Parque de Santa Marta

An urban park with an ocean view

Ericeira does beaches well. It does surf culture, seafood restaurants, and cobbled streets packed with weekenders from Lisbon. What it doesn't always do well is green space. Parque de Santa Marta, which opened in 2007, fills that gap with a straightforward proposition: an outdoor activity hub on the edge of town, with the Atlantic as a backdrop.

You'll find it at Largo de Santa Marta, 2655-357 Ericeira, in the upper part of the village. It's walkable from the historic centre in about ten minutes. If you're driving from Lisbon, take the A21 to Mafra (roughly 35 minutes), then follow signs to Ericeira for another 15 minutes. Parking is on surrounding streets, and fills up fast in summer.

What's inside

This is not a contemplative garden. It's an activity park, built for doing things. There's an open-air amphitheatre with sea views that hosts concerts and events in summer, and doubles as a very scenic place to sit and stare at the water the rest of the year. Tennis courts, mini-golf, a squash court, and a music room round out the facilities. For families, there's a playground that keeps younger children busy while you take a breath.

If you're after manicured hedges and quiet reflection, the Jardim do Cerco near the Mafra Palace is a better fit. Santa Marta is about trainers on your feet and a racket in your hand.

Practical tips

Entry is budget-friendly, in the single-euro range. For current hours and court availability, check directly with the Mafra municipality website, as schedules can shift with the seasons. If you want to play tennis or squash, call ahead to book, particularly on weekends.

Ericeira is windy. Even on warm days, bring a light jacket. The amphitheatre is exposed and gets cool by late afternoon. There's no real food or drink service inside the park, so pack water and snacks if you're coming with kids.

Make a day of it

A morning at Santa Marta pairs well with lunch in town. Prédio Ericeira is a reliable option away from the beachfront tourist traps. With a full day, drive 20 minutes inland to the Tapada Nacional de Mafra, a royal hunting ground turned nature reserve where deer and wild boar roam freely. Our guide to hiking the Tapada covers routes and logistics.

Visiting outside peak season? Our Mafra in March guide has suggestions for when the beaches are too cold but the region still delivers.

The verdict

Parque de Santa Marta won't end up on your Instagram highlights. It doesn't have the cliff-edge drama of Ericeira's famous surf spots or the historical weight of the Mafra Palace. But it's the kind of place that solves a real problem: what to do when you need a break from sand and salt, when the kids need to run, or when you just want to hit a tennis ball with the ocean in your peripheral vision. Practical, well-located, and honestly pleasant. In a surf town that can feel one-note in summer, that counts for a lot.