This traditional fishing village has a lot more to offer these days than just fish. Although without the ocean, it would by a sleepy town. It's a favorite spot for surfers, travelers, influencers and digital nomads. I visited this place several times, it has a certain charm and it can definitely have that relaxing vibe. The large number of people it attracts these days can have a downside. For those who haven't been her yet, here's a short description of my personal experiences.
A pleasant stop
I've seen almost every beach on the coast of Portugal by now, South and West. And I do understand why people love Ericeira. It has a lot to offer. A long stretch of good surf spots and some of them just in front of the old town. Praia do Sul, Praia da Baleia, Praia dos Pescadores, Praia de São Sebastião, Praia do Matadouro and Praia de Ribeira d'Ilhas are good spots to watch the surfers and to dive in with you board. Although at some moments it is way too crowded, because there are also a lot of surf schools. I am more into body boarding, so for me personally some of these spots are way too crowded. I like to sit there and watch from time to time, especially with sunsets. Or when you just ordered you take-away coffee with delicious pastry, these spots are good to chill. Talking about pastry...my all time favorite is the bakery of O Pãozinho das Marias. Why? Sometimes they have the larger version of the Pastel de Nata, called: Tarte de Nata. They sell these tartes at more locations in Portugal, but the crust at this bakery is more like we Dutchies know the crust of a good apple pie. When you get your take-away stuff, walk around the little streets of Ericiera, take your spot on a rock or at one of the many miradouro's, open the box of pastry, take a sip of your hot Galao, taste the sweetness, feel the sun shining on your face, enjoy the sound of the waves, watch the surfers and relax. This is why I love to make a stop in Ericeira from time to time. I have to mention, I only made these stops during low-season (October to March).
The crowd and moving around
Everyone wants to see Ericeira. Although the village and the surroundings can be a treat, the crowd can be overwhelming. Surfers, influencers, tourist, digital nomads etc. I could not live in a town like this during high season. Luckily I have a van...oops, temporary I don't have a van... Anyway. Ericeira is located along the main coastal road down south, it's an easy place to stop. The place is booming. Loads of bars and restaurants, nice little shops & outdoor markets, big supermarkets, co-working spaces, surf houses etc. The first time I arrived at Ericeira with the van, it was at the end of the day. I didn't even know anything about Ericeira, I just saw a cool viewspot while driving on the main road. After the stop, I saw the town looked pretty awesome. A big outdoor pool got my attention.I decided to stay here overnight. I was still the naïve vanlifer that trusted Google Maps. It sent me with my high van straight through oldtown. I managed to squeeze through the narrow streets (the Portuguese love to put their car anywhere in these streets) without hitting any low balconeis. The Park4Night spots are not recommended, you can end up on a big ugly parking lot next to a supermarket. My van is just 5 meters long, so for me it's easy to park on a normal parking lot. I found a nice spot next in front of the ocean, between some old cannons...in the middle of oldtown. Amazing views. Around that time there were no restrictions and during all my visits I stayed overnight at the same spot. The views on the oldtown, the beaches, strolling along the cliffs and stopping at little bars. Drinking a Port...hmmm. And what about in the early morning when you wake up? You can just walk to the beach and say 'Hi' to the locals fishermen. Dip in the ocean and enjoy another Galao on the way back.
Let's go!
It's sounds attractive right? Today I was not planning to write a post about Ericeira at all. I just found some pictures while cleaning up files and wanted to write about looking forward to future roadtrips. I was with my mind into vanlife again after recents posts of my vanlife-on-hive friends 
As soon as the van is recovered, new roadtrips will follow. Dozens of plans: Scandinavia, Italy, Morocco, Balkan, Turkey and even Asia are just a few ideas for a roadtrip. I love Portugal and I might live there one day. Let's see what the future brings. Do you have a van / 4x4 / camper / tent? What's your plan for the next destination?