in a nutshell
- Madeira has many beautiful cities and villages that you should definitely discover on your road trip in Madeira Island.
- In this article, we’re sharing the 7 most beautiful towns in Madeira—from cities to hidden gem villages, we’ve got it all covered!
- For each place, we give you a hotel recommendation and personal tips for activities in Madeira. Let’s go!
The Most Beautiful Towns in Madeira on a Map
To give you a quick overview of where our top 7 beautiful towns in Madeira are located, we’ve marked them on a map.
Funchal
What you need to know: Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is a great place to stay in Madeira Island. We especially love the charming old town and the cable car ride up to the Monte district, where you can explore beautiful botanical gardens and try the famous basket sledding!
Highlights: Rua Santa Maria, Mercado dos Lavradores, cable car and basket sledges
Our hotel tip: Arts In Hotel Conde Carvalhal
São Vicente
What you need to know: São Vicente is a small village in the north of the island and one of our favorite towns in Madeira. The center is small, but charming and not so touristy. The path by the sea is also very beautiful and you can walk along it to the Água d’Alto waterfall.
Highlights: Cascata Água d’Alto, promenade by the sea, town center
Our hotel tip: Quinta Vale Vitis
Restaurant tip: Restaurante Calamar (in the Hotel Calamar) – there is also one of our favorite natural swimming pools in Madeira.
Note: For a long time, the caves of São Vicente were the top highlight of the town. They have been closed since 2020 due to the consequences of an earthquake.
Câmara de Lobos
What you need to know: Câmara de Lobos is a village a few kilometers west of Funchal and a popular destination on Madeira. The two villages are connected by a long waterfront promenade. In Câmara de Lobos, the small harbor bay with its typical fishing boats is particularly worth a visit.
Highlights: harbor, Pico da Torre viewpoint, waterfront promenade
Our hotel tip: Pastana Churchill Bay
Personal tip: Combine a visit to the town with the popular Cabo Girão viewpoint.
Ponta do Sol
What you need to know: Ponta do Sol is a small village in the south and a true hidden gem in Madeira. With its light-colored houses framed by mountains, it looks really pretty. Our personal highlight is the beach, where there is a calm bay for swimming. The old bridge to the west of the village is also very cool – great for taking photos.
Highlights: beach, pier and the levada hike on the Levada Nova.
Our hotel tip: Estalagem da Ponta do Sol
Personal tip: From Ponta do Sol, you can quickly reach the Cascata dos Anjos waterfall by car – well worth it!
Machico
What you need to know: Machico is the former capital and oldest town in Madeira. The town is located in the east of the island and has both a sandy beach for swimming and a rocky beach for surfing. A stroll through the small, beautiful old town is also worthwhile.
Highlights: sandy beach, old town, Miradouro de Machico
Our hotel tip: Modern & Recycled Guest House
Our restaurant tip: O Galã in the center
Santana
What you need to know: Santana is located in the northeast of Madeira and is known for its traditional, small, triangular houses. They are one of the most beautiful places to visit in Madeira and are dotted around the town. Some of the houses are open to visitors as there are souvenir stores inside.
Highlights in Santana: Typical houses, Miradouro Rocha do Navio
Our hotel tip for Santana: Casa Típica de Santana – Casa do Avô
Our restaurant tip for Santana: Serra e Mar
Porto da Cruz
What you need to know: Porto da Cruz is a small village in Madeira that is particularly popular with surfers. The Praia de Alagoa is one of the most beautiful beaches on Madeira. Porto da Cruz is also home to the Engenhos do Norte rum factory, where you can try traditional poncha.
Highlights: Engenhos do Norte, Praia de Alagoa, Miradouro da Portela
Our hotel tip: Jaca Hostel Porto da Cruz
Personal tip: The cliff hike to Caniçal starts in Porto da Cruz – it is one of the most beautiful hikes on Madeira – but only for experienced hikers.
FAQ about Cities in Madeira Island
What is the nicest village in Madeira?
That’s a tough question to answer, and it’s very subjective.
Our personal favorite village in Madeira was São Vicente—we just fell in love with this beautiful seaside town.
Which town is best to stay in Madeira?
For first-timers, we recommend staying in Funchal. It’s the largest city in Madeira, and from there, you can easily reach all the towns and top attractions.
If you prefer something quieter but still well-connected, we suggest Machico or São Vicente.
How many towns are in Madeira?
There aren’t many cities on Madeira Island. Funchal is the only city with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
In total, there are 11 municipalities in Madeira, but the island is home to many more small villages.
These were our tips for the most beautiful cities in Madeira
What is your favorite town in Madeira? Feel free to write it in the comments.