Ericeira 101: A Guide for New Families Moving to Ericeira, Portugal

So, our new neighbors just rolled into town with curiosity in tow, and they’re all about kids, meetups, and mastering the Ericeira way of life. Ericeira, that charming little fisherman’s village in Portugal, is a magnet for families and nomads alike. If you want the full scoop on why we packed our bags and landed here, check out my previous post. But if you’ve already made the leap and find yourself here, I’ve whipped up this handy guide to help you settle in with ease. 🙌 Welcome to the neighborhood!!

How do I stay updated with things that are happening?

First things first, how do you keep your finger on the pulse of all things Ericeira? Well, my friend, it’s all about the basics. Ericeira boasts a plethora of Facebook and WhatsApp groups dedicated to its lovely residents. I’ve whipped up an EXCEL sheet (I know, very old school, I like excel sheets and order), which you can find right here, along with those vital WhatsApp groups. It’s all out in the open, so don’t hesitate to throw in any groups you stumble upon during your Ericeira adventure that aren’t already on the list. Let’s keep the community vibe alive and buzzing!

LIST OF ERICEIRA WHATSAPP GROUPS

Then, sign up to receive a newsletter here. This is literally one of the best places to be updated and not get lost in the information exchange.

What do I do with my kids?

In Ericeira, you’ve got plenty of schooling choices, both public and private. Whether you’re a fan of the usual school setup or prefer something a bit more unique, you’re covered. I won’t tell you which one’s best because that’s really up to what you want for your kids and how you think it’ll help them in the long run. But here’s a quick rundown of some private and alternative options you can check out:

• Daycares (Creches): Besides the public options, you can actually find several private small self-organized creche groups by parents. Search and ask in the whatsapp groups. Recently a new private initiative opened called “Seedlings” — also some people have gone for options in Sintra/ Colares. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for more alternative paths.
• Private Preschools (Jardins de Infância): We found several great options that are worth checking out if you’re looking for more alternative approaches for your children : Enraizar, Raizes, Projeto Naterra, Bosque da Alegria em Mafra, Humans — a new Montessori space, and Quinta da Pedra. We know parents that have their kids (and are very happy about it) at Enraizar (democratic approach), Raizes (forest school, very small and tight group), and Quinta da Pedra (mix of Waldorf & other approaches). Our own children are going to Quinta da Pedra, which is ideal for us — Claudia has been running the place for 20 years, and was the one who founded the first homeschooling association in Portugal. She has a background as a psychologist and works with a system called “Bodynamic”. She created the place many years ago for her own children. It is a beautiful and safe little oasis with children from approx 1.5 yo (there are 2 of them right now) till 17. This place does not have a digital presence. Many places actually don’t have a very strong presence — so go beyond the regular google search and ask around!
• Primary and Secondary Schools (Escolas Particulares): There are many different ones. Enraizar is quite popular here amongst the expats, if you need a more traditional approach there is an international school in Torres Vedras, besides the public schools in Ericeira and Mafra. I also know that a group of parents are working on a new school.

All of the places mentioned are very different in their approaches, and some have quite long waiting lists — so — if you’re considering any of them, reach out and arrange a visit so you can decide from there. For those that are into homeschooling there is an active and growing Whatsapp group with weekly meetups.

Besides this Maud arranges excellent weekend art-workshops for children. She also just opened up her space as a cafe and a meetup place. This is a good place to meet and connect with other parents. Also there is a teen meetup group worth joining if you’ve got teenagers.

For the kids there are multiple parks — as well as really great beaches, and activities they can go to. At the Public Swimmingpool they can sign up for swimming, ballet and gym classes. At Urban Park in Mafra there are also gym classes for the kids as well as many other activtities. There’s even a musical school, but we didn’t try it out yet.

How do I find new friends?

Try joining for breakfast at Vizinha on a Sunday. It’s a hot favorite among the local expat crew, and rumor has it they whip up some of the town’s most delectable chocolate croissants ;) (and the baker working there happens to have been working at the most exclusive bakery in Copenhagen!).

If the weather is great — Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas is a very popular spot to hang out at with the kids (you can bring their bikes with you as there is a great area for that).

Praia do Sul is a must-be place when the tide is low for small children. The place next to the hotel turns into a small pool area and you can see starfish and find crabs. Very friendly. During the winter months its also a great place to sit and watch sunsets.

Foz do Lizandro is at first glance an epic place for children — but beware — there is a sewage treatment plant higher up the river, and, the amount of bacteria the river has from it gets so high during the summer season that it often causes diarrhea and other sicknesses to people swimming there. Being one of the six “blue flag” beaches in Ericeira, a scientist rep diligently tests there every day, even over the winter. Every day a flag is posted whose color represents the safety levels of the river and ocean. Green means it is safe, and red means don’t swim. This goes for all 6 of the beaches — please check the flags before you go swimming!

Now, if the skies are feeling a bit weepy, consider a trip to the indoor bouldering haven — perfect for quality time with the kids, by the way, and also a great place to meet new people. There are some other groups for those that are into climbing — we often arrange outings with other families so we can go with the kids and spend the day out.

For all you savvy entrepreneurs out there, don’t miss MetaCollective’s monthly coffee meetups (join Whatsapp group). It’s the go-to place if you’re eager to rub shoulders with like-minded folks and catch a glimpse of what’s brewing in this vibrant community. And if you’re in the market for a workspace that won’t cost you a dime, Surfshop 58 and Balagan (look for the round table at the end) have got your back.

If you just arrived — I can recommend going on a hike with the Good Vibes Day Out. It’s for free and specifically made to make connections and create meaningful conversation. Or join the Lucky Dip early morning swimmers — they go swimming every morning at 8:30AM at the protected sea pool below Villa Gale Hotel on Praia do Baleia (check out whatsapp group). The people that go are really nice and its a perfect place to connect.

If you love working out — every Tuesday and Friday at 10AM — several ladies are meeting up and working out at Surfshop 58 (it’s free and self-organized). Join the group on Whatsapp to know more.

Another project that I’m really excited about is Green Elbows — a community garden starting this spring. We joined last year— it’s a year long project where you get a plot of land and all tools and materials necessary for growing a beautiful vegetable (or flower) garden — while doing it with other families and having community dinners and what not. For someone like I who has been dreaming about having my own garden, yet have zero experience with it, this is really a perfect way to start.

Also do check the local celebrations calendar. Ericeira (as Portugal overall) has a lot of local traditional celebrations. As an example on November 1st, there is a big celebration in town — the streets are filled with children in Ribamar from 10AM — where they then walk around and receive sweets from all the people living there (celebration of All Saints Day). Then there is the Sant’Ana annual festival which is like an epic October-fest celebration. Tickets sell out within a few hours — definitely worth attending. 💪

Where do I go if I have a medical emergency?

• Centro do saude Mafra — if things are not too urgent
• Beatriz Angelo Public Hospital- if things are pretty serious
• CUT Torres Vedras

There are many options of there — ask around in the groups if you need specific recommendations.

Random stuff I think you need to know

Ah, the winter months in Ericeira, where you’ll soon discover the urgent need for a dehumidifier. If you don’t have one already, go ahead and invest in this nifty gadget. Heck, get one or more, depending on your space; mold around here spreads faster than gossip at a family reunion. You see, coming from Copenhagen, I thought I’d seen it all, but oh boy, Ericeira had a few tricks up its sleeve! Especially beware of your mattresses and clothes stored away in closets.

Now, let’s talk about dehumidifiers — don’t assume the priciest one is your knight in shining armor. We went for one of the cheaper models, and it’s practically filling up several times during the day. As I am writing this article it is 1PM and it just got filled. We also have a fancy expensive one, but unfortunately it’s much weaker. Anyways, main point is that on a rainy day you need these to be up and running.

And then there’s the perplexing housing conundrum. Airbnb isn’t working well here. Back in the days it used to be this great platform where you could find hidden gems — today it is mainly managed by larger rental companies. It’s quite expensive — especially because you need a license in order to be able to get a listing there nowadays and those are not necessarily easy to get. Anyways, my best advice would be to keep an eye on FB groups (there are several), and then ask internally on the whatsapp groups. People often share flats and rooms there — even for short term options. But, let’s be real — Ericeira isn’t exactly the town of thriftiness anymore. Case in point: I met a family who used to rent our current house. Five years ago, they paid 600 euros. Today, we’re shelling out 1800 EUR (for a three-bedroom palace in Ericeira, mind you). Remember to search for a place when the tourist season is over (September onwards or from October till May).

Also, when folks say they live in Ericeira, they might actually be chilling in Santa Cruz or some far-flung hamlet. If you’ve got wheels, consider venturing beyond Ericeira’s city limits as there you might be able to find something way more budget friendly.. But if not, be warned, you probably need one to get around here. Renting is not easy, but again, the local expat community may offer something. Check out this group: Ericeira Area Room & House Rental Find & Seek.

BTW I’ve stumbled upon these gems right here, and they’re practically essential if you’ve got kids or just have a knack for those accident-prone moments:

Arnidol — a gel stick made out of arnica. This is perfect if you get a bump on your head or a smaller scratch. I’ve seen this thing do magic. Best thing is that you can use it on kids from when they are 3 months.

Bacitracina — It is not as natural as the one above (it is antibiotics and retinol), but it is perfect if you get a bite, or something a little more intense. It helps the healing process as well. Not for babies though!

Well, this is it for now! Feel welcome to connect — you can find me here.