1. Miradouro do Ponta da Ladeira

The viewpoint Miradouro do Ponta da Ladeira is by far the most beautiful spot to watch the sunset on Madeira. This place right on the coast can be found in the northwest of the island near Porto Moniz. From the parking lot you walk a few meters on an adventurous, narrow unpaved path, right next to the abyss and through the reeds. Walk a bit down to a small plateau where you can enjoy the last sun rays of the day.

You look far out over the Atlantic Ocean and if you look down you can see the isolated small farming area of ​​Fajã da Quebrada, with a number of huts. The farmers come to this region to work on handmade products.

You can visit the remote area Fajã da Quebrada. For only €5 you buy a return ticket and the steep cable car Achadas da Cruz takes you down 600 meters in 5 minutes. The views from below are spectacular.

Also read: A trip to Madeira: 16 best things to do & see on the island

2. Miradouro do Véu da Noiva

The impressive viewpoint Miradouro do Véu da Noiva is located right along the road. Here you look out over a huge waterfall that pours straight into the ocean. Be amazed by the jagged coastline with steep green cliffs, the deep blue ocean and hear the wild waves crash against the cliffs. To enjoy this special natural phenomenon, it is best to park your car in this parking lot.

3. Pico do Areeiro

Pico do Areeiro is one of the highest mountain peaks (1818 meters) on Madeira. And offers the most beautiful viewpoints to watch the sunrise. If the weather conditions are perfect, you will be high above the clouds here. That must be so special! We drove to the top twice at sunrise, but ‘unfortunately’ they were two clear mornings, so there was not a gigantic cloud cover to be seen. But even then this point is very magical to see the sun illuminating all the surrounding mountain peaks.

There is a parking lot near Pico do Areeiro. If you want a spot, get here as early as possible, because Pico do Areeiro is the most popular place on the island to watch the sunrise. Most people watch the sunrise from this spot, right next to the road and parking lot. We recommend you to walk for about 15-20 minutes to the viewpoint Miradouro do Ninho da Manta. It is quieter here and we think the view is much more remote and special.

4. Magical views of the Ponta de São Lourenço Peninsula

Ponta de São Lourenço is a 6 km long peninsula in the easternmost part of Madeira. There are several beautiful viewpoints here and you can make an incredible hike. The first time we came here, we stranded during the golden hour at the viewpoint Miradouro de São Lourenço with beautiful rock formations. We were treated to a magical show where the sky turned into warm and dreamy colors. We stayed here for a very, very long time until it got dark.

A few days later we returned to the peninsula Ponta de São Lourenço to do the PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço hike and we think this is definitely a must do when you are on Madeira. During the hike you are constantly surrounded by panoramic views. Over the coastline, jagged cliffs, colorful fields and a moon-like landscape.

Read more about hiking on Madeira + 6 beautiful hikes

The end point of the hike is the viewpoint Miradouro Ponta do Furado. After a short but tough climb you are treated to a beautiful view of the very last part of the uninhabited peninsula. The colorful landscape contrasts perfectly with the blue Atlantic Ocean. From this point you can also see the neighboring island of Porto Santo in the distance.

Note, Miradouro Ponta do Furado is the only view in this blog that takes a lot of time to get there. You reach this point after about 1.5 hours of walking.

5. Cristo Rei Viewpoint

On top of a hill, on the edge of a gigantic cliff, stands the imposing 14 meter high statue Cristo Rei. It is the oldest of the 3 most famous Cristo Rei statues (in Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon and Madeira). The statue was built in 1927 and there are several stories about why it was built. One of the reasons would be to welcome strangers with open arms who are traveling to Madeira via the ocean.

Not only the statue is impressive, but also the view you have from here is spectacular. Look around you and spot the Atlantic Ocean, the bay of Funchal and Caniço and if you look down, there is a beach at the bottom of the cliff, Garajau, which you can walk to via a winding path. The path is quite steep, another alternative is to take the cable car down.

The Cristo Rei viewpoint is very accessible. Next to the lookout is a large parking lot.

6. Miradouro da Vigia

In the northeast of Madeira you will find many beautiful and still undiscovered viewpoints. Here you are guaranteed to stop your car continuously. In our opinion the most beautiful view in this part of the island is Miradouro da Vigia. You look out over the huge cliffs, the rough ocean, colorful flowers and the lighthouse of Ponta de São Jorge.

7. Viewpoints in Câmara de Lobos

In addition to the extraordinary nature on Madeira, there is another nice side of the island to discover. Madeira has many picturesque coastal villages. Our favorite one is Câmara de Lobos which is about 10 minutes drive from Funchal. Câmara de Lobos is an authentic fishing village, hidden in a cove of rocks, where colorful fishing boats bob on the blue ocean. The village is surrounded by dramatic cliffs, green vineyards and banana plantations. The location and surroundings offer fantastic viewpoints!

8. Miradouro de Terra Grande

If you are touring on Madeira with a car, you will certainly drive through the Terra Grande valley a few times. This area is almost the center of the island and from here you can go in almost all directions. As you drive through the valley you will encounter epic views every time. There are often widenings along the road where you can stop the car for a while. Enjoy the green valley, the vineyards and the small villages built between the hills of the valley.

9. Miradouro do Paúl do Mar

Paúl do Mar is a town on the southwest coast of the island. The old coastal route that you can drive from Ponta do Pargo, Lombada Dos Marinheiros towards Paúl do Mar and ending in Jardim do Mar is one of the most beautiful roads to drive on Madeira! It can be a challenging road to drive at times. You drive a steep winding road that leads you through narrow old and unlit tunnels that take you directly through the cliffs to the most beautiful viewpoints. The viewpoint Miradouro do Paúl do Mar is also located on this route. It is definitely worth parking the car along the road to fully enjoy this view.

10. Viewpoints in São Vicente

In a vast valley in the north of Madeira lies the picturesque village of São Vicente. Here you will find the chapel Nossa Senhora de Fatima on top of one of the hills. The 14 meter high bell tower protrudes above the hills and is therefore a real eye-catcher. Climb up for a breathtaking view and to get a closer look of the remarkable chapel. From the top you are surrounded by peaks and the green plateaus of the valley, where the typical houses with terracotta colored roofs are built on the slopes.

11. Miradouro dos Balcões

In 1.5 kilometers you walk to the beautiful view Miradouro dos Balcões. From the ‘balcony’, which is located in the middle of the Natural Park Parque Natural da Madeira, you look out over the green valley Ribeira da Metada. With clear weather you can see the three highest peaks of the island; Pico do Areeiro (1818 m), Pico das Torres (1851 m) and Pico Ruivo (1862 m).

This viewpoint is the perfect place for bird watching. Bring some nuts, seeds or fruit and wait patiently. Then they will fly to you for a snack.