Is Ericeira worth visiting?

Is Ericeira worth visiting houses with flowers

Ericeira is a captivating blend of rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and world-class surfing spots. Once a quaint fishing village, this coastal town has evolved into a vibrant holiday destination that still retains its authentic charm. Ericeira draws surfers from all over the globe, eager to ride its legendary waves, yet there’s more to this town than just surfing. Whether you’re strolling through the historic old town, indulging in fresh seafood at a seaside restaurant, or simply soaking up the sun on one of its pristine beaches, Ericeira offers something for everyone. So, is Ericeira worth visiting?

I vote yes, just don’t get Covid…..

Is it worth visiting Ericeira
Is Ericeira worth visiting? The Ericeira coastline

How to get to Ericeira

It’s important to note that Ericeira is not served by any rail network and there is no train station in Ericeira, therefore you have more limited travel options than you have with many other Portuguese cities. Most people fly into Lisbon and then take the Flixbus to Ericeira (very limited options and they are early buses) or hire a car. Ericeira is around 40-45 minutes North of Lisbon.

My trip to Ericeira was hampered by Covid!

Firstly, I need to tell you about my challenging time in Ericeira! I was booked to have a week in Ericeira at Laneez Ericeira surf house, with a breakfast room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After spending a lot of time in Lisbon, the busy Portuguese capital, I felt that I wanted to stay somewhere calmer, where I would be able to focus on my blog writing, and experience a new destination at the same time. Ericeira was a great choice for this, but my 7 days in Ericeira turned into 2!

Ericeira street art octopus
Ericeira street art – Octopus!

I had a fantastic time on my first day in Ericeira, navigating the old town, visiting Igreja de Santa Maria and having a nice pizza in Pepe Verde. On day 2 I worked remotely, but felt a bit under the weather. My persistent coughing and pounding heartache all showed the signs….and when I went to the bathroom to do my Covid test, there was the big fat POSITIVE line that you just don’t want to see when you are travelling! I immediately moved from the hostel to a private apartment, and the lovely staff from Laneez sent me with a care package of bread and fruit!

Igreja de Santa Maria Ericeira

For the next 5 days, I isolated and observed Ericeira from my private balcony whilst recovering from the dreaded Covid! Although I missed my surf lesson, I did have an extra day at the end to explore the town further and also an additional day to visit Mafra palace.

Is Ericeira worth visiting?

Yes, Ericeira is totally worth visiting. It has a really laid back hippy surf dude vibe. The town has a lot of character with the classic Portuguese white-washed buildings with blue or yellow window sills and doors. Expect to discover cobbled streets, cute Churches and hipster vegan cafes. If you love beaches then Ericeira is definitely for you – there are plenty of opportunities to sunbathe or surf.

Surfers Ericeira
Surfing in Ericeira

The first morning I was sitting having breakfast and a drink at 7 Praias da Baleia and I watched a guy surf a massive wave from right out in the sea all the way down to the beach, with perfection! ‘Wow!’ I shouted, ‘that was amazing!’ and the guy on the table next to me turned round and said ‘yeah, that’s the current world number 1 that’s why!’ It really was something!

Ericeira Praia da Baleia
Is Ericeira worth visiting? Praia da Baleia

So, what else is there to see in Ericeira other than surfing?

In addition to some amazing surfing, you will enjoy sightseeing around the old town and plenty of cute little chapels.

Ericeira Old Town

The Old Town of Ericeira is peaceful and tranquil with some beautiful Portuguese architecture. You get some lovely views at Parque de Santa Maria. In the Old Town itself, don’t miss the tree lined main square Praça da República, Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva, Ericeira Market (R. do Mercado 22) and Igreja de Santa Maria.

Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva Ericeira
Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva – Ericeira

Churches of Ericeira

If you are willing to walk further North and up the coast then you will be rewarded with some amazing sea views and several cute chapels along the way. A good walking route is to go from the Old Town up past Capela de Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, a visit to Igreja Paroquial de São Pedro and then rejoin the coastal walk up to Capela de São Sebastião. Capela de São Sebastião is my favourite chapel in Ericeira because of it’s stunning sea front location.

Igreja São Pedro Ericeira
Igreja São Pedro, Ericeira

Fantastic cafes, bars and restaurants

Ericeira is very touristy and there is an abundance of fantastic bars and restaurants that you can enjoy day and night. My favourite place to have breakfast or brunch was Amour cafe (they only speak English not Portuguese). I got this fabulous brunch sandwich in multicolour bread!

The restaurants were great quality and there are also some Michelin star restaurants along the Ericeira coast. So, if you are a big foodie, you will love this place! Here’s a list of my favourite places to eat and drink in Ericeira….

  • Armour coffee shop – for the brunch and multicolour sandwiches
  • Predio – Sushi
  • Restaurante Tik-Tak – European cuisine (great monkfish)
  • Pepe Verde – Great pizza!
  • Brisa – Popular seafood restaurant.
  • Cervejaria 7 Janelas – serves vegetarian dishes and great cocktails.
  • Mar das Latas – Great wine and traditional Portuguese food.
  • Adega – Mexican and bar (my favourite bar in Ericeira with a very colourful frontage)
Ericeira Adega bar
Adega Bar, Ericeira

Day trip to Mafra Palace

No trip to Ericeira is complete without a day trip to the stunning Mafra palace. It’s only 15 minutes away from Ericeira and so I recommend that you jump in an Uber – it wasn’t to expensive at all (I paid less than €20 each way).

Mafra palace is or Palacio de Mafra is one of the largest monuments in Portugal. There’s nothing much else to see in Mafra other than Mafra Palace and gardens, but it really is an amazing place to visit – don’t miss this. The palace was built in the 1700’s and includes a Church (the Basilica of Our Lady and Saint Anthony of Mafra) and Monastery. many of the rooms contain their original furnishings and Baroque interiors.

Mafra palace day trip from Ericeira
Mafra palace day trip from Ericeira

It’s worth noting that if you are a resident of Portugal, it’s free to visit Mafra palace on Sundays. Otherwise, the entrance ticket is €6 and it’s free for under 12’s.

Are there any downsides to Ericeira?

So, are there any downsides to Ericeira? Well, no, not really! I would say that if you are more heavily into sightseeing rather than surfing or relaxing then you may want to consider the busier Portuguese cities such as Lisbon, Porto or even Coimbra. There is more to see and do in these destinations. But if you’ve already visited Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra and looking for a more chilled out Portuguese town then Ericeira will fit the bill.

You will need to remember your sun hat and sunscreen in the summer months as the temperatures can easily reach 26-28°C. However, don’t expect the water to be warm – it’s not the med! The other main downside is that the sea can be rough, so you need to be a very strong swimmer due to the high waves and undercurrents. For surfing you will need a wetsuit.

Ericeira is a very seasonal travel destination, and so it can be a bit dead in the winter months. I would recommend avoiding visiting Ericeira from around October to March. The season starts to pick up around April or May.

Further Reading

I hope that I have convinced you that Ericeira is worth visiting! As you have probably gathered, I absolutely adore Portugal and have plenty of other blogs about Portugal that you might like to read: