Cascais vs Ericeira: Which is Better for Learning to Surf?

David Moore
hace 5 días
4 min de lectura

I hear a lot of people comparing both locations and there is no single right answer, because it really depends on what kind of trip you are looking for. I have been surfing both coastlines for a long time here is my honest opinion about it with some interesting facts!

First, a bit of context

Both are incredible surf destinations. Both are close to Lisbon. Both have consistent Atlantic swells, experienced coaches, and that Portuguese coastline that makes you want to stay forever.

They are, though, very different experiences, especially if you're learning to surf for the first time or coming back after a few years away.

Ericeira: world-class, but built for experienced surfers

Ericeira is a UNESCO World Surfing Reserve, one of only a handful in the world. That title is fully deserved. Ribeira d'Ilhas, Coxos, Pedra Branca are some of the best reef and point breaks in Europe. If you surf well, Ericeira is a special place.

When it comes to beach breaks, the sandy, more forgiving kind that are actually suitable for learning, Ericeira only has two: Foz do Lizandro to the north of town, and São Juliao to the south. Both face northwest and very exposed to the north swells (big in the winter) and north winds (very strong in the summer months).

They are also heavily dependent on good sandbars that shift with every storm. After a rough spell, Foz do Lizandro in particular can spend weeks with no real shape: messy, unpredictable, not great for anyone. And when those two spots are not working, there is no real alternative for a beginner or intermediate. You are either surfing reef or waiting.

Cascais: two coastlines, no flat days

The Cascais area faces two completely different directions and that combination is what makes it genuinely different.

On the northwest side, Guincho is our summer Plan A. One of the most consistent beaches in the area, beautiful, and despite its reputation for wind it delivers good waves for all levels on most summer days. A few minutes away, Praia Pequena & Praia Grande (just over the Sintra hills) are a bonus: super consistent, always wave and, by some geographical quirk or micro climate, sheltered from the north wind even though they face west-northwest (just like Guincho). Sweatshirt weather, but always surfable.

Then there is the other side - The offshore and protected side :)

The south-facing coastline: Carcavelos and the surrounding beaches are where we teach most of our lessons, especially from October through May. It faces south-southwest, which means it is protected from the dominant north winds and the big winter swells. The waves are readable, the conditions are calm, and on good days it can go from beginner-friendly to genuinely world-class. It is less cold than the northwest side. It is where people actually learn.

When Carcavelos its still a bit too big and because we are obsessed with perfect little green waves to our students, we have Torre Beach. This one is even more protected than Carcavelos, because of this huge and beautiful fortress, built in the 16th century to protect the Teja River entrance that starts just there.

The result of having both coastlines: there are no flat days. When one side is too big, too rough or not working, the other side is. We always have somewhere to go and we carefully choose everyday where the best conditions are and we are teaching that day. That flexibility simply does not exist in Ericeira.

One more thing: the sun ☀️

If you know the Sintra area, you will know the "capacete", the thick cloud cover that sits over the Serra de Sintra and stretches north along the coast, often all the way up to Figueira da Foz. It is a real microclimate phenomenon. You can have grey skies and mist in Ericeira on days when the rest of the region is perfectly sunny.

Cascais sits south of Sintra and mostly escapes it. It is one of the sunniest spots on the Lisbon coast and when you are spending a week here, that matters to the whole experience, not just the surfing.

So -- which one?

If you are an experienced surfer who wants world-class waves and to be fully immersed in surf culture: Ericeira. Go. It has earned its reputation.

If you are learning, building confidence, or want consistent conditions all year-round: Cascais. Two coastlines, no flat days, and a protected south-facing stretch that most visitors do not even know exists. An honest conclusion is, if you can do both, do both. They are less than an hour apart.

If you want to know more about the specific spots we use, there is a full breakdown here: surfcascais.com/post/cascais-surf-spots

Or just drop us a message -- happy to help figure out what works for you.

See you in the water 🌊

-- David, Founder

Thinking about a surf trip to Cascais?