The cliffs of Cabo Girão are among the highest sea cliffs in the world, with a near-vertical drop of over 580 metres to the Atlantic Ocean below. Standing at the top looking down, the scale is difficult to comprehend.

At the summit, a glass-floored skywalk extends out over the cliff edge, offering visitors the chance to peer straight down through their feet to the ocean 580 metres beneath. It is not an experience for the faint-hearted, but it is undeniably memorable. On my first visit 12 years ago, I found myself gripping the handrail rather more tightly than I had anticipated.

Beyond the skywalk, the clifftop also serves as a superb viewpoint. The Miradouro Cabo Girão offers magnificent views along the entire southeast coast of Madeira, stretching from Câmara de Lobos in one direction towards Funchal in the other. On a clear day, the panorama is exceptional.

At the foot of the cliffs lie the Fajãs de Cabo Girão, a series of terraced fields historically used for growing vines. These can be reached by the Teleférico do Rancho cable car, though it is worth noting that the cable car station is a separate 4km drive from the main viewpoint rather than within walking distance.
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The view straight down from the Skywalk

The glass walkway extends over the cliff edge, 580 metres above sea level

Looking along the coast towards Câmara de Lobos from the Miradouro Cabo Girão

The Cabo Girão Skywalk is a well-run tourist attraction with ample parking and modern facilities. The skywalk is open daily from 08:30 to 20:00 in summer and from 08:30 to 19:00 in winter. Admission costs €3 for adults, while children under 12 enter free of charge.

The skywalk is perfectly safe, but standing on a glass floor suspended 580 metres above sea level is likely to induce at least mild vertigo in most visitors. If you are particularly uncomfortable with heights, you may find the solid ground of the adjacent viewpoint more enjoyable.

Cabo Girão has become one of Madeira's most popular tourist attractions, which means it can get very busy between 10:00 and 14:00 during high season when the coach tours arrive. When the site is crowded, much of the impact is lost as you shuffle along the walkway surrounded by other visitors. I would recommend visiting either early in the morning or later in the evening when it is much quieter and you can take your time.

At the site you will find a large café, a souvenir shop and public toilets (€0.50). There is a sizeable free car park, though this fills up quickly once the tour buses start arriving. If you have your own transport, avoiding peak times will make parking far easier.

It is always best to try to visit when it's quiet, as there is only so much space when a tour bus turns up

If you are visiting as part of an organised tour, expect to spend around 20 to 30 minutes here. This is generally enough time to walk the skywalk, take in the views and snap a few photographs.

For independent visitors, 15 to 30 minutes is typically sufficient unless you choose to extend your visit by taking the Teleférico do Rancho cable car to the base of the cliffs. Do note, however, that the cable car station is not within walking distance of the viewpoint and requires a separate 8-minute drive.

The souvenir shops and café to the rear of the skywalk and viewpoint

Cabo Girão is located approximately 3km from Câmara de Lobos as the crow flies. However, the actual driving distance to the summit is 6.5km due to the winding uphill route, and the journey takes around 15 minutes by car. The cliffs dominate the skyline when viewed from Câmara de Lobos, but reaching the top requires a meandering drive up through the hillside.

The Cabo Girão cliffs dominate the skyline of Câmara de Lobos and it’s a long meandering drive to the summit

By Bus
Public transport to Cabo Girão is provided by the island-wide SIGA network, with routes available from both Funchal and Câmara de Lobos. The journey from Funchal takes approximately 40 minutes, while from Câmara de Lobos it is around 20 minutes.

When using the SIGA website or app, search for "Cabo Girão" in the destination field to see available routes, including the 154 and 7. Be aware that services are infrequent: there are typically six departures on weekdays, reducing to four or five at weekends. I would strongly recommend checking your return connections before heading up, as missing the last bus could leave you facing a long wait or an unplanned taxi fare.

The latest timetables and a journey planner can be found on the official SIGA website at
siga.madeira.gov.pt/

By Taxi or Rideshare
Uber and Bolt both operate in this area and can be a more convenient alternative to waiting for infrequent bus services. The estimated fare from Câmara de Lobos is between €12 and €18, though prices may rise during peak times when demand is high.

By Hop-on-Hop-off Bus
The hop-on-hop-off buses that serve Funchal offer extended routes including Câmara de Lobos and the Cabo Girão cliffs. Yellow Bus operates a 48-hour ticket that includes Cabo Girão, priced at €30. This can be a convenient option if you are planning to visit several attractions across the area.

The Fajãs de Cabo Girão are terraced fields that lie directly beneath the towering cliffs. Historically, these narrow strips of cultivated land were used primarily for growing vines, as the cliffs provided both shelter from the wind and favourable conditions for grape production. Until 2003, the only way to reach these fields was by boat, which gives some indication of just how isolated this patch of coastline remains.

The construction of the Teleférico do Rancho cable car changed this, creating a direct link from the clifftop road down to the fajãs below. A return trip costs €10 and takes around three minutes in each direction. Two small cabins, each seating six passengers, make the dramatic descent down the cliff face. The ride itself is the main attraction here, offering a perspective on the cliffs that you simply cannot get from the viewpoint above.

I should be honest: once you reach the bottom, there is not a great deal to see. You will find a stony beach and some short coastal footpaths, but little else. If you are expecting a hidden village or extensive walking trails, you may be disappointed. That said, the cable car journey is memorable in its own right, and the sense of scale as you descend is quite something.

Getting to the Teleférico do Rancho
One important point that catches many visitors out: the cable car station is not at the main Cabo Girão viewpoint. The upper station is located on the coastal road to the east, approximately 4km away by car (around 8 minutes of driving). If you are planning to combine the skywalk and the cable car in one visit, you will need to factor in this additional journey.

The station is located at GPS coordinates 32.652, -16.992 (Link to google maps).

Close to the upper cable car station you will find The TOP, a restaurant offering good food and panoramic coastal views. It makes a pleasant spot for lunch if you are combining the cable car with the main viewpoint.