In a nutshell
- Madeira has some seriously beautiful towns and villages that deserve a spot on your Madeira road trip itinerary.
- We’re covering the 7 prettiest Madeira towns — from the buzzing capital Funchal to charming little villages that most visitors never find.
- For every destination, you’ll get a hotel recommendation, a restaurant tip, and our personal advice for activities on Madeira. Let’s go!
The Most Beautiful Places on Madeira on a Map
Madeira is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe and has some seriously stunning spots. To give you a quick overview of where our seven favorite Madeira towns are located, we’ve marked them all on a map.
Funchal
What you need to know: Funchal is the capital of Madeira and a great base for your stay on Madeira. We especially love the old town and the cable car ride up to the Monte neighborhood — up there you can visit the botanical gardens and ride the famous wicker toboggan sleds.
Highlights in Funchal: Rua Santa Maria, Mercado dos Lavradores, cable car and wicker toboggan sleds
Our hotel pick for Funchal: Arts In Hotel Conde Carvalhal
Restaurant tip for Funchal: Restaurante Alta Vista in Monte
To all our tips for Funchal
São Vicente
What you need to know: São Vicente is a small village in the north of the island and one of our favorite spots on Madeira. The center is compact but absolutely charming, and it’s not overly touristy. The coastal path is really lovely too — you can walk all the way to the Água d’Alto waterfall.
Highlights in São Vicente: Cascata Água d’Alto, coastal road, town center
Our hotel pick for São Vicente: Quinta Vale Vitis – a great boutique hotel on Madeira.
Restaurant tip for São Vicente: Restaurante Calamar (in Hotel Calamar)
Note: For a long time, the caves of São Vicente were the top highlight of the village. They’ve been closed since 2020 due to earthquake damage.
Câmara de Lobos
What you need to know: Câmara de Lobos is a village a few kilometers west of Funchal and a popular day trip from Madeira’s capital. The two towns are connected by a long waterfront promenade. In Câmara de Lobos, the small harbor bay with its traditional fishing boats is absolutely worth seeing.
Highlights in Câmara de Lobos: harbor, Pico da Torre viewpoint, waterfront promenade
Our hotel pick for Câmara de Lobos: Pestana Churchill Bay
Personal tip for Câmara de Lobos: Combine your visit with a stop at the popular Cabo Girão viewpoint — the views are seriously spectacular.
Ponta do Sol
What you need to know: Ponta do Sol is a small town in the south of the island. With its bright houses framed by mountains, it looks absolutely lovely. Our personal highlight is the beach — the calm bay is perfect for swimming. Also really cool is the old bridge just west of town, which makes for great photos.
Highlights in Ponta do Sol: beach, pier, and the Levada hike along the Levada Nova.
Our hotel pick for Ponta do Sol: Estalagem da Ponta do Sol – one of the best beach hotels on Madeira.
Personal tip for Ponta do Sol: From town, it’s a quick drive to the Cascata dos Anjos waterfall — totally worth the detour!
Machico
What you need to know: Machico is the former capital and oldest town on Madeira, sitting in the east of the island. It has both a man-made sandy beach for swimming and a pebble beach popular with surfers. A stroll through the charming historic center is well worth it too — Machico is a real under-the-radar pick on Madeira!
Highlights in Machico: sandy beach, old town, Miradouro de Machico
Our hotel pick for Machico: Modern & Recycled Guest House
Our restaurant tip for Machico: O Galã in the town center
Santana
What you need to know: Santana is in the northeast of Madeira and is famous for its traditional triangular thatched houses. They’re among the most iconic sights on Madeira and are dotted throughout the village. Some of the houses are open to visitors — they’ve been converted into little souvenir shops inside.
Highlights in Santana: traditional houses, Miradouro Rocha do Navio
Our hotel pick for Santana: Hotel Quinta do Furao
Our restaurant tip for Santana: Serra e Mar
Porto da Cruz
What you need to know: Porto da Cruz is a small Madeira town that’s super popular with surfers. Praia de Alagoa is one of the best beaches on Madeira, and the town is also home to the Engenhos do Norte rum distillery — a great spot to sample traditional Poncha.
Highlights in Porto da Cruz: Engenhos do Norte, Praia de Alagoa, Miradouro da Portela
Our hotel pick for Porto da Cruz: Jaca Hostel Porto da Cruz
Personal tip: Porto da Cruz is the starting point for the cliff hike to Caniçal — one of the most beautiful hikes on Madeira — though it’s only recommended for experienced hikers.
