Beaches in Madeira - where to swim on the island

Beaches in Madeira – where to swim on Madeira Island and Porto Santo. Sandy beaches – with yellow and black volcanic sand, pebble beaches, lava pools.

When people say Madeira isn’t about a beach holiday, I want to say—it’s not that simple.

Yes, Madeira is about mountains, incredible nature, beautiful ocean, hiking trails. But if you add the opportunity to swim in the sea to all this variety, it just becomes a perfect trip.

So, here’s a complete list of beaches, lava pools, and places to swim. And at any time of year—we swam in the ocean in January and it was pure delight!

TOP-10 in Madeira – for visit for the first time

When you can swim in the ocean in Madeira

All year round, as long as you’re not looking for +30℃ water )))

The ocean water temperature near Madeira ranges from +15 to 25℃ throughout the year thanks to the climate and the island’s location. Take advantage of your stay in Madeira to relax on the beaches, and why not swim in the ocean?

You can also swim in Madeira in winter. I swam even on the north of the island at Seixal beach. The water was +19℃, the air temperature about the same. It was a thrill, but psychologically, it’s hard to get into the water. But then you get used to it quickly.

Tides on Madeira

When swimming on Madeira’s beaches, you need to check the tide schedule. By the way, tides aren’t dependent on where you are on the island, but only on the lunar phase and time of day. Therefore, the schedule for Funchal will be the schedule for the whole -3 GMT time zone.

On sandy beaches, it’s better during low tide, when the beach gets bigger. And on pebble beaches, it’s better during high tide: there’s no seaweed smell and less chance of slipping. During daylight, the water level can change by up to 3 meters.

Example of a website to check the tide schedule on Madeira: www.tide-forecast.com

Natural lava pools in Madeira

Lava natural pools are located by the shore and are filled with ocean water during storms. Natural pools on Madeira can be found in several places, namely:

Porto Moniz pools
Seixal (Seixal pools)
Lava pools in Funchal – Piscinas Naturais da Doca do Cavacas, one of the island’s natural pools. The spot is equipped, swimming is paid but affordable (3 euros).
You may come across small wild natural pools elsewhere, just driving around the island and exploring.

Lava pools are paid and free. Paid pools are usually the same price—3 euros per adult ticket.

Natural pools of Porto Moniz

Porto Moniz is a must-see in Madeira. Because here are the most popular pools—at least to see, at most to swim in. I didn’t swim in them due to strong winds at the cape when we were in Porto Moniz in winter. Now I think—maybe I should have, because the water is quite warm even in winter?

Paid lava pools – Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz

These pools belong to the hotel Aqua Natura Madeira. Hotel guests have free access to this pool. The pools are equipped with ladders and even have a children’s area. This idyllic spot has a pool of almost 3,800 m² and despite that is very popular in summer and will give you wonderful impressions.

Location: north of the island in Porto Moniz – here.
Price: entrance to the lava pools is 3 euros per day. Umbrellas and sun loungers are extra. You can exit and re-enter throughout the day.
Infrastructure: changing rooms, lockers for personal belongings, snack bar (open in summer), first aid, sun loungers and umbrellas for rent.
Opening hours: summer 9:00 – 19:00; winter 10:00 – 17:30.
Condition: everything is well maintained, clean, the water is clear, the bottom/steps have no seaweed or slime.

Free lava pools – Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz

Location: north of the island in Porto Moniz – here
Price: free. Open access for walking and swimming in the pools.
Infrastructure: just a shower. There is the Cachalote restaurant on the territory.
Condition: beautiful, but in winter there is a lot of slime on the steps and on the bottom. Very slippery. There are seaweed on the rocks in the water.

Hotels in Porto Moniz:

Casa da Grota≫ – Beautiful house, tastefully decorated, with everything you need. Numerous relaxation areas inside and outside. Well-equipped kitchen. Great quiet location, 10 minutes’ drive from the ocean.
The Jolie Apartments – by the Ocean≫ – Nice location, in the center, great view from the window, small but comfortable apartment. There’s a balcony, a washing machine, even detergent, and a very comfortable bed.

Lesser-known pool in Seixal

Location: north of the island in Seixal – here
Price: free. Open access for walking and swimming in the pools.
Infrastructure: there is a shower, toilets, bar

You can find very similar lava pools in Seixal, with rocks breaking the waves and crystal-clear water. There are two specific spots for swimming, each equipped with ladders. There’s a bar by the pools, as well as toilets. This place is a bit smaller than Porto Moniz and so is less well known. Therefore, if you get the chance to enjoy these pools, you’ll likely avoid the big crowds.

Hotels in Seixal:

Casas das Hortas, Apartamento Vista Mar≫ – The apartment location is ideal: near a sandy beach, volcanic natural pools, and great restaurants. Very close to other beautiful scenic spots. Balcony with an amazing view of the ocean and rocks.
Casa Das Videiras≫ – Convenient location, parking nearby, amazing scenery all around, comfortable bed, heater, possibility to dry things, spacious shower, house with history, and a kitchen for self-catering.

Doca do Cavacas pools – natural pool in Funchal

Location: south of the island in Funchal – here
Price: paid – 3 euros.
Infrastructure: there’s a shower, toilets, sunbeds, ladders, bar

Doca do Cavacas beach complex, located east of Formosa beach in Funchal, is also one of the most beautiful natural pools on the island. The price is affordable—3 euros. There’s everything you need for a good time: shower, bar, chairs, and umbrellas. It’s perfect if you want to discover these amazing pools without going all across the island or if you decide to spend some time in the capital.

Hotels in Funchal near Doca do Cavacas pools

LUX OCEAN VIEW Apartment Varino 05≫ – Very well-equipped modern apartments. Pleasant and responsive hosts. Excellent ocean and sunset view. Great location—near shops, shopping center, cafés, promenade, and ocean.
Golden Residence Hotel≫ – Neat, clean hotel. Tasty breakfasts, you can have a good dinner at the restaurant. Friendly staff, great location. There are two private pools and it’s close to natural ones. Beautiful ocean views.

Sandy beaches on Madeira and Porto Santo

When people say there are no beaches on Madeira, you want to say—you probably haven’t been to Madeira. Of course, there aren’t many, but there are still some. On Madeira there are beaches with black volcanic sand, with yellow sand imported from the Sahara. There are also a few pebble beaches, where people also swim if the weather is calm.

Moreover, the neighboring island in the archipelago—Porto Santo—has a huge sandy beach with yellow sand stretching for as much as 9 km. I haven’t been there yet, but you should know about it too.

Sandy beaches with black volcanic sand

Prainha Beach

Location: on the east of the island not far from the start of PR 8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço trail.
Beach location: in a cozy bay surrounded by cliffs.
Beach access: you can’t drive directly to the beach. Parking is at the top along the road. From the parking, you walk downhill to the beach, with an elevation change of 39-53 meters (depending on your parking spot and chosen trail). Walking back up is a bit strenuous.
Beach infrastructure: in season there’s a café, sunbeds for rent, showers, changing rooms. Off-season, showers are available and there’s a place to change.

This is a natural beach with black sand and is liked by tourists who come to hike the San Lourenço trail. And not only that—there’s a free parking area above, so it’s easy to get here—so the place is quite popular.

Natural black volcanic sand. The entrance to the ocean is also sand. There are stones on the beach, but they’re behind you and on the right side of the beach (if you face the ocean). The beach looks and feels sandy. At different times the beach can look different. Tides affect the width of the sand strip.

Hotels near Prainha beach

Villa Prainha by LovelyStay≫ – Very spacious villa, plenty of space for a large family or group, with great amenities. Good location, so you can easily access major roads by car.

Praia do Porto do Seixal

Location: 9 km from Porto Moniz in the town of Seixal on the north of the island.
Beach location: on the right side are beautiful mountains and northern landscapes, on the left a long concrete breakwater. Behind you is a concrete wall.
Beach access: you can drive almost directly to parking by the beach. Parking here.
Beach infrastructure: showers, changing room, above the beach is a free toilet, swimming complex with a café next door.

The beach with black volcanic sand in the town of Seixal on the north of Madeira island. The natural black volcanic sand is fine and very soft. There are almost no stones on the beach. The entrance to the ocean is also sand and quite gentle. There can be small waves here. The breakwater does not give full protection from them. But the wall and cliffs offer good protection from the wind—even in January it was very warm to swim here.

My personal impressions: an awesome beach for swimming—wide and long. Plenty of room, and there’s space for kids to play in the sand. The cliffs above the beach are very picturesque—I actually liked the look of the north of the island more. There may be no sun, but it looks and feels great here.

Beach near Orca Praia Hotel

Location: This small beach is located on the south of the island in Funchal here—immediately under Hotel Orca Praia.
Beach access: the beach is located next to the Funchal promenade, which stretches for several kilometers to the town of Câmara de Lobos.
Beach infrastructure: the beach itself is free and has no facilities. But above the promenade there is a small area with sun loungers, showers, a toilet, and even a pool belonging to the hotel, which its guests can enjoy. If you walk 200 meters further, there are free toilets of the public beach complex Praia Formosa.

On the long pebble beach Praia Formosa, there is a stretch with black volcanic sand. This section is called Areeiro beach. This is because the Praia Formosa (complex) consists of 4 beaches: Praia Nova, Formosa, Namorados, and Areeiro. Volcanic sand is only found at Prainha do Arieiro beach. Territoriality, this is next to Hotel Orca Praia. There are large sections of black volcanic sand on the pebble beach—some mixed with stones, others purely sandy.

So, this beach is great for hotel guests and is perfect if you’re walking along the promenade on a hot day—you can swim on pleasant sand. Bring your swimwear so you don’t waste time going back during a great walk.

Praia da Ribeira Brava

Location: Ribeira Brava town on the south side of Madeira, and the Praia da Ribeira Brava beach is here.
Beach access is very simple—directly from the Ribeira Brava promenade. There’s no parking on the promenade, only paid street parking in the city, or a covered parking here.
Beach infrastructure: umbrellas, showers, changing rooms, paid pool.

A small beach with black volcanic sand, protected by a large breakwater from high waves. If you’re interested specifically in a beach holiday—I recommend this spot. The entrance to the water is sandy, but part of the beach is pebbly—by the promenade and paid pool. You can lie on your own towel on the sand, or on sun loungers on the stones.

Hotels near the beach in Ribeira Brava

OurMadeira – TerraceSea Caldeirão Verde≫ – modern clean apartments with a terrace and ocean view, located a 5-minute walk from Ribeira Brava beach.
4 Saints apartement≫ – apartments located on the promenade, with a view of the beach and ocean, the beach is a minute’s walk away. Has its own fully-equipped kitchen, downstairs there’s a vegetable and fruit shop, and there are good restaurants right next door.

Beaches with yellow imported sand:

Praia Machico – Praia da Banda Além

Location: on the south of the island, in the city of Machico, Praia da Banda Além – here.
Beach access is very simple. Free parking directly on the promenade, just steps from the beach.
Beach infrastructure: umbrellas, showers, changing rooms.

Praia da Banda Além is one of two beaches with yellow sand brought from Morocco. It is one of two Machico beaches—both are along the same promenade. There’s a road right behind the promenade, but you don’t notice it when sitting on the beach.

This beach is great for families with children. The sand is pleasant and yellow, sandy bottom, good entry to the water. The beach is quite large, with a wide strip of sand, it’s cozy, and the water is clean. On the left side of the beach are yachts and boats. There is a volleyball court. The beach is free. Breakwaters and a stone pier protect this beach from waves.

Hotels in Machico near Praia da Banda Além

There are hotels nearby—making it a great place to stay for a beach vacation and exploring the island. Here is an example of apartments near the beach.

Dom Pedro Madeira≫ – Very cozy place, has its own pool, close to the ocean, very convenient for early flights. The hotel is not new but is clean. Located near the Machico beaches.
GuestReady – Peaceful getaway near the beach≫ – apartments in the city center with a large living room, balcony, and kitchen. The price is reasonable, and it’s very comfortable. It’s near the beach and the center, plus there are shops and restaurants. Very convenient location and the place is clean.

Praia da Calheta

Location: in the city of Calheta here.
Beach access is very simple. Parking on the promenade by the beach/on the streets before the descent to the beach.
Beach infrastructure: fully equipped. There are showers, changing rooms, umbrellas, and sunbeds for rent.

Calheta beach consists of two sectors—two huge semicircular breakwaters close it from the ocean. The sand is in two places facing each other, with ocean space divided between them by the breakwaters. The sand is imported—yellow from Morocco, as there is no native sand here. They say that at first the sand was simply dumped on the shore designated for the beach. The waves washed it all away into the ocean. They had to try again, and that’s when the breakwaters appeared, which hold off the waves and protect the sand onshore.

So, the entrance to the water is gentle, the bottom is also sandy, there are no waves—it’s great for relaxing with children. The beach is 100 m long, the recreation area is 7,300 sq. m.

Hotels near Calheta beach:

Bluegreen≫ – very clean studio, extremely comfortable bed, amazing ocean view. Convenient for those with a rental car, you can park in front of the building garage. Access to the pool is through the yard, passing by a lower apartment than the one we stayed in. Kitchen is equipped with everything for a quick breakfast.
Room in Studio – Discover Magical Calheta≫ – studio is located 15 minutes from Calheta beach, equipped with all amenities. There is a garden and a terrace, perfect for spending evenings.

Beach on Porto Santo island

Location: located on the island of Porto Santo, specifically here.
Beach access is very simple—the beach is gigantic, there’s a road along it and lots of parking. Between the road and the beach is a rather high sand dune.
Beach infrastructure: the beach stretches for 9 km, has many cafés, wild areas, and also developed areas with showers, changing rooms, umbrellas, and sunbeds for rent.

The island of Porto Santo in the Madeira archipelago earned the nickname the Golden Island because of its huge 9-kilometer sandy beach.

It covers the entire southwest coast, with not a single pebble to hurt your feet: sand, sand, and more sand! The climate is perfect, and there’s nothing like going there for a day to relax and swim in the clear turquoise waters or even surf! In a word, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Atlantic. However, beware of a few rocks in the water and the dangers of the ocean! In summer, some stretches of the beach are guarded by lifeguards.

Praia do Porto Santo is so huge, it’s divided into smaller beaches:

Praia do Penedo – closest to the harbor where the ferry from Madeira arrives
Praia da Fontinha
Praia do Ribeiro Salgado
Praia Cabeço da Ponta
Praia dos Caracóis
Praia da Lagoa
a secluded little beach at Ponta da Calheta cape

Hotels on Porto Santo:

Charming Beach Villa Porto Santo≫ – large apartment in excellent condition. Clean and well equipped. 10 minutes’ walk from the center and close to the beach (via stairs).
Sotavento Guest House≫ – Fantastic location, less than 100 meters from the beach and the waves, less than 100 meters from a great supermarket and right in the center of the main town. The penthouse apartment has a stunning balcony more than 30 meters long facing south, with incredible views of the sea and mountains. The apartment has everything needed for cooking, sleeping, and laundry.

Location: in Porto da Cruz here.
Beach access: easy. Paid parking not far from the beach here.
Beach infrastructure: equipped. Changing rooms, shower. Sunbeds and umbrellas for rent; on the left side of the beach (when facing the ocean) there are paid pools. There’s a restaurant behind the beach.

Some sources (including the site visitmadeira.pt) say this is a sandy beach—with black volcanic sand. But this is not true: this is a pebble beach, there is hardly any sand. You really have to look to notice the sand.

The beach is located in a natural bay; the beach surface is pebbles with some sand. Sometimes there’s less sand, sometimes more—it depends on tides and storms. The best place to enter the ocean is on the left side of the beach (when facing the ocean)—there the bottom is more sandy, less gravel and rocks. But this can change after big waves, which are often here—be careful and do not swim during storms.

Hotels near Praia da Alagoa

House pc≫ – Cozy and beautiful house with great views. The house has a garden, nice location, and views. The covered pool next to the living room with doors and windows that open lets you enjoy swimming in any weather.

Praia do Garajau

Location: under the cliff crowned by the Cristo Rei statue in Garajau here.
Beach access: by car / via cable car / theoretically on foot. Parking above the beach here.
Beach infrastructure: equipped pebble beach, there is a café and a diving center.

Equipped pebble beach, with a café and a diving center. The beach is located below the cliff (below the Cristo Rei statue in Garajau). Access to the beach by car / by cable car / theoretically also on foot. The pebbles on the beach range from small to medium in size, and the ocean is usually calmer here. The beach is charming, with a unique carved rock to the side. When the tide is out, there’s a path at the base of the carved rock above the ocean.

The stones on the beach are more like small pebbles. There is a café, shower, and full beach infrastructure. The beach is fairly large. There is also a diving center, where you can try diving in Madeira.

How to get to the beach under the Cristo Rei statue:

a) go down by car via a winding road. The road looks steep, but it’s fine, a normal road.
b) take the cable car. Paid—5 euros round trip. Operates Mon–Sun 10 am–8 pm. It descends from 200 meters higher.

Hotels near Praia do Garajau

The Garajau Views≫ – Beautiful villa, recently built, incredibly well furnished. From rooms on the second floor and the balcony there is a wonderful view of the Cristo Rei statue. Great value for money.
Studio Amarelo, Ocean View by Villa-Kasia≫ – absolutely stunning place to stay—amazing view, close to many places—bakeries, restaurants, attractions (beach, cable car, viewpoints). The apartment is great—clean, nicely decorated, and very well equipped.

Praia da Ponta do Sol

Location: in the town of Ponta do Sol, specifically here.
Beach access: Very simple access. Parking nearby. Everyone parks for free inside the old tunnel.
Beach infrastructure: Equipped. A very rocky pebble beach with a café on the shore. There are wooden walkways for convenience.

The beach has large pebbles. There may be a bit of black sand during low tide. Still, it’s a popular spot because it’s the seashore. The scenery is beautiful, with high cliffs and a pair of waterfalls pouring off the rocks into the ocean. The beach is large in area. It is protected from the waves by a concrete breakwater.

Hotels near Ponta do Sol beach:

Sunscape Nature Apt de 1 quarto Ponta do Sol≫ – Very spacious, bright, and clean apartment, very quiet and has a wonderful balcony for dining. Fully equipped kitchen. Location is perfect, about 2 minutes to reach the beach, surrounded by great restaurants.
Enotel Sunset Bay≫ – Great location by the beach and several good restaurants around the corner. The hotel garage made it easy to arrive and depart by rental car.

Praia das Palmeiras

Location: in the town of Santa Cruz, specifically here.
Beach access: Beaches are located by the Santa Cruz promenade. Parking nearby—by the supermarket, €0.8 per hour.
Beach infrastructure: Equipped pebble beach with a café on the shore. Umbrellas, sunbeds, shower, café, and wooden walkways are available.

Beautiful rocky beach with several pontoons, umbrellas, beach shower, and wooden sunbeds. Nearby is an equally beautiful promenade. Low-flying airplanes overhead. Immediately next to the beach there is a playground where kids can play quietly—all in the city center.

Hotels near Praia das Palmeiras

Santa Cruz Village Hotel≫ – Good location for a reasonable price. Everything is as it should be in the hotel, there is a pool, gym, and a decent breakfast. 24-hour check-in/check-out and possibility to leave luggage after check-out. Parking is available, but the number of spots is limited.
Villa Beach Club≫ – Villa with a stunning ocean view. The pool is great, quite large, water warm even in May. The living area is very bright and extended by a spacious terrace, ideal for enjoying meals outside in the sun.
Casa da Vila≫ – Place is very clean, modern, and spacious, located 5 minutes’ walk from central Santa Cruz. Rooms are cozy, well-furnished, and attractive. Beds are very comfortable. Sunny balcony with a sea view—the best addition.

Useful articles and links:

Car rental – there are always cheap options on the aggregator Rentalcars.com
Green card and travel medical insurance for trips abroad – online at HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment booking – Booking.com

Where to swim in Madeira – beaches, natural pools

When you can swim in the ocean in Madeira

Tides on Madeira