Top 18 things to do and attractions in Porto Moniz

The natural swimming pools in Porto Moniz, Madeira, are a little piece of paradise. Crystal-clear seawater, dramatic volcanic rocks, and breathtaking views make this place a unique and refreshing experience. That said, timing is everything. It’s definitely worth paying attention to when you go and making sure you’re well-prepared. One key tip: bring slippers or water shoes , the concrete around the pools gets very hot under the sun and can be painful to walk on barefoot. If I could offer one suggestion to the management, it would be to consider implementing a reservation system or time slots. This would help control the number of visitors and ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the space without it getting too crowded, especially during peak times. Parking, sunbeds, and space to relax shouldn’t be in short supply and with some organization, they aren’t. Overall, it’s an amazing experience and absolutely worth visiting. If you go prepared, you’re in for a real treat.

The town exudes the authentic, peaceful spirit of Madeira — narrow streets, the scent of the sea, small taverns serving fresh fish and local wine, and views that seem to stop time. Behind the village, steep green mountains rise covered in lush vegetation, often wrapped in mist, giving the place a mythical atmosphere. In Porto Moniz, time slows down. It’s a place where nature and tranquility meet — where every sunset turns the ocean into a sea of gold, and the sound of the waves becomes music for the soul. It’s best known for its natural volcanic swimming pools (Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz), formed by ancient lava flows. Crystal-clear seawater fills these pools with every tide, creating a magical place to swim safely while the wild ocean roars just beyond.

We came just before sunset and it was perfect — not too many people, and the views were absolutely stunning. The natural rock pools are beautiful and peaceful at that time of day. Definitely worth a visit if you’re exploring Madeira!

One of our highlights on our trip! We loved it here because it felt very secluded however there was plenty of space to sunbathe and plenty of rock pools to enjoy, it wasn’t too busy when we visited in May but as the summer rolls on, the popularity will increase as it is a popular stop on tours. The facilities are good with showers and toilets being clean and around the area there’s the old pools up the other end and there are a lot of shops such as a spar and a restaurant in the place. Once you go in you cannot leave without buying a new ticket so be aware of this.

Nice place to stop by after a hot day. The pools are good with chill water. The ticket fee is only 3€ per person, recommend to buy it online before so you don’t have to wait in line. It can get pretty busy, parking is near by for 2€/h.

A decent spot, especially on a hot day, but crowded and chilly water. Parking is available nearby up, and entry to the natural ocean pools costs €3. A locker facility where you can store belongings coast 5€. The water is cold, particularly in the pools closer to the ocean. There’s a shallow kids’ area and a deeper section for adults. Worth a visit if you don’t mind cold water, great for a refreshing dip and scenic photos.

Porto Moniz is one of the most stunning places on the northern coast of the island. The natural volcanic pools are a true masterpiece of nature, shaped by ancient lava flows that meet the power of the Atlantic Ocean. Even when waves as high as eight meters crash against the rocks, the smart design of these pools softens their force, creating a safe and relaxing space to swim in pure ocean water. It’s an unforgettable experience feeling the energy of the ocean all around you while floating in calm, crystalclear pools surrounded by dramatic volcanic scenery.

A stunning spot and completely free to enjoy in beautiful surroundings. Some of the pools even have fish swimming in them, which made the experience feel really authentic. On top of that, Porto Moniz itself is a very charming town – definitely a clear recommendation!

It's a lovely must visit spot on the island. The natural pools provide a fun unique experience hard to find anywhere else and the maze the rocks create amongst the water can make it quite enjoyable to swim through. Recommend bringing water shoes when swimming as the rocks are a touch sharp underneath the water. This place is free to visit (unlike the more built up one on the west side of the town). So it can be busy but it's not impossible to find a place to put your stuff down for a swim. It's less built up than the west pools but that gives it a more authentic feel in my opinion. The washrooms are run by the restaurant that's setup beside the pools, you could try to use them without buying anything but they might protest. So perhaps worth buying a drink or something small for peace of mind. It's worth noting to the restaurant has an outdoor cafe space you can use to grab a simple drink or a meal if you prefer. Nice way to relax after a swim. There a few public parking lots nearby but that can be a touch expensive (up to 10€). If I find myself in the island again this is definitely a place I'd like to revisit though! Enjoy :)

Such a beautiful place. The water is so clear. You can swim in there there is multiple access points to get to the water and you can lean on by the ocean to see the view. Stunning! 🙂🙂

This location is a must visit when on Madeira if you can work it into your itinerary. A few things to note. Parking will be tricky as it's a super popular destination. However the best advice is to join a queue for one of the car parks. You'll get a space eventually. Only criticism I would make of this location is that there are surprisingly no great restaurants, but there are a couple of ok ones. However the star of the show are the views and the experience. Highly recommend a visit.

Free natural pool. We went there last week of September, it was nearly empty. It was a cloudy day, not super hot. The day after when it was sunny, the pool was full. There is another pool a bit further where you have to pay. But I see no reason why you would go there. This one is free and much nicer.

These natural pools are as stunning as the pictures suggest! An amazing blend of nature's design and a perfect swimming spot. It was the absolute highlight of our Madeira visit. Going in late May was ideal—the weather was great and it wasn't crowded at all. A breathtaking experience!

In Porto Moniz there are two different sites where you can enjoy the rock pools. The "old pools" are unguided and more natural with less concrete and no facilities, we found them actually nicer than the "new pool" which offers a bit more of a modern standard but therefore is also more crowded. Both sites are tremendous. It depends on what you prefer really. A plus for the old ones, they are free to access.

Decided to explore since we didn’t end up at the natural swimming pool. Walked up the ramp thinking the aquarium was there? Instead we had another great view with nobody there at all! If in the area worth checking out and was free to enter.

A small but well-maintained aquarium with a lot of charm! There's also an option to dive in the large tank for an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended, especially if you're visiting with kids – they'll absolutely love it!!

Tiny space but it covers the most popular species. The price and value is not fare, but keeping facility in shape takes resources. The most attractive part is a huge aquarium with small sharks, moray eel and other fishes. The entire visit takes 10-20 minutes, depends on “seek & hide” game and show/action performed by species. Note: in the city there is no or few free parking.

Very small aquarium, for my perspective it's not worth the money but you can enjoy the surroundings more

For the price (7euros per person) is very ok. Having said that … it requires more maintenance… the glass had brown algae and some of the fish looked unhealthy…😟 I saw a big grouper totally quiet and in vertical position also one of the eels was laying on one side looking not that alive … they have some good fish and rays and a couple of small sharks … for kids is fine but is not amazing I would say.

Amazing experience with an awesome guide. The experience itself was very unique and great with unique opportunity to see native Madeiran fishes and to interact with them like nowhere in the world. Strong suggestion to take on this adventure.

Nice little aquarium with many kind of fish and other invertebrate sea animals, like starfish, octopus, crabs, lobsters, etc. There is discount for children and seniors. Recommanded for all who like underwater sea life, except those who expect a multi-storey hyper modern aquarium for this price...

Miradouro da Santinha is a lesser-known but stunning viewpoint in Porto Moniz, Madeira. It offers breathtaking views over the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools, the coastline, and the vast Atlantic Ocean. How to Get There • Located just a few minutes uphill from Porto Moniz. • Easily accessible by car via local roads. • A short walk from the main town center if you prefer to explore on foot. What to Expect • Panoramic Views – A perfect bird’s-eye view of the natural pools and surrounding cliffs. • Great for Photography – Especially at sunrise or sunset. • Peaceful Spot – Less crowded than other viewpoints, making it a great place to relax. Nearby Attractions • Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools – Just below the viewpoint. • Fort of São João Baptista – A small historic fort nearby. • Seixal Beach – A short drive away, featuring Madeira’s best black sand beach.

Definitely worth a visit - even if you don't take the cable car or walk the path down, the view from the top is great! If you do want to take the cable car it's €5 per person for a round trip - €3 if you want to walk down and take the car back up. If it's raining I wouldn't recommend taking the path down as it's fairly steep.

Fantastic view of the city. Plenty of parking. Trash receptacles but no picnic tables.

Amazing viewpoint next to the road.

If you drive along this rather steeped and winding road, you need to stop at this parking from where there is a beautiful view of Porto Moniz.

Cool view onto Porto Moniz, right by the road, worth a quick stop.

Absolutely incredible view. Nice and easy parking with quite a few spaces, bigger than in other places. Which makes you feel safer and less stressed if you are with little ones.

In every village or town, you will find a church more likely in the heart of its center. And all kinds of business thrives around it.Find the church and you discover lovely new places. But not all villages has a church in its center and this is one of them next to the municipality hall positioned much higher amongst the houses & terraces, alovely walk with sea views.

Beautiful church in Porto Moniz

Nicely located village church

(Translated by Google) A very beautiful church. Small, cozy. And it is open to tourists all day. (Original) Очень красивая церковь. Маленькая, уютная. И открыта для туристов весь день.

(Translated by Google) Typical place to see with sea water pools but not natural. (Original) Endroit typique à voir avec les piscines d'eau de mer mais non naturelle.

(Translated by Google) Lava pools are special. (Original) Különlegesek a láva medencék.

(Translated by Google) A calm and pleasant place of unique beauty. Natural pools with good water are its main attraction. Good accommodations and good restaurants. (Original) Local calmo e agradável, de beleza única. Piscinas naturais com boas águas é o seu pólo principal. Bons alojamentos e bons restaurantes.

We started at 8:30 as all our hikes to make sure it is not crowded. This hike is anyway a quite one, or may have been the weather. Nevertheless, we were the first ones. Beautiful hike and an easy one. Even though there was a sign to not go further, we went and it was really nice. As it had been raining whole night and morning the path was very wet. We enjoyed it though and wanted to turn around at 10km, however, at around 7km just before the forth tunnel, we did not dare to go any further (see video why). The forth tunnel might be accessible if it may be dry for a couple of days in a row, but definitely not when there is only one night of rain. So we would recommend to turn around after the first tunnel which has a cool waterfall. After that the path is in not good, no view, and many land slides. At our way back, 4km in, we saw the first other hikers and the fog got much worse so no real view left. 4/5 stars just because we could not go further than 7km. Hike took us 3,5h back and forth.

February 13, 2025 : Completely flat trail along the levada that's beautiful albeit a bit monotonous for the first 90min until you encounter the first tunnel, which emerges to a waterfall that you can walk under, then another tunnel, an old maintenance house, and a third tunnel, which is where we turned around. This route took us just under 4 hours. Bring headlamps if you can, and definitely waterproof shoes! Lots of free parking and washrooms available at the entrance.

Beautiful. Such an enjoyable walk. The views, the greenery, the rock scale to green and those lush valleys. This was so enjoyable. Not busy just a few lovely people out enjoying it all. Tunnel number one was manageable.

The trail offers a good balance of challenges and relaxation. The scenery changes with the seasons, but it's best to avoid hiking here in the rain, as it becomes very slippery. We weren't sure where the trail ended, but after the third cave/tunnel, it became too dangerous, so we turned back. You should set aside about 3-4 hours to complete the trail. A few things to note: * Your shoes will definitely get wet and dirty. * There are picnic spots, but they aren't well-maintained. * Be aware of rolling stones, especially if it rains. * Walking through the tunnels and caves is comfortable, but it's better to avoid them during flooded seasons. * Free parking.

Awesome hiking! Road is very easy for beginners. Views are just breathtaking. Bring waterproof shoes since the road is very muddy az some parts.

An absolute stunner. Bring boots / waterproof shoes if it has rained recently. Got to walk under some light waterfalls, gorgeous views of the valleys and mountains and villages in the distance.

A really really nice walk, less crowded than the more popular walks, but for me, better and more varied. The waterfall grotto, a hairpin turn around a deep ravine, and some interesting levada infrastructure, good shade throughout.

Plenty of good purchases available for hungry hikers.

Bad

Great little supermarket with all you could need :)

Said open but was closed

(Translated by Google) This place does not exist or no longer exists (Original) Diesen Ort gibt es nicht oder nicht mehr

(Translated by Google) Pleasant. (Original) Gezellig.

(Translated by Google) A small, fine supermarket. It has everything you need, including espresso, cappuccino, and pastel de nata (if you get there early enough), as well as fresh fruit. (Original) Kleiner feiner Supermarkt. Für alles Notwendige. Wie auch Espresso, Cappuccino und Pastel de Nata(wenn man früh genug da ist), frisches Obst.

(Translated by Google) On the uninhabited rocky island of Ilhéu Mole stands the Farol do Porto Moniz, a small white lighthouse. The view of the island is very nice at sunset in Porto Moniz. (Original) Na neobydleném skalnatém ostrově Ilhéu Mole stojí Farol do Porto Moniz, bílý malý maják. Moc hezký pohled na ostrov je při západu slunce v Porto Moniz.

(Translated by Google) The symbol of the Council (Original) O símbolo do Concelho

(Translated by Google) There is a beacon on the island off Porto Moniz. (Original) Auf der Porto Moniz vorgelagerten Insel befindet sich ein Leuchtfeuer.

Loved the forest! We had the mists and the sunshine, everything we've wished for, so can't complain. However, the public areas need more looking after, they are packed and slippery. The toilets should be cleaned more often and provided with paper. It's a wonderful place, just need a bit more attention.

I think this place definitely should be prioritized in your bucket list when you go to Madeira. It’s a bit difficult to get there and road took 1 hour from Finchal but then you see a magic place, like nothing else. We’ve visited during the day and enjoyed the mix of various sceneries: from fogs and clouds to bright sun. Not many mentioned in comments that there's a trail around 11 km one way, we were not ready to do it this time - will definitely come back. Friendly cows were there))) and they're like special attraction. I've never expected they’ll even allow to make selfies 😆

Visiting the funnel forest tree station was one of the highlights of our trip to Madai the ancient laurel trees often surrounded by mist created a mystical almost fairytale like atmosphere that’s hard to describe truly breathtaking. I really recommend stopping by especially in the in the morning or late afternoon for the best light and mood

This place is spooky! It was very foggy when we visited Fanal and it was great! The experience was great! The mixture of trees and fog gave a really strange feeling, like being part of a movie or even being in a different dimension. Experience was stunning... The place itself is really 5 stars but only 4 stars as we missed for example bathrooms. Parking was easy, but be careful when crossing the street. The fog is thick. Drivers were attentive but make sure to keep watch over small children

Fanal Forestry Station is a breathtaking spot for nature lovers! 🌳🌿 The ancient laurel trees and mist-covered landscapes make it feel like you’ve stepped into a magical forest. 🌫️ The trails are peaceful, offering stunning views and a serene atmosphere. Perfect for hiking, photography, or simply enjoying the beauty of Madeira’s nature. A must-visit if you’re exploring the island! 🌄👟

It could be crowded at times due to the tourist buses and tours. Come early if you want less people. Nice looking trees with unique shapes. If you want to have a unique experience go there when the weather is foggy. You can also hike from there uphill and get some nice views. Also bring some food / water for some picknick. Typically for Madeira it could be a bit windy and also be aware of cow droppings as cows are roaming freely.

Our favorite place in Madeira. Extraordinary mysterious fog and old trees that took different forms. We were there 4 times and 3 times there was this fantastic fog. Sometimes you can see cows falling out there, which adds an additional atmosphere. There are two large parking lots and places to rest on site.

I could describe the place as a hobby garage. It is not worth to visit and pay for this negative experienece. Absolute basic, anywhere else an exhibition is minimum 5-10 times bigger and better. You can buy a combine ticket wherewith you can visit the aquarium (which is some minutes away on the main street) and this center. Please avoid, again not worth. Not what one expects from an aquarium & museum. Both places are almost pathetic. Spend your time around Porto Moniz.

Totally not worth visiting. There is nothing to see.

Excellent service and food ...

Good.

Great place!

(Translated by Google) Cultural space in the municipality of Porto Moniz. Pleasant space with a good area. Ideal space for cultural events. (Original) Espaço cultural no município de Porto Moniz. Espaço agradável e com uma boa área. Espaço ideal para eventos culturais.

(Translated by Google) Terrible, they didn't warn us about the holidays and we came from Funchal and it was closed and abandoned, it looked like a dump, well, it's a dump to come here and spend money on gas and arrive and it's abandoned. Although it's expensive, it's crap and there's nothing to see. I don't recommend it. Don't come here. Terrible...🤮 (Original) terrivel nao avisaram sobre as ferias e viemos do funchal e estava fechado e abandonado parecia um lixo, bem, e um lixo vir ca e gastar dinheiro em gasolina e chegar e estar abandonado. apesar de caro e uma porcaria e nao tem nada para ver. nao aconselho. nao venham aqui. terrível....🤮

Came across this place while spending the day in Porto Moniz. I like turtles so thought we might as well go in, it's only 4 euros. Well what a surprise, I actually got to touch, hold and feed several turtles! It was super cool!! Small place but worth the entrance fee. Learned a lot from the employee working there who was doing his best to communicate in multiple languages to different groups coming through. Some of the species they have there are endangered including a massive African Tortoise which was so neat to see. The turtles have somewhat small enclosures but they seem happy enough. Oddly there weren't any signs about hand washing, but use common sense, there's a washroom/toilet upstairs. I'm traveling without my kids but they would have looooved it!

Came across this Turtle Experience by accident and we're delighted that we decided to give it a go. Entrance fee €4 (cash only) and worth every cent. Our guide - who owns and breeds all the turtles on show - is extremely knowledgeable about them and the evolution of tortoises and turtles across the world and the ages. I thought I knew a fair bit about them but I learned so much from him, they're amazing creatures! I thoroughly recommend Jurassic Turtles, being allowed to handle and to feed the creatures is an education in itself.

We happened upon this exhibition by chance and wondered whether it would be worth missing an hour at the next door natural pools but we are so glad we decided to go in. First of all, we made a couple of euros donation for some lettuce to feed the giant tortoises outside and then we ventured inside. The exhibition space was very simple and there were about 14 species of tortoises and turtles in tanks and enclosures with some information boards relating to Darwin and the theory of evolution by natural selection. Then we met a guide, we think he may have been called Dan. He was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaging. He spoke at length about each species and conveyed so much interest and compassion, really illustrating the importance of maintaining habitats and protections for these incredible animals. He spent nearly an hour taking us to meet each animal in turn and showing us their characteristics and adaptations to the ecological niche they occupy in the wild. We definitely came away educated and energised with a new understanding of the variety of species and wide geographical distribution. We thank the Porto Moniz local authority for hosting such an interesting exhibition which really added to our day. I hope it will be possible to make this a permanent addition to the town's attractions and will definitely recommended it to travellers in the future.

You can feed, touch, and hold turtles and tortoises! The man working there told us a lot about most of them and took some turtles out of their tanks to talk about them and let us hold them. I thought it was well worth 4 euros, especially since as these turtles and tortoises are growing, they need bigger tanks! Most of them are young and need more room to grow. We gave a little extra for the cause. It looks like they are going to hatch some more too - they have a warmer full of eggs. I’m not sure if they have bigger spaces for them in the back for when they’re not open…I hope so. For people saying not to go there and give them money, I think the opposite is true - go and give them money to buy bigger tanks.

Very special experience. The exhibition contained rare specimens with complete references to their historical development. Our guide was fully trained, friendly and explained everything to us.

This was our best experience on Madeira so far. On the other site of nice, but for 7E quite overpriced aquarium is a superb exposition of unique turtles from all around the world for only 2,5E per entry. We were lucky enough to meet a kind hearted man (from the exposition team) who offered a private tour around all the show. There was all, interesting info, live show when we got to hold and cuddle the turtles and great fun-facts for lightening the otherwise very nature-focused presentation. Recommend to all - top of tops! Sending thanks for the amazing tour guide and all the team tending those amazing beasts!

Amazing experience. We've got a tour from a guide named Daniel, it was incredible interactive and informational. Additional love for the turtles, they are very cute and social 😍

Beautiful hike, specially in autumn time, full of water and humidity and fog. The atmosphere is unforgettable.

Very beautiful place. Hike alongside the levada until you get to it's origin. Once you are there make sure to keep walking up behind the first waterfall. All tourists stay at the first one but not many continue to climb 2 more minutes to the bigger one.

Nice hike with a lot of stairs at the beginning and walking next to the levada for a long time to finish with a beautiful view

Very nice hike, we did it the opposite way, having to climb the stairs at the end and then downhill on the main road back. In hindsight, we should have just hiked back along the Levada.

Awesome hike with astonishing reward if you hike up towards the fanal Forrest. On the hike itself you will see plenty of waterfalls and follow the levada towards the top of the mountain. (The soil might be soggy though) Not very difficult but a little long and some steps at the very end might get exhausting for few people but I'd recommend it anyway! :)

It's very nice, you can enjoy the nature here, but doesn't take you to a place and crosses the same street few times.

Very easy levada to walk if you don't walk up the stairs in the end. We walked it there and back as we didn't fancy walking on tarmac in heat, a very good decision.

Amazing beach with beautiful scenery! Parking is for free close to the beach, like 2 minutes walk. And from the car park there are mountains around, all this place feels unreal...💯

If you are passing by, be sure to stop and enjoy the views! Parking spots are nearby, be sure to bring something for the strong wind that salutes you as you walk toward the beach!

A beautiful place, surrounded by interesting rock formations. Was not crowded and

This secluded beach offers a pristine and untouched natural environment, where you can escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the serenity of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. As you approach Praia da Ribeira da Janela, you'll be greeted by a picturesque sight. One of the highlights of Praia da Ribeira da Janela is the opportunity to explore the natural rock formations that adorn the beach. These sculpted rocks, shaped by the relentless ocean waves, offer a fascinating landscape to discover and photograph. Be sure to bring your camera and capture the unique beauty of this coastal wonder. It's worth noting that Praia da Ribeira da Janela may not be suitable for swimming at all times due to the strong currents and rocky seabed. However, the beach's natural beauty and tranquility make it a perfect spot for sunbathing, picnicking, or simply enjoying the sound of the waves.

I visited here on December and it’s a perfect destination for sunrise and I recommend you having warm clothes going there. It’s a bit windy but the water is warm.

Great beach with lava formation and tunnel.

5 minutes from comfortable parking. There are two ways: go directly to the rocky beach or go slightly up through the tunnel to catch top view on the rocks. I recommend do both. The views are picturesque!

Hidden gem. Unique views. No tourists. Beautiful place to take photos. Make sure you go down the stairs for even better views.

Great spot for sunset, park on road. Make sure you are careful if walking down the paths to the left of the picnic area, the cliff is right there.

Amazing sunset in Madeira to round out our trip. You could see the sunset from very high vantage point and the contrast of sea to the sky is a sight to beheld. Park on the side road lining up with everyone around 8pm for 8:30pm sunset. We took a little trail off the parking lot from the left side and laid down a blanket and snack. Best time!

Nice viewpoint, you can walk down, there is a little path. Be careful though. It was slippery the day we were there. One bad slip and you are all the way down. We viewed the rainbow and enjoyed the view for a moment and left. My wife was too scared to go down. Parking is very limited. Maybe 5 cars can stop. But people do not tend to stay long. We saw a few cars arrive and leave after a few minutes.

Beautiful view from the other side of the cable car view point. When going down the path on the left side you can enjoy the view on the small houses and sea waves in total silence. Would recommend visiting when driving down the west coast of Madeira.

Great sunset place! Just note parking gets quite full quickly.

Limited parking. Get there early or be prepared to park on the road and possibly reverse your way back up the hill. Very nice chilled spot to take in a sunset or pause on the drive around the west coast. Some benches for a lunch break.