According to CNN, Ericeira is one of the best towns to surf.
“Crowd: European second home owners, travelers who’ve already “done” Spain and Greece, Portuguese fishermen and international surf champs.
Claim to fame: One of Europe’s top surfing destinations and a regular host of the World Surf Championship.
Half an hour from Lisbon, the cobblestone streets and sun-bleached homes of this traditional fishing village border one of the sweetest, wave-battered beachfronts on either side of the Atlantic.
Ericeira isn’t exactly a secret these days — especially during July and August when a decent portion of Europe’s forever-young crowd congregates here to work on their tan, gorge on fresh lobster, party at Ouriço (Portugal’s second-oldest disco) and catch waves.
Above all, squeezing into this oceanside town (or coming a little earlier or later in the warm season) lets you experience the perfect barrels of Ribeira d’Ilhas Beach, the area’s best known break, just north of town, which hosts 3.6-meter (12 feet) swells and international surfing championships.
Novices can head about a mile south of town to Foz de Lizandro Beach for a milder break, where local outfitters like Rapture Surf Camp offer lessons.
Most upscale seaside hotels in the area are downcoast in nearby Cascais and Estoril, but a scenic exception in town is Vila Gale Ericeira, located on a rise above Ericeira Beach and equipped with the town’s best spa.
After a day on these waves, you may need one.”
