Ericeira is a small seaside village on the west coast of Portugal 35km North of Lisbon. The coastal town know for its laidback vibes and world class surf. Most famously know as the World Surf League that is held here.
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How to get to Ericeira?
The closest airport to Ericeira is Lisbon. Direct flights from London to Lisbon run very regularly through most airlines and can be purchased at a very reasonable price.
To get to Ericeira you will need to fly in Lisbon airport where it is best to organise an airport transfers through either your hotel or the link above. There is also the option to use Uber however we wanted to have someone greet us at the airport. As we were a large group it worked out better for us to organise a transfer through our hostel. It is about a 40 minute drive from Lisbon airport to reach Ericeira.
Heading to Lisbon as well? Make sure to read our guide The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Lisbon
What to do in Ericeira?
The relaxing and calm nature of Ericeira really meant that this holiday could actually be a holiday. Most of our days were spent either laying on the beach, shopping at some of the beautiful boutiques in town or reading our book in the hostel.
Surf
On one of the days Aimee finally got up enough courage to head out for her first surf lesson. The last time that we tried to go surfing together it did not work out and professional help was definitely needed.
The surf lesson was through Activity Surf Center however there are so many surf schools in town if you’re staying for multiple lessons it is worth looking around. The reason we chose this lesson over the other schools is that this starts slightly earlier than all the others as we wanted the rest of the afternoon to be able to head to Sintra (see our post on Sintra here).
Looking for another surf break in Portugal, read our post on The Complete Guide to Sagres, Portugal
Relax with Yoga & Wellness
Ericeira is also a haven for Yoga lovers, there is a vast number of studios around town. As we visited over a holiday period not everywhere was operating classes however we managed to get in a class at Ericeira Yoga with the lovely Carla. We were so lucky in fact that we ended up having a private session with the group that we came with. Their timetable is available online.
There are also a number of wellness retreats and surf yoga retreats that run throughout the year in Ericeira. To find more about these check your accomodations website for details of any of their events.
Enjoy fishing and seafood
If you enjoy fishing, consider joining a local fishing tour to experience the traditional way of life in Ericeira.
Perhaps fishing isn’t for you then you can enjoy the fresh seafood that Ericeira is known for. Visit one of the many seafood restaurants to try delicious dishes like grilled sardines, octopus, and bacalhau (salted cod).
Beach Hop
Explore the various beaches in and around Ericeira, each with its own unique charm. Some popular ones include Praia dos Pescadores, Praia do Sul, and Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas.
If you enjoy walking then you can soak up the coastal scenery by taking a walk along the cliffs. The Rota Vicentina walking trail passes through Ericeira and offers stunning views of the coastline.
Where to eat in Ericeira?
Ericeira is also filled with many amazing cafes and resturants which unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to work our way through. Some places that we can however recommend are:
Prim
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At Prim we had the best bbq octopus we have had, it comes served on the bbq coals with sides to share for two people. Make sure to either book or come early in peak times as it does get busy!
Nalu Bowls
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Nalu Bowls is actually a chain that does amazing açai bowls. Even though it is a small chain it doesn’t lack in quality and we were super happy with our beautifully presented bowls right on the beach.
Sunset Bamboo
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We stopped here for a late lunch and drinks. It had the best sangria we had the whole time in Portugal. The restaurant serves small health conscious food options with something for everyone.
Loja da Amelia
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Loja da Amelia is a small gourmet supermarket which was great for getting lots of local produce. We came here to stock up on some beautiful food for a grazing board, the staff are also super attentive and helpful.
Where to stay?
Laneez Ericeira
We stayed at Laneez Ericeira Surfhouse and we would highly recommend it!
As it was a busy time we managed to get the last room in the surf house (unfortunately not a room that has a sea view). Our friends stayed up the road at their Laneez Surf Villas. Laneez has one of the best views over the ocean! Most of our trip was either spent inside watching those earlier morning surfers head out from the shared living space or having a wine on the outside deck watching the sunset.
Make sure to also check out our other post for Our Lisbon guide and day trip to Sintra!
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.
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