We recommend:
1 - Obviously, do a surf session. You’re in a World Surfing Reserve, so you have to try out these waves. If you never surfed before, there are a lot of surf schools to choose from.
2- And talking about the World Surfing Reserve, get to know its 7 waves. The beaches are lovely, so, even if surf is not your thing, you’ll have a wonderful time. Go to the Lizandro beach and try some standup paddle on the river that flows there into the sea. Go up the river and across beautiful rural landscapes.
You have 12 beaches, it’s impossible to choose the most beautiful. From North to south: Calada, São Lourença, Coxos, Ribeira d’Ilhas, Empa, Matadouro, São Sebastião, Algodio, Pescadores, Sul, Foz do Lizandro and S. Julião.
3 - Go walking in the centre of the village and fill its pulse. Also go to the seafront, near the main hotel, and see the old seafood nurseries. Nowadays they are obsolete, but in ancient times this place was where they breed the lobsters and sea urchins that served all the village restaurants.
Relax in: Parque Santa Ana
Enjoy the terraces, the bar and the restaurant to enjoy the best that Ericeira has to offer: the sea right next to it and the cleaner air that has breathed.
Also, in the lowest tides in June it’s a local tradition do walk the rocks at shore break and catch percebes (local name for barnacles). I’m talking about entire families, from kids to grandpas, which keep the tradition alive and make it a site to see.
4- Since you’re wandering the village’s centre, go to the harbour. At summer time this is a very sought place, since there’s no waves here and it’s perfect for kids. It was from this harbour that the last Portuguese king fled in exile to Brazil with the beginning of the Republic period.
The best spot to see Ericeira from above – From the top of Ericeira harbour, you can have a great panoramic over the village and even from the Sintra area to far away Peniche.
The best souvenirs to buy from Ericeira - Expect the traditional magnets and t-shirts, but look for the windmills, mostly constructed by local craftsmen. This is a symbol of this region.
5 - Last but not least, Ericeira and its surroundings are not only about surfing and sports. In a radius of a one-hour drive around Ericeira Beach House, you can discover plenty of hidden and less hidden gems to keep the culture and nature hungry satisfied. Ericeira is a 50 km drive from Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, and from Sintra, one of UNESCO’s sites. So is perfect if you want to stay in a very typical village, with beach and surf, and still want to check out the dynamics of Lisbon or visit sites like the Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira.
