Praia do Norte.

Praia do Norte sits a short walk from Ericeira's town centre and earns its reputation as one of the area's most dependable setups. The break runs over an uneven mix of reef and sand, producing peaks across a wide stretch of shoreline. The defining feature is a right-hander at the northern end of the beach, which can run to considerable length but tends to section out rather than offering wall-to-wall connections. When conditions align, a left breaks further up the beach, and additional peaks form toward the harbour wall, giving intermediates room to spread out. The swell window is unusually generous - the spot absorbs swells from SW through N and handles size from around 0.9m up to 3.7m without shutting down, making it a go-to option when other breaks in the reserve either close out or go flat. An easterly offshore cleans up the face and is the ideal wind. Mid to high tide is preferred; the wave runs at a medium pace rather than going critical, which suits surfers building experience on reef-and-sand setups. Being so close to town means the lineup fills quickly whenever conditions are good. Surf schools operate here and beginners often use the softer inside sections, though the primary peaks are firmly intermediate territory. The harbour wall at the south end is a useful landmark for timing entry.