Discover Ericeira: Coast, Surf Culture and History

Ericeira combines a striking coastal landscape with a history of surfing, sacred cultural heritage and culinary experiences. Along the coast, high cliffs alternate with small sandy coves. This means that different priorities are possible when planning your trip: you can discover the variety of waves, follow a culture-focused route or pay particular attention to local fish and seafood. When choosing a holiday apartment in Ericeira, the key factor is therefore which of these experiences you want to shape your trip.

Surfing area with a variety of waves

Ericeira has been recognised as a World Surfing Reserve. The World Surfing Reserve extends between Empa Beach and São Lourenço Beach. The variety of waves along the coast makes it possible to surf at different levels of difficulty. Several companies offer surf courses in Ericeira. Those who want to focus their stay on the sea and surfing therefore have a clear theme around which to plan their trip.

The Centro de Interpretação da Reserva Mundial de Surf da Ericeira offers another perspective on the area. It is integrated into the Ericeira tourist office and provides an immersive visitor experience. This makes it possible to learn about the importance of the surfing area not only through the coast, but also through a dedicated exhibition experience.

Active days and a year-round cultural route

There are also specific ways to explore Ericeira away from surfing. The municipal cycling guide Mafra Cycling includes the route “Ericeira 3 – Percurso Verde (Easy)”. Those who want to vary their days can include this route in their plans alongside maritime experiences. The municipal cultural heritage programme also lists “Devoções. Património Religioso da Ericeira” as one of five thematic routes. This route can be undertaken throughout the year.

The sacred buildings give the cultural route historical depth. The Capela de São Sebastião dates from the 15th or 16th century. It has a hexagonal floor plan and a dome made of brick and lime masonry with articulated segments. The Igreja Paroquial de São Pedro is classified as an Imóvel de Interesse Público, meaning a protected property of public interest. Its origins are thought to date back at least to the first half of the 15th century; the oldest known documentary reference dates from 1446.

The Igreja da Misericórdia is also part of the history of the local community. It was planned after the Câmara da Ericeira transferred the Capela do Espírito Santo to Francisco Lopes Franco in 1678. The Arquivo-Museu da Misericórdia da Ericeira was founded on 1 June 1937. It preserves nine 17th-century paintings depicting the Passion of Christ, as well as a significant collection of ethnographic memories of the local community’s relationship with the sea. The building now used by the Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva received decorative features in the Art Nouveau style in 1924.

Market, sea and local traditions

The Mercado Municipal da Ericeira is known for the quality of its fresh fish and seafood. The market also regularly hosts showcooking events and tastings of local products. The Festival Internacional do Ouriço do Mar is also held at the Mercado Municipal da Ericeira. At the end of January, festivities in honour of S. Sebastião and S. Vicente take place near the Capela de São Sebastião. These dates and venues add a seasonal and local dimension to trip planning, without requiring the stay to focus on a single theme.

When searching for accommodation, you can therefore weigh up different travel profiles: surf courses and the World Surfing Reserve favour an active stay by the sea, while the cultural heritage route, churches, museum and Casa de Cultura offer different focal points. The market and its culinary offerings complement both options. A holiday apartment or holiday house in Ericeira can thus be selected specifically according to the desired mix of water, culture, history and regional cuisine.

Discover more places

For further orientation, you can also explore Malveira, Gradil, Enxara do Bispo, Carvoeira, Mafra, Igreja Nova and Santo Isidoro.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Mafra.