Praia do Sul

Praia do Sul (South Beach) is the closest large sandy beach to Ericeira's town center, sitting just below the Outsite coliving space and the southern cliffs. It's less famous than Praia dos Pescadores but actually bigger and better for a full beach day.

The sand is golden and the beach is framed by rocky headlands that provide some shelter from the prevailing north wind. At low tide, natural rock pools form on the southern end - perfect for kids to explore and for anyone who wants a dip without dealing with waves.

Swimming is generally good here, with moderate conditions and a sandy bottom. The waves can pick up on bigger swell days, but it's usually calmer than the exposed breaks further north.

The beach is popular with locals - especially young families and the after-work crowd who come down for a late afternoon swim. It feels more authentically Ericeira than the surf-tourist spots.

Access is easy - stairs from the cliff-top road, with showers and a changing area. There's no beach bar directly on the sand, but several restaurants and cafés are within a 2-minute walk at cliff level.

Tip: At very low tide, you can walk south along the rocks to explore tide pools and small coves. Bring water shoes - the rocks are slippery.