Are you looking for the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Madeira, Portugal? But you don’t know where to start and which viewpoints are actually worth visiting? No need to look any further, because this list will have you completely covered for your next trip to Madeira!
When I planned my visit to Madeira, I felt completely overwhelmed with information. My list of the must see places in Madeira got longer and longer and I didn’t knew where to start. Florian and I kept visiting almost every viewpoint I had on my list and this is why I wanted to share the 7 most beautiful viewpoints in Madeira, so that you can save your precious time and enjoy the best things the island has to offer.
Nevertheless, please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and that Madeira has several other beautiful places to offer. It’s never wrong to explore a little yourself – maybe you’ll find a little gem yourself.
Why should you visit Madeira?
Besides these beautiful viewpoints, there are several reasons on why to visit Madeira. First of all, Madeira has an extreme diverse landscape – from rugged cliffs to lush jungle and black beaches. The island certainly has something to offer for everyone which makes it the perfect getaway for hikers, sun-seekers and adventure-lovers. Also, Madeira has a very stable weather year-round, which makes it the perfect winter-escape for those seeking some warmer temperatures.
The 7 most beautiful viewpoints in Madeira
The viewpoints in Madeira are called miradouros and there are literally hundreds of them spread out over the island. Whenever you’ll drive past any road, the sign „Miradouro“ will definitely appear somewhen. Thus, finding the most beautiful ones during your trip isn’t the easiest task ever and things can get confusing at times.
In this article I will list the 7 most beautiful viewpoints in Madeira and I will tell you exactly how to reach them, during which time of the day you should visit and if you need to do any hiking to reach them. This way you’ll be best prepared for your visit to Madeira, Portugal.
If you need some more inspiration or help planning your trip, then consider this 7-day itinerary for Madeira that I wrote. Seven days are the perfect time for Madeira and allow you to visit every part on the island without having to rush.
1. Miradouro do Guindaste
Also known as the Crane viewpoint in Madeira, Miradouro do Guindaste is a spectacular coastal viewpoint in the northern part of Madeira. It’s absolutely worth visiting and also very easy to reach since you can literally just park your car right next to it. So, minimal effort is required. All you got to do is get out of bed quite early if you want to see the Miradouro do Guindaste without the crowds.
How can you reach Miradouro do Guindaste?
This viewpoint in Madeira is a 30 minute drive away from Funchal and easily reachable by car. Just type in ‚Miradouro do Guindaste‘ into your navigation system and park on the parking lot in front of the glass pathways. From here, go right up the hill and you will already see the Miradouro do Guindaste. From here you also have a great view over the town of Faial!
When to visit the Miradouro do Guindaste?
The best time to visit this viewpoint in Madeira is during sunrise, because the golden sun rays will turn the rugged cliffs in a golden light. I’d say it’s best to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise to fully enjoy this experience.
2. Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela
I already mentioned it within my 7-day itinerary for Madeira, but I’ll say it again: This place is bucket list worthy and is one of my favorite experiences every. We went to Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela for our last morning and it was stunning, to say the least. Watching the massive waves roll in whilst the sun rays paint everything golden was so worth waking up early.
When visiting this viewpoint, you can choose to either watch the sunrise from the platform or make your way down some stairs to stand on the stone beach itself.
How can you reach Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela?
This viewpoint in Madeira is about 45 minutes driving from Funchal, but again you can simply type in this viewpoint into your navigation system and you will see the rock formations well in advance. At Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela you will also find parking spaces which are located right in front of the rock formations as well. Hence, this spot is very easy to reach.
When to visit the Miradouro da Ribeira da Janela?
We went here to watch the sunrise, but you could also watch the sunset here or just spend some time during the day. Whenever you visit places like Seixal Beach or Fanal Forest, you will end up driving past Ribeira da Janela.
3. Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira
If you are searching for a 10/10 sunset view, Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira is the place to go to. We actually visited this spot twice during our time in Madeira, because we loved it so much! This spot is located on the north west coast of Madeira and offer stunning views over the town of Anchadas da Cruz, a remote town which is only accessible by gondola.
We’ve seen this place being promoted as a hidden gem that is not known by many people, but these times definitely have changed. As Madeira gets more and more popular, these places fill up very quickly. You can still enjoy the most beautiful sunset on the island, but you should be prepared and go early.
How can you reach Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira?
This viewpoint in Madeira is about a one hour drive away from Funchal. Since there are only a few parking spots, I’d highly recommend to arrive sooner than later. It once was a very remote place with little to no people, but this has definitely changed.
When to visit the Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira?
Honestly, Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira is the viewpoint in Madeira to watch the sunset. The sun will throw a golden hue over the coastal cliffs and create a magical atmosphere. Please be careful though, because, well… it is a cliff.
4. Miradouro do Ponta de São Lourenço
The next spot within this list of the most beautiful viewpoints in Madeira is no other than Miradouro do Ponta de São Laurenço. There is no way that you could miss this coastal viewpoint in Madeira, because it’s certainly one of the most popular ones.
This spot is also super easy to reach and located right next to a parking lot. In order to get to the pinnacle, you have to hike down a little. But you do have to be very careful here! Some days it can get very windy and I wouldn’t recommend going out on the pinnacle then.
How can you reach Miradouro do Ponta de São Laurenço?
As already mentioned, this spot is very easily reachable by car and it’s only around 30 minutes from Funchal. You can drive all the way up to the viewpoint, park your car and enjoy the view from then on.
When to visit the Miradouro do Ponta de São Laurenço?
The best time to visit this beautiful viewpoint in Madeira is for sunrise. I would also advise you to arrive 20-30 minutes from before, so you don’t miss anything! The sun can rise very quickly on Madeira which makes it difficult to predict when the sun will actually rise. Afterwards, you can hike the Vereda do Ponta de São Laurenço.
5. Miradouro Ninho da Manta
One of the most epic viewpoints in Madeira is the Miradouro do Ninho da Manta, also known as the Eagle’s Nest. This viewpoint is located nearby the Pico do Ariero and can be best combined with the PR1 hike from Pico do Ariero to Pico Ruivo.
At Ninho da Manta you get a 360 degrees view over the surrounding mountains and if you’re really lucky, you will be above a sea of clouds.
How can you reach Miradouro Ninho da Manta?
At Pico do Ariero is a pretty big parking lot which you will reach in about 30 minutes from Funchal. From the parking lot, you only have to do a 10 minute walk in order to reach Miradouro Ninho da Manta.
When to visit the Miradouro Ninho da Manta?
You can either come here for sunrise or sunset, but be aware that this place is very popular and you much likely will not be alone.
6. Miradouro Véu da Noiva
Have you ever seen a waterfall plunge straight from the cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean? Well, you’re lucky, because Miradouro Véu da Noiva is exactly this. This beautiful viewpoint in Madeira is pretty close to Seixal Beach, which is absolutely worth visiting as well.
Since this viewpoint is, again, directly next to a parking lot, it is pretty easy to reach. There is also a small hiking trail that used to lead to the waterfall, but now it is closed off due to landslides. Instead, they have built an entire viewing platform from where you can admire the waterfall.
How can you reach Miradouro Véu da Noiva?
If you plan to visit Seixal Beach and want to drive back anywhere near Funchal, you have to go past by this viewpoint anyways. I’d highly recommend to visit Seixal Beach first and then go to Miradouro Véu da Noiva as you can still enjoy this place after sunrise.
When to visit the Miradouro Véu da Noiva?
It’s best to visit this place after sunrise since it’s a favorite stop on a lot of tours.
7. Ponta do Garajau
Last, but definitely not least, is Ponta do Garajau. Due to its location directly in Funchal itself, it’s very accessible and also a popular spot to watch the sunset. However, since it’s such a wide place, it’s definitely possible to enjoy the sunset completely on your own.
If you plan on visiting the Cristo Rei statue in Madeira, just walk a few steps past the statue and you’re already at Ponta do Garajau.
How can you reach Ponta do Garajau?
If you’re staying in Funchal, you might also be able to get the bus to Ponta do Garajau. Otherwise, just use your navigation system and then park at the huge parking lot in front of Cristo Rei statue. From here it’s only a 5 minute walk.
When to visit the Ponta do Garajau?
Since you have a great view over the ocean and can see either side, it’s a great spot to watch the sunrise or sunset. We watched the sunset after visiting Cristo Rei statue and absolutely loved it!
That’s it: The entire list of the 7 most beautiful viewpoints in Madeira. I really hope that you liked all the different viewpoints and will get to visit them yourself. Again, if you have any questions, just drop a comment below! 🙂
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