Madeira Island Popular Destinations

Arco de São Jorge

About Quinta do Arco in São Jorge & São Jorge Mother Church

Nestled between the lush green slopes and rugged coastline of Madeira’s north coast, Arco de São Jorge is a hidden gem that brings together natural beauty and historic charm. It is home to one of Europe’s most impressive rose gardens, alongside the striking baroque Mother Church of São Jorge.

Highlights:

✅rose garden

✅baroque mother church

✅arco de são jorge

✅world-class roses

✅north coast flora

✅botanical heritage

Cabo Girão

About Cabo Girão

Soaring 580 metres above sea level, Cabo Girão is the highest sea cliff in Europe and one of Madeira’s most iconic natural landmarks. Renowned for its dramatic drop, breathtaking vistas, and thrilling glass-floored skywalk, this viewpoint attracts nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Highlights:

✅highest cliff europe

✅cabo girão skywalk

✅glass platform madeira

✅ocean viewpoint

✅madeira attractions

✅dramatic coastal views

Calhau de São Jorge

About Calhau de São Jorge

Tucked away on Madeira’s north coast, Calhau de São Jorge is a captivating spot that weaves together natural beauty and historic memory. Nestled between cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean, this peaceful location invites visitors to explore the island’s early sugar industry while enjoying a tranquil seaside setting.

Highlights:

✅historic sugar cane ruins

✅bathing complex

✅north coast hideaway

✅scenic lagoon

✅madeira heritage

✅calhau de são jorge

Calheta

About Calheta

Stretching between the Atlantic Ocean and the island’s mountainous interior, Calheta is Madeira’s largest municipality—offering an ideal blend of golden beaches, dramatic landscapes, and authentic village charm. It’s a destination where sun, sea, and serenity meet.

Highlights:

✅largest municipality

✅artificial sandy beach

✅mountain & sea landscape

✅mild sunny climate

✅cultural hotspot

✅calheta marina

Câmara de Lobos

About Câmara de Lobos

Câmara de Lobos is a charming fishing town on Madeira’s south coast, rich in history, tradition, and Atlantic scenery. Once the landing point of João Gonçalves Zarco, this was the first inhabited settlement on the island, dating back to the early 15th century.

Highlights:

✅fishing village

✅churchill viewpoint

✅historic boats

✅first settlement madeira

✅sea lion cove

✅atlantic scenery

✅cultural heritage

Cristo Rei Viewpoint

About the Cristo Rei Viewpoint

With its exuberant biodiversity and crystal-clear waters, the Garajau Partial Natural Reserve is one of Madeira’s most enchanting spots. Nestled within this protected area lies the Cristo Rei Viewpoint, offering breathtaking views where nature reigns supreme.

Highlights:

✅cristo rei statue

✅garajau natural reserve

✅atlantic ocean view

✅madeira viewpoint

✅historic monument

✅caniço landmark

Curral das Freiras

About Curral das Freiras

Tucked deep within Madeira’s central mountains, Curral das Freiras is a unique village sheltered by dramatic peaks. Often described as a natural amphitheatre or volcanic crater, this remote parish is rich in history, culture, and natural charm.

Highlights:

✅deep valley refuge

✅chestnut culinary

✅historical nuns hideout

✅mountain environment

✅central madeira

✅castanha festival

Eira do Serrado Viewpoint

About the Eira do Serrado Viewpoint

Rising to 1,095 meters above sea level, the Eira do Serrado Viewpoint offers one of the most breathtaking mountain vistas in Madeira. From this lofty perch, visitors are treated to an awe-inspiring panoramic view over the Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley), cradled by the island’s towering central peaks.

Highlights:

✅mountain viewpoint

✅curral das freiras

✅central massif

✅dramatic valley view

✅nun’s valley

✅panoramic overlook

Fanal

About the Fanal Forestry Station

Tucked between the mountains of Seixal and Ribeira da Janela, Fanal is one of Madeira’s most magical natural sanctuaries. Known for its haunting beauty and timeless stillness, this forest area is part of the island’s Laurissilva heritage—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights:

✅ancient laurel forest

✅mystical landscape

✅til trees

✅fanal hiking

✅laurissilva madeira

✅fog forest

Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico

Sobre a Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico

Elevada a 111 metros acima do nível do mar, a Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico domina a paisagem urbana do Funchal com uma vista privilegiada sobre a baía e os arredores. Esta impressionante estrutura militar é um testemunho silencioso da história defensiva da Madeira.

Highlights:

✅historic fortress

✅funchal city view

✅17th-century defense

✅pico stronghold

✅military heritage

✅viewpoint with history

Guindaste Viewpoint

About the Guindaste Viewpoint

Suspended above the cliffs of Madeira’s north coast in the municipality of Santana, the Guindaste Viewpoint offers one of the island’s most dramatic seascapes. Set along the Foz da Ribeira do Faial, it’s a place where nature unfolds in all its wild and panoramic glory.

Highlights:

✅north coast vantage

✅penha d’água views

✅faial panorama

✅cliffside viewpoint

✅atlantic view

✅santana viewpoint

Machico

About Machico

As the historic birthplace of Madeira’s discovery, Machico is a town rich in legacy and natural beauty. This east coast municipality was the first landing site of Portuguese explorers in 1419, and today it blends heritage with a tranquil seaside atmosphere.

Highlights:

✅historic discovery site

✅machico bay

✅cultural heritage

✅east coast beaches

✅pico do facho

✅chapel of the miracles

Madalena do Mar

About the Madalena do Mar Beach

Nestled between steep rocky cliffs and the calm southern seas of Madeira, Madalena do Mar Beach is a peaceful haven for those seeking tranquility, sunshine, and coastal charm. This coastal village is also known for its vast banana plantations that stretch across the hillsides.

Highlights:

✅black sand & pebble beach

✅warm waters

✅southern coast sun

✅banana plantations nearby

✅scenic coastal walk

✅tranquil beach

Miradouro do Véu da Noiva

About the Véu da Noiva Viewpoint

One of Madeira’s most iconic natural sights, the Véu da Noiva waterfall cascades down a steep cliff into the Atlantic, resembling a delicate bridal veil. This breathtaking scene can be admired from the viewpoint located along the old road between São Vicente and Seixal.

Highlights:

✅waterfall viewpoint

✅north coast waterfall

✅bridal veil

✅scenic photo spot

✅natural landmark

✅véu da noiva

Paul da Serra

About Paul da Serra

Paul da Serra is Madeira’s only plateau, stretching across a vast high-altitude landscape that feels unlike anywhere else on the island. Located at around 1500 metres above sea level, it offers dramatic scenery, endless skies, and a gateway to some of Madeira’s most beautiful hiking trails.

Highlights:

✅mountain plateau

✅laurissilva trails

✅panoramic hikes

✅madeira hiking

✅high-altitude nature

✅unique landscape

Paul do Mar

About Paul do Mar

Tucked between towering cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean, Paul do Mar is a peaceful fishing village on Madeira’s southwest coast. Known for its strong maritime roots and golden sunsets, it’s a favorite escape for surfers, locals, and anyone drawn to the rhythm of the sea.

Highlights:

✅fishing parish

✅surf spot

✅southwest coast

✅historic maritime tradition

✅oceanfront village

✅sunset views

Pico do Areeiro

About Pico do Areeiro

Because it stands at an altitude of 1818 metres, it is one of the highest places — offering one of the best views — on the island of Madeira.

Highlights:

✅sunrise viewpoint

✅high mountain hiking

✅PR1 trail access

✅dramatic scenery

Pico do Facho Viewpoint

About the Pico do Facho Viewpoint

Overlooking the lush Machico valley, the Pico do Facho Viewpoint offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views on Madeira’s east coast. This elevated spot not only provides scenic beauty, but is also steeped in historical significance.

Highlights:

✅machico viewpoint

✅bonfire hill

✅panoramic views madeira

✅pico do facho history

✅volcanic landscape

✅east coast lookout

Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint

About the Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint

Overlooking the city of Funchal from 355 meters above sea level, the Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint is one of the most iconic urban viewpoints on Madeira. It offers a sweeping, 360-degree panorama of the city’s natural amphitheatre, the calm Atlantic waters, and the vibrant red rooftops below.

Highlights:

✅funchal city panorama

✅urban viewpoint

✅santo antónio parish

✅desertas islands view

✅landscaped terrace

✅sunset photography

Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse Viewpoint

About the Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse Viewpoint

Perched on the windswept cliffs of Madeira’s westernmost point, the Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse Viewpoint offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a peaceful, awe-inspiring location where sky, sea, and land meet in dramatic harmony.

Highlights:

✅lighthouse viewpoint

✅westernmost cape

✅dramatic ocean cliffs

✅coastal museum

✅sunset spot

✅ponta do pargo

Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint

About the Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint

Set on the easternmost tip of Madeira at Ponta de São Lourenço, the Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint offers one of the most striking panoramic vistas on the island. From this vantage point, it is possible—on clear days—to see both the north and south coasts of Madeira simultaneously, a rare and spectacular experience.

Highlights:

✅ponta de são lourenço

✅dual-coast view

✅semi-arid landscape

✅east tip viewpoint

✅sunrise spot

✅atlantic cliffs

Ponta do Sol

About Ponta do Sol

Bathed in golden light for most of the year, Ponta do Sol is Madeira’s sunniest spot. This charming coastal town, nestled between verdant cliffs and the Atlantic, is known for its picturesque beaches, traditional villages, and rich agricultural traditions.

Highlights:

✅ponta do sol beaches

✅sunniest place madeira

✅madalena do mar

✅banana plantations

✅agricultural heritage

✅sunset views

Portela Viewpoint

About the Portela Viewpoint

Where green mountains meet the vast Atlantic, the Portela Viewpoint offers one of Madeira’s most iconic panoramic scenes. Positioned along the ridge between Porto da Cruz and Machico, this high-altitude lookout provides an unforgettable glimpse into the island’s lush eastern landscape.

Highlights:

✅portela pass

✅east-north viewpoint

✅penha d’água sceneries

✅mountain & sea vistas

✅photographic spot

✅levada stop

Porto da Cruz

About the Porto da Cruz Leisure Complex

Located in the parish of Porto da Cruz, within the municipality of Machico on Madeira’s eastern coast, this charming seaside complex invites visitors to unwind by the Atlantic in a tranquil setting. Surrounded by volcanic cliffs and the sea, it's a favorite stop for both locals and travelers.

Highlights:

✅leisure complex pools

✅coastal promenade

✅sugarcane factory history

✅machico parish

✅porto da cruz rum

✅east coast swim spot

Porto Moniz

About Porto Moniz

From emerald mountains to the Atlantic shore, Porto Moniz is one of Madeira’s most iconic and scenic destinations. Nestled on the rugged northwest coast, this charming municipality is best known for its stunning volcanic natural pools, carved from black basalt and filled by the sea.

Highlights:

✅volcanic pools

✅natural swimming

✅north coast municipality

✅laurissilva trails

✅picturesque coastline

✅porto moniz viewpoint

Ribeira Brava

About Ribeira Brava

Nestled along Madeira’s sunny southwest coast, Ribeira Brava is a lush valley town known for its fertile lands, subtropical climate, and tranquil atmosphere. Its name—meaning 'wild river'—pays tribute to the once untamed stream that flows through its heart.

Highlights:

✅fertile valley

✅banana plantations

✅sunny coastal town

✅agricultural traditions

✅church of são bento

✅southwest madeira

Ribeira da Janela Viewpoint

About the Ribeira da Janela Viewpoint

Set against the raw beauty of Madeira’s north coast, the Ribeira da Janela Viewpoint offers a dramatic perspective over jagged cliffs, green slopes, and the powerful Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the island’s most iconic coastal lookouts, where land meets sea in spectacular fashion.

Highlights:

✅north coast cliffs

✅ilhéus formations

✅ocean vistas

✅ribeira da janela

✅volcanic coastline

✅scenic lookout

Riberia da Janela

About Ribeira da Janela

Nestled in the lush north of Madeira, Ribeira da Janela is a picturesque village known for its stunning natural beauty and rich agricultural heritage. Surrounded by steep cliffs and verdant valleys, this charming locale offers a glimpse into the island's rural life.

Highlights:

✅ilheus rock formations

✅rural charm

✅lush valleys

✅agricultural heritage

✅traditional madeiran houses

✅scenic hiking trails

Santana

About Santana

Recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, the municipality of Santana is a treasure of natural and cultural heritage on Madeira’s north coast. It is best known for its traditional thatched-roof triangular houses, emblematic of the island’s rural architecture.

Highlights:

✅traditional thatched houses

✅unesco biosphere reserve

✅laurissilva forest trails

✅northern heritage

✅santana culture

✅rural madeira

São Vicente

About São Vicente

Cradled between the mountains and the sea on Madeira’s north coast, São Vicente is a municipality that blends natural beauty with geological wonder and cultural authenticity. Famous for its volcanic caves and subtropical Laurissilva forest, it’s a place where adventure and tranquility meet.

Highlights:

✅volcanic caves

✅laurissilva forest

✅north coast charm

✅cultural heritage

✅madeira geology

✅hiking destination

Seixal

About Seixal

Nestled along Madeira’s wild north coast, Seixal is a hidden gem known for its raw natural beauty and dramatic contrasts. From black sand beaches to emerald-green slopes, this coastal village offers a peaceful, photogenic escape from the busier parts of the island.

Highlights:

✅black sand beach

✅northern coastline

✅seixal beach

✅lush greenery

✅natural pools

✅hidden gem

Viewpoint of São Cristovão

About the Viewpoint of São Cristovão

Tucked away near the village of Boaventura on Madeira’s north coast, the Viewpoint of São Cristóvão is a hidden treasure known for its serene atmosphere, impeccable cleanliness, and breathtaking Atlantic views. It’s the perfect place to pause, breathe, and take in the natural beauty of the island.

Highlights:

✅boaventura viewpoint

✅relaxing scenic spot

✅ocean panorama

✅quiet vantage

✅hidden gem

✅north coast lookout