Ericeira, welcome to the bluest sea

The main street, Ericeira

It has been lovely to be here.

I never thought I would find peace here, except for the moments I would be by the sea but the true is that I found it.

Ericeira belongs to Mafra and it's about 1 hour away from Sintra. 

If you are in Cascais or anywhere on the coast between Oeiras and Cascais I would say the best is to take the train to Cascais and from the Cascais Shopping area (just below there is the bus station) get in the 417 bus (Scotturb bus company) to Sintra. In Portela de Sintra you just need to go under the train station, as there is a passage to cross to the other side where you will see a lot of bus stops. Look for the one that says Mafra (Ericeira).

If you are in Lisbon, get the metro to Campo Grande and there you will get in the bus to Ericeira.

This streets are simply cute and it can only make me feel home in a place it's not home at all. At the main square there is a little bit more movement as the locals gather in one of the benches. And...

If you want to make a stop for a pastry, please try the "Ouriços", a small cake made of almonds and I believe, by the taste of it, a lot of sugar. I have been going to the pastry O Pãozinho das Marias. It is a very cosy one, pretty much as all the places in Ericeira you feel like everything has been made with love. I feel home because I listen Portuguese around me and though there are plenty of tourists in the area this paradise is still kept with it's Portuguese beauty.

To explore Ericeira itself does not take long (maybe 1 full day or so), however every road I walked it looked like I was always finding something else. What a great place to wonder! To get lost and find yourself as I would say...

When I got here I found that there is the octopus festival going on, and I must tell you this is something not to miss! We do have plenty of dishes made with octopus that are delicious! My favorite would be Polvo à Lagareiro, but this time I tried Polvo na Telha. This must be eaten at an excellent restaurant otherwise you might not like it, as not everywhere they cook it just perfect.

I am yet to try the Ouriços, as it is a local food (something similar to caviar and I hope better!)

If you are coming to Ericeira you might surf as this is one of the World Surfing Reserves. In fact, most of the people I have met in my hostel came either to surf or to learn how to do it. The vibe here is therefore amazing!

The coast is long and from the main square, Praça da República, you can already smell the sea. There are plenty of options and the information in regards to surf it is very good. The beaches are identified accordingly to the level of difficulty and if you need some information in advance, visit the Tourist Information point where you can get a map that will also give you information about the beaches.

If you would like to learn a little bit more about the sea and surfing in this area, visit the Ericeira WSR Interpretation Centre, just on the upper level of the Tourist Information point.

I thought I should have booked the surf classes, but there is no rush. At least at this time of the year, as there are not many visitors yet. There are plenty of schools and normally at the hostels it's possible as well to book classes.

The prices vary, but in general if you book a few it can cost you between 25 to 30 euros at this time of the year.

At the main Square, Ericeira. If you would like make a stop at Marias pastry to taste the delicious cakes.

View from the Surf Cafe, main Street

Galery Wagner

In the end of the day, welcome to the bluest sea and the surf land!