Ericeira is a white-washed town on a cliff above the Atlantic, where the streets slope to the harbour and the afternoons belong to the waves. Children here learn the names of the breaks before they learn to ride them.
Is Ericeira good for families?
Yes, for families who want a small town, a sea life and a slower pace. Ericeira has been a World Surfing Reserve since 2011, and it sits in the Mafra area north-west of Lisbon. The trade-off is school: there is no international school in the town itself, so families choose a local colégio or use a school bus.
The best things for kids in Ericeira
- Surf lessons, with local schools offering them for children, on beaches that suit beginners as well as experts.
- The old town and harbour, small enough to walk with a child on a scooter.
- The cliff-top views over the Atlantic and the beaches below.
- Mafra National Palace, nearby, with its great library, famous for the bats that live there.
- Open air all year, with the sea, the fields and the coast on the doorstep.
Who Ericeira suits
- Families who want a small-town, outdoor life by the sea.
- Parents who work remotely or can accept a longer trip to Lisbon.
- Families happy with a Portuguese or bilingual school, or who accept a school bus to an international one.
School without an international campus in town
- Local colégios and nurseries serve the town and its surroundings.
- International schools nearby: Escola Internacional de Torres Vedras (EITV) and Hypha International School in Colares both run buses from Ericeira. Both publish a bus fee on top of tuition, so compare the full cost.
- Lisbon is not next door. If you need the city often, test the journey at the hours you would travel.
Schools near Ericeira
See the schools, colégios and nurseries near Ericeira. Or compare with Lisbon, Cascais and the Algarve, or browse all schools.
