Cabo Girão is a 580-metre sea cliff just west of Funchal, one of the highest in Europe, with a glass-floored viewing platform (skywalk) hanging over the drop. As of October 2026 the viewpoint opens daily from 8:00 to 20:00 and costs €5 for non-resident visitors over 12 (since 1 January 2026), free for children up to 12. Tickets are sold at the turnstiles or on the SIMplifica portal. Allow 30 to 60 minutes, or half a day with the cable car down to the farmed terraces at the foot of the cliff.
Right now in Cabo Girão
- Wed16–23°C61–73°F6 mm rain
- Thu16–23°C62–74°F8 mm rain
- Fri18–21°C64–71°F5 mm rain
Tickets and tours for Cabo Girão
See all tours for Cabo Girão →
From local operators, with prices and reviews; you check availability and book on Viator, our partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money
What it is and why it matters
Madeira is a volcanic island, and along its south coast the land often ends in sheer walls of rock. Cabo Girão, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, is the most dramatic of them: 580 metres from the clifftop to the sea, high enough that boats below look like toys. It is a protected area, and Madeira’s tourism board calls it the highest promontory in Europe.
The top has been a viewpoint for a long time, with a small chapel to Our Lady of Fátima nearby (the current one dates from 1974). In October 2012 a skywalk opened at the top: a platform with a transparent glass floor that lets you stand out over the void. Since March 2023 entry has been ticketed, with the price rising from €3 to €5 on 1 January 2026. For the rest of the island, see our Madeira travel guide.
What you’ll see
The skywalk
Step onto the glass and look straight down 580 metres to the sea. The floor is strong but the feeling is not for everyone; if heights bother you, the solid parts of the platform give the same view. Looking east you see Câmara de Lobos and Funchal spread along the bay; on clear days the mountains rise behind.
The fajãs at the foot of the cliff
Below you, squeezed between the cliff and the sea, are the Fajã do Rancho and the Fajã do Cabo Girão: low, flat strips of land at sea level, terraced and farmed for generations. From above they look like a green patchwork, and small fields are still cultivated there.
The terraced landscape
The slopes around Cabo Girão show the Madeiran way of farming steep land: narrow terraces (poios) held up by stone walls, many watered by levadas. Drive or walk the small roads around Quinta Grande and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to see them closer.
How to visit (as of October 2026)
- Hours: daily, 8:00 to 20:00.
- Price: €5 per visitor over 12. Children 12 and under, and Madeira residents with a resident card, go free.
- Tickets: at the turnstiles on site, or online on SIMplifica (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt), which also sells group tickets.
- Time needed: 30 minutes for the platform, an hour if you linger for photos or a coffee.
The Rancho cable car down to the fajãs
A small cable car, the Teleférico das Fajãs do Cabo Girão, runs from Sítio do Rancho, a short drive west of the viewpoint, down to the fajãs at sea level. It opened in August 2003 so that farmers could reach their fields, and has two six-person cabins; the ride takes about three minutes each way. Recent listings give a return fare of about €10 and opening hours from 8:00 or 9:00 to 19:00, with a lunch break on some weekdays. We could not confirm the 2026 fare on an official page, so check on arrival. At the bottom you can walk among the terraces by the sea.
When to go
Morning light suits the view east towards Funchal; late afternoon brings warmer light and the sun lower over the sea. Cloud can sit on the cliff top on some days; if it is foggy, come back another time, as the view is the whole point. Tour coaches arrive in waves from mid-morning; the first hour after opening and the last hours before 20:00 are calmest.
Getting there
By car it is a short drive west of Funchal: follow the coast past Câmara de Lobos and climb to Cabo Girão, where there is parking by the entrance. Some regional buses between Funchal and Ribeira Brava run via Cabo Girão; Madeira’s bus lines were renumbered under the SIGA network in 2026, so check the current line and times on siga.madeira.gov.pt. Taxis and island tours also stop here, often combined with Câmara de Lobos and the west of the island.
Safety
- Stay on the platform and inside the railings; never climb over them for a photo.
- Hold on to phones and hats in the wind; anything dropped falls onto the farmed land below.
- If you have a strong fear of heights, enjoy the view from the solid edge of the platform rather than the glass.
- The road down to Rancho and the fajãs is steep and narrow; drive slowly and use low gears.
Combine it with
Cabo Girão fits neatly into a half-day west of Funchal. Start in Câmara de Lobos, the fishing harbour of colourful boats and home of poncha, the island’s sugarcane-rum drink, then drive up to the cliff. Continue west to Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol, or north-west to the 25 Fontes and Risco levada walks (PR6 and PR6.1) and a swim in the natural lava pools at Porto Moniz. On another day, head up into the mountains for sunrise at Pico do Areeiro.
Cabo Girão FAQ
How much does Cabo Girão cost?
As of October 2026, €5 for visitors over 12. Children 12 and under and Madeira residents enter free. The price rose from €3 on 1 January 2026.
What are the opening hours of Cabo Girão skywalk?
Every day from 8:00 to 20:00 (as of October 2026).
Do I need to book Cabo Girão in advance?
No. You can buy tickets at the turnstiles on arrival, or online on SIMplifica if you prefer to have them ready.
How high is Cabo Girão?
580 metres above the sea, which makes it one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Is the Cabo Girão glass floor safe?
Yes, it is built for crowds of visitors, but it can feel unnerving. Stay on the platform and inside the railings.
How do you get to Cabo Girão from Funchal?
A short drive west along the coast via Câmara de Lobos, or by regional bus towards Ribeira Brava on lines that run via Cabo Girão (check SIGA timetables). Taxis and tours also go there.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 3 October 2026. Hours and the €5 price come from Visit Madeira (the official tourism site) and the SIMplifica ticket service; the 2026 price rise and resident exemption from DNOTICIAS (October 2025); ticketing since 2023 from RTP Madeira; the cliff, skywalk and cable car history from standard references; cable car fares and hours from recent listings (not confirmed on an official page). Prices and bus lines change, so check the official links before you go.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Air quality: OpenAQ · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)