Cabo Girão is a sea cliff on Madeira's south coast, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, less than 2 km west of the town centre. Visit Madeira gives its height as 580 m. A glass-floored platform at the top lets you look vertically down at the farmed terraces and the Atlantic below, which is why it is one of the most visited stops on the island.
How high is Cabo Girão and what do you see?
The official tourism board lists 580 m; Wikipedia gives the escarpment as rising to between 560 m and 589 m and running for about 3 km between two river valleys. From the platform you look east along the coast towards Câmara de Lobos and Funchal, and straight down onto Fajã do Rancho and Fajã do Cabo Girão — small cultivated plots on the wave-cut platform at the base of the cliff.
What is the skywalk?
The skywalk is a suspended platform with a glass floor at the edge of the viewpoint. It opened in late October 2012. Standing on it gives an unobstructed view down the cliff face; if you are uneasy with heights, the solid railings around it give the same panorama.
Tickets and opening hours (2026)
According to the Regional Government's SIMplifica portal, checked October 2026:
| Opening hours | Every day, 08:00–20:00 |
| Adults (over 12) | €5.00 |
| Free | Children up to and including 12, Madeira residents with a resident card, people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users |
Tickets can be bought online on SIMplifica (individual or group); non-residents do not need to register. The address is Estrada do Cabo Girão, 9300-351 Câmara de Lobos.
How do the fajãs below connect to the cliff?
The fajãs were once reachable only by boat. A cable car was installed on the cliff slope in August 2003 so that farmers could reach their fields. It is a working link for the people who cultivate the terraces rather than a viewpoint attraction, so do not plan around it without checking locally.
When is the best time to visit?
Wikipedia records up to 1,800 visitors a day. Arriving close to the 08:00 opening or in the early evening means fewer tour groups on the platform. On the south coast the morning light falls on Funchal and the coast to the east; late in the day the cliff face itself is in shadow. Low cloud can sit on the top while the coast below is clear, so look at a webcam or the sky above Câmara de Lobos before driving up.
Safety and what people misjudge
- The edge is fenced; stay behind the barriers, especially with children.
- The area is used for paragliding and BASE jumping, so you may see launches — they are not an activity offered at the ticket desk.
- Most visits take less than an hour. It works best combined with other south-coast stops rather than as a half-day trip.
What to combine it with
Cabo Girão sits between Funchal and the west. Pair it with the inland view over Curral das Freiras from Eira do Serrado, or with a swim at Praia Formosa on the way back to Funchal. It is a fixed stop in our 3-day essentials itinerary; see the Funchal region guide for the rest of the area.
