Surfing in Ericeira

Ericeira is Europe's first World Surfing Reserve, a designation that formalised what surfers already knew: this short stretch of Portuguese coast north of Lisbon packs an unusual concentration of quality waves into a few kilometres. From mellow beach breaks to the serious reefs of Ribeira d'Ilhas and Coxos, the variety is the point — there's a wave here for a first lesson and a wave here that will test an expert.

The town itself is a whitewashed fishing village turned relaxed surf hub — cheap, easy to base yourself in, with schools everywhere for beginners and consistent Atlantic swell feeding the reefs for those well past that stage. You can chase the right spot for your level day to day as the conditions shift.

A 3/2 wetsuit works most of the year, and autumn brings the most reliable swell. Within an hour of Lisbon, it's one of the simplest surf trips in Europe to organise — and one of the most rewarding.

Dense cluster of surf schools, sheltered sand-bottom beaches for learning, an hour from Lisbon airport.

Take a lesson at one of Ericeira's surf schools on the sheltered beach breaks (Foz do Lizandro, Praia do Sul) — it's an hour from Lisbon airport. Progress to the reefs at Ribeira d'Ilhas and Coxos.