Ericeira Day Trip from Lisbon: Surf, Seafood and Mafra Palace

Ericeira is a whitewashed fishing village on the cliffs north of Lisbon, painted in blue and white, with surf breaks, seafood restaurants and a relaxed, bohemian vibe. It’s Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve, but you don’t need to surf to love it. Combine it with the huge Mafra Palace for a perfect day trip from Lisbon.

Quick answer: take the Carris Metropolitana bus from Campo Grande (about 1h–1h20, €3.10 with a navegante card) or drive (about 45 minutes). Wander the old town, swim at Praia dos Pescadores, watch the surfers at Ribeira d’Ilhas, and eat seafood. Stop at Mafra Palace (€15) on the way to see its famous library.

Getting there

• Bus: Carris Metropolitana buses (the old Mafrense routes) leave from Campo Grande in Lisbon, bays 22–24. Line 2740 is the most regular (about 1h20), with faster services on some routes. About €3.10 with a navegante card on “zapping”.
• Car: about 45 minutes on the A8 and A21 (tolled). Parking can be tight in summer.
• Tour: day tours often combine Ericeira with Mafra or Sintra. See Ericeira and Mafra tours.

Things to do in Ericeira

Wander the old town

Blue-and-white houses, little squares, the Rua do Norte and cliff-top viewpoints over the fishing harbour. Look for the Jagoz (Ericeira locals) sitting in the sun outside the cafes.

Praia dos Pescadores

The sheltered harbour beach right below the town, with colourful fishing boats. The best place for a swim.

Watch (or try) the surf

Ericeira has some of Europe’s best waves. Watch the experts at Ribeira d’Ilhas, the competition break just north of town, or book a beginner lesson at Foz do Lizandro. See surfing in Portugal.

Eat seafood

Ericeira is famous for its fish and shellfish. Try clams à Bulhão Pato, grilled fish, and, if you’re brave, ouriços (sea urchins). Tik Tak is a local favourite for seafood, and Mar das Latas is great for wine and tapas with a sunset view. (Don’t confuse sea-urchin ouriços with the almond ouriço cakes from the local bakeries!)

Sunset

The clifftops face west over the Atlantic. Grab a drink and watch the sun go down.

Mafra Palace

Just 15 minutes inland, the National Palace of Mafra is one of the biggest buildings in Portugal: a palace, basilica and convent with over 1,000 rooms, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. The highlight is the magnificent rococo library, with about 36,000 books, which reopened in January 2026 after restoration. A colony of bats lives inside and eats the insects that would damage the books! Entry is €15.

Staying in Ericeira

Ericeira is a lovely base for a few days of surf and seafood, and an easy alternative to Lisbon. See places to stay in Ericeira.

More day trips

See the best day trips from Lisbon, Sintra in one day and the best beaches near Lisbon.

From our sister blog: 11 day trips from Lisbon, including secret spots on Sunset Travellers.

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