Piscinas Municipais da Ericeira

Ericeira is known for surfing, and for sea that is often too big or too cold for young children. The town’s indoor pool, the Piscinas Municipais da Ericeira, is run by Mafra council (Câmara Municipal de Mafra) on Rua Alto da Camacha. The council describes it as mainly a place for swimming lessons, aqua-gym and baby swimming, with a group-exercise room, a gym and the Ericeira primary school’s sports hall used for other classes.

The main pool is 25 metres long. For a visiting family, the most useful thing it offers is lane swimming for older children and adults. For families who live here, it’s the swimming school.

On the 2026/27 timetable, lane swimming (natação livre desportiva) is open for long stretches of the day:

• Monday: 14:00 to 21:30.
• Tuesday to Friday: 07:30 to 21:30.
• Saturday: 08:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00.

It is only for swimmers over 10, and everyone must pass a swimming test first. You don’t need a user card, but entry depends on the office’s opening hours and on space: the free lane takes up to 12 people. Mafra’s 2026/27 price leaflet gives lane swimming as €7 an hour for non-residents and €5 for residents of the municipality of Mafra. A ten-visit card costs €42 or €32 and lasts six months. The leaflet lists municipal pool use as needing advance booking, so phone ahead in busy periods.

If your children are under 10, the pool is for lessons only. On a hot day, Mafra council’s outdoor summer pools at the Mafra municipal sports park take families with children of every age.

Ericeira follows the same swimming school programme as Mafra’s other council pools, with levels named after sea creatures. Baby classes (Lapas, Búzios and Estrelas do Mar) are for babies from 6 months to 3 years, with a parent in the water. On the 2026/27 timetable they run on weekday afternoons from about 16:30 to 17:45 and on Saturday mornings. Baby classes last 30 minutes.

Older children move through Tartarugas (from 3), Focas, Golfinhos and Tubarões, the water-confidence groups, and then Levels 1 to 3, which teach the four strokes to children aged 8 to 16. These classes last 45 minutes. Most children’s groups meet on weekday late afternoons and evenings, between about 16:45 and 20:00, and there are several on Saturday.

Monthly fees on the 2026/27 list are €35 for non-residents (€26 residents) for one class a week, rising with each extra weekly class. Mafra residents get family discounts of 10%, 15% and 20% for further family members. A trial class costs €8. Enrol at one of the council’s sports desks.

The pool building also hosts classes that suit siblings while one child swims. On the 2026/27 timetable:

• Classical dance for ages 3 to 5, 6 to 10 and 11 to 18.
• Hip hop for 6 to 12-year-olds, and an advanced group for over-12s.
• Pilates for 9 to 16-year-olds.

In the sports hall, the council runs motor-skills classes for ages 3 to 6, gymnastics from age 6, karate for under-16s and mini-volleyball for 9 to 13-year-olds.

The timetable’s rules for pool activities make a swim cap, a Lycra swimsuit or swimming trunks and flip-flops compulsory, and recommend goggles. Lane swimmers must be able to swim. The desk sells caps for €3 and padlocks for €3.

Ericeira Surf Clube teaches children to surf on the town’s beaches. Inland, the Palácio Nacional de Mafra and the deer park at the Tapada Nacional de Mafra are short drives away.

Can a family just go for a swim at Ericeira pool?

Only swimmers over 10 can use lane swimming, after a test. Younger children swim in classes.

How much is a swim?

€7 an hour for non-residents and €5 for Mafra residents on the 2026/27 price list.

From what age are baby classes?

From 6 months, with a parent in the water.

Do we need a swim cap?

Yes. A cap, proper swimwear and flip-flops are compulsory.