Machico, on the east coast of Madeira, is one of the two typical beach resorts on the island (the other is Calheta) and one of the main tourist centres in Madeira.
Machico provides all the facilities - you will find a plethora of restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and supermarkets, tourist agencies offering various excursions and cruises, beaches and paths along the Madeiran "levadas" with views of the beautiful mountainous and green coastline.
The small but all the more lively historic centre impresses with its narrow streets and typical colonial buildings.
Beaches
The local beach, Praia de Machico, is divided into two sections.
The one closer to the centre is covered in large pebbles and adjoined by a large landscaped seafront promenade, while the beach beyond the mouth of the river is beautiful, spacious and fine sand.
Especially around the sandy part you will find in the summer many restaurants and bars, there are public toilets and showers. Overall, the area around the beaches is very neat and clean.
The sea water is warmest between August and October, when it averages around 23 °C, while it is coldest in March, when it averages 17 °C. Due to its location in a sheltered bay, the water in Machico is mostly calm and without big waves.
Hiking
There are also many hiking opportunities.
The most popular route, which de facto follows the northern border of Machico, is the path along the winding levadas to Caniçal, or trips to the nearby Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. The hiking trails along the ridges of the cliffs between the nearby towns of Caniçal and Porto da Cruz are also beautiful.
Accommodation Machico
As the 2nd largest city and one of the main resorts in Madeira, Machico offers a wealth of accommodation from budget apartments with prices under 29 eur per night for 2 to larger 4* hotels right on the beach, the largest, most famous and visible from everywhere being the Hotel Dom Pedro Madeira.
Transportation to Machico
Machico is very accessible and signposted by car from both the motorway from Funchal (25km) and the airport (6km). Parking at the main beach in Rua do Leiria is free.
The town is also very accessible by bus. SAM operates its green-yellow-white buses in the west of Madeira. From Machia you can easily get all over western Madeira, you can find the timetable of a particular line by clicking on its number on this map.
There are buses to Funchal several times an hour (ticket price 3,35 eur), many of which also stop at the airport (1,95 eur). There are also services at least 1-2 times an hour from Machico to Faial and Santana.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Madeira.