Picturesque Ericeira is a former fishing village sitting atop dramatic cliffs, with stunning beaches below and some of the best waves in the world along its coast. An abundance of trendy cafes, fabulous seafood restaurants and great-value accommodation options have opened up here in recent years, transforming it into a super-cool surfer town with an ultra-relaxed, boho vibe. And You and the Sea captures this perfectly.
"Hello, good lookin’!” Cheeky messages and colourful murals of sea creatures greet us everywhere: on the garage floor, the elevator mirror, the hallway walls, and even on our slippers. The hotel feels contemporary-cool and minimalist, and boasts stunning sea views. There's a multi-tiered pool deck tucked away behind the hedges and an indoor pool that opens onto the garden; perfect to watch the sunset and relax after an activity-filled day in or on the water. The apartments range in size from one to four bedrooms, each with smart, pared-back design and splashes of turquoise blue to match the seaside surroundings. We were in the mood for some pampering on our visit, and the sauna and heavenly deep tissue massage hit just the right spot. A delicious dinner of red berry mocktails and crab tacos later, and we schlepped our tired bodies back to our apartment, and fell asleep the moment our heads hit the pillows.
As the hotel's quirky name implies, this is a stylish seaside experience with a playful, personal touch. Active couples, families, and groups of friends will adore it.
Highs
- Fantastic seaside location with stunning views
- Hip and funky décor in the common areas; calm and minimalist in the apartments
- Super-spacious, well-kitted out and spotlessly clean apartments that come in various sizes and have kitchens for self-catering - ideal for families
- A welcome WhatsApp with insider haunts and other useful tips
- Cool, unpretentious Ericeira was Europe's first designated World Surfing Reserve thanks to seven different wave varieties for all abilities - so make sure you give it a go!
Lows
- Parking in the garage is a bit tedious (you need to get out of the car to ring the bell)
- Some apartments don't have sea views - request one that does if you can
- Only a few of the apartments have bathtubs
- Vegan options are very limited at the restaurant - surprising for such a hip place
- Boutique Apart-hotel
- 36 apartments
- Restaurant and bar
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pools
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Bicycles Available
- Laundry Service
Rooms
The hotel has 36 apartments, ranging from studio to four bedrooms. All apartments are exceptionally spacious and bright with minimalist décor, light wooden floors, white walls, subtle turquoise-blue accents, beach-themed art and cheeky quotes (“No crabby attitudes!”). All have super comfy beds and well kitted-out kitchens, including a washing machine, a dishwasher and a coffee machine. The pinboard with a personalised welcome message, WiFi access info, upcoming activities and events etc. was a great touch.
Bathrooms are equally clean-lined, and most are showers-only (some of the larger apartments also have bathtubs), with fluffy bathrobes and slippers. Some apartments also have balconies or terraces. Treat yourself to a sea view apartment if you can - the ocean vistas are truly spectacular.
We loved the large beach bags and blankets that we could take along on our daily outings - and the pretty canvas bags that were ours to keep.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea making
- Fireplace
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Mosquito net
- Radio
- Safe box
- TV
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
Ultra-instagrammable, the relaxed on-site eatery, Jangada, has an open kitchen, funky décor and fantastic sea views.
Breakfast is a delicious buffet featuring the usual suspects: croissants, cereal, yoghurts and jams, plus egg dishes and fresh juices.
For lunch and dinner, it’s an eclectic mix of modern takes on traditional Portuguese dishes, Italian wood-oven pizzas and inventive fusion fare, with a focus on local produce. We loved our roasted cauliflower with sweet potatoes, Kenyan beans, Azores cheese, pickles and almonds, and the crab taco with yoghurt sauce and coriander salad. Our cocktails were out of this world and beautifully presented in large vintage jars.
Heading out for the day? The hotel can prepare a picnic basket for you, or there are many excellent seafood restaurants nearby.
If you don’t want to leave your apartment, cook your own meal in the well kitted-out kitchen (there are several supermarkets nearby), or order room service. Note that the coffee machine capsules incur a small additional charge.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Coffee maker
- Dishwasher
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Microwave
- Oven
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Toaster
Activities
- Laze by the pool or soak up some rays on the beach (Praia do Sol).
- This is surfer-central - so get on that board! Lessons for all abilities are available through the hotel - just ask for details.
- Not a surfer? Try stand-up paddleboarding or body boarding instead.
- Rent a bike at the hotel and pedal into town or explore the coast.
- Drop off the kids in the playroom and then go for a steam bath followed by a heavenly massage at the spa - our treatments were sensational.
- Join a yoga class at the hotel; there are also several yoga studios in Ericeira.
- Enjoy the sunset, then go for a drink along Rua de Misericórdia.
- For a change of scenery, check out pretty Óbidos, with its medieval castle, whitewashed houses and cobbled alleys.
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Nightlife
- SUP
- Surfing
- Well being
- Windsurfing
- Yoga
Best Time to go
The summer months can get very hot. Spring and autumn are warm and sunny, with cooler nights - and much less crowded. For surfers, May to November is best. Sumol Summer Fest takes place in July - a popular hip-hop and dance music festival.
Our Top Tips
Don’t miss the “Watch out for freak waves sign” on the promenade to avoid the “Ericeira baptism” and the ensuing hurried change into dry clothes back at the hotel - particularly unpleasant in chilly November.
Make Ericeira your relaxed holiday base. Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril and Obidós can all be covered on day trips from here.
Make Ericeira your relaxed holiday base. Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril and Obidós can all be covered on day trips from here.
Location
You and the Sea is located in the seaside town of Ericeira, 50km northwest of Lisbon.
By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport is 42km away and is served by flights from across Europe and beyond.
From the Airport:
You could get an Uber, but we recommend self-driving so you can explore the area. See our car rental recommendations.
By Bus:
Buses run every 90 minutes from Lisbon’s bus terminal Campo Grande between 8am and 11pm and take around 75 minutes.
Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.
Airports:
- Lisbon Portela 42.0 km LIS
Other:
- Beach 0.2 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 6 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape