What are the best viewpoints in Madeira? Top 23 views

Discover the best viewpoints in Madeira and get the best views of this Portuguese island!

Madeira is a volcanic island located in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, between the Açores islands and the Canary Islands. Just like the two sets of islands I just mentioned, Madeira has a volcanic origin. This means steep cliffs, curvy roads and lots of ups and down when driving through the island. Moreover, it also means lots of breathtaking viewpoints. If you are planning a trip to Madeira, make sure to include some of the viewpoints listed in this article in your travel plan! These are the 23 top viewpoints in Madeira.

Disclaimer: The viewpoints are not listed in any specific order. You will find out which were my favourite ones in the text, but it really depends on your personal taste and on the weather conditions you find in each viewpoint.

Monte Palace Madeira cable car viewpoint

Monte Palace is a large garden accessible through a cable car that connects the Funchal city centre (Madeira’s capital city) with the garden. The view that you can’t miss is the one you get from the cable car. It is one of the best places to admire Funchal from above, as well as to get an idea of how hilly is Madeira.

Getting the cable car is not free, but given that on the island of Madeira most activities involve hiking (which is free), it is worth paying for this experience.

Madeira Botanical Garden viewpoint

The second best viewpoint over Funchal is the Madeira Botanical Garden. Besides being one of the main tourist attractions of Funchal, with over 80,000 square meters of area, it also has a different viewpoint to the city of Funchal. In fact, there is more than one viewpoint. However, its most famous one is depicted below, with the beautiful gardens and Funchal in the background.

Getting to the Madeira Botanical Garden is an adventure by itself, as it is usually done using a cable car that also offers really nice views over the surrounding areas of Madeira’s capital city.

Miradouro das Cabanas (also known as Beira da Quinta)

As mentioned before, Madeira is an island with a volcanic origin. And this means that there are plenty of cliffs and viewpoints that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. One of these viewpoints is Miradouro das Cabanas, although it can also be found online as Beira da Quinta. This viewpoint is at the top of a really steep road, one that you will need to drive to go from Santana to Ponta Delgada.

The best time to visit this viewpoint is, without any doubt, at sunset. The view from above is breathtaking, with the small villages seen from a birds-eye view, and with the sun setting on the horizon. One of the best viewpoints in Madeira!

Ponta do San Lorenço viewpoint

Any list of the best viewpoints in Madeira will have Ponta san Lorenço in it. This rocky formation, located at the easternmost edge of the island, is a great hiking area and an even better viewpoint. Images speak by themselves. Bear in mind that it is a quite popular spot among photographers. At sunrise, the best time to visit Ponta san Lorenço, it is almost impossible to be there alone.

This is the exact spot from where the photo below was taken. Nonetheless, visit the area at your own risk. You will be at the edge of a cliff, and in windy conditions, I would not recommend getting any close to the location shared above. Getting it is a bit tricky as the path is not very clear. Yet, with google maps, it is very feasible. It takes around 20-30 minutes from the parking lot to the highest point.

Ponta do Rosto viewpoint

If you are in the area of Ponta San Lorenço and you fancy a less popular spot, get to Ponta do Rosto. Equally amazing, and a bit less concurred, Ponta do Rosto is a fantastic sunrise spot, with a really nice view over the left edge of Ponta san Lorenço. As with the previous one, an image is worth more than a thousand words.

Even if it is not at sunrise is a great place to visit, where you can park your car and see the views without hiking.

Miradouro Balcões

Balcões is one of the most popular hikes in Madeira. Compared to the other ones listed below (Arieiro and Ruivo), it is a short one, with almost no elevation and with a fantastic viewpoint ad the end of the hike. Yet, as you can see, I wasn’t very lucky when visiting it, as it had one of the thickest fogs I had ever experienced. Nonetheless, it has to be on this list. Even in foggy conditions, it feels unique and it is worth visiting.

Pico Arieiro viewpoint

Pico Arieiro is the most visited mountain of Madeira, and one of its most iconic viewpoints. I preferred the view from Pico Ruivo (see below), but this is still one of the best viewpoints on the whole island. It is easy to find it packed with people, as it can be reached with a car, and there is a bar/restaurant at the top.

Pico Ruivo viewpoint

The highest point of Madiera had to make it to this list. With a total elevation of 1861 meters, it is a fantastic viewpoint over the whole island, as well as to its famous brother, Pico Arieiro. The view from its top is fantastic, especially at sunrise, when you can be, literally, the first person to see the sun on the whole island. Don’t miss it!

Hike Pico Arieiro – Pico Ruivo

The hike that gave the best possible views of Madeira was, without any doubts, the hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. For the best possible views, start hiking before sunrise, and get to see the sunrise from any random point of the hike. The views at any point of the hike are well worth the effort (it is one of the hardest hikes of Madeira).

Ribeira da Janela Viewpoint

This is a location that might ring a bell. Ribeira da Janela is a small village known around the world because of a very characteristic rock formation standing in the middle of the ocean. Windows 10 had it as one of its default photos, so you have probably seen lots of times without realising it.

However, the spot listed here is not the rock formation by itself, but the viewpoint from where you can get a different view over the beach. After parking your car, instead of going straight to the beach, look for the set of stairs that lead to the viewpoint.

Miradouro do Veu da Noiva

A waterfall that falls straight into the sea. One of the unique things that you get to see on an island like Madeira. This easy to reach viewpoint (by car), is close to Seixal, and a must detour. A few years ago it was possible to get closer to the waterfall. Nowadays, the road is closed and you can only get a view from the distance. Still, it is worth stopping by.

Miradouro da Eida da Achada

On the way to the famous Fanal forest, I noticed a small viewpoint by the road, one of the many that you will find all across the island. So happy I made the decision to stop there. It offers a unique view over the coastline and Seixal, and thanks to the perfect light conditions, I got one of my favourite photos of my trip to Madeira.

Capelinha de Nossa Senhora de Fátima

On my first day staying at São Vicente, I noticed a small white chapel at the top of a nearby hill. After doing some research, I found out how to get there, looking for a nice drone photo of the chapel. Yet, I got one of the most unexpected and beautiful views of the trip. Both the view over the ocean and over the mountains is amazing, but I especially enjoyed the second one.

Cabo Girão Skywalk

I can’t think of a better viewpoint than a 589 meters high cliff. The highest one in Madeira and one of the highest of continental Europe. Cabo Girão is a famous Madeira spot, and one of its most well-known and accessible viewpoints. Of course, this means that it is going to be quite busy at peak season. Yet, the views are probably the best over the coastline and Funchal. And just at a 20′ drive from Funchal!

Look for the opening hours online! They change all over the year!

Miradouro da Raposeira

It was at this viewpoint that I had the best sunset of my time in Madeira. This is a not very well known viewpoint. In fact, I was lucky enough to have it all by myself, and enjoy a really nice sunset shooting.

Google Maps does a pretty good job guiding you. At the small parking (2-3 cars), you will see a small path. Follow it and you will get a breathtaking view of Paúl do Mar. Without any doubt, one of the best viewpoints in Madeira.

Miradouro da Bica da Cana

Madeira is a steep island. It takes 20 minutes driving to get from the seaside to a viewpoint surrounded by clouds and fog. Bica da Cana is a viewpoint overlooking the north coastline of the island.

Quite easy to access, it just requires walking for around 5-10 minutes from the small parking lot at the side of the road. The views are impressive and well worth waking up early for sunrise!

Miradouro Lombo do Mouro

Madeiran roads are known to be challenging for those who do not drive regularly. Miradouro Lombo do Mouro benefits from this characteristic. This u-turn is probably the best well-known on the island (although not the only one). There are plenty of cars that stop at the side of the road just to get a nice view of the perfect u-turn.

I visited this area 4-5 times, and I always found it covered in fog. Yet, a beautiful and different view. And a really nice drone location.

Miradouro da Encumeada

Very close to Bica da Cana and Lombo do Mouro, there is the viewpoint of Encumeada. Compared to other viewpoints listed here it might not be as spectacular, but being at a very frequented road, I highly recommend stopping by. The impressive mountain ranges and the ocean behind them make for a nice photo.

Ponta do Garajau viewpoint

Did you know that Madeira has a Cristo rei, just like Rio de Janeiro? Well, Ponta do Garajau is the place to admire it. This different viewpoint is located at the end of descending stairs, with the mentioned statue behind you. It is very easy to access, and there is a large parking lot.

Both the viewpoint and the path to it are worth visiting. On the image below you can see the Cristo Rei at the top right corner of the image, and the stairs and final viewpoint.

Miradouro do Fio

It is at the westernmost end of the island where some of the least visited viewpoints inMadier are. Winding roads and no highways are a good way to ensure a scenic drive and some great viewpoints. The first one is Muradouro do Fio. At Miradouro do Fio you can see the old Fajã by the sea. These weird formations that you most likely will see everywhere were caused by landslides or lava flows and were used for food conveying. Some of them were only accessible from the sea!

Ponta do Pargo viewpoint

Just by the Miradouro de Fio, there is Ponta do Pargo. A short 10-minute hike connects both viewpoints, with the Ponta do Pargo lighthouse guiding your steps. If you make it there, you will be at the westernmost point of the island.

Miradouro da Santa

Porto Moniz is one of the most visited villages in Madeira because of its natural swimming pools, created thanks to the volcanic origin of the island. Besides visiting them, something highly recommended, it is also impressive to see them from above. The Miradouro de Santa is a great place to understand how these swimming pools were formed. Moreover, it is one of the best viewpoints in Madeira.

There are a couple of viewpoints on the way up to Miradaouro da Santa, but I strongly recommend this as the best one.

Miradouro do Teleférico das Achadas da Cruz

No list of the best Madeira viewpoints will be complete without mentioning Achadas da Cruz. It is one of the weirdest places I have ever visited. A farmer’s village that is only accessible using a cable car, only suited for those not afraid of heights.

Unlike most cable cars, there are no poles on the way down. You feel like free falling for 5 minutes. This results in one of the best viewpoints of the island. No matter if it is from the parking where the cable car starts or on the way down. The views are breathtaking.

Yes, it is a 1-hour drive from Funchal, but it is so worth the trip.

There are the best viewpoints of Madeira. If you have any questions regarding this location, feel free to message me using the contact form, or follow me on Instagram (@aniolvisuals) and send me DM. Find more Madeira and travel-related content below