Where should I stay in Ericeira?

Deciding where to stay in Ericeira can have a big impact on your trip. While the village of Ericeira itself is pretty compact, many beaches and attractions are spread along the Atlantic coast. Stay in a less-than-ideal location, and you could end up doing a lot of walking and driving, depending on what you want to see during your visit. Let’s take a look at some of the main areas to stay in Ericeira so you can pick the best neighborhood for you. 

For each section, I’ll give you an explanation of what the area is like, some pros and cons of staying there, and some highly-rated hotels or accommodation options nearby. We’ll go more in-depth on hotels, hostels, surf camps, and guest houses in the next few chapters, but you can use this as a reference point to start your research. 

Ericeira town

Staying in the main village of Ericeira is ideal if you want to be steps from nightlife, cafes, restaurants, and some of the best swimming beaches. You can walk the downtown area from end to end in less than half an hour, and you’ll have dozens of fabulous places to eat and shop at your fingertips. 

In the center of town, there’s a tree-lined town square called the Jogo da Bola that’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and ice cream shops. 

The main beach in the center of town is called Praia dos Pescadores and it’s about a 2-minute walk from the Jogo da Bola. Also known as Fisherman’s Beach, this spot is more sheltered so you’ll have some protection from the waves. You can also walk to Praia do Sul on the south side of town or Praia do Norte on the north side of town. 

The village is a good option if you’re traveling without a car since you can walk to all the essentials, like grocery stores, pharmacies, surf schools, and markets. Parking can be tight in town, and a lot of hotels in this area don’t include parking, so keep that in mind if you’re traveling with a car. That said, street parking is free in most areas of Ericeira and there are some free and paid lots in the center of town you can use if needed. 

Staying in town will give you the most convenience, but there’s a risk of having some noise because this is where most of the nightlife happens. There are definitely some quiet streets in the center, but if you book accommodation near one of the popular bars, you might end up with a front-row seat to the music into the night.  

Staying in Ericeira’s town center

• Pros: Close to everything, you don’t need to have a car, easy access to swimming beaches and a few surf spots, restaurants, grocery stores, nightlife, and shops.
• Cons: Can be noisy and crowded at high season and on weekends, parking difficulties, you might hear parties on the weekends if you’re staying in town
• Highly rated hotels in this area: Vila Gale Ericeira, FHL Reserva

Praia do Sul

Just south of town, you’ll find a popular swimming and surfing beach called Praia do Sul. On the hills above this beach, there are residential neighborhoods, surf camps, and other rentals available. 

This area is quieter than downtown and it’s only a short walk away, so it’s possible to go out for dinner and drinks on foot or in an inexpensive Uber. That said, the neighborhoods behind Praia do Sul are on a hill… some might even call it a cliff, and the journey back home will be steep. You’ll get a great workout if you choose to walk! 

In general, this area will have easier street parking and you might be able to find a place with a garage or parking space included. You’re more likely to get a sea view because the houses are on a hill, plus you’re close to Praia do Sul which is good for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. In general, staying near Praia do Sul is a good compromise if you want peace and quiet while still being close to the main town. 

Staying near Praia do Sul

• Pros: Close to town but more residential so not so much noise, fewer crowds, potential to find a place with a nice sea view, close to Praia do Sul, possible to get more space here like a full house with a garden, compared to downtown. Possibly easy parking
• Cons: A little bit more of a walk to restaurants and attractions in town, very likely that your accommodation will be up a giant hill, so be prepared for a glute workout!
• Highly rated accommodation in this area: You and the Sea, Laneez Surf House, Chill In Ericeira Surf House

Foz do Lizandro

Continuing south along the coast, you’ll reach the beautiful Foz do Lizandro beach and nature area. There are cliffs for hiking, a river for paddle boarding, and a massive beach with a boardwalk, restaurants, surf schools, and umbrellas. 

Having a car for this area is recommended since it’s about a 30-45 minute walk to town. There’s a nice sidewalk the whole way and I often see groups from the surf camps walking together in the evenings, plus there are cyclists, runners, and dog walkers along this path at all times of the day. 

This is a good area if you want to spend time at Foz do Lizandro beach (great for surfing and beach activities) and there’s also a calmer area where the river meets the ocean so you won’t always be battling waves.  

Staying near Foz do Lizandro

• Pros: Close to Foz do Lizandro beach and surf spots, lots of hiking trails, and potentially great views from the cliffs.
• Cons: It’s a bit of a walk to downtown restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. It’s best to have a car if you stay here.
• Highly rated accommodation in this area: Ericeira Surf Apartments, Lapointe Surf camp

São Sebastião

Next, we’ll head north of town to São Sebastião. You’ll know you’ve reached São Sebastião because it’s marked by a large parking area and chapel as well as a nice walking path along the coast overlooking São Sebastião beach and surf break.  

In this neighborhood, you’re getting out of the historic city center so the buildings are a bit more modern. There’s a small shopping mall, a few restaurants, and apartments built up on the cliffs. 

If you walk along the coastal sidewalk, you’ll eventually get to Matadouro Beach, which is across the street from Boardriders Surf Shop. This area is great for surfers since you’ll have two surf spots right outside your doorstep. 

On most weekends, there’s an outdoor market in the São Sebastião parking lot with produce, art, clothing, and thrifted finds. Here, you’re looking at about a 10-15 minute walk from the center of town. 

Staying near São Sebastião

• Pros: Short walk into town, close to surf spots and boardriders, 
• Cons: This area can have some traffic noise if you’re staying near the main road
• Highly-rated accommodation in this area: Blue Buddha Beach House, Vila Ana Margarida Beach

Ribeira D’ilhas 

Ribeira D’Ilhas is one of the most popular surfing beaches in Ericeira and a world-renowned surf break. When the World Surf League comes to town, this is where they hold competitions. As you can probably guess, this is an excellent area to stay in for surfers. 

Ribeira D’Ilhas Beach has a few different surf breaks for different ability levels and a large sandy beach. There’s a beachfront complex with a restaurant, walk-up cafe, showers, restrooms, surf schools, and equipment rentals. If you’re a hiker, staying near Ribeira is also a great location because there are sea-view trails on the cliffs that will take you all the way up the coast. 

Ribeira is more rural than the village, and there are some great guest houses and surf camps nearby. On our first visit to Ericeira, we stayed at the Beachouse Guest House in Ribeira and loved it! It was the perfect balance of countryside quiet while still being close to the ocean, and I loved drinking coffee on my balcony each morning with a view of the valley. 

My partner could walk to surf and we could easily drive into town for dinner when we wanted. That said, I’d strongly recommend having a car if you stay here. You can walk to town–there’s a well-maintained sidewalk the whole way–but it’s a 30-40 minute walk and quite hilly. 

Staying near Ribeira D’Ilhas

• Pros: Close to surf and beach amenities at Ribeira D’ilhas beach, great for all levels of surfers and hikers, quiet and beautiful countryside feel 
• Cons: You’ll need a car since it’s a long and hilly walk to town, not within walking distance of restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and amenities
• Highly-rated accommodation in the area: Beachouse Guest House (we LOVED this place! Can’t say enough good things about it if you’re staying in Ribeira) 

Ribamar 

Ribamar is north of Ribeira D’ilhas and about a 10-minute drive north of Ericeira town (depending on the traffic). It’s a quiet area on beautiful cliffs with a small market and a few restaurants and bars, but the natural beauty is really the showstopper here. 

In general, I would recommend Ribamar if you’re looking for lots of peace and quiet, or absolutely giant waves. Here you’ll find the Coxos surf break, which is regarded as one of the best waves in Europe. You should definitely have a car if you’re staying here, and if you do plan to walk, be prepared for hills. That said, you can find some luxurious villas and rentals in this area, and you’re also just a stone’s throw from secluded Coxos Beach. 

Staying near Ribamar

• Pros: Amazing sea views, peace and quiet, close to Coxos beach and Coxos surf break
• Cons: Might be too remote for some, a bit of a drive to get to the village, fewer amenities than Ericeira town
• Hotel: Immerso, Gundi House

Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, in the next sections, we’ll go more in-depth on the best hotels, hostels, and guesthouses.