With its rugged mountains, lush valleys and sheer cliffs, Madeira offers unforgettable views. In Portuguese, they’re called Miradouros.
We went all around the island, stopping whenever we saw a panorama or a sign.
Although the choice was difficult, here is our selection of Madeira’s most beautiful viewpoints, accessible without hiking.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Maps of Madeira’s 5 most beautiful viewpoints
If you have limited time, here’s a map with our top 5 most beautiful miradouros:
Some, of course, can be found along Madeira’s most beautiful roads.
Discover great offers on our preferred car rental platform: DiscoverCars
1. Miradouro de Terra Grande
About the view
It’s not the most classic view of Madeira, as it’s not by the sea, but it’s the one that amazed us the most.
Our photos don’t do it justice at all.
It’s on one of Madeira’s most beautiful roads, leading down from the Bica da Cana plateau to the south coast.
There’s a 180° view of several valleys, including the Ribiera Brava valley which runs down to the sea, and terraced plantations.
Access and useful information
- Location: in the heart of the island, southern half
- Nearest town: On the heights of Ribeira Brava
- Driving time from Funchal = 30 minutes
- Access: Along the E228 road
- Good visibility for stopping
- Parking: a few spaces
- Picnic tables
2. Miradouro de Sao Cristovao Boaventura
About the view
If you want to see sheer cliffs plunging into the sea, this is one of the best places.
Because of the cliffs, most viewpoints are high up.
But this one is much lower down, closer to the sea, offering a more impressive perspective.
Access and useful information
- Location – North coast
- Nearby city: Boaventura
- Driving time from Funchal: 50min
- Access: Short detour from the ER101 road, on a tarred road that is a little narrow but not long.
- At the bottom, the parking lot belongs to the Sao Cristovao restaurant, which offers this beautiful view – but the “miradouro” sign is an official one, so you can go downstairs.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR AT Madeira
- 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.
3. Miradouro Ponta do Rosto
About the view
For a slightly different view from the rest of the island, head for Ponta de Sao Louranço.
This is the start of a magnificent hike around the volcanic cliffs.
But it is possible to enjoy magnificent views without hiking.
To do this, take another road before the final parking lot to Ponta do Rosto.
There’s no lush vegetation here, just a bay with cliffs of varying colors: black, brown, red, ochre…
It’s the perfect way to discover the island’s volcanic side.
Access and useful information
- Location: north-east
- Nearest city: Canical
- Driving time from Funchal = 35 minutes
- Access: short detour from the ER109, on an easy tarmac road with just a few bumps
- Parking: easy, plenty of space, and people don’t stop for long.
- Picnic table
About the view
What a magnificent view!
As you can see, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the tip of the Sao Louranço peninsula (the tail of Madeira).
We particularly like the contrast between the turquoise water and the green cliffs.
Look closely, too, and you’ll see a waterfall in the middle of the cliffs!
Access and useful information
- Location: North Coast
- Nearest city: Santana
- Driving time from Funchal = 50 minutes
- Access: short detour from ER101
- Parking: very limited number of spaces (approx. 10)
- Then 100m of fairly steep asphalt slope to reach the viewpoint.
- The bottom of the cliff is also superb. Unfortunately, the cable car is now closed to tourists, but the more courageous can take the hiking trail down – beware, it’s steep and possibly slippery. We don’t recommend it if you’re afraid of heights.
WHERE TO STAY IN Madeira
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
5. Miradouro da Portela
About the view
A beautiful view of the east coast without being stuck to the cliffs.
Here we see the end of the Porto da Cruz valley, and one of the island’s most recognizable mountains: Penha de Aguia.
Once again, we marveled at the island’s lush nature and contrasting colors.
Access and useful information
- Location: North coast
- Nearest city: Porto da Cruz
- Driving time from Funchal = 40 minutes
- Access: along the narrow, winding ER108 road
- Parking: space for approx. 4 cars
- Better visibility for stopping on the way to Porto da Cruz
- Picnic table
6. Pico do Arieiro
About the view
This is probably one of Madeira’s best-known spots.
Pico do Arieiro is one of Madeira’s highest peaks at 1818m. And you can reach it by car!!!
At the top of the parking lot you can reach an observation platform in less than 5 minutes’ walk): you’re high above the island’s sharp peaks, admiring the deep ravines. And if you come at sunrise, you’re sometimes above a sea of clouds.
If you’re brave enough, we recommend starting the hike to Pico Ruivo, for even more spectacular views.
Access and useful information
- Location: Center of the island
- Between Funchal and Faial
- Driving time from Funchal = 45 minutes
- Access: tarmac road to parking lot, winding but no major difficulties
- Parking lot: paved and sloping. It fills up well during the day.
- We strongly recommend visiting at sunrise, for easy parking and magnificent light.
OUR GUIDE TO PLANNING A Dream trip
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 120 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 260 photos to help you choose
7. Miradouro do Cortado
About the view
Another superb view of the mountain Penha d’Águia, 590m above sea level. You can see its extremely steep cliff from here.
In the middle of the shot, you can see the village of Faiail with its church tower.
And on a clear day, you can also see the tail of Madeira: Ponta de Sao Louranço stretching towards the horizon.
It’s a truly spectacular view!
Access and useful information
- Location: North coast
- Nearest city: Santana
- Driving time from Funchal = 50 minutes
- Access: along the ER213 road to Santana
- Parking: not really a parking lot, but a slightly wider area on a bend where 2 cars can stop.
- Stopping is a bit dangerous. It’s easier to stop on the way to Santana, but if you don’t stop, you’ll have a better view of the road on the way to Faial.
8. Miradouro de Eira do Serrado
About the view
This is one of Madeira’s most impressive viewpoints. You have an unobstructed view of the Curral das Freiras valley, a cirque surrounded by high, pointed peaks.
It’s difficult to give you the scale with the photos. None of them do the place justice.
If you don’t want to walk, enjoy the views from the restaurant. And if not, the mountainside path offers some slightly different perspectives. The whole valley opens up before you, and halfway up, you discover the village. Notice all the trees, they’re different from the rest of the island. This is where chestnuts are harvested.
Access and useful information
- Location: In the center of the island, north of Funchal.
- Nearest city: Curral das Freiras
- Driving time from Funchal = 30 minutes drive
- Access: Winding asphalt road. No particular difficulties. Some narrower passages.
- Parking: Large tarmac parking lot
- Restaurant
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN Madeira
Catamaran tour to see dolphins and Madeira’s giant cliffs.
9. Miradouro da Faja da Ovelha (Massapez)
About the view
A viewpoint off the beaten track but well laid out and offering a typical Madeira view. You can see, in fact, a small piece of flatter land at the foot of the cliffs, with a village and plantations: this is Paul do Mar.
Access and useful information
- Location: western zone on the south coast
- Driving time from Funchal = 1h
- Access: Go through the village to reach the viewpoint.
- Parking: several parking spaces, paved
- Picnic tables with shade
10. Miradouro Veu da Noiva
About the view
This is one of Madeira’s best-known viewpoints.
On the way to the Moniz natural pools, there’s a small parking area off the main road where you can stop and admire the cliffs and waterfall.
It’s not possible to get any closer, but the view from the platform is already stunning.
Access and useful information
- Location: west of the north coast
- Nearest city: between Sao Vicente and Porto Moniz
- Driving time from Funchal = 45 min
- Access: easy, especially in the direction of Porto Moniz
- Parking: about twenty spaces
- Snack bar and souvenir store
11. Miradouro da Eira da Achada
About the view
It’s a lesser-known viewpoint, off the beaten track, but an easy one to stop at.
It offers a magnificent view of the cliffs of the north coast. The whole cove-shaped area between Seixal and Ponta Delgada is well worth a look.
And as everywhere, the vegetation is lush, making the panorama even more beautiful.
Access and useful information
- Location: west of the north coast
- Nearest city: Porto Moniz
- Driving time from Funchal = 1h drive
- Access: easy, detour from the main road at Ribeira da Janela
- Parking: large and easy
- View from the parking lot, otherwise a few steps down to reach the platform
Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Get away from it all with Region Lovers’ beautiful destinations!
- Once a month
- Advertising-free
12. Miradouro do Cabouco
About the view
Another exceptional point of view… the selection is really difficult!
If you’ve seen the magic of Pico do Arieiro and are heading back down to the north coast, take time out to admire the valley and the sharp peaks in the background. These are the peaks around Pico do Ariero!
Access and useful information
- Location: On the road between Pico do Arieio and the north coast
- Driving time from Funchal = 50min
- Access: Along the ER103 road, possibility of stopping in both directions.
- Parking: a few spaces below the viewpoint
- Picnic tables
13. Miradouro do Cabo Girao: the most famous viewpoint
About the view
The view isn’t the most beautiful, but it is the most impressive, when you look down!
You don’t come for the scenery, but for the Skywalk, with the vertigo of standing on a glass platform on Europe’s highest cliffs. Here, they reach 589 metres.
Access and useful information
- Location: South coast, west of Funchal
- Nearest town: x
- Driving time from Funchal = 20min
- Access: short detour from main road ER101, no difficulty
- Parking: several parking lots nearby, visit early in the morning for easy parking
- Admission fee: 2 euros
- Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or 7 p.m. in winter)
14. Miradouro das Cabanas (Beira da Quinta)
About the view
One of our favorite routes in Madeira is the one between Santana and Sao Vicente, which offers a number of viewpoints. Here, we liked the platform with its barrier to immerse ourselves in the view.
You can see the entire Arco de Sao Jorge area, an extra-luxurious part of the island.
We were very comfortable, sitting on the bench admiring the shades of green.
Access and useful information
- Location: mid north coast
- Nearest city: Santana
- Driving time from Funchal = 1h
- Access: Route ER101, near a restaurant
- Parking: easy, plenty of spaces around
15. From Faial beach
About the view
On the north coast, it’s not often that you can stand at sea level and admire the cliffs from below. At Faial beach this is the case. We were in a trance as we watched the waves crash against these rock giants.
And in the background, with this clear weather, we still had a view of Sao Louranço, the tail of Madeira.
Access and useful information
- Location: East of the north coast
- Nearest town: Faial
- Driving time from Funchal = 45 min drive
- Parking: large parking lot near the beach
- Access: easy
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Madeira
Best of
Things to do in Madeira
Most beautiful viewpoints
Madeira’s most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful gardens
Natural pools
Most beautiful hikes
Most beautiful roads
Secret places
Practical advice
Getting around Madeira
Rent a car in Madeira
Driving in Madeira
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
