Praia do Sul, the "southern beach" of Ericeira.
Ericeira has four popular sandy beaches in the center, two outstanding surfing beaches nearby, and other quiet beaches in between. Most of its coast is quite rocky and with thick yellow sand. It has turquoise waters with big waves, with the exception of the central beaches at low tide, when they can be very calm. This means that you don’t have to be a surfer or a water sports enthusiast to enjoy the beaches of Ericeira; you may simply relax in the sun.
If you’re a surfer, however, you’ll be in Heaven. This is Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, meaning it’s a protected surfing area. Ericeira’s reserve covers 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) and is recognized for its unique environment, high density of surf breaks and wave quality. Most of the beaches fly the Blue Flag, guaranteeing cleanliness and safety.
As most beaches are within walking distance, it’s recommended that you get to know a few and decide which have the right scenery and atmosphere for you:
- Praia dos Pescadores
- Praia do Norte
- Praia de São Sebastião
- Praia da Ribeira d'Ilhas
- Praia do Matadouro
- Praia da Empa
- Praia do Sul
- Praia da Foz do Lizandro
“Fishermen’s Beach” is Ericeira's most central beach. It's the one with the fishing boats, popular with families and tourists, who stop to photograph the scenic harbor. It’s sheltered from the winds, so it has the calmest waters in town.
Beach for: Families
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: No
Accessible: No
Parking: Nearby
Visit Nearby: Chapel of St. Anthony
Where to Stay: Hotel Camarão
See the Praia dos Pescadores Guide.
Also known as Praia do Algodio, this beach is to the north of Praia dos Pescadores, right in the center of town. It's a small beach, but very popular due to its location.
Beach for: Families
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: Yes
Accessible: Yes
Parking: Nearby
Visit Nearby: St. Peter's Church
Where to Stay: Ericeira Soul Guesthouse
See the Praia do Norte Guide.
North of the center of town is this rather wild beach, accessed through a cobbled staircase. It's the first "surfing beach" on the northern coast, so it mostly attracts bodyboarders and surfers. Much of the sand disappears at high tide.
Beach for: Couples, Surfers
Lifeguards: No
Bathrooms: No
Showers: No
Rentals: No
Bar or Restaurant: No
Accessible: No
Parking: Yes
Visit Nearby: Chapel of St. Sebastian
Where to Stay: GiG Capsule Hostel
See the Praia de São Sebastião Guide.
Ericeira's main surfing beach is about 3km north of town. It's where the surfing championships take place and the reason many young people visit Ericeira. The waves in autumn and winter can be quite tall.
Beach for: Surfers, Couples
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: Yes
Accessible: Yes
Parking: Yes
Where to Stay: Ericeira Camping & Bungalows
See the Praia da Ribeira d'Ilhas Guide.
This rocky beach with a wild and very peaceful atmosphere is found between the central beaches and Ribeira d'Ilhas. It's popular among anglers, but also with surfers and tourists, who stay at the colorful houses behind it. It’s ideal for surfing lessons and to take the first steps on a surfboard.
Beach for: Surfers, Couples
Lifeguards: No
Bathrooms: Yes (in the bathing season)
Showers: No
Rentals: No
Bar or Restaurant: No
Accessible: No
Parking: Yes
Where to Stay: Villa Ana Margarida Beach
See the Praia do Matadouro Guide.
Just above Praia do Matadouro and across a camping site, you find this small beach, part of Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve. It's often deserted, except for a few people enjoying the tidal pools or riding the waves.
Beach for: Surfers, Couples
Lifeguards: No
Bathrooms: Yes (in the bathing season)
Showers: No
Rentals: No
Bar or Restaurant: No
Accessible: No
Parking: Yes
Where to Stay: Blue Buddha Beach House
See the Praia da Empa Guide.
The “Southern Beach” is the first beach to the south of the center of town. This is usually Ericeira's most crowded beach, as it’s within walking distance of most hotels, and is overlooked by the biggest one in town. It’s slightly more protected from the winds, so the waves tend to be a little calmer, but still suitable for surfing, especially for beginners.
Beach for: Surfers, Couples, Families
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: No
Accessible: No
Parking: Nearby
Visit Nearby: Santa Marta Church
Where to Stay: Vila Galé Ericeira
See the Praia do Sul Guide.
About 3km south of the center of town is the region's biggest beach. It’s an alternative to Ribeira d’Ilhas when it comes to surfing. On its southern end are the calm waters of the Lizandro River, while the northern end has a long boardwalk with outdoor cafés.
Beach for: Surfers, Couples, Families
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: Yes
Accessible: Yes
Parking: Yes
Where to Stay: You and the Sea
See the Praia da Foz do Lizandro Guide.
OTHER BEACHES NEARBY
Just outside town, between Ericeira and Sintra (to the south of Praia da Foz do Lizandro) is Praia de São Julião, another good beach for surfing. It’s popular with local families, due to the convenient parking lot above it.
To the north of town (above Ribeira d’Ilhas) is Praia dos Coxos, also known as Praia de Ribamar. It’s small but quite beautiful, backed by a tall cliff. Like its neighbor, it’s a beach for surfers.
Continuing north, you reach Praia de São Lourenço, the last beach within the protected surfing reserve. It’s great for surfing and located just 10 minutes by car from the center of Ericeira, but mostly attracts locals.
How to Get to the Beaches in Ericeira
All of Ericeira’s beaches are within walking distance of the center of town. That includes Foz do Lizandro, which is the most distant beach, if you consider over a half hour to be walking distance.
You can actually walk from Foz do Lizandro to Ribeira d’Ilhas, through the oceanfront sidewalk and bike path along the road, which is only interrupted in the center of town. You’d have to walk for over one hour, but if you’re a walker, you’ll enjoy the journey, and you may always take a break for drinks or a meal in the town halfway through it.
To know the location of each beach, see the Ericeira beaches map.