs | Sea | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:00–16:40 | 1 h 07 | 15 °C | — |
| February | 07:35–17:15 | 1 h 07 | 15 °C | — |
| March | 06:55–17:35 | 1 h 15 | 15 °C | — |
| April | 07:30–18:45 | 1 h 57 | 16 °C | — |
| May | 07:20–19:00 | 2 h 36 | 17 °C | — |
| June | 07:15–19:15 | 2 h 50 | 18 °C | — |
| July | 07:25–19:15 | 2 h 46 | 19 °C | — |
| August | 07:30–18:55 | 2 h 15 | 19 °C | — |
| September | 07:30–18:30 | 1 h 27 | 19 °C | — |
| October | 07:55–18:00 | 1 h 09 | 18 °C | — |
| November | 07:25–16:25 | 1 h 06 | 17 °C | — |
| December | 07:55–16:25 | 1 h | 16 °C | — |
Questions
What time does the sun leave Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal?
In mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 07:25 (59 min after sunrise) to 19:15, 1 h 47 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 11 h 50 of sun in all. Pick any date above for that day's times.
Is Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal sand or pebbles?
Sand. Water shoes: Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins.
How far is the walk from parking to Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal?
No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat.
Is the water deep at Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal?
Shelves gently: shallow water a long way out, good for children. 200 m out about 3 m deep, 400 m out about 3 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.)
How warm is the sea at Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal?
Jan 15 °C, Feb 15 °C, Mar 15 °C, Apr 16 °C, May 17 °C, Jun 18 °C, Jul 19 °C, Aug 19 °C, Sep 19 °C, Oct 18 °C, Nov 17 °C, Dec 16 °C (1991–2020 averages).
Is there free beach at Praia de Galapinhos, Setúbal or only beach clubs?
No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · map record. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information.