Madeira is a great destination for an active holiday. It is perhaps better known for its mountain peaks with breathtaking views, but it also offers plenty of options for swimming in the ocean. You will find natural beaches with volcanic pebbles, artificial sandy beaches and rock pools all over the island. Madeira’s swimming spots are varied and charming; many are also unusual and almost unique to this destination. Madeira is also rich in wildlife, making it a great location for snorkelling and diving. In this post, I will go through my favourite beaches and rock pools to swim in Madeira to help you prepare for your amazing trip!
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Funchal
The capital and largest town in Madeira, Funchal has a few options for a swim in the ocean. In town, the main beach is Praia do Almirante Reis: this is a spacious, sheltered beach with black pebbles. It’s not very touristy but is instead popular with locals, so you won’t find many people there during the workday. It will only get busy in the evenings and weekends, when locals are able to stop by for a swim. Praia do Almirante Reis is a great option for dipping into the ocean when visiting Funchal. It’s not crowded and completely free to use, and eateries and public toilets are available nearby.
Just around the corner from Praia do Almirante Reis, you’ll find Praia de São Tiago. This small beach is located just next to the historic Forte de São Tiago, is free to enter and features a beach bar. There is also an area of flat concrete for you to lay down your towels and sunbathe. You’ll encounter many such areas of concrete near the sea in Madeira, built due to the rocky coastline. Praia de São Tiago is definitely more picturesque than Praia do Almirante Reis, but it’s much smaller and gets more crowded. It’s also more popular with tourists, thanks to the convenient concrete area and the bar. Therefore, Praia do Almirante Reis may be a better option if you’re looking for somewhere quieter.
Away from the town centre is another famous and popular beach, Praia Formosa. This large, pebbly beach is located in São Martinho, Funchal’s touristy district. This area mainly consists of hotels and other tourist amenities, including bathing complexes. Praia Formosa is the main beach of São Martinho: it’s free to use and spacious, although it gets busy with tourists. There are several facilities, including toilets, eateries and also nightclubs. This beach is a great option for swimming in the ocean if you’re staying in São Martinho. However, if you’re just visiting the centre of Funchal, the beaches there will be a better option.
Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz is a quaint, touristy village on the north-west tip of Madeira. It’s a location you can’t miss if you’re looking to swim in Madeira. While there is no beach, Porto Moniz boasts two beautiful sets of rock pools, both perfect for a relaxing swim in salty ocean water.
If you’d like to swim in natural-looking pools, head to Piscinas Naturais Velhas (Old Natural Pools). This rock pool complex is completely free to visit and has plenty of space to lay down your towels and relax by the water. The pools are large and deep, perfect for swimming or snorkelling to see the fish and crabs that inhabit them. In addition, you can rest on the edges of the pools to admire breathtaking views of the ocean, especially at sunset. Nearby is also a cafe-restaurant, with a souvenir shop and a small exhibition on the area’s whaling past.
While these rock pools are amazing, the main downsides are a lack of lifeguards and facilities such as sunbeds. There is plenty of space to sit and lie down, but all on hard concrete.
If you’d rather spend some money for more amenities, the Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz will be a better option. Located a short walk away from the other pools, this complex is much newer and requires a small entry fee to enter. Once entered though, it’s possible to lie down on the concrete or hire a sunbed for an additional cost. These pools are also supervised by lifeguards and offer both shallow areas for children, and deep areas for swimming. Moreover, you can also jump straight into the ocean using a diving board, and climb back up with a ladder.
This newer pool complex is a great swimming spot, especially if you have children or simply enjoy having amenities. However, the main downside, beyond having to pay to visit, is that it closes around 7pm. This could be frustrating as t’is much earlier than sunset in the summer months. This problem doesn’t arise in the other pools, which are completely free.
Seixal
Another well-known village on the north coast of the island, not far from Porto Moniz, Seixal is also a great place to swim in Madeira. Here, you’ll find a rock pool complex and a few picturesque beaches with volcanic black sand.
The rock pools are free to visit and offer changing facilities. They are much smaller than the complexes in Porto Moniz, but they are spacious enough to swim and snorkel and offer amazing views of the coastline. There are no eateries on site though, so you’ll need to drive or walk back up to town to have lunch or a coffee.
While there are a few beaches, the main beach is Praia do Porto do Seixal (Port of Seixal beach). Located on the other side of the village from the rock pools, this beach is quite spacious and sheltered from the open ocean. The water is frequently fairly calm and perfect for swimming and snorkelling. You will also enjoy breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline. This popular beach is probably the best in northern Madeira, which is mostly rocky, and a great option for a swim if you prefer sandy beaches to rock pools.
Machico
A large town on the eastern side of the island, Machico is a great location to swim in Madeira. It boasts two beaches that, despite being next to one another, couldn’t be more different.
One of them is the Praia de São Roque, a rocky beach with wooden sunbeds, showers and beach umbrellas that are free to use. This beach is definitely the quietest in Machico, and is a great place to go swim if you prefer less popular spots. However, the beach is not sheltered and the water is frequently choppy. Moreover, the rocks make it quite uncomfortable to lie down, so you’d need to secure a sunbed.
The other beach, Praia da Banda Além, is an artificial beach made of golden sand. It was built with sand imported from North Africa to provide an alternative to Madeira’s rocky beaches. Nowadays, it’s very popular with tourists and locals alike. The soft sand is lovely to sunbathe and the sheltered water is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. As in Praia de São Roque and several other beaches in the area, there are some free facilities such as free umbrellas and showers.
Caniçal
Caniçal is a small town on the eastern side of Madeira, just north of Machico. The town has three spots that are great if you want to swim in the ocean in Madeira avoiding touristy areas.
You can find Caniçal’s main beach right in the centre of the town, near the port. It’s a small, pebbly beach with a few umbrellas and wooden sunbeds you can use. The water is calm and clear for swimming and snorkelling. This beach is a good option if you want a swim spot close to town, being a stone’s throw away from restaurants and cafes.
Just next to the Museu da Baleia (Whale Museum), you can find Praia Pedra D’eira. This is a small area on the rocks that has been flattened with concrete, providing easy access to the water for swimming and space to lie down. The water is very clear and the rocky seafloor makes for great snorkelling. This is a great swim spot, with the main downside being that it’s very popular with locals and is, therefore, quite busy. Also, you would have to make due with lying on the concrete, as no sunbeds are available.
From Praia Pedra D’eira, you’ll be able to walk further and reach another large beach, Praia da Ribeira de Natal. You can also reach this beach by car from outside the town and there is plenty of parking. Praia da Ribeira de Natal is very spacious and features some umbrellas and wooden sunbeds, once again free to use. On the opposite side of the beach, you’ll also find a building with a lively bar and a diving centre. There is also a pier that swimmers can use to jump in the clear waters. This beach is an amazing option if you’re after a spacious, quiet beach that is perfect for snorkelling, and maybe sip a cold drink in the sun. Also, if you’re interested in diving in Madeira, check out the Scorpio diving centre, located at this beach.
Ponta de São Lourenço
A cape that extends into the sea, leading to the easternmost point of Madeira, Ponta de São Lourenço is a very popular hike. However, it is also a great place to swim when visiting Madeira. You will come across two beautiful beaches along the walk. The path is almost entirely devoid of shaded areas, so a relaxing swim would be a great way to cool down.
The first beach you’ll encounter is Praia São Lourenço. It is a bit hidden from the main path, but you can catch glimpses of it along the way. There is a separate path leading down to it that starts near the Miradouro de São Lourenço. Praia São Lourenço is generally quiet, as most visitors will skip it altogether, so it’s perfect if you’re heading off the beaten path. There are no facilities available and the beach is rocky, so not the most comfortable to lie down on. The water can also get choppy, so you should only swim there if the sea is calm. If the conditions are right though, it’s a great place to snorkel.
The next beach is located near the end of the path and it’s called Praia do Sardinha (Sardine Beach). The beach itself is quite small, but there is also a separate decked area for laying down your towels. The water is also much calmer than Praia São Lourenço, making it an amazing spot for snorkelling. Praia do Sardinha, however, gets a lot busier, probably thanks to its location. Most visitors will, in fact, be looking for a place to rest and cool down after a long walk in the sun. Aside from swimming though, here you will also find some activities, like kayak hire and sea wildlife safaris. These experiences can start from Praia do Sardinha or from a nearby wharf.
Praia da Calheta
Located on the south-west coast of the island, Praia da Calheta is another very popular spot for swimming in Madeira. Similarly to Machico’s Praia da Banda Além, it is an artificial beach made with imported golden sand. This makes it quite unusual for Madeira and a great option if you prefer soft sand to harder pebbles. Also, the sheltered waters and light seafloor are perfect for snorkelling. A diving centre is also present at this beach, you can book a dive with them if you’d like to explore the wildlife-rich clear waters. Other experiences are available, such as sea safaris and stand-up paddle lessons. Aside from this, Praia da Calheta offers other amenities, such as eateries, toilets, and umbrellas and sunbeds for hire.
Like the previously-mentioned northern Madeira, the south-west of the island is also mainly rocky. Beaches are few and far between, and if you’re visiting this area, Praia da Calheta will be the best spot to head to for a swim in the ocean.