4.7.8 Ericeira
The mainly surfing oriented beach town (location HERE).
What is this seaside town about? That is answered for you on arrival at the bus terminal, where the indoor space, including waiting room, information office and toilets, is shaped like a ship, with the canopy over the bus stands shaped like a huge surfboard. It’s all about the sea, and watersports. Because Ericeira is a World Surfing Reserve.
Well out of town to the north west of Lisbon, Ericeira is just about in the Greater Lisbon Metropolitan Area, and so you can use a Navegante card loaded with credit, to use in Zapping mode. How long it takes to get there depends mainly on the bus route you choose.
Why so? The 2801, which stops just twice between Campo Grande and Ericeira, takes no more than 40 minutes for the journey. Route 2803, which takes a detour past the palace in Mafra, takes around 55 minutes. And the 2740, which serves Malveira, then makes most of the stops from there to Mafra before heading for Ericeira, takes a lot longer.
2801 schedule HERE.
2803 schedule HERE.
2740 schedule HERE.
Fewer buses operate at weekends, with the 2801 only running on weekdays.
If you can, get the 2801. All three are “rapid bus” routes which cover part of their route via the A8 and A21 motorways. Any service routing via a motorway cannot take standing passengers. Get to the termini at Campo Grande and Ericeira in good time. Campo Grande is on the Lisbon Metro - both the Linha Amarela and Linha Verde.
Having arrived at the ship’n’surfboard terminal, you can walk down to the sea front, but there are plenty of local buses, notably the 2126 Ericeira Circular, enabling you to do the five stops to Praia São Sebastião in relaxed comfort.
2126 schedule HERE. Or, at weekends, the 2123.
2123 schedule HERE.
Most of the seafront is a short walk from the bus, whichever stop you alight at. HOWEVER, one popular beach, Praia São Julião, is some way south of Ericeira. It does have a bus service - the 1633, which links Ericeira Terminal to Portela de Sintra, goes down to the beach, or at least, the big car park overlooking the beach, but not every bus does this. Check beforehand.
1633 schedule HERE.
So, what of the town? From the viewpoint provided by the paths above Praia São Sebastião, you see the two things that Ericeira is about. Down on that beach, some merely dip a toe into the sea, but anyone serious about spending time in the water wears a wetsuit. Because that is the Atlantic, and even in summer, it’s cold.
Those more serious watersports people are, inevitably, surfing. The waves are not so testing, and nothing like the mountainous swell you can see further north at Nazaré, but they are good for beginners and those who surf more occasionally. It’s good for couples and families. So on any day when it’s dry and the sun is up, there will be surfers catching waves.
Look around so your view is inland, and the second thing is on view: the slopes overlooking those beaches are just right for terrace after terrace of apartments with sea views. Some of those who live here have decided to retire to the seaside; others, especially up at the top of the hill - which is nearer to the bus terminal - will commute to Lisbon on those “Rapid Buses”, while enjoying the relative peace and quiet of the coast.
Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy the coastal walks, hopefully with the edge taken off the heat by Portugal’s west coast benefitting from the Azores High, bringing a north-northwest breeze during the summer months. Then maybe stop for a coffee break and sample the town’s very own sweet pastries.
Which are Ouriços da Ericeira. Every pastelaria in town makes their own, it seems, and all claim to be better than the competition (shades of Pastel de Nata claims back in Lisbon). Using almond pastry gives these delicate pastries a distinctive texture and flavour.
What is this seaside town about? That is answered for you on arrival at the bus terminal, where the indoor space, including waiting room, information office and toilets, is shaped like a ship, with the canopy over the bus stands shaped like a huge surfboard. It’s all about the sea, and watersports. Because Ericeira is a World Surfing Reserve.
Why so? The 2801, which stops just twice between Campo Grande and Ericeira, takes no more than 40 minutes for the journey. Route 2803, which takes a detour past the palace in Mafra, takes around 55 minutes. And the 2740, which serves Malveira, then makes most of the stops from there to Mafra before heading for Ericeira, takes a lot longer.
2801 schedule HERE.
2803 schedule HERE.
2740 schedule HERE.
Fewer buses operate at weekends, with the 2801 only running on weekdays.
If you can, get the 2801. All three are “rapid bus” routes which cover part of their route via the A8 and A21 motorways. Any service routing via a motorway cannot take standing passengers. Get to the termini at Campo Grande and Ericeira in good time. Campo Grande is on the Lisbon Metro - both the Linha Amarela and Linha Verde.
The ship'n'surfboard bus terminal
2126 schedule HERE. Or, at weekends, the 2123.
2123 schedule HERE.
Most of the seafront is a short walk from the bus, whichever stop you alight at. HOWEVER, one popular beach, Praia São Julião, is some way south of Ericeira. It does have a bus service - the 1633, which links Ericeira Terminal to Portela de Sintra, goes down to the beach, or at least, the big car park overlooking the beach, but not every bus does this. Check beforehand.
1633 schedule HERE.
Praia São Sebastião
Those more serious watersports people are, inevitably, surfing. The waves are not so testing, and nothing like the mountainous swell you can see further north at Nazaré, but they are good for beginners and those who surf more occasionally. It’s good for couples and families. So on any day when it’s dry and the sun is up, there will be surfers catching waves.
Look around so your view is inland, and the second thing is on view: the slopes overlooking those beaches are just right for terrace after terrace of apartments with sea views. Some of those who live here have decided to retire to the seaside; others, especially up at the top of the hill - which is nearer to the bus terminal - will commute to Lisbon on those “Rapid Buses”, while enjoying the relative peace and quiet of the coast.
Lots of apartments with sea view
Which are Ouriços da Ericeira. Every pastelaria in town makes their own, it seems, and all claim to be better than the competition (shades of Pastel de Nata claims back in Lisbon). Using almond pastry gives these delicate pastries a distinctive texture and flavour.
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