Ericeira is a parish and a fishing and seaside resort town in the west coast of Portugal, in the municipality of Mafra, about 35km northwest from the center of Lisbon. Its name originates from Ouriceira, which derives from Ouriço, the Portuguese name for a sea urchin, like the one on the coat of arms.
The Ribeira d'Ilhas beach which routinely hosts a World Surf Championship round and which is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in Europe for the practice of this sport is located 2 km to the north of the city. It is a popular destination for holidaymakers and amateur surfers as there are over 40 surf beaches in the area.