Most Scenic Road Trips in Madeira
The path from a viewpoint in Ponta de S. Lourenço back to the main road.
ER101 between Porto Moniz and São Vicente
“The Hawaii of Europe”. That’s Madeira on TikTok. And a particular video of the road from Porto Moniz to São Vicente must be the most popular clip on the app. Of course, the sun isn’t always shining and there’s not always a rainbow at the end of the tunnel. Nonetheless, this route alongside the shore is indeed very scenic, especially as you start to approach the magnificent mountain in São Vicente.
From Santana to Queimadas
I keep recommending visiting the Queimadas Forest Park. As you approach the park, the road takes you further and further into the forest and into the mist, creating a magical atmosphere. To me, this feels unique to Madeira – and that’s why I must include it on my list of the best road trips in Madeira. There’s only one caveat: the road is narrow, and sometimes not enough to fit two cars. So, you know, drivers may not enjoy it as much.
ER103 From Funchal to Ribeiro Frio and Balcões
I haven’t actually seen any best of that included the road from Funchal to Ribeiro Frio and Balcões. Honestly, I don’t know why – for me, it’s one of the best road trips in Madeira. To get out of Funchal, you can climb all the way to Monte (via Caminho do Comboio or Estrada dos Marmeleiros, your pick). From there, you’ll have a prime viewpoint to the Funchal bay, making for an excellent first stop.
Then, head to Funchal Ecological park using ER103. If you want to eat, stop at the Forest Food & Coffee, convinieently located inside the park. Otherwise, you can make a picnic at Chão das Feiteiras, also along E103, or visit the Miradouro do Chão do Pasto, a little known viewpoint. Finally, after many twists and turns, you’ll arrive to Ribeiro Frio. In Ribeiro Frio, you can head to Levada dos Balcões, a short walk leading to Miradouro dos Balcões.
ER103 from Ribeiro Frio to Faial
If you feel like continuing driving, take the ER103 from Ribeiro Frio all the way down to Faial on the North side. If you’re in the area, take the chance to visit Miradouro do Guindaste, one of the best viewpoints in Madeira, before heading back to Funchal. If you don’t want to take the same road, you can take the VE1 to Porto da Cruz, which is a nice village known for the Madeiran rum – you can actually visit the factory. From there, get on the Via Rápida again in Machico and come back to your accommodation.
ER109 from Caniçal to Ponta de S. Lourenço
Another very scenic route goes from Prainha do Caniçal, an untouched small sand beach in Madeira, to Ponta de S. Lourenço. You can see the ocean and landscape change to more Earthy, saturated tones as you approach Ponta de S. Lourenço. On your way back, you can see the South coast all the way to Caniço, and you may stop at Quinta do Lorde for a nice scoop of local ice cream.
ER110 from Encumeada to Paul da Serra and Bica da Cana
This road is often closed due to landslides and other issues, so you should check before. The area around Paul da Serra is flat, without too many curves, and easy to drive in. Even drivers can enjoy the scenery and the greenery! You can either combine this with a visit to Encumeada, if you really, really like driving, or with a visit to Bica da Cana, Paul da Serra and Fanal. If you’re staying close to Ponta do Sol, it’s definitely recommended to make this road trip.
ER104 + ER228 from Ribeira Brava to Encumeada
Another popular road trip in Madeira is the old road from Ribeira Brava to Encumeada, taking you directly to the heart of Serra d’Água. The road cuts through the Encumeada valley, and from there you can fully appreciate the rural side of Madeira, home to the poncha. On ER228 you can also head to Miradouro da Encumeada, a viewpoint over the hills, and then visit Chão dos Louros. Otherwise, you can then tale the ER105 to Bica da Cana and several levadas in the Calheta area.