Ponta do Sol

“Sun Point,” said to be the sunniest seaside village in Madeira, with colorful houses below the cliffs, pebble beaches and sunsets, and Europe's first digital nomad village.

Ponta do Sol sits on Madeira's southwest coast, surrounded by steep cliffs and banana plantations, and is one of the sunniest places on the island. The town is small: along the coast are pebble beaches, a harbor and a row of colorful houses, and cobbled streets in the old town are lined with churches and cafés. On the clifftop, the Estalagem da Ponta do Sol hotel has an infinity pool and superb sunset views. In 2021, the town launched a “digital nomad village” program that attracted many remote workers, and it now has shared offices and youthful cafés. For walks, the Levada Nova and Levada do Moinho trails start north of town, passing through banana groves, tunnels and waterfalls. The loop takes about 3 to 4 hours and is moderately difficult. Madeira's west coast driving route makes a good stop for lunch or sunset. Getting there: about 30 minutes by car from Funchal, or take bus 4, 80 or 107 for about 1 hour. Note: The beach is pebbled, so wear water shoes to swim. Some sections of the levada trails are narrow without railings, and you'll need a headlamp for the tunnels.

Ponta do Sol

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