A Stroll Around Ericeira
Our Favorite Way to Experience the Ericeira Town Centre
The best way to experience Ericeira town is to just stroll around without any plan or fixed destination. Inhale the smell of grilled fish, try spotting the most beautiful azulejos (Portuguese tiles) and take some pictures of laundry put out to dry.
Ericeira town has many charming cobblestone alleys, white and blue houses, and small plazas (praça in Portuguese) to be discovered. Many of the streets lead to the ocean, so you will always find your way back to the big blue Atlantic.
There are also plenty of beautiful old fountains around the town of Ericeira. And some of them you can still get water from. Try to look for the Fountain of São Pedro and the Dolphin Fountain on your stroll around Ericeira.
The Heart of the Ericeira Town Centre
Praça da República is the heart of the old town of Ericeira. Cafes and shops surround the open, tree lined square. There are always lots of commotion here. Kids playing with whatever toy is in season, and the older population gathering for a chat on the benches.
Most people also make a stop at Pão da Villa for coffee and something sweet. The outdoor tables of the cafe are perfect for soaking up sunshine and people watching.
Praia dos Pescadores
For your walk around Ericeira town we especially recommend starting above Praia dos Pescadores. It was at this beach that Manuel II of Portugal went to exile because of the 5 October revolution 1910. A fisherman took the royal family out to the waiting royal yacht and they fled to Brazil. This historical event marks the beginning of the republican period in Portuguese history.
Standing above Praia dos Pescadores you have a great view along the coast. If you are interested in fishing, you can walk down to the fishing harbor and check out what the fishermen are up to. According to rumors you can even buy fresh fish directly from the fishermen if you are up early enough.
From Pescadores we recommend a walk along the ocean to Praia do Sul. Pass Hotel Vila Gale and have a drink at one of our favorite cafes, Baia do Sul, just at the beginning of Praia do Sul. This cafe is perfect for reading or writing while you keep an eye on the waves.
The Cultural Heart of the Ericeira Town Centre
On your way back to Praia dos Pescadores stop at the town library. It’s a big beautiful building and the cultural heart of Ericeira. On the second floor of the library we recommend stepping out onto the big ocean facing balcony.
Except for books, the library also hosts art exhibitions and a yearly surf film festival as well as other cultural events. Check out their Facebook page if you want to know more.
Chapels to Visit
We also recommend walking the opposite direction. Start at Praia do Pescadores and walk, zigzagging your way forward, to the Capela de São Sebastião. Make sure you go more inland and get lost in the many narrow cobble stoned streets.
The Chapel of Santa Marta Ericeira is a good stop on your way. The construction process of the church as it stands today started 1760. But there was an earlier church in the same place, dating back to 1484.
The Largo de Sao Sebastião viewpoint is another great viewpoint for watching the ocean and the sand colored cliffs. Next to the viewpoint lies a small church, Capela de São Sebastião.
The chapel has a hexagonal shape and was built in the 17th century on the site where a ruined building with the same function already existed dating back to the 15th century. The inside of the chapel is completely covered in tiles.
Lunchtime in Ericeira
If you are wondering where to have lunch, we recommend having a look at our guide to the best restaurants in Ericeira. Ericeira is famous for great rustic seafood, big plates with plenty of garlic and olive oil. Thus a walk around the Ericeira town centre is only complete with a plate of polvo (octopus) or bacalhau (dried salted codfish). The food is one of the reasons Ericeira is so popular with the people from Lisbon. They come here to enjoy the cuisine together with the splendid ocean view.
If you want to combine your walk around the town of Ericeira with some shopping, I recommend reading my Ericeira shopping guide.
For the best Ericeira by night experiences, I recommend my brothers guide to the Ericeira nightlife. He knows where the party is.
The culture that comes from being a small old fishing village mixed by modern surf culture gives Ericeira town its own unique charm. That’s why we love this place and so will you after walking around for a couple of hours.