MADEIRA TOWNS & VILLAGES

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Madeira, a Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, is known for its stunning landscapes, lush greenery, and charming towns and villages. Here are some of the best towns and villages to explore in Madeira:

Funchal is the capital of Madeira and the main hub. It is a beautiful city, built amphitheatrically on the surrounding green hills and Funchal’s suburbs spread all the way up to Monte. It is the best place to stay as it offers all the tourist amenities and has lots of attractions and things to do. It has a nice old town with atmospheric narrow streets and mosaic pavements, historical buildings, public parks and a nice marina.

Best attractions and things to do in Funchal:

1. Old Town: Funchal’s Old Town is located around cobbled Rua de Santa Maria. It includes many cafes, bars, restaurants and visitor attractions.
2. Funchal Cable Car: The cable car is next to Jardim do Almirante Reis, not far from the old town and the ride lasts about 15min up to Monte. It stops near the Monte Palace. Price: €‎18 return. It offers spectacular views of Funchal, the coastline and the mountains and is the best way to reach Monte.
3. Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ Market): Located in the old town of Funchal, this is a great place to experience the local produce, from stalls selling colourful exotic fruits and vegetables to the fish market stalls selling tuna and espada fish.
4. Funchal Cathedral (Se): The cathedral was built in the 16th century. Despite its plain exterior, the interior is much more impressive with beautiful paintings, chapels, statues, tombs and an amazing ceiling.
5. Avenida Arriaga: Lined with Funchal’s most prestigious buildings.
6. Museu the Arte Sacra: The sacred art museum of Funchal is a museum of religious art. It contains mainly Flemish paintings from the Renaissance acquired by the first settlers of Madeira during the sugar trade.
7. Blandy’s Wine Lodge: A house museum that explains the production of Madeira wine. It provides wine tours and tasting.
8. Lido bathing complex: Good place for a swim or a walk along the promenade. This the area where most hotels are located (Hotel Zone).
9. The Ritz: The Ritz Madeira is one of the oldest grand cafes in Funchal located on the main street opposite the beautiful municipal gardens.
10. Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico: Free to enter hilltop castle with great views over Funchal.
11. Funchal Marina & Promenade: Nice place for a stroll. The marina is the place to book dolphin and whale watching trips.
12. Madeira Story Centre: A nice museum that showcases the history of the island through interactive exhibits.
13. Museu Quinta das Cruzes: A small museum that showcases a typical settler’s house with some art and archaeological exhibits.
14. Forte de São Tiago: A yellow fort by the harbour.
15. Cristiano Ronaldo Museum
16. Shopping:
    1. Forum Madeira: A stylish mall with shops, restaurants and a cinema.
    2. MadeiraShopping: Big Mall with a food court outside the city centre
    3. La vie Shopping Centre: A smaller mall in the city centre

Monte is a charming village located above Funchal. It is known for its stunning gardens, cultural attractions, and scenic views.

The best way to reach Monte is by cable car from Funchal.

Best attractions and things to do in Monte:

1. Nossa Senhora do Monte Church: A photo stop by the church steps is a must.
2. Botanical Garden (Jardim Botanico)
3. Monte Palace Tropical Garden: It is a beautiful place with lakes, waterfalls, a Japanese style garden and the Monte Palace Museum. Price: €‎12
4. Toboggan Run: Trying this traditional way of transport is a unique experience in Madeira. The toboggan can fit two people and it is steered by two toboggan drivers. It’s a fun way to return to Funchal, although it’s not cheap. The ride is approximately 2 Kms and lasts about 10 minutes.
5. Quintas Jardin do Imperador: A beautiful mansion with gardens and a lake
6. Fountain Square
7. Parque do Monte

This attractive fishing village with a tiny pebble beach and a pretty harbour is a popular spot for a visit.

The harbour is lined with traditional colourful fishing boats. The fishing harbour is very active, particularly in the morning when fishermen return with their catch. You can watch the traditional fishing boats and see the fish being sold at the market.

It is a good place to try seafood in one of the few restaurants by the harbour.

The seafront promenade in Câmara de Lobos offers beautiful views of the harbour, the ocean, and the surrounding cliffs. It’s a lovely place for a leisurely stroll and to enjoy the fresh sea air. You can admire the bay from the Miradouro da Torre.

Above the village, there is a great viewpoint (Miradouro de Câmara de Lobos), where you can take in panoramic views of the village, the bay, and the dramatic coastline

Ponta do Sol is a picturesque coastal town located on the southwestern coast of Madeira, known for its sunny climate. It has a decent pebble beach to enjoy the sun and a charming town centre.

Here are some of the attractions and things to do in Ponta do Sol:

1. Praia da Ponta do Sol: Ponta do Sol boasts a lovely pebble beach with clear waters. The beach is a great spot for swimming and sunbathing.
2. Ponta do Sol Promenade: The town’s seafront promenade is a great place for a stroll. There are also seafront bars and cafes where you can enjoy a meal or a drink with a view of the ocean.
3. Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz: The town’s church is an attractive and historical building. It’s worth a visit to admire the architecture and the views from the square.levada nova
4. Walking and Hiking: The surrounding region of Ponta do Sol is perfect for exploring on foot. There are various walking trails that take you through lush landscapes and provide excellent views of the coast and the mountains.

An interesting harbour town with a decent seafront and promenade for a stroll. Machico is one of the oldest towns of Madeira and offers one of the best sandy beaches on the island.

Here are some of the best attractions in Machico:

1. Machico Beach (Praia de Machico): This sandy beach is one of the best beaches on Madeira and is a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. It’s particularly popular in the summer months.
2. Pico do Facho: A viewpoint at Pico do Facho offers breathtaking panoramic views of the bay of Machico and the surrounding area.
3. Machico Promenade: The town’s seafront promenade is a pleasant place for a leisurely walk, offering beautiful ocean views and access to various restaurants and cafes.
4. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição: The town’s main church is a nice building with traditional architecture and historical significance.

A seaside village located on the north coast of Madeira. It has a nice seafront lined with restaurants and it is also famous for its natural rock pools if you fancy a swim.

It is located on the south coast and has a small promenade lined with a few cafes and restaurants.

This pretty village on the north coast is a nice place for a stroll on the small village square by the church and by the seaside cafes and restaurants facing the wild north coastline.

This little village is in a stunning spot surrounded by dramatic cliffs and chestnut woods and is best appreciated from the miradouro of Eira do Serrado. Famous for traditional chestnut specialities (Chesnut cake and liqueur).

This village on the north coast of Madeira is famous for its traditional triangular thatched-roof houses known as “palheiros,” and offers a glimpse into Madeira’s rural heritage.

You can visit the Santana Theme Park to learn more about local traditions, where there is a row of about 5 houses open to tourists.

A small seaside village in a beautiful setting, located on the north coast of Madeira with some nice pools for swimming.

It is a pleasant seaside town close to the airport with a dark pebble beach and a nice promenade lined with cafes and pastry shops.

This is a small fishing village surrounded by huge cliffs. You can appreciate the great setting of the village from Miradouro do Paúl do Mar above the village.

This attractive village is located by the sea and surrounded by steep cliffs. It’s a scenic spot for a walk along the seaside promenade.

An inland village famous for its wicker-making. You can visit the wicker factory for demonstrations in the workshop.

A former whaling port in a nice setting and the Museu da Baleia da Madeira showcasing the history of whaling in Madeira, To the east of the town there is an interesting upscale resort, built in a traditional Madeiran style.

I have created a map that shows all the best towns and villages in Madeira and other useful information.

You can check the following posts:

• Madeira Travel Guide
• Madeira Beaches

• Flights: I always use Skyscanner as my first choice as it’s so easy to use and you can search best deals by month. Momondo is another very good search engine as well as Google Flights.
• Accommodation: I always use Booking.com as my first choice, as it offers a great choice of accommodation at affordable prices and it’s so easy to use. TripAdvisor and Trivago are the best search engines to check deals from different websites; however not as good for checking the actual properties & rooms. Airbnb is a great alternative to find out homes and apartments to rent by real homeowners.
• Ferries: For Porto Santo check Lobo Marinho
• Car Rental: I always check Skyscanner for the cheapest car rental options.
• Public Transport: There are 4 different companies with their own website for checking public transport in Madeira: Horários do Funchal, SAM, EACL & Rodoeste
• Day Trips & Tours: Viator provides the most comprehensive list of day trips and you can book directly with them. TripAdvisor is also a great place to search for tours & activities to do.
• Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is a great choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads. Alternatively, you can use one of the price comparison websites for cheaper quotes.
• Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, and at no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping this site running and ad-free.

 

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