Madeira coastal road
Madeira's old coastal roads thread past waterfalls, sea cliffs and villages balanced on volcanic ledges, with the newer tunnels always available when nerves fray.
- Best forCouples · Road-trippers · Photographers
- In May21°C · 10 rainy days
- Ideal stayA day or two, as part of a longer Madeira stay
- Approx. flying time~11h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguagePortuguese
- Local time14:11same time as the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+351
Why go
Before the tunnels came, this was the only way along Madeira's north coast, and much of it is still driveable: a narrow ribbon cut into volcanic cliffs, dipping into waterfalls and climbing past villages that seem glued to the rock. Some stretches survive only as walking paths now, reclaimed by ferns and spray. Every corner opens onto another cliff, another cove, another view of the Atlantic slamming into black rock hundreds of metres below.
Treat it as a day's detour rather than a destination in itself: drive the São Vicente to Porto Moniz stretch in the morning, swim in the lava pools, then loop back over the mountains before dark. It works best paired with a week based in Funchal or the quieter west coast, and suits couples and photographers more than families in a hurry. Avoid it in heavy rain, when rockfalls occasionally close sections.
- Ideal stay
- A day or two, as part of a longer Madeira stay
- The vibe
- Dramatic, cliff-hugging, unhurried
From our guides
The north-west stretch between São Vicente and Porto Moniz is the showstopper, ending at natural lava pools you can swim in. Base yourselves in Seixal for black-sand beaches and vineyard views, and drive the Ponta de São Lourenço headland at sunrise before the coaches arrive.
Featured in Ten coastal drives for a honeymoon on wheels
Things to do
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Cabo Girão skywalk
A glass-floored platform juts out from one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, giving a vertigo-inducing view straight down to banana terraces and the ocean below.
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Câmara de Lobos
A working fishing harbour of brightly painted boats that once drew Winston Churchill to paint its cliffs; the espetada skewers here are grilled over laurel wood.
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Ribeira da Janela islets
Three rocky sea stacks rise just offshore near a river mouth famous for its clear rock pools and views back towards the mountains.
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Seixal's black-sand beach
A sheltered cove of dark volcanic sand backed by terraced vineyards, one of the few spots on this coast where the sea is calm enough to swim.
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Porto Moniz lava pools
Natural swimming pools carved by centuries of waves into black volcanic rock, filled and refreshed by the tide at the island's western tip.
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Ponta de São Lourenço
A dry, wind-scoured headland at the island's eastern tip, with a ridge path over red and ochre rock quite unlike Madeira's green interior.
Getting there
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Fly to
Funchal (FNC)
Nearest airport to Madeira, about 20km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Seixal
About an hour to an hour and a quarter by hire car from Funchal (FNC), crossing the island north through the tunnels to the Sao Vicente coast.
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On the ground
Getting around
The old cliff roads between Sao Vicente and Porto Moniz are driven slowly and in short hops, with the modern tunnel route alongside whenever the exposure gets too much. Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a separate drive east of the airport.
Public transport: Buses connect the north-coast villages but run infrequently, and they use the tunnels rather than the scenic old road.
Flights
Los Angeles Madeira, Portugal
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Roughly 11h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Pick your departure date, then your return.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 18°C in February to 27°C in August. Driest in July and August; wettest in March, with rain on about 14 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May21° · rain 10 daysMild with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2015–2024 at Seixal (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — July and August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small rural hotels, converted quintas and self-catering village houses, with a handful of design boltholes. No large resorts and few chains once you leave Funchal.
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Best base overall
Seixal
Right on the north-west stretch, with black-sand beaches, a natural pool and vineyards above. Choice is small and restaurants close early, so treat it as a base for driving rather than a resort.
Find stays in Seixal -
Best with children
Porto Moniz
The lava pools are the reason to stay, and having them before the coaches arrive is worth a night. It is exposed and often cloudy, and the village is quiet once the day-trippers leave.
Find stays in Porto Moniz -
Best value
Sao Vicente
Inland from the coast at the head of its valley, with cheaper guesthouses and a proper village life. You trade sea views for the volcanic caves and easier access to the road south.
Find stays in Sao Vicente -
Quietest
Ponta do Sol
On the sunnier south coast, a warm, sheltered base for tackling the coast road as a loop. Adds driving time to the north-west, but reliably better weather when the north is fogged in.
Find stays in Ponta do Sol
Worth knowing before you book: North-coast places are few and book out over Easter and August, and many have no lift and awkward parking, so confirm both when you reserve.
Search everything else in Seixal by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Driving
- Tunnels on the old road are unlit and narrow in places, so switch on headlights well before entering and expect oncoming traffic to hug the middle.
- Timing
- Drive the São Vicente to Porto Moniz stretch early in the morning before coach tours arrive and while the light is clearest for photographs.
- Weather
- The north coast is wetter and cloudier than the south; a clear morning can turn misty by midday, so plan viewpoint stops first.
- Safety
- Sections can close after heavy rain because of rockfalls, so check conditions locally before setting out rather than relying on an old map.
- Swimming
- The lava pools at Porto Moniz have lifeguards in season but can get rough in swell, so check the flags before getting in.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Madeira's levada walks
Portugal · 13km away →
Tenerife
Canary Islands · 497km away →
Siam Park
Tenerife, Canary Islands · 521km away →
Playa Blanca
Lanzarote, Canary Islands · 527km away →
Fuerteventura
Canary Islands · 561km away →
Taghazout
Morocco · 732km away →Elsewhere in Portugal
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Madeira coastal road?
For warm, mostly dry days, July and August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 18°C in February to 27°C in August. Driest in July and August; wettest in March, with rain on about 14 days.
How long should I spend in Madeira coastal road?
Our suggestion: a day or two, as part of a longer Madeira stay.
How do I get to Madeira coastal road?
About an hour to an hour and a quarter by hire car from Funchal (FNC), crossing the island north through the tunnels to the Sao Vicente coast.
Do I need a car in Madeira coastal road?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Buses connect the north-coast villages but run infrequently, and they use the tunnels rather than the scenic old road.
What currency and language are used in Madeira coastal road?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Portuguese. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Madeira coastal road best for?
Best for couples, road-trippers and photographers. In a phrase: dramatic, cliff-hugging, unhurried.