Madeira is a volcanic island. That’s why you won’t find long stretches of white sandy beaches here, but rather many mountains and elevation changes. You don’t come to Madeira to bake on the beach for days but mainly for the beautiful walks. Still, you will find fine beaches in a number of places in Madeira. The 8 most beautiful beaches in Madeira are further explained below.
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1. Praia da Calheta
This is the most popular and one of the most beautiful beaches in Madeira. Praia da Calheta is located in the town of Calheta, in southwestern Madeira. Praia da Calheta is so popular because sand is placed on two sides. This makes for a beautiful picture. The beach is constructed with sand from the Sahara Desert. Because Madeira is a volcanic island, there is no natural yellow sand on the island. Calheta is a good destination and a nice beach if you want to take a break from all the hiking and activities on Madeira. The Google Maps location can be found here.
2. Praia de Machico
This is also one of the most beautiful beaches in Madeira. That’s because, along with Praia da Calheta, these are the only beaches constructed with the yellow sand from the Sahara. Machico is a fine town to stay for 2 days. Around the beach are many cozy restaurants. The Google Maps location can be found here.
3. Praia do Porto do Seixal
This is our personal favorite: in our opinion, Praia do Porto do Seixal is the most beautiful beach in Madeira. This beautiful, natural beach has black sand and is right on the mountain. When you walk from the beach into the sea you have an insane view. We had to pinch each other a few times, this is such a special place! This beach, especially in summer, does get very crowded. Make sure you get to Praia do Porto do Seixal a little early in the morning so you can get there before the crowds. The Google Maps location can be found here.
4. Praia Formosa
This beach is Funchal’s only beach and is located west of the city. You can get here by bus or walk 45 – 60 minutes from town. If you don’t want this, you can also book a Bolt that will take you to Praia Formosa.
Praia Formosa is a nice beach to chill out for an afternoon. It is a black sand beach and therefore does get hot quickly. At the beach you will find a number of small restaurants where you can have lunch and a cold drink. The Google Maps location can be found here.
Tip: also read all our tips for the city of Funchal
5. Lido pools
Okay officially this is not a beach but it does offer coolness. It should not be among the most beautiful beaches in Madeira, but we made an exception. Located near Praia Formosa, this pool complex is popular with many families and households. Therefore, during the summer period, it is very busy during the day. Be sure to arrive early (around 10:00 a.m.) to secure a spot. An entrance ticket, without a lounger and parasol, costs €5.20 per person.
6. Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço is a wonderful hike you can do. It takes you about 1.5 hours to get to the end. At the end of the hike are two pebble beaches where you can enjoy the sun and water. From here, you can also choose to take a boat back instead of walking back. The Google Maps location of the beaches can be found here.
7. Porto da Cruz
Porto da Cruz is a small, charming village which is located by the sea. The beach has black sand and some pebbles. If you walk a little further you come to a fine swimming pool. Admission costs €2 per person. You can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas. The water in the pool is sea water so it is salty. This is the Google Maps location of the beach.
8. São Vicente
São Vicente beach is a pebble beach. You won’t spend an entire afternoon lounging here but it is a nice place to have an afternoon drink. It is an elongated beach that runs the entire length of the São Vicente promenade.
These were the most beautiful beaches in Madeira. Hopefully you have been inspired to visit one of these beaches during your trip to Madeira. Want more Madeira inspiration? Then check out all of our Madeira blogs.
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