Ericeira in Portugal – surf spots, cool cafes and travel tips

The charming little town of Ericeira in Portugal is just a stone’s throw from Lisbon. Hot surf spots, cool restaurants and cafés, plenty of surf shops and schools, a picturesque old town, and plenty of serenity await you here. We’ve been to Ericeira several times, combining work with surfing. We love the proximity to the sea and the endless blue. There’s a local saying that fits this: “Ericeira onde o mar é mais azul,” which means “In Ericeira, where the sea is bluest.” In today’s article we’ll take you through Ericeira and show you our favorite spots, beautiful beaches and hip cafés.

Everything about Portugal here:

Everything about Portugal here:
Getting there Ericeira
Accommodation in Ericeira
Our top 5 cafes in Ericeira
Our top 5 restaurants
Popular Beaches in Ericeira
The best surf spots
Surf packing list & equipment
Sights in Ericeira
Conclusion on Ericeira

Getting to Ericeira

Bus:The fishing village of Ericeira is located just 40 km northwest of Lisbon and is easily accessible by public bus. It departs from Lisbon Campo Grande Station, Terminals 4 and 5. From here, the bus (Mafrense) takes around 80 to 90 minutes to Ericeira. The buses run from 7 a.m. to around 10 p.m. and connect the two towns at least once an hour. Tickets start at €5 to €6 per person. The express bus takes around 85 minutes and the standard bus around 120 minutes (with many more stops along the way).

Car: If you have your own rental car*, you can reach Ericeira easily and conveniently in around 40 minutes. You leave Lisbon in the north and drive on the A8 and then on the A21 towards Mafra to Ericeira. Tolls apply on this route, however. We have already driven this route by car, camper, and private shuttle. Each time, there were no problems, and we always got back to Lisbon quickly.

Taxi: UBER and GetTransfer are also recommended. GetTransfer is a great website that we have used many times. On the website, you specify where you want to go (example: Lisbon Airport to Ericeira) and when. Throughout the day, you will receive offers from various drivers by email. You can then accept the best offer for you. Even when we had to be at the airport in Lisbon at 5 a.m., we were always picked up on time in Ericeira or another location.

Accommodation in Ericeira

In Ericeira, you can find practically everything: hotels, hostels, surf camps, vacation apartments, or private rooms. Whether right in the old town or a little further out, no one has to sleep on the streets in Ericeira. You can find a particularly large selection of offers on Airbnb* or booking.com*. In the following table, you’ll find a small but fine selection of great accommodations in Ericeira. The prices are all “from” for two people in a double room and can change depending on the month and day.

Our top 5 cafes in Ericeira

We love strolling through Ericeira and relaxing with a coffee under the Portuguese sun. The old town has some great shops that we can recommend. Let’s start with the Sunset Bamboo Bar, where you can get not only excellent coffee, but also delicious smoothies and crispy toasties. The café is located right in the center of the old town, next to Praça da República. Not far away is the cool Surf Café, where you can get delicious coffee, salads, fruit bowls, or even toasties and sandwiches.

Ericeira-Portugal-Bamboo-Bar

The Magic Quiver Surf Deli is really cozy and casual, and you can also have a great breakfast there. In addition to delicious toasties, acai bowls, tacos, pasta dishes, baguettes, and salads, they also serve great coffee and other drinks. If you like healthy and fresh food, you’ve come to the right place! At the Dear Rose Café you can get fantastic pancakes with fruit and delicious coffee. Also recommended are the Creek’s Caffé Ericeira and the GiG – Green is Good.

Our Top 5 Restaurants

In Ericeira, and especially in the old town, you’ll find numerous restaurants. Whether burgers, pizza, pasta, fish, tapas, or Asian cuisine, this small fishing village has something for everyone. We highly recommend the Red Chilli Restaurant in the old town. We’ve been here several times and always had delicious Indian food. They also serve pasta and pizza. If you’re in the mood for tapas, we recommend the Tik Tapas restaurant. The staff is super friendly, the service is excellent, and the food tastes delicious.

You can get super delicious pizza and pasta at the Pizzeria Boccalino or at Pão d’Alhos. If you’re more in the mood for fresh fish and meat, you should visit the Restaurant Tasca da Boa Viagem. It’s not quite as cheap, but quality comes at a price. Fish for two people and a bottle of wine can easily cost €45. If you fancy the sea and the beach, you should definitely visit the Ribeira d’Ilhas Surf Restaurant & Bar. Here you can relax, watch the surfers on the water, and enjoy delicious food and drinks.

Popular Beaches in Ericeira

Ericeira is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean and thus offers a fantastic mix of city and beach. Not far from the old town is the popular Pescadores Beach, where you can relax and sunbathe. Depending on the weather, the bay is relatively quiet, so you can also jump in the water. Above the beach, you’ll find shops and cafés. You can also enjoy time by the water at South Beach and Praia da Baleia in good weather. However, the Atlantic is usually quite rough, so swimming is not always guaranteed.

When the weather is good, many people enjoy the view of the sea at North Beach. We can also recommend watching the sunset at North Beach with a bottle of wine and a few snacks in your bag. At Praia de Sao Sebastiao you can also enjoy the sun and unwind. Matadouro Beach is super beautiful and usually quiet. You can surf and fish here.

The best surf spots

In 1967, the first surfers took to the Praia dos Pescadores. Today, Ericeira is the first European World Surfing Reserve. Here you’ll find 7 world-class waves and countless other top spots, from Pedra Branca to São Laurenço. The surfer’s bible, the “Stormrider Guide,” also states that Ericeira is the absolute surfing mecca in Portugal. Such a density and abundance of world-class surf spots can probably only be found in Hawaii. The good thing is that there are waves for all surfing levels, whether beginner or pro.

You should check beforehand which beach is suitable for you, as there are many rocks and stones that could injure you. If you’re a beginner, you should avoid point and beach breaks. Recommended here are the beaches of São Julião or Foz do Lizandro, which are located south of Ericeira. If you’re unsure, consider finding a surf camp where you can safely learn the art of surfing (e.g., Na Onda, Tiago Pires Surf School & Mellowove Surf Camp). You can also take surf lessons without a surf camp: 2-Hour Surf Lesson in Ericeira*.

The most popular and well-known spots are Riberia D Ilhas and Coxos. The view of Riberia D Ilhas beach from the high cliffs is particularly beautiful. Coxos is more for advanced and professional surfers and is one of the top spots in Portugal. Good, stable waves can also usually be found at Praia de Sao Lourenco, which is often used by surf schools.

Surf Packing List & Equipment

The water in the Atlantic is quite cool year-round. In spring, the water reaches a maximum of 15°C, and in summer, a maximum of 20°C. You should therefore pack a 5/4 wetsuit* if you are coming to Portugal in spring, or a 3/2 wetsuit* if you are traveling in autumn or spring. Water shoes (booties)* are also recommended, as the water is often rocky and stony.

Don’t underestimate the sun in Portugal. Before you go into the water, you should apply sunscreen or zinc sunscreen for surfers*. The cool surf ponchos* are also super practical, as they’re easy to throw on after a day of surfing (or at least a cozy hoodie). Don’t forget your surf wax* and store everything safely in a dry bag*, which can get wet under certain circumstances.

Rentals: We usually rent wetsuits and surfboards when we’re in Ericeira. We can recommend places like 58 Surf Shop and eXtra eXtra Surf. In the center of the old town, you’ll also find the Ericeira Surf & Skate Ericeira shop, where you can also rent equipment.

Sights in Ericeira

We wouldn’t necessarily say that Ericeira has any great sights, but you’ll discover some beautiful buildings on a stroll through the small town. For example, there’s the pretty Catholic Church of São Pedro, which was built as a chapel in 1466. You’ll also pass the small Chapel of Santa Marta, located in the center of town. At North Beach is the small Santa Marta Park, which offers a direct view of the sea.

You can stroll leisurely through the old town and simply let yourself go. The many alleys, the white houses, and the ornate facades are particularly beautiful. As you walk through the old town, the small harbor is not far away. We recommend a walk from the old town to the Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas beach. The path follows the cliffs and offers wonderful views (duration: 50-60 minutes).

We love the Boardriders Quiksilver. Not only do they have cool clothes and surf equipment, but they also have delicious coffee and a skate park. For €5, you can rent a skateboard and feel like Tony Hawk. We’ve often sat up on the terrace and watched the guys skate. Marco has even ridden there himself and clearly had a great time.

Conclusion on Ericeira

Ericeira in Portugal is one of our favorite places in the country. This former fishing village is neither too big nor too small. In addition to cool cafes, top restaurants, and surf shops, there are also superb accommodations, beaches, and fantastic surf spots. Thus, Ericeira combines everything a surf lover could need. We highly recommend a stop in this town. You’ll definitely love it as much as we do. Ericeira is easily combined with Lisbon, Sintra, Peniche, and Lourinha.