Machico (Madeira), Portugal: The Ultimate Travel Guide 2025

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Donar Reiskoffer

Madeira’s second town, Machico, is conveniently located just a ten-minute drive east of the airport, nestled in a picturesque natural bay. The town is surrounded by steep, terraced slopes and boasts its own stony beach. Despite its relatively modest size, Machico offers a laid-back atmosphere, a variety of restaurants, and a modest nightlife scene. This makes it an excellent choice for a holiday base, providing a tranquil setting for exploration. Whether for an extended vacation or a brief stopover of a night or two, Machico offers a welcoming and relaxed environment for visitors.

The focal point of the town is Largo Dr. António Jardim d’Oliveira, a cobbled main square where taxi drivers converse by their yellow cars, shaded by tall oak trees. The northern section of the square is dominated by the fifteenth-century Igreja Matriz, commissioned by Tristão Vaz Teixeira’s wife, Branco. Its most notable feature is an elegantly arched Manueline door adorned with three small marble columns.

To the east of the narrow Ribeira do Machico lies an area of old fishermen’s houses known as Banda de Alén. Centered on the peaceful Largo Senhor dos Milagres, this quiet square hosts elderly men playing cards beneath shady trees. On the southern side of the square stands the unassuming, whitewashed Capela dos Milagres (Chapel of Miracles). Erected in 1815, it replaced an earlier chapel believed to have been built on the site where Anne d’Arfet and possibly Robert Machin was buried. The original chapel was destroyed in a flood in 1803, but miraculously, a wooden crucifix survived. Swept out to sea, it was rescued by a passing ship. The “miraculous” recovery of the crucifix is commemorated every October 8 with a torchlit procession and a local public holiday the following day. Further along the sea promenade, the Chapel of São Roque stands, showcasing exquisite baroque-style architecture commissioned by Teixeira in 1489 to fulfill a vow made during a plague.

Machico’s strategic location makes it ideal for exploring Ponta de São Lourenço, the easternmost point of the island, known for its dramatic cliffs and fossil-rich terrain. Additionally, the nearby village of Caniçal, once a hub for Madeira’s whaling industry, invites exploration, with scenes from the 1956 film “Moby Dick” shot in its serene surroundings.

Machico’s beaches

The area is renowned for its beautiful beaches, with two prominent ones situated in the town center: São Roque and Praia da Banda Além. São Roque, positioned to the right of the stream dividing the town, features a pebble beach with some black sand, stretching across most of Machico’s bay. This beach is accompanied by a small pier and a spacious esplanade connecting Forum Machico and Nossa Senhora do Amparo fort. Various tourist services and facilities, including restaurants, bars, and a children’s playground, adorn the area.

Praia da Banda Além, located to the left of the stream, boasts approximately 125 meters in length and 70 meters in width. Strikingly, the beach has yellow sand imported from Morocco and is protected by the breakwaters of Machico’s small marina. Equipped with essential services such as showers, parking, restaurants, and lifeguards, it offers an ideal setting for a relaxing swim and an enjoyable day at the beach.

Beyond its sandy shores, Machico is a hub for diverse water activities. Visitors can engage in activities such as windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), sport fishing, diving, and boat trips, allowing them to explore the captivating coastline of the area.

History of Machico (Madeira)

Legend has it that the name Machico traces its origins to Robert Machin, an English merchant who, in 1346, eloped from Bristol with his affluent lover Anne d’Arfet. Their intended journey to Spain went awry when their boat was diverted off course and crashed against the rocks near Machico. While they, along with other crew members, managed to swim ashore, Anne succumbed to illness later on. Different versions of the legend suggest that Machin may have also perished on the island, while others propose that the grief-stricken Machin buried Anne before escaping on a makeshift raft, only to be captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Morocco. Allegedly, Machin shared his tale of woe with a Spanish slave, who, upon returning to Iberia, spread the story. Eventually, news of this Atlantic island reached the Portuguese court, prompting Zarco to embark on a quest for Madeira. Upon his first landing, Zarco is said to have discovered Anne’s grave, leading to the naming of the place after Machin. Another explanation is less romantic, suggesting that Machico is named after Monchique, Zarco’s hometown in Portugal.

In any case, Machico was the initial settlement on the island, serving as Madeira’s capital from 1440 to 1496 under Tristão Vaz Teixeira, whose statue now graces the main square. With the unification of the island in 1497, the capital shifted to Funchal, and Machico evolved into a hub for sugar production and fishing.

Visiting Machico (Madeira) for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Machico (Madeira) on the first visit. To help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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