Day Trip to Ericeira from Lisbon

Tourist Guide

Beach in Ericeira, Portugal

Foz do Lizandro Beach in Ericeira

Although there are other more popular destinations closer to Lisbon (such as Sintra and Cascais), Ericeira can also be experienced on a day trip from the capital city. It’s usually combined with a visit to the Mafra National Palace nearby, and those with a car can also head up the coast to the beaches of Peniche (another hour further north) or stop by Óbidos, the best-preserved medieval village in Portugal.

Palácio de Mafra

A visit to Mafra Palace is usually part of a trip to Ericeira

Ericeira can be reached by public transportation (see the complete details about how to go from Lisbon to Ericeira by bus) or by joining an organized tour. Visiting independently comes out cheaper and allows you to spend as much time at the beach as you’d like, but on a tour you have the advantage of not having to worry about transportation, and tour companies often combine Ericeira with other towns (usually Mafra, Óbidos, or Sintra).

If your interest in Ericeira is mainly the beaches, you’re better off going independently on the bus. There’s one departing from Lisbon as early as 6:27am, and the last one back to Lisbon from Ericeira departs at 9:45pm on weekdays, 8:20pm on Saturdays and 9:35pm on Sundays. You can check the schedules on the Mafrense website.
It stops in Mafra, right across the palace, so you can visit this magnificent monument in the morning before a sunny afternoon at the beach.