Nestled in a picturesque bay, Camara de Lobos is a charming fishing village in Madeira. Its colorful houses, cobbled streets and traditional boats provide an authentic backdrop.
Here’s our guide to the must-see places in Camara de Lobos and some useful tips for planning your visit.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Is Camara de Lobos worth a visit?
Yes, Câmara de Lobos is well worth a visit for its picturesque charm.
It’s built around a traditional fishing port with colorful boats, whitewashed buildings and picturesque coastal views. Winston Churchill loved painting it, and we loved exploring it.
It’s one of Madeira’s most beautiful cities. Its proximity to Funchal and attractions such as the cliffs of Cabo Girão make it one of Madeira’s must-see destinations.
1. Admire the charm of the fishing port
Camara de Lobos is home to a picturesque port nestled in a natural cove. When you arrive, you’ll immediately be seduced by the crystal-clear waters, the colorful boats floating peacefully, the black basalt rocks sculpted by the ocean, the small white lighthouse watching over the harbor, and a giant mural adorning the cliffs. A small pebble beach borders the port, but this is not the main beach.
Take a stroll around the harbor to fully appreciate the enchanting scenery and watch the local fishermen bustling around their distinctive boats, the “Xavelhas”, proudly painted in bright colors. Look up at the banana-covered terraces overlooking the town, a testament to Madeira’s agricultural heritage.
- Free access
- Easy to explore
>> If you don’t want to drive and have to find parking, the Hop-on Hop-off bus includes a loop that takes you to Camara de Lobos – book your tickets now!
2. Admire the seal
One of the most photographed spots in Camara de Lobos is the seal/sea lion fresco (we think seal because of the anatomy). It’s right next to the port, so you can’t miss it!
The town’s name means wolf’s den, in reference to the seals that seemed to be wolves in the sea.
This massive work of art is made from recycled materials. It was created by Portuguese artist Bordallo II, as part of a project for World Oceans Day. According to him, he creates images of the victims of pollution, using what destroys them.
- Free access
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3. Stroll through historic alleyways
After admiring the port, explore the historic streets of the old town. It’s been extensively renovated, but the cobblestones and Madeira Island architecture (white with dark stone window and door surrounds) are still very much in evidence. These alleys have a lot of charm, and the locals look after them with plants and decorations.
Camara de Lobos is considered the initial landing point for Portuguese discoverer João Gonçalves Zarco, in 1419.
And it was here that the first colony was established. It became a parish in 1430, with an economy based on fishing, agriculture and wine production.
The municipality was created in 1835, the village grew and became a town.
- Free access
4. Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Close to the port, in the historic alleyways, the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a charming chapel founded in the 15th century and rebuilt in the 18th. It’s quite discreet, so don’t confuse it with the church.
Like many buildings in Madeira, its facade has been whitewashed and its roof covered with terracotta tiles.
Inside, discover rich ornamentation, including 17 paintings on all walls depicting scenes from the Bible.
The Baroque-style altar is a particular eye-catcher. But our favorite part is looking up to admire the painted ceiling.
- Free access
- We cannot guarantee opening hours.
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- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Take a car with a good engine for hilly roads, but not too big for manoeuvring.
- There’s plenty of demand and few cars, so book early.
5. Stay in Camara de Lobos
This town really has a special charm, and during the day it attracts a lot of tourists.
To discover it from a different angle, and really take advantage of its charms, you could consider staying there for your whole vacation, or just one or two nights to discover another aspect of the island compared to Funchal.
Among the hotels, we recommend:
- Hotel Pestana Churchill Bay, with panoramic views of the little harbour and a rooftop pool – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Pestana Fisherman village, with all the charm of Madeira – See prices, photos and availability
- And lots of great apartments to rent with beautiful views – see top-rated accommodations
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6. Camara de Lobos Church – Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião
A little higher up in the village, the Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião is a magnificent century church that forms the heart of the community. The 16th-century chapel was replaced by the church in the 17th and 18th centuries.
From the outside, it’s fairly neutral, with white walls. But note its bell tower with blue tiles!
Inside, you’ll discover Baroque-style decor with 3 naves.
Note the tiled ornamentation (azulejos), gilded chandeliers, carved wooden ceiling and gilded altarpiece.
- Free access
- We cannot guarantee opening hours.
7. Enjoy the views from the Jardim do Ilheu
Located between the picturesque port and the beach of Camara de Lobos, the Jardim do Ilheu (Garden of the Islet) is a small haven of greenery perched on a rocky promontory.
This rocky dome is not an island per se, but its island-like appearance lends it a unique charm. Winding staircases lead to the top, where a carefully landscaped garden offers breathtaking views of the steep cliffs, the pebble beach, the white town and the distinctive orange-roofed church.
It’s an idyllic place to relax and contemplate Madeira’s breathtaking seascapes. A special sight awaits visitors at the far end of the garden: the “Coroa do Ilheu”, a commemorative boat installed in 2019 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Portuguese discovery of the island.
- Free access
- Access stairs
- Small garden, 10 minutes are enough
8. Camara de Lobos beach: Praia de Vigaro
Praia do Vigario (Vicar’s Beach) is the main beach of Camara de Lobos, and one of Madeira’s best-known.
It’s a narrow strip of golden sand bordered by steep cliffs. Despite its modest size, this beach offers undeniable charm with its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Today, it attracts a few bathers who enjoy its moderate waves. But as it’s a pebble beach, it remains fairly quiet most of the year.
In the past, it was used by fishermen to prepare their gear for black scabbard-fishing and to dry their clothes.
- Unsupervised beach
- Beach bar
- Some people complain about the lack of cleanliness
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9. Museu de Imprensa da Madeira
Just above the beach is the MIM, Museu de Imprensa da Madeira.
It is dedicated to the history of printing, and the preservation of Madeira’s graphic industry and journalistic heritage.
Inside, on the technical side, you’ll discover printing presses, typographic and lithographic equipment.
On the press side, you’ll find archives and historical documents offering an insight into the importance of the media in the island’s cultural and social development.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- See the latest news on the official website here
- 1 to 2 hours depending on your level of interest
10. Caminho do Calhau: walk with Forno da Cal
The church, garden, beach and museum are located to the west of the historic port.
But you can also take a stroll along the eastern section.
A staircase takes you to an elevated promenade along the waterfront.
It’s called the Caminho do Calhau.
The trail offers beautiful views of the harbour, boats, town, cliffs and hills in the background. We really enjoyed this little detour
- A few steps up to the promenade
- Then it’s pretty flat and easy
This walk takes you to a strange old building. This is the Forno da Cal.
This lime kiln was built in 1874 to produce lime. It was restored several times during the 20th century.
However, local residents complained about the smell and smoke, and the plant ceased operations in the 1970s.
11. Miradouro Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill, a famous British personality, features prominently in Camara de Lobos.
In 1950, invited with his family to Reid’s Palace Hotel in Madeira after the Second World War, he fell under the spell of this charming fishing village. On an excursion from Funchal, he discovered an idyllic spot overlooking the port, now known as “Miradouro de Churchill”, where he began to paint.
Mind you, his image is used a lot in the city, but he’s only been here once!
In our opinion, it’s not the best view of the port, but the anecdote is amusing.
12. Miradouro da Torre
When you’ve finished exploring the village, take the voirutre back up to Miradouro da Torre. The drive takes just a few minutes.
From this little vantage point, with easy access and plenty of parking space, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the city’s skyline.
Note the small harbor with its colorful boats, the tiny white lighthouse, the roof of the church, and the promontory with the garden.
Attractions around Camara de Lobos
Cabo Girao
West of Camara de Lobos, 10min drive.
The Cabo Girao Skywalk is Madeira’s most famous viewpoint. Here, the cliffs reach 589 metres. They are the highest in Europe.
Residents built a transparent platform to appreciate the height.
It’s quite impressive to see the height, but views are limited.
Teleferico do Rancho and Faja Cabo Girao
West of Camara de Lobos, 10min drive.
Everyone goes to the Skywalk, but we much preferred the cable car down the giant cliffs. It starts from a lower point, but it’s still impressive with a very steep slope. The descent takes just 3 minutes. From the faja, this is one of the best places on the island to see different geological layers and formations.
This is one of the best cable cars to discover Madeira.
Hiking near Camara de Lobos – Levada do Norte
Madeira is famous for its hiking trails and walks along levadas (traditional irrigation systems).
The main trail near Camara de Lobos is “Levada do Norte”. It is possible to walk on different sections, or the whole length. However, this hike is not as well identified and maintained as other trails on the island.
Faja do Padres
West of Camara de Lobos, 15min by car.
For this cableway, it’s not different locals who own a plot of land on the faja, but a rural tourism farm. A cable car takes you down a 300 m cliff. The descent takes 2min 30.
Once downstairs, you can discover the plantations, the beach and the restaurant serving authentic Madeiran cuisine. More details on the official website here.
Doca do Cavacas (Piscinas de Gomes)
East of Camara de Lobos, 10 minutes by car.
Next to the large Praia Formosa pebble beach is a small overhang in the sea, made of lava rocks.
The pools have been redesigned for maximum enjoyment. These pools are very small, but they have a lot of charm and allow you to swim a little.
Discover all Madeira’s natural pools.
Funchal’s old town, boat tours and numerous museums.
And of course, you can visit Funchal to discover its charming alleys, gardens, historic buildings and much more.
East of Camara de Lobos, 15 minutes by car.
>> Discover our selection of the best attractions in Funchal.
How to get to Camara de Lobos + parking
Where to find Camara de Lobos
- Madeira’s south coast
- West of Funchal
- From Funchal = 15 minutes drive
- From Porto Moniz = 45 min drive
- Here’s a map to help you find Camara and get your bearings:
How to get there
From Funchal, you can get there
- by car, the road is easy
- by cab
- by bus
- or via one of the Hop-on Hop-off bus routes, which is very practical – book your tickets now!
Parking in Camara de Lobos
Main parking lot near the port, subject to charge (depending on season)
If you come early in the morning, parking is easy, but if you come later in the day, it may be difficult.
There are also a few parking spaces on the beach side, as well as a covered parking lot open 24 hours a day.
Discover great offers on our preferred car rental platform: DiscoverCars
Visit Camara: useful tips
How long and when?
Allow at least half a day to explore the village.
We advise you to come in the morning, to avoid the crowds, and to take advantage of the many restaurants for lunch before setting off on other adventures.
Difficulties
The port and surrounding streets are easy to explore.
But to get to church, the garden or the beach, the streets go up and down, sometimes quite steeply. It’s not very big, but it’s no longer flat.
Visiting with children
If you visit with your children, they should love it:
- seal painting
- colorful boats
- The garden with its boat in the grass
- the beach (even if it’s pebbles)
- and for older children, the printing museum
Restaurants
There are plenty of restaurants in the alleyways around the port: grills, tavernas, fish restaurants.
Given the history of the place, we strongly recommend you try the fish dishes, for example: Vila do Peixe, on the heights of the village with plenty of fresh fish choices.
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