Madeira · 31 trails
Best Coastal Walks in Madeira
This list is ranked by distance, not by today. Which of these is the best walk right now depends on the weather, the crowds, and the light on the day you go.
Cliff-top and peninsula trails with wide Atlantic views, from Ponta de São Lourenço in the east to the north-coast paths. Often exposed and best in clear weather.
See also best hikes in Madeira · all Madeira levada walks and trails · Easy Levada Walks · Waterfall Hikes · Summit Hikes · Forest & Laurisilva Trails · Family-Friendly Walks · Which trails are free
The 31 walks, shortest first
The numbers are the order of this list, shortest first, not a verdict on which walk is better. Each distance is the one shown on that walk's own page: the official panel figure where the route is a classified one, and the council or recorded figure where it is not.
- 1
Fonte da AreiaPS-FONTEAREIA
- 2
Vereda da Garganta FundaV-GARGANTA
- 3
Vereda da VigiaV-VIGIA
- 4
Miradouro do Fio ao FarolV-PARGOFAROL
- 5
Vereda do Calhau da LapaV-CALHAULAPA
- 6
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do GramachoCR23
- 7
Rota da BananaRB-ROTABANANA
- 8
Vereda da Fajã GrandeV-FAJAGRANDE
- 9
Vereda da Rocha do NavioV-NAVIO
- 10
Vereda dos ZimbreirosV-ZIMBREIROS
- 11
Vereda da Penha de ÁguiaV-PENHA
- 12
Caminho Real do Paul do MarPR19
- 13
Vereda do Jardim do MarPR20
- 14
Caminho Real de BoaventuraCR-BV
- 15
Vereda da LadeiraV-LADEIRA
- 16
Vereda da Boca do RiscoV-BOCARISCO
- 17
Vereda do CalhauV-CALHAU
- 18
Vereda do PesqueiroV-PESQUEIRO
- 19
Vereda do ZimbralinhoV-ZIMBRALINHO
- 20
Vereda da Ribeira do NatalV-RIBNATAL
- 21
Vereda da AtalaiaV-ATALAIA
- 22
Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra ChãPS-PR1
- 23
Levada do CaniçalL-CANICALVILA
- 24
Vereda da Ponta de São LourençoPR8
- 25
Levada do Pico do CasteloPS-PR3
- 26
Passeio Marítimo Câmara de LobosV-PROMENADE
- 27
Levada da RefertaL-REFERTA
- 28
Vereda do Pico CastanhoV-PICOCASTANHO
- 29
Vereda do LaranoV-LARANO
- 30
Levada dos PiornaisL-PIORNAIS
- 31
Levada Nova da Calheta (troço de Ponta do Pargo)L-NOVAPARGO
Frequently asked questions
How many coastal walks are there in Madeira, and how long are they?
31 walks are on this list, from 0.4 km to 9.5 km. The shortest is Fonte da Areia, the longest is Levada Nova da Calheta (troço de Ponta do Pargo). Each distance is the one shown on that walk's own page, and the list is numbered in that order, shortest first.
Are Madeira's coastal walks difficult?
Of the 31 walks here, 8 are graded easy and 9 hard, and 21 climb less than 300 m. The grade comes from the route itself: how long it is, how much it climbs and how exposed it gets. It says nothing about the weather on the day you walk.
Do Madeira coastal walks need a booking?
3 of the 31 walks here need a SIMplifica timed-slot booking, made in advance. The other 28 do not. Each trail page states which one you are looking at.
All of those bookings go through one government portal, with its own slot rules, refund deadline and price. See what SIMplifica costs and how to book.
Are Madeira's coastal walks official IFCN trails?
5 of the 31 walks here are officially classified IFCN routes, and 26 are council or community paths outside that classification. The classification decides which body manages the route and publishes its official status, not how good the walk is.