Is Ericeira safe?
Very safe. Dangers are the sea, with rip currents and powerful winter swells, and occasional theft from parked cars at beaches.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-03-02.
- Homicide rate in Portugal: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Portugal: 8.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Ericeira at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Low; opportunistic theft from cars and beach bags in summer, and occasional drunken noise in the centre at weekends. |
| At night | Quiet and safe; a few bars stay open until 2 am. Bus service ends early and rides are scarce, so arrange your return. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Surf camps and the small town make meeting people easy; normal care on empty beaches at night. |
| Other risks | Rip currents and large winter swells; Rocky reef breaks; Cold Atlantic water even in summer |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake rental listings asking a deposit before viewing
Take care
- Surf breaks like Ribeira d'Ilhas in big swell: strong currents and rocks
- Cliff edges near the coastal viewpoints
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Personal drug use is decriminalised, not legal; police can fine you, and dealing or smuggling means prison.
- Sleeping overnight in campervans or tents outside authorised sites is banned and fined.
- Albufeira fines anti-social behaviour in public €150–1,800 under its code of conduct.
How Ericeira compares in Portugal
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Madeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cascais | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Azores | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ericeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Coimbra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Douro Valley | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Évora | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Braga | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Aveiro | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Silver Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tavira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lisbon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Porto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Algarve | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sintra | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lagos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Albufeira | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Faro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nazaré | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Ericeira safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Surf camps and the small town make meeting people easy; normal care on empty beaches at night.
Is Ericeira safe at night?
Quiet and safe; a few bars stay open until 2 am. Bus service ends early and rides are scarce, so arrange your return.
What is the crime rate in Ericeira?
Low; opportunistic theft from cars and beach bags in summer, and occasional drunken noise in the centre at weekends. Nationally, Portugal records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Ericeira?
Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Ericeira
Going to Ericeira solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Ericeira meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Save The Waves: Ericeira World Surfing Reserve
- Mafrense (bus)
- Câmara Municipal de Mafra
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.