Cabo Girão is the island’s most famous viewpoint, a short drive west of Funchal beyond the fishing town of Câmara de Lobos. The cliff falls almost vertically some 580 metres to the sea, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, and a glass-floored skywalk projects from the top so that you can stand above the drop and look straight down. Far below, on the narrow strips of land at the foot of the cliff, farmers still tend terraced plots that were for centuries reachable only by boat or by rope, and a small cable car now drops down to them. From the platform the view sweeps east along the coast to Funchal and west towards the banana terraces of the south coast. It is a quick stop rather than a long visit, but it is the moment many people remember most clearly. The Tiqets option here is a half-day open-top 4x4 tour that combines the skywalk with back roads and village viewpoints.
How it works: since January 2026 non-residents pay a small entry fee for the viewpoint and skywalk, while children up to twelve and Madeira residents enter free. The Tiqets jeep tour lasts about four hours with a live guide and pickup in Funchal or Caniço de Baixo; the skywalk fee is paid on the day and is not included, and an optional wine and tapas tasting is extra. The yellow hop-on hop-off bus also runs a Cabo Girão route on its 48-hour ticket.
What to expect: the glass platform is solid and safe, but standing on it is a real test for anyone nervous of heights, and you may be asked to use shoe covers or keep to a set time on busy days. Coaches and tours make it crowded at the middle of the day. Mist can roll in and hide the sea completely, so check the weather and the webcams before you go.
Making the most of it: visit early or late in the afternoon, when the light runs along the coast and the coaches have gone. Combine it with lunch in Câmara de Lobos, the fishing harbour that Winston Churchill painted, or with a drive west along the south coast to Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol.
What to expect
The experience
A short stop on a glass-floored platform above a sheer sea cliff, reached by car, bus or a half-day open-top jeep tour.
Best time
Early morning or late afternoon on a clear day, outside the peak coach hours.
How long
Twenty to forty minutes at the viewpoint, or about four hours on the jeep tour.
Tips
Carry a little cash or a card for the entry fee, check for mist before you go and avoid the middle of the day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the single most dramatic view on Madeira with very little effort.
- Families
- Children under twelve enter free and love the glass floor, though nervous little ones may prefer the solid railings.
- Couples
- Come for the late-afternoon light, then head down to Câmara de Lobos for dinner by the harbour.
- Pair with
- Câmara de Lobos and a south-coast drive, or the wider jeep tours of the west.
- Time needed
- Under an hour on its own, half a day with the tour.
Good questions
How high is Cabo Girão?+
The cliff rises some 580 metres above the sea, making it one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The skywalk lets you stand on glass directly above the drop.
Is there an entry fee for Cabo Girão?+
Yes. Since January 2026 non-residents pay a small fee for the viewpoint and skywalk, while children up to twelve and Madeira residents enter free.
Does the Tiqets jeep tour include the skywalk fee?+
No, the skywalk fee is paid separately on the day. The optional wine and tapas tasting is also extra.
How do you get to Cabo Girão from Funchal?+
It is a short drive west, and the hop-on hop-off bus and many tours stop there. Local buses also run towards Câmara de Lobos and the cliff.
Is the glass platform safe?+
Yes, it is a solid, engineered platform that carries large numbers of visitors daily. The challenge is psychological rather than physical.
