Looking for some Instagram photo spots in Madeira? This post is full of picture-perfect Madeira photo spots you won’t want to miss during your time in Madeira, from tropical gardens, waterfalls and hiking locations for Madeira’s best views!
There’s no denying, that Portugal has incredible photo locations, but what you may not know as some of the most picturesque photography spots in Portugal are located on the Portuguese island of Madeira; a sub-tropical paradise in the heart of Europe.
Madeira is the perfect destination if you’re looking for one of the most instagrammable places in Portugal! With stunning landscapes and incredible photo opportunities around every corner; Madeira is a photographer’s dream location.
There are plenty of Instagrammable places on Madeira, so I’ve put together a list of the best Madeira photo spots to help you capture some amazing pictures on your next visit!
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Madeira Photo Spots in Funchal City Centre
Visiting Madeira for the first time or looking to explore Madeira without a car? You’ll be pleased to know there are some pretty photo spots in Funchal; Madeira’s capital that you can reach on foot. So, let’s start with Funchal!
Though, to see the best of Madeira you do absolutely need to venture outside Funchal too! Head over to my Madeira 7-Day Itinerary post for all the details of the tours I did during my visit to Madeira.
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens & Botanical Gardens
The flowers of Madeira parades are a big deal on the island and take place several times throughout Spring. However, even when there’s no parade you can still enjoy Madeira’s flowers in all their glory at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
This is one of my favourite Madeira photo spots as it’s jam-packed full of exotic flowers, plants and incredible views of Funchal city.
The Monte Palace Tropical Gardens takes visitors not only on an exploration of flowers but there are also interesting artefacts and sculptures from around the world to be discovered in the gardens too.
The Asian-inspired pagodas and walkways are particularly pretty for photo opportunities whilst in Madeira.
Don’t miss checking out the koi carp in the ponds around the gardens, before admiring the wisteria-adorned railing overlooking the waterfall located in the gardens.
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is open every day from 9am-6pm and entry costs €7 for adults, €3.50 for children aged 6-12 years and it’s free for children under 6 years.
If time allows, don’t miss exploring the botanical gardens in addition! I missed these during my trip, which can only mean I must return to Madeira!
Funchal Cable Car & Teleférico do Faial
Before visiting the Monte Palace Gardens, you’ve got to get there first! The Funchal cable car gives you the perfect scenic route to the gardens, so it would be rude not to take it…
If you’re looking for an aerial view of Funchal, taking the cable car from Funchal city centre up to Monte will give you not only pretty panoramic views of Funchal and the surrounding areas, but you’ll also get to ride in one of Madeira’s iconic wicker baskets on the way down – Don’t worry, if you chicken out you can still take the return cable car back down!
The cable car runs every day from 9am-6pm (last cable car down is at 5.30pm) and a return ticket costs €15 for adults, €7.50 for children aged 6-12 years and it’s free for children under the age of 6 years.
Faial viewpoint is one of Madeira’s most popular viewpoints so it can get pretty busy, especially during peak times. With this in mind, it’s best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds.
Madeira Sledge Ride
It could be argued it’s no visit to Madeira without going on the famous Madeira toboggan ride! This iconic Madeira attraction was another photo hotspot in Madeira I’d seen on Instagram before my visit
Operated by Carreiros do Monte, the Monte toboggan wicker sledges have been transporting locals and tourists for over 100 years. In fact, these sledges were the first transportation in Portugal in the 19th Century and were used as a faster means to transport aristocratic members of society to Funchal below.
These days, they have quickly become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madeira and I can see why!
Whether you want to snap a photo of the carreiros (sledge drivers) in their traditional dress as a Madeira keepsake, or you want to purchase a candid picture of you enjoying the sledge ride with your loved ones (it is quite the experience!) Don’t miss out on the Madeira toboggan ride!
Pretty Painted Doors Rua de Santa Maria Funchal
A work of art can be found on almost every doorway in Funchal’s Old Town, thanks to a restoration project undertaken in 2010 to revive the area.
One of the most photographed areas in Funchal, Rua de Santa Maria is a narrow street lined with colourful houses, each with its own unique door design.
The Pretty Painted Doors of Rua de Santa Maria make for some great photo opportunities and are one of the best Instagram spots in Madeira.
If you’re looking for a spot for lunch or a refreshing drink after taking photos, there are plenty of cafes and bars located nearby too.
Reid’s Palace
This opulent hotel is one of the most iconic buildings on Madeira, and its Moorish-inspired architecture makes for a beautiful backdrop in photos.
It’s definitely worth snapping a few pics outside the palace if you’re in Funchal, and if you go inside, don’t miss the famous Reid’s Palace afternoon tea in Madeira (it looks as good as the ones in England!)
Mercado dos Lavradores – Madeira Food Market
Mercado dos Lavradores is a popular place to visit in Madeira and visitors are welcomed to a colourful array of flowers, fruit and souvenirs to browse.
Surprisingly, visiting the market also presents a Madeira photo opportunity for your Instagram feed. The building itself is quite a sight, with its vibrant blue and white painted exterior and, did I mention the colourful fruit and flowers?!!
If you want to make the most of your visit to Mercado dos Lavradores, I recommend going early in the morning when it’s less crowded and you can take your time browsing the stalls.
However, a word to the wise, be sure to check prices before committing to buying anything as the fruit, in particular, may be more expensive than you envisaged!
Cristiano Ronaldo Statue Funchal Harbour
I mean, is it a trip to Madeira without getting papped with Madeira’s most famous icon?!!
If you missed Ronaldo’s statue at the aptly named Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira Internation Airport, do not fear Ronaldo is near! Head to Funchal Harbour to pose for a photo with Ronaldo outside his very own CR7 Museum.
It’s not difficult to tell which aspects of the statue are fan favourites either…
Bordalo in Madeira Harbour
Finding Bordalo street artworks is one of my all-time favourite things to do in Portugal!
There are two Bordalo’s to uncover in Madeira, the fish is at Funchal Harbour and there is also another iconic Bordalo artwork designed as a seal located in Câmara de Lobos, which you may want to see if you love Bordalo’s street art as much as I do!
Bordalo is a Portuguese street artist who uses rubbish and other people’s trash to create animal/nature-themed art-works to highlight the impact of waste and, quite literally, turn one man’s trash into another man’s treasure.
After tracking down Bordalo street art in Miami, Lisbon, Porto and now Madeira, I can firmly say my absolute favourite is the rabbit in Porto (but you will have to head over to my Porto City Break post to see why!)
Madeira Windmills (Molinos de Agua)
The Madeira windmills (known as molinos de agua in Portuguese) are a group of traditional windmills located near Funchal harbour. These windmills were used for grinding wheat and corn and are now a popular spot for Madeira photography.
The best time to visit the Madeira windmills is early in the morning or at sunset when the light gives a bright glow to your pictures.
Best Views Madeira Photo Spots
When it comes to views, Madeira is unlike any other place I’ve visited and to see the best the island has to offer you must escape the city and explore!
If it’s your first time visiting Madeira or you are exploring Madeira without a car, then I would absolutely recommend booking a jeep tour. The sunrise jeep tour in my Madeira itinerary picked us up directly from the Madeira hotel in Funchal, which was ideal!
Famous ViewPoints in Madeira
Ok, so there are lots of Madeira viewpoints claiming to offer the best views of Madeira island, therefore let’s kick off with the most famous viewpoints in Madeira first.
Pico do Arieiro
If like me, you browsed images of Madeira on Instagram, one photo spot in Madeira I’m sure you’ve come across before visiting is Pico do Arieiro.
I was truly amazed when I saw photos of Pico do Arieiro on Instagram as this Madeira viewpoint takes you right above the clouds! How is it that Madeira has viewpoints so high they take you above the clouds! Baffling isn’t it?!!
At 1818 metres tall, Pico do Arieiro is the third highest peak in Madeira and gives stunning 360 views over Madeira, so you can truly take in all its beauty.
The Madeira sunrise Jeep tour with Madeira Mountain Expeditions takes you up to the summit for a sunrise that is definitely worth waking up for!
Cabo Girão Skywalk Madeira
Madeira’s second-highest peak, Cabo Girão is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Madeira and for a good reason.
If there’s a viewpoint giving you the “don’t look down moment” it’s the Cabo Girão Skywalk, which has a glass-bottom viewing platform.
The glass floor viewing platform offers stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean, nearby cliffs and the city of Câmara de Lobos (where you can check out the Bordalo artwork I mentioned at the start of the post). If you’re brave enough to do it!
Pico Ruivo Madeira’s Highest Peak
Pico Ruivo is the highest peak in Madeira at 1862 metres tall and offers some of the best panoramic views on the island. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Porto Santo and apparently even the Sahara desert!
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not hike up Pico Ruivo? The hike takes around 3-4 hours and is a challenging climb, but if you’re looking for an epic backdrop for your Instagram photos, look no further than Pico Ruivo!
If you’re not feeling up to a hike, you can also take a bus to Pico Ruivo – just make sure you allow enough time to get back down before sunset.
Eira do Serrado
Eira do Serrado is a small village located in the municipality of Santana and is home to one of the best viewpoints on Madeira. The viewpoint offers stunning views over the valley and the neighbouring village of Curral das Freiras otherwise known as “Nuns Valley” which is nestled into the heart of the Madeiran mountainscape.
As I mentioned in my 7 days in Madeira post, whilst it is possible to get the bus and walk up from the village to the viewpoint, I’d say in order to do this you would need to be a certified mountain goat! The roads to the viewpoint are quite windy and steep to drive in addition, so book a tour!
Christ the Redeemer Statue – Cristo Rei Statue Madeira View Point
You may have seen the Christ the Redeemer photo spot in Lisbon, but this one is older!
To get to the statue, you can either take a scenic walk (which takes around 1.5 hours) from Funchal or do a tour like we did to see a variety of Madeira viewpoints.
There are a number of scenic spots to capture your Madeira photos at the Cristo Rei viewpoint, including the beautiful stairway into the ocean…
Stairway into the Ocean – Cristo Rei
One of the most popular photo spots on Madeira is the stunning Stairway into the Ocean at Cristo Rei.
This picturesque spot offers amazing views over Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean, and is perfect for an Instagram post! It’s worth taking the stairs down to the ocean for some extra photos too (as there’s a surprise beach), which I only realised after my trip!
Popular Madeira Instagram Spots
Black Beach on Seixal
Seixal is a stunning place to capture photos in Madeira and is a small town located east of the island. One of the most popular photo spots in Seixal is Black Beach, which can be found on the north coast of the town. The black sand and dramatic cliffs make for a postcard-perfect scene, and it’s easy to see why this spot is so popular with photographers!
It reminded me of visiting the black sand beach in Iceland and I’d since wondered where else I could visit to see them!
With its dramatic black sand beach and crystal clear waters, it’s easy to see why this spot is so popular with photographers. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the evening when the light is at its most beautiful.
Don’t miss seeing the natural pools on Seixal, which are less well known than the natural pools in Porto Moniz (mentioned further in the post).
Fairytale Fanal Forest
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fanal Forest is home to the protected Laurisilva trees, which are some of the oldest and tallest trees on the island, and are only found in Madeira, The Azores Islands and The Canary Islands.
With its foggy atmosphere and strangely twisted trees, Fanal is straight out of a Gothic fairytale and is a mysterious place to photograph in Madeira. This spot is perfect for those looking for an eerie and atmospheric photo. The ancient bay trees in the forest are covered in moss, making for a lush and green backdrop to your pictures.
Madeira Santana Houses
This charming village is known for its unique thatched-roof houses, and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for some picturesque Instagram snaps. With its winding streets and pretty gardens, Santana is definitely one of the most photogenic villages on Madeira.
I’ve seen some fantastic reels on Instagram of this Madeira photo spot, where visitors have been creative with their Madeira souvenirs (such as fridge magnets/keyrings) showing these in the frame before cutting to a video of the Santana Houses in real life.
Miradouro da Ponta de São Lourenço
If you’re looking for a great place to take in some amazing views, be sure to check out the Miradouro da Ponta de São Lourenço; a viewpoint that looks like it has been captured from a Game of Thrones filming location.
The Ponta de São Lourenço viewpoint is located in the town of Calheta and offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline. It’s definitely worth stopping by for a visit!
There are trails to explore along the Miradouro da Ponta de São Lourenço, which I didn’t get a chance to see myself, but it is worth taking photos of the Ponta de São Lourenço even if you do not get a chance to explore more of the breathtaking cliff walks.
Porto Moniz Sea Pools
If you’re looking for a beachside backdrop for your Instagram photos, look no further than the pretty town of Porto Moniz. The black volcanic sand and dramatic cliffs make for a stunning setting, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you occupied when you’re not taking pictures!
The real allure of visiting Porto Moniz, however, is the natural sea pools that have been carved into the lava rocks. Whilst they’re not thermal like the natural pools in Iceland, these pools are a great place to take a dip and cool off, whilst enjoying the natural beauty of Madeira.
There’s no denying this is a popular Madeira Instagram spot, but you may be lucky to visit and encounter no one else, which I have witnessed from others’ IG stories.
Lighthouse of Ponta da Cruz
If you’re looking for an impressive lighthouse to photograph, be sure to check out the Lighthouse of Ponta da Cruz. This lighthouse is located on the north coast of Madeira and offers some beautiful views!
Best Madeira Waterfalls Photography Spots
One of the most popular Madeira photo spots is its many waterfalls. Unlike the waterfalls in Iceland, Madeira waterfalls are not only spectacular to look at but make for a tropical backdrop in photos.
If you’re looking for some amazing waterfall photos, be sure to head to Faja da Ovelha or Pico Ruivo for some beautiful views. You can also find plenty of smaller waterfalls tucked away in the forests and hillsides, so make sure to explore!
Cascata dos Anjos
Cascata dos Anjos otherwise known as the Angel’s Waterfall is located in the town of Santana and is easily accessible from the road. It’s a stunning sight, especially at sunset when the waterfall cascades a golden glow onto the street below.
Again, a Madeira Instagram spot I was aware of before my own trip, I had no idea I would be able to see the natural beauty during my organised press trip to Madeira.
One of the more unique waterfalls in Madeira, Cascata dos Anjos flows directly onto the road enabling visitors to drive through it (check out my Madeira Instagram Stories to see for yourself!)
Unless you visit very early in the morning, you will encounter others trying to capture their own photos of Cascata dos Anjos, more likely wearing a bathing suit and holding a banana leaf! No judgement here, after all, it’s all for the Gram!
Cascata dos Balcões
If you’re looking for a waterfall with a bit more of a challenge to get to, be sure to check out the Cascata dos Balcões.
This waterfall is located in the town of Machico and is only accessible by hiking or 4×4. I’ve been told the hike up is definitely worth it though, as the views from the top are incredible (brb – just booking flights to Madeira!)
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is one of the few waterfalls on Madeira that falls straight into the ocean. Years ago there was a road running under it but after a few slides, they turned to a less impressive, but certainly safer solution. You can’t get to the waterfall directly but there is a nice scenic viewpoint called Miradouro do Veu da Noiva.
Bridal Veil Falls is otherwise known as Cascata do Salto do Prego and is located in the town of Câmara de Lobos.
Cascata do Vinho
For something a little different, be sure to check out the Cascata do Vinho or Wine Waterfall. This waterfall is located in the town of Funchal and gets its name from the wine that is produced in the area. It’s definitely a unique photo opportunity, but sadly one that I missed during my own trip to Madeira.
Risco Waterfall
Risco waterfall is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Madeira and is located in the municipality of Santana. The waterfall is situated in a beautiful green valley and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
There are several different viewing points for the waterfall, but Miradouro do Risco viewpoint offers a great view of the waterfall as well as the valley below.
25 Fontes Waterfall
Both Risco and 25 Fontes waterfalls can be reached on the same Lavada das 25 Fontes hike and 25 Fontes is only a 20-minute walk from Risco. In terms of size, It’s a much smaller waterfall but definitely worth the visit, particularly during days/seasons with higher rainfall.
Don’t be surprised to only encounter a trickle of a waterfall if you visit in the Summer months!
Rainfall aside, 25 Fontes Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls on Madeira and is situated in a natural pool surrounded by lush green foliage, making it the perfect spot for a swim!
Similarly to other Madeira photo spots, the best time to visit the waterfall is early in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
Madeira Sunset Spots
One of the most magical things about Madeira is its incredible sunsets. With the sun setting behind the mountains and reflecting off the ocean, it’s no wonder that sunset photos are so popular on this island.
Be sure to head to Funchal or Camara de Lobos for some amazing views of the sunset, or find a spot on one of the island’s many hiking trails for a perfect vantage point.
Paul Do Mar Sunset
If you’re looking for a more unique sunset photo, head to Paul Do Mar. This small village is located on the coast and is well-known for its stunning sunsets. With the waves crashing against the rocks in the background, it’s easy to see why this place is so popular with photographers!
Paul Do Mar is also where I enjoyed my favourite meal in Madeira at Maktub Restaurant – Check out the food on offer on Day 6 of my Madeira Itinerary! You won’t want to miss it!
Ponta do Pargo Sunset
Another popular Madeira photo spot is Ponta do Pargo. This headland is located on the southwest coast of Madeira and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, so make sure to time your visit accordingly!
Quinta Vigia Viewpoint
Quinta Vigia viewpoint is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Funchal. This viewpoint is located just a short walk from the Madeira windmills (mentioned earlier in this post) and offers panoramic views of Funchal harbour, the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains of Madeira.
Make sure you bring your camera to capture the stunning colours of the sky as the sun sets!
Reis Magos Sunset
If you’re looking for an easy sunset spot to visit, Reis Magos is the place for you. This viewpoint is located just a short drive from Funchal and offers panoramic views of the city.
Of course, it goes without saying, many of Madeira’s best sunset spots have already been mentioned in this post already!
Best Madeira Instagram Spots
Madeira is a sub-tropical paradise with stunning landscapes, beautiful flowers and the most breathtaking views; it’s no wonder that Madeira is such a popular destination for photographers. It is certainly unlike anywhere else I have visited in Europe and I can’t wait to return to explore more of Madeira’s dramatic viewpoints and hidden nature spots!
This post is as much to inspire my future visits as it is yours!
So there you have it, the best Madeira photo spots you need to visit! Where will you be heading to first?!!
Thanks for reading!
Jaz
xoxo
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