8 Best Beaches Near Funchal, Plus the Best Alternative Swimming Spots

Finding the best beaches near Funchal isn’t as easy as you might think. Despite being Madeira’s capital city, there actually aren’t any beaches in Funchal itself.

The nearest, Praia Formosa, is a 15-minute drive away, in the neighbourhood of São Martinho.

Having spent around 6 months in Madeira over the last few years, I’ve had to look outside of the capital for my beach days. So, I’m finally here to round up my favourite beaches near Funchal!

All of these beaches are within a 35-minute drive of the Old Town max. And I’ve also included a bonus list of the best swimming spots in Funchal, including natural pools and bathing areas that aren’t traditional beaches.

If you’re looking for more things to do in Funchal itself, check out my Funchal guides. Many of these beaches appear in my round-up of the best day trips from Funchal.

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8 Best beaches Near Funchal

1. Praia Formosa

Distance: 15-minute drive

Praia Formosa is the nearest beach to Funchal. It’s in the neighbourhood of São Martinho, which takes 15 minutes to reach by car from the Old Town. There are regular buses too, taking 15–20 minutes.

Praia Formosa is a long, pebble beach lined with a concrete promenade and outdoor beach bar, best for sunset walks and drinks.

Here’s the thing, though. Pretty much every time I’ve visited, the waves were too big for swimming. The pebbles also aren’t comfortable. So I don’t recommend it for a relaxing beach day in Funchal.

Instead, I’d visit the nearby Doca do Cavacas (within walking distance of the beach) – the Funchal natural pools are one of the best swimming spots in Funchal.

2. Fajã dos Padres

Distance: 15-minute drive and cable car

Fajã dos Padres is a nice beach near Funchal. Again, it’s a pebble beach, but there are sunloungers to rent in the summer months from the hotel located there.

Getting there is a cool experience, with an old cable car to take you to the Fajã. There’s also a farm-to-table restaurant there, plus a farm where you can book tours and wine-tasting experiences.

For more of what to expect, including the cable car experience, check out my Fajã dos Padres guide.

3. Garajau Beach

Distance: 20-minute drive and cable car

Garajau Beach is another beach a short drive from Funchal, best for snorkelling and diving. Like the former, it has a cable car. At the top of the cliff, there’s a Christ statue (pre-dating Rio’s Christ the Redeemer).

The pebble beach has a beach bar, sunloungers to rent, and a dive school where you can rent snorkels. It’s considered a good snorkelling spot when the conditions are calm.

For all of the finer details on checking out Garajau Beach, check out my guide to visiting Cristo Rei.

4. Machico Beach

Distance: 30-minute drive

Machico Beach is the best sandy beach near Funchal. The white sand is imported, so it looks different to the island’s pebble and black-sand beaches.

It’s also protected by an artificial wall, which makes the conditions predictably calm and gentle. If you’re feeling energetic, you can do the Pico do Facho hike directly from the beach for a good view over the bay.

There are also great restaurants, bars and coffee shops, as well as a shorter hike with a show-stopping view, as I explain in my guide to the best things to do in Machico.

5. Ponta do Sol

Distance: 30-minute drive

Ponta Do Sol is a pretty pebbly beach located in the sunniest corner of Madeira. It’s lined with sunbathing areas with parasols.

It’s not the most comfortable beach for lounging, to be honest, but it’s convenient: the village has plenty of restaurants and bars within steps of the beach.

6. Reis Magos Beach

Distance: 20-minute drive

Reis Magos Beach is a local swim spot that I frequent because it’s never too busy. It’s one to consider if you want to get away from the busier Madeira beaches near Funchal.

There’s a tiny, tiny pebble beach, so most people lie on the concrete pier and jump into the water directly from there, climbing back up using the ladder (conditions have to be calm for this).

7. Prainha

Distance: 35-minute drive

I don’t like the phrase ‘hidden gem’, but if I were ever going to use it, it would be for Prainha Beach in Caniçal. It’s the furthest away from Funchal in this round-up, but it’s so nice I had to include it.

The black-sand cove is tucked away in a rocky alcove and isn’t too well-known yet. In the summer months, there’s a small bar open there.

For more details on getting there and what to expect, check out my guide to Prainha Beach.

8. Praia da Ribeira de Natal

Distance: 30-minute drive

One more underrated beach near Funchal! Praia da Ribeira de Natal is a pebble beach that’s totally off the beaten track, with gorgeous turquoise water. During busy periods, there’s a lively bar that opens up here. The beach also has a dive school.

I like to hike to the beach as an add-on to the Pico do Facho hike. In the summer, there’s an inflatable pontoon out in the bay that I’ll swim to after jumping off the end of the pier.

Check out my guide to Ribeira de Natal Beach for more advice on getting there and what to expect.

Bonus List: Alternative Places to Swim in Funchal

1. Doca Do Cavacas

Doca do Cavacas is my favourite place to swim near Funchal. The natural volcanic pools sit beside Praia Formosa, with ladders into the ocean and views towards Cabo Girão.

In my opinion, it’s much better for swimming than Praia Formosa itself, especially when the waves are rough. It also has a bar-café above, which is good enough for a spot in my round-up of the best cafés in Madeira.

For all of the finer details on what to expect, check out my guide to visiting the Funchal natural pools.

2. Lido Bathing Complex

The Lido bathing complex is another great place to go swimming for a fee, especially if you’d prefer calmer swimming conditions than Praia Formosa.

It’s an outdoor complex with two saltwater pools (one for adults and one for kids) in the same neighbourhood, accessible from the Old Town by bus in 15 minutes.

3. Lido Local Swim Spot

If you don’t want to pay for a pool, and just want a quick dip, the best place to go swimming near Funchal is the Lido local swimming spot.

I’ve stopped here for a post-hike swim, and it’s nothing fancy but really convenient after a hike or hot afternoon. You can jump into the ocean or climb down via a ladder.

There are public loos and changing rooms there to use, plus outdoor showers. Quick, effective and within walking distance of ice cream joints!

4. Barreirinha

Barreirinha is within walking distance of the Old Town, a small concrete area below Funchal’s yellow fort with a small paid swimming area.

Like Lido, you swim in the ocean; there’s a ladder, and the area feels protected. You can also buy food and drinks from the bar-cafe above.

5. Hotel pools

All pools aside, you can always book a stay at a hotel with a pool. There are plenty of hotels in the Old Town with rooftop pools and epic views of Funchal’s slopes and the Atlantic Ocean.

For more advice on where to stay in Funchal, and the best hotels, check out my guide to where to stay in Funchal.

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I hope you found this guide to the best beaches near Funchal useful! If you check any of them out, leave a comment below and let me know what you think of them.

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