Praia de Machico Madeira: Our Honest Review and Travel Guide

When we visited Madeira in late June and early July, beach time was high on our list. We’d already explored Seixal black sand beach and Garajau pebble beach, so Praia de Machico was our third beach stop — and again, it felt completely different.

This is one of a few beaches on the island with golden sand.

We visited Machico on a sunny but very windy afternoon, hoping for a relaxed break by the sea. Instead, the wind quickly took over — especially with our 3-month-old baby.

Sand was flying everywhere, getting into her clothes and even into her mouth as she tried to taste it, which made staying on the beach stressful rather than relaxing. It was a good reminder that here, conditions matter as much as the beach itself.

Still, the mix of golden sand, town setting, and full facilities makes Machico one of the most convenient and family-friendly beaches on the island — when the weather cooperates.

If Praia de Machico isn’t on your Madeira itinerary, we recommend adding it, especially if you’re visiting in late spring or summer, and if you need more spots to recommend, our guide to the best things to do in Madeira has plenty of other great stops to add.

In this guide, we cover what makes Praia de Machico special, when it works best, and when it might disappoint — based on our own experience.

At a Glance

Praia de Machico sits right in town, backed by colourful buildings and a small promenade, so it feels more like a city beach than a wild Atlantic cove. Getting there is easy, but parking can take a bit of patience (I’ll explain later), especially in the afternoon.

The sand is soft and golden — unusual for Madeira — and the water slopes in gently without sharp rocks underfoot. On calm days, the sea feels warm enough to stay in for a while and usually has no waves, which makes swimming feel safe and relaxed.

So maybe you’re asking why visit? It’s one of the easiest beaches on the island for a quick swim, especially if you’re travelling with kids or want proper facilities nearby.

Why I think it’s worth it

We think that Praia de Machico is definitely worth visiting. The soft golden sand and gentle entry into the sea make it far more comfortable than most beaches in Madeira, where pebbles and rocks are the norm.

You can walk straight into the water without water shoes, and swimming feels easy and relaxed.

What we liked most is how practical it is. You can park nearby, find showers and toilets, grab a drink, and settle under an umbrella without any effort. If you want a simple beach stop between sightseeing, this one works well.

Just set your expectations. This is a busy town beach, not a hidden cove, and wind changes everything.

We ended up leaving sooner than expected, mainly because of our baby — the flying sand made it impossible for her to lie on the towel without getting sand in her clothes and mouth.

If you’re travelling without a baby, the same conditions might still be fine, but on a calm day, Machico is one of the easiest and most comfortable beaches to enjoy in Madeira.

Where is Praia de Machico

Machico Beach is located on Madeira’s east coast, right in the centre of the town of Machico. It’s one of the easiest beaches on the island to reach if you’re staying near Funchal or arriving from the airport.

From Funchal, it’s about a 25-minute drive. From Madeira Airport, it’s even closer — roughly 10 minutes by car. That makes it a convenient stop if you’re short on time or planning a beach break between sightseeing.

How to get there

By car

We came to Machico Beach by car, which we rented for our entire Madeira trip, and it was by far the easiest way to reach the beach. The drive from Funchal is straightforward and takes about 25 minutes, mostly on good main roads.

Coming from the airport is even quicker. Having a car also makes it much easier to combine Machico with other stops on the east side of the island or to leave when the wind picks up, as we did.

By bus

You can also reach Machico easily by public transport from Funchal. Buses run from Funchal – Terminal SAM to Machico – Terminal Rodoviário and cost around €3 one way. The journey takes 35 to 55 minutes, depending on the bus number and route.

The most useful lines for this trip are 113, 208, 53, and 20, and departures are frequent throughout the day, making this a good option if you don’t want to rent a car.

Entrance and parking fees

There’s no entrance fee to access Praia de Machico. Parking is available on the streets and in small parking areas close to the beach, but spaces fill up quickly in the afternoon. We had to wait a few minutes for someone to leave, which was manageable.

The parking machines only accepted coins when we visited. If you normally rely on card payments, bring some cash with you to avoid problems. We parked about two minutes walk from the beach, which felt ideal.

Accessing the beach

Praia de Machico is very easy to access. From the promenade and parking areas, you simply walk straight onto the sand — there are no stairs, no steep paths, and no rocky scramble involved.

That makes it suitable for families with small kids and for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with uneven terrain. It’s also fine for strollers and wheelchairs, and the beach has facilities that help people with limited mobility enter the water.

What to expect at Machico Beach

Praia de Machico feels more like a town beach than a wild spot. When we arrived in the afternoon, there were quite a few people around, but the beach is wide enough that we still found space under a free umbrella without feeling squeezed. Most people stay close to the water, so the back part of the beach is usually calmer.

You’re surrounded by buildings, cafés, and a small promenade, so it doesn’t feel remote. If you come in the morning, it’s noticeably quieter and more comfortable, especially in summer.

Swimming here is simple. The sand slopes gently into the sea and there are usually no big waves, so getting in and out of the water feels safe and relaxed.

When we visited, the water was warm enough to stay in for a while, which made it much nicer than some colder spots around the island. Outside of summer, the water is cooler and might feel refreshing rather than inviting.

Wind is the one thing that can change everything. When it picked up during our visit, sand started flying across the beach and onto our towels, which is why we didn’t stay long with our baby.

If you’re visiting with a baby or small kids, that can be a dealbreaker. If you’re travelling without kids, you’ll probably tolerate it better — but checking the forecast before coming here is still a smart move.

There’s space for playing football and a free beach volleyball court, so it’s a nice spot if you want more than just lying on a towel.

What we liked was a floating platform near the rocky pier, which gave us a fun place to sit or jump into the water.

Facilities

Machico Beach is one of the best-equipped beaches in Madeira. During our visit, we found:

• Showers
• Toilets
• Changing rooms
• Free umbrellas
• Snack and drink stalls
• Beach volleyball court
• Space for football
• Floating platform and rocky pier
• Disabled access to the sea
• Promenade with cafés and shops nearby

Where to stay in Madeira

After exploring this island, we put together a where to stay in Madeira guide to help you choose an area and hotel that actually fit your preferences.

We’ve handpicked the best hotels based on places we’d genuinely book again ourselves, with a focus on location, comfort, and how practical they are as a base for exploring the island.

If you prefer staying in a city, we’ve also selected the best hotels in Funchal that work well.

In busy periods like late spring and summer, prices rise quickly, and good places sell out fast, so booking ahead really helps. Once you find a place that you like, it’s usually better to book it early without canceling later.

Here are our top picks:

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hotel Porto Mare – PortoBay (our top pick) – We stayed here on our trip and it quickly became one of our favourite bases in Madeira. The tropical gardens give it a calm, spacious feel, the pools are perfect for slow afternoons, and everything from breakfast to service felt genuinely well thought out. Comfortable without feeling over-the-top, and the Funchal location worked perfectly for exploring the island.
⭐️ Best for: Couples or families who want a relaxed, high-comfort stay with resort-style facilities.
👉 Check current deals →

⭐️⭐️ Aqua Natura Bay – We also stayed here and loved waking up right by the ocean. The infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic was a real highlight, and having the natural lava pools just steps away made it easy to enjoy Porto Moniz without any planning. Modern, comfortable, and ideal for exploring the west and north coast.
⭐️ Best for: Ocean views, swimming in natural pools, and exploring western Madeira.
👉 Compare prices →

⭐️ Quinta das Vinhas – A charming countryside stay set among vineyards above Calheta, offering a completely different side of Madeira. It’s peaceful and authentic, with beautiful views and plenty of space to slow down.
⭐️ Best for: Travelers looking for quiet surroundings, nature, and a slower pace away from busy areas.
👉 See latest prices →

Other places to visit nearby

• Vereda do Larano – A scenic coastal hike connecting Machico with Porto da Cruz. We didn’t hike the full trail, but even the sections we saw were impressive, with cliffs dropping straight into the ocean and constant coastal views.
• Ponta de São Lourenço hike – One of the most famous hikes in Madeira. Unfortunately we didn’t do it because it was extremely windy and we were coucious with our baby.
• Praia do Garajau – We visited this pebble beach below the Cristo Rei statue and found it completely different than Machico, with clearer water but tougher access.
• Miradouro do Cristo Rei – We stopped here after Garajau Beach. It’s an easy viewpoint with wide views over the cliffs and ocean, and a quick photo stop if you’re nearby.

FAQ

Final thoughts

Praia de Machico surprised us in a good way with how comfortable it felt compared to most beaches in Madeira.

The soft sand and calm water made swimming easy, and having showers, toilets, and cafés right next to the beach was a big plus after days of rocky shores.

Our only real downside was the wind. When it picked up, sand was everywhere and we didn’t stay long — mainly because of our baby. Without that, we would have happily stayed longer and enjoyed the water more.