Things to do in Ericeira

This tour will take you to Mafra, where a world heritage famous convent-palace takes place. The National Palace of Mafra, a complex consisting of a Royal Palace, a Basilica and a Convent, was completed in 1735, by the will of King D. João V by virtue of a promise he had made on behalf of the descendants he would obtain from the queen. It was the residence of the royal family for a few years, until the king's death, but never ceased to be one of the court's favorite places. Mafra's greatest treasure is the library. Here are kept books that are unique and rare examples of knowledge produced between the 15th and 19th centuries. After visiting the palace, head to the coast and arrive at Ericeira, a pretty fishing village. Its connection to the sea is undeniable, which you can enjoy exploring its narrow streets located in the Historic Center that take us back to other times. The cliffs along the shores of Ericeira beach also give it a unique beauty, as do the fishermen's boats that bring the best and freshest fish to land that can be tasted in many of the village's restaurants. Onwards, you will travel towards the interior, to discover Queluz National Palace, not infrequently called the Portuguese Versailles. It is an 18th century palace and was built as a summer retreat. Among the various rooms and other divisions of the palace such as the throne room, music room, ambassador's room, D. Quixote's room, among others, it is here where you will find the most interesting and important historical gardens in Portugal, present the most significant set of statues by the British sculptor John Cheere, outside English territory, which gives it great importance in the international art scene.

First stop will be Azenhas do Mar, a scenic village on the coast built in the "Portuguese Soft Style". Continue along the coast, passing by steep cliffs and wild beaches. Arrive in Ericeira, a village known for its blue and white buildings, as well as its lively food scene. Enjoy free time to explore the village at your own pace and have lunch. After lunch, head to Jose Franco, a working village and open-air museum that showcases the traditional culture and handicrafts of the área. End your tour with a visit to the magnificent Palace of Mafra, a masterpiece from the eighteenth century and one of the most important buildings in the Portuguese Baroque style. The palace is home to 92 bells, 1200 rooms, and over 4,700 doors and windows. It also hosts the oldest library in Portugal with about 36,000 volumes. Enjoy a tour of the site with your dedicated guide, who will share interesting facts and stories about the monument.

Enjoy this fantastic 3-hour tour in the company through the Lizandro cliffs. A private guided mountain bike adventure across the Ericeira cliffs and its amazing coastline. A tour for all kinds of mountain bike riders, the ride is about 20km long with 300m climbing. On this tour, you'll be riding through varied scenery and terrain, from the impressive coastline cliffs of Ericeira to the rural countryside of the natural park. Expect mostly singletrack and dirt roads, with a few paved roads and great sightseeing all around. The actual route will be tweaked for your group by the guide, but expect some challenging climbs and relatively easy singletrack. Experience an adventure across one of the most beautiful natural parks and coastal landscapes in Portugal.

Uncover the beauty and flavors of the countryside surrounding Sintra on this tour in a vintage car. Take some free time to explore the cobble stone streets in the seaside village of Ericeira.  Meet your guide at the Portela de Sintra train station and sit back and relax in a stylish classic car on the drive to a hidden waterfall in the mountains. Have some time to snap some pictures before heading to a rural village.  Sit down in a picturesque country village and breathe in delicious aromas. Immerse yourself in local cuisine while taking in views of the unique landscape.  See the sights along the main street of Mafra city and admire the “Convento de Mafra” palace. Make your way to the seaside village of Ericeira, a world surf reserve. Take some free time to walk in the center of the village before returning to you meeting point in Sintra.

Your private full-day tour begins with a pick-up at your Lisbon accommodation and a drive to Mafra, where you’ll visit the Mafra National Palace. On a tour of the palace you’ll visit the library, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Mafra’s grandiose palace-monastery defies description. Ordered by King João V in 1717 to celebrate the birth of his first child, it was reputedly designed to compete in magnificence with the Spanish royal palace. The overwhelming architectural details include over 5000 doorways, 2500 windows, 880 rooms, 154 grandstaircases, 29 courtyards, and 330 monks’ cells. The two bell towers together house over 100 bells (the largest collection in the world), still played every Sunday and audible across a distance of 25 kilometers (15 miles). Tour the lavish royal apartments; visit the 11 chapels of the pink and grey marble basilica; marvel at the bizarremedical instruments in the hospital and pharmacy; and walk around the beautiful eight-square-kilometer wildlife garden, originally conceived by the King as a deer park and source of hunting, entertainment, food and firewood. Last but by no means least, save time for the mind-blowing library; adorned with marble and jacarandawood, it is one of Europe’s finest, housing over 40,000 rare volumes including the earliest edition of Homer in Greek, a trilingual bible from the early 16th century and a first edition of Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões, regarded as Portugal’s national poet. Not far from Mafra, travel back in time to the turn of the 20th century at Olaria Tipica Joao Franco (Typical Village of José Franco). This fascinating and somewhat surreal miniature working village showcases the traditional culture and handicrafts of the surrounding area, crafted using traditional techniques by renowned Portuguese potter and sculptor José Silos Franco. During the visit worth trying the bread with sausage (pão com chouriço), it is very tasty! There is also an on-site shop selling handmade pottery from around the country. The village depicts the true story of the region and undoubtedly arouses the curiosity of the many travellers of all ages that frequently pass through here. In the same space, you can also see a permanent exhibition of the ceramic works of José Franco. After this emersion in history you will go and visit the fishing village of Ericeira, take a stroll, taste the local gastronomy and get to know a bit more of its history. Ericeira is an authentic fisherman town. Here you can still see fishing boats, strong waves, and small fisherman houses. It will be the perfect place for an incredibly fresh fish lunch. In the area there is also a miniature village depicting the town's traditions. Recently, this fishing village was included in the list of the 10 “coolest small cities in Europe”. It is famous for its history, cliffs, sandy beaches, surfing, fresh seafood and fresh fish. It's the best place for fresh lunch.

Leave Lisbon behind and dive deep into the roots of Portuguese history with a private day trip. Discover the many ancient landmarks in the cities of Mafra, Ericeira, and Sintra, with the guidance of a local expert. Explore charming streets and take in panoramic mountain-top views. Enjoy a pickup from your hotel in Lisbon and drive over to Mafra. Visit the 18th-century National Palace of Mafra, a complex consisting of a royal palace, a basilica, and a convent. After your visit, arrive in the fishing village of Ericeira to stroll through its historic center and narrow streets. Travel inland to discover the city of Sintra, a World Heritage Site. End the day by discovering Pena Palace and gasp at its Romantic architecture, combined with mesmerizing views of the area from the top of the mountain.

This one-way transfer between Lisbon Airport and your hotel in the Ericeira area will take approximately 1.5 hrs and is priced for up to 3 passengers. The economical and convenient service is available both from the airport to your hotel, and from your Cascais/Estoril accommodation to the Lisbon Airport. You’ll be in safe and reliable hands with the largest transfer company operating from Lisbon Airport, with a reputation for getting clients to their destination on time and in comfort. In addition to this transfer service, the operator also offers first-class chauffeured transportation available during your stay in the Lisbon area. Vehicles for all types of occasions are available, on an hourly, daily, weekly or evenly monthly basis. You can expect a high standard of quality, and you’ll be in the capable hands of a qualified and courteous professional driver, who knows the area well.

Book a private transfer from the Lisbon Airport to your Ericeira hotel, or a departure transfer in the other direction. This one way, 45 minute service is priced for up to 3 passengers. Transfers for 1 to 3 passengers are by car and for 4 to 8 passengers by modern 8 passenger vehicle. Service is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year. On arrival at the airport, after you have collected your luggage, you will find the driver waiting in the arrivals hall holding a sign with the name of the lead traveler. From this point, all you need to do is relax and enjoy the comfortable drive to your destination in an air-conditioned vehicle. Listen to some soft music or you can ask the experienced driver about restaurants, sightseeing or other activities of interest. During your stay in Ericeira, you can also schedule private chauffeured transportation with a wide range of vehicles available.

Choose your own adventure with an expert guide and embark on an exciting day trip from Lisbon. Allow your guide to suggest the best locations and restaurants and design your journey to suit your wishes.  Perhaps make a visit to Mafra Palace, an impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a magnificent library, or discover the stunning World Surfing Reserve of Ericeira on the western coast of Portugal. Embark on a train tour through an enchanting forest or visit the charming village of José Franco. Discover delicious Portuguese cuisine along the way and customize your experience with your guide as you go.

Heading just outside of Lisbon make your first stop at Queluz National Palace and Gardens. Known as little Versailles, enjoy the opportunity to explore French style garden and a cell room of a troubled queen. Continuing northwest of Lisbon reach Ericeira, a small fishing town nowadays very famous because of the surf culture. There are only 3 surfing reserves in the world and one of them it's Ericeira. Relax and unwind as you explore the town and the coastline. Finish your tour with a stop at Mafra, a small town built in front of an 18th century Convent. This monument is also a church, a palace, a library and a garden. Discover the many charms of this impressive and unforgettable place before heading back to Lisbon.