38.96° N, 9.42° W World Surfing Reserve since 2011
A small town on a very big ocean.
An independent guide to Ericeira, written by someone who has known it since childhood. Surf spots, beaches, tables and the quiet corners in between.
Source: IPMA, Open-Meteo
A note from the author
João Rodrigues
Author of this guide
Ericeira came into my life when I was small: lunches with my parents, long afternoons on the beach. Later it became my place of calm, of surf and of friends.
This guide is the advice I kept giving to friends and colleagues from abroad: which beach suits which day, where to eat, how to get here without a car. No paid placements, just the town as I know it.
Read the full story- 2011
- Europe's first World Surfing Reserve.
- 8
- surf spots mapped, from beginner sandbars to expert reefs.
- 4
- languages, for the many who do not arrive speaking Portuguese.
The surf coast
North to south, wave by wave.
Tap a spot to see what it needs: swell, tide and wind, and who it suits.
Expert only North, the Reserve
Coxos
Often called one of the best right-hand reef breaks in Europe, a powerful, barrelling wave for experienced surfers only.
Read the spot guide- Wave type
- Barreling right-hand reef
- Best swell
- NW, with size
- Best tide
- Low to mid
- Best wind
- East / offshore
Why Ericeira
One coastline, every kind of wave, and a town that still smells of the sea.
In 2011 Ericeira became the first World Surfing Reserve in Europe, recognised for the rare concentration of quality waves packed into a few kilometres of coast. From beginner sandbars to heaving expert reefs, the variety is the point.
But this was a fishing town long before it was a surf town, and it shows. Boats still land their catch below the cliffs, the old streets are tiled and white, and the restaurants serve percebes, grilled fish and arroz de marisco to surfers and grandmothers alike.
This guide is built for visitors from abroad: practical, honest and kept current, in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.
Explore the guide
Everything you need, in one place
Surf spots
Every break worth knowing, sorted by zone and ability, from Foz do Lizandro to Coxos.
Beaches
Where to swim, sunbathe and watch the surfers, beach by beach.
Where to eat
Seafood, percebes, pastéis de nata and the tables locals actually book.
Where to stay
Surf camps, guesthouses and boutique hotels, and the best areas to base yourself.
Getting here
Lisbon to Ericeira by car or bus, parking, and getting around without one.
Itineraries
Day trip, weekend or a full week, planned routes for every kind of traveller.
Where to eat
Eat like you live here.
Grilled fish priced by the kilo, arroz de marisco for two, a pastry and a bica in the morning. These are a few of the tables worth knowing.
- 01 A Panela Seafood & fish , Largo Santa Marta 3B
- 02 Mar à Vista Seafood & fish , Rua de Santo António 16
- 03 Taberna Lebre Casual & local , Rua da Misericórdia 3
- 04 Casa da Fernanda Bakery & sweet , Largo das Ribas 29
- 05 Mar das Latas Casual & local , Rua Capitão João Lopes 24A
Free planning tools
Tools for the trip itself.
Getting here
Closer to Lisbon than you think
Ericeira is about 35 km north-west of Lisbon, roughly 40 minutes by car, or a direct Carris Metropolitana bus from Campo Grande. There is no train. Most of the town is walkable; a car helps for the southern beaches and day trips.
Read the full travel guideCommon questions
Is Ericeira good for beginner surfers?
Yes. Foz do Lizandro and São Julião are forgiving beach breaks with sandbars and plenty of surf schools, ideal for first lessons, while the heavier reefs of the Reserve are kept well away to the north.
How do I get from Lisbon to Ericeira?
By car it is about 40 minutes via the A8. By public transport, take a Carris Metropolitana bus from Campo Grande in Lisbon; the express runs in around 45 minutes. There is no train to Ericeira.
When is the best time to visit?
Autumn (especially October) offers the cleanest, most consistent surf and warm, quiet days. Summer is busiest and best for beginners and beach time; winter brings powerful swells for experienced surfers.
Do I need a car in Ericeira?
Not for the town itself, which is compact and walkable. A car is handy for the southern beaches, the northern surf spots and day trips to Mafra or Sintra. In summer a seasonal beach bus links the main surf beaches.