About Madeira island

Pebbly beaches, clear turquoise water and mountain landscapes - all this is magnificent Madeira island. Mountains and sea - a powerful mixture that takes the breath away from even the most sophisticated traveler! Please don't say we didn't warn you!

Madeira island Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

Praia de Machico

Machico 0.6 km
Very good
8.3
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Picturesque • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season
4.8 Amenities index
Kids friendly

Calheta Beach

Calheta 0.2 km
Very good
8.2
Large free area • Beach resort • Easy access • Bright sand • Crowded in season • Large low tide
7.8 Amenities index
Good for party

Praia do Garajau

Canico 1.9 km
Very good
8
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Picturesque • Easy access • Gray pebble • Aqua socks necessarily
2.7 Amenities index

Praia do Canical

Canical 0.2 km
Good
7.9
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray pebble • Turquoise pure water • Pebbles bottom
4.9 Amenities index

Prainha do Canical

Quinta do Lorde 0.6 km
Good
7.9
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Sand bottom
2.7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Ponta do Sol Beach

Ponta do Sol 0.2 km
Good
7.8
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Gray pebble • Turquoise pure water • Pebbles bottom
4.9 Amenities index

Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 24 beaches in the island.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in Madeira island.

Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of Madeira island, they are as follows:

  • The island's beaches are mainly wide, moderate length and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is pebble of gray color.
  • Since many beaches are pebbly, we recommend taking special shoes with you to avoid discomfort during your vacation.
  • Usually, entry into the water is moderately gentle, such beaches are 21.
  • An important clarification, 3 beaches in the island have a long intertidal zone, which means that during low tide hours you may have to travel a considerable distance. This is also something to consider if you don't want to suddenly be in the water at high tide.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in Madeira island is less than 500 meters. 23 beaches are relatively easy to access, and 1 beach are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

The vast majority of Madeira island beaches have the necessary amenities, such as sun loungers, umbrellas, beach cafes, showers and toilets.

Latest reviews on Madeira island's beaches

Praia de Machico
10 Ethan Granger

This is a fantastic beach for families with young children. It's not overly crowded, and there's a lovely restaurant in close proximity.

Calheta Beach
10 Aria Delgado

This place is fantastic with two beaches. It's great to take a stroll and grab a cup of coffee by the beach. You can hear the waves, which makes it incredibly peaceful.

Praia do Garajau
10 Landon Kellner

This beach on the south coast is among the most beautiful ones. You can easily rent snorkeling equipment for 5€ per day from the nearby diving school.

Praia do Canical
10 Luan Silva

Up

Prainha do Canical
8 Nikolai Petrović.

This quaint little beach boasts ample parking and a short descent down the hill to reach the shoreline. Unfortunately, the café was closed during our visit, but what really caught our attention were the numerous signs forbidding the placement of personal towels on the sand - talk about uptight! The sea is relatively placid, ideal for a dip, but do note that there are no lifeguards on duty. While it's worth a stop, don't plan on lingering unless you're willing to shell out for a sun lounger.

Ponta do Sol Beach
10 Parker Winsted (PWinst)

This charming spot is perfect for a leisurely stroll along the pebbled shore. Take a break at one of the cozy cafes and indulge in a cup of coffee or a delectable snack while admiring the mesmerizing view of the waves colliding with the rugged rocks.

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

The hottest month of the island is August - air temperature during this time warms up to 23.3°C and water up to 24°C in September. The coldest month is January - air temperature drops to 17.6°C and water to 19°C.

Do you know how many beaches there are in Madeira island? In total there are 24 beaches and the most popular is Praia de Machico.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in Madeira island?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in Madeira island, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 24 beaches in total, of which about 2 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in Madeira island:

View all beaches in Madeira island and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in Madeira island?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in Madeira island, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in Madeira island and create your selection by features.

How to view all beaches in Madeira island on map?

What are all easy accessible beaches in Madeira island?

Most of the beaches located in Madeira island are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in Madeira island by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in Madeira island:

View all beaches in Madeira island and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in Madeira island?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

View all beaches in Madeira island and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in Madeira island?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in Madeira island by occupancy.

Popular categories:

View all beaches in Madeira island and select by features

Which beaches in Madeira island are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

How to view all beaches by amenities details in Madeira island?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in Madeira island and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in Madeira island?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in Madeira island and select by activity