A short drive south of national capital, Portugal’s Setubal makes for a great alternative or excellent addition to sometimes-crowded Lisbon. Located on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary, the city has a history and heritage processing and exporting sardines. Today the city is best known for the Monastery of Jesus, dating back to origins in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the traditionally-fronted Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, and the Castle of Sao Filipe, which features some incredible original blue and white tiling. However, with the city limits you’ll also find important wetland birding areas ideal for experiencing Portugal’s natural side.