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“Great family day out at this beach. Lots of little food vans dotted around too so easy to pick up drinks and lunch”
@mikmakmc · September 2026
Praia de Machico: beach in Madeira
Praia de Machico is a sand beach with Blue Flag status in Machico, with showers, toilets, changing rooms, lockers, a first-aid post, a café, parking, a bus stop and step-free access. Lifeguards are on duty during the bathing season.
Yellow-sand beach in the bay of Machico, Madeira's first settlement, signed on the council boards as Praia da Banda D'Além. The sand was imported from Morocco. Blue Flag, lifeguarded in the bathing season and marked as an accessible beach (Praia Acessível).
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About Praia de Machico
Machico's golden-sand beach was built in 2008 with 11,500 tonnes of sand imported from Morocco, and it transformed the town overnight. It is one of only two true sandy beaches on Madeira (Calheta is the other) and the most family-friendly swimming spot on the island, with a sheltered bay, lifeguards, gentle entry and beach restaurants two minutes away.
What to know before you go
- Madeira's water is cooler than the Canaries, sea-surface temperatures sit around 19–23 °C through the year.
- Standard beach footwear is fine, though a small towel for rocky paths to the water helps.
- Cash is rarely required, cafés and parking meters mostly take cards.
- Parking fills early on summer weekends; arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00 for the best chance of a spot.
- The official name on the Machico council boards is Praia da Banda D'Além.
- Emergency numbers listed on the beach board: 112 (emergency), 291 213 112 (Maritime Authority MRSC), 291 700 112/5 (Civil Protection).
- Useful numbers on the same board: Machico town hall 291 969 990, Machico fire brigade 291 965 183, ambiente@cm-machico.pt.
- Lifeguard flags are used in the bathing season: green means swimming is allowed, yellow means take care, red means no swimming, chequered means the beach is temporarily unguarded.
- Posted hazards: keep clear of the groynes, shallow water, and offshore winds, don't use inflatables on a windy day, and children must be supervised.
- Posted rules: no animals during the bathing season (pets on a leash outside it), no soap in the showers, no sound systems, no camping, no fires and no fishing.
- A brown Praia Acessível sign marks the accessible entrance; the site map shows an amphibious chair, accessible toilets, a first-aid post and a Blue Flag point.
- Getting down to the sand is step-free: a wide paved ramp runs from the promenade to the beach, with no kerb at the bottom.
- An IUVSense ultraviolet-index board stands beside the sand, though the dial was taped over as 'em manutenção' (under maintenance) when we photographed it in September 2026.
- A trail-running board on the beach lists six waymarked training routes with Strava codes: Machico 4 km, 17 km and 22 km, and Porto da Cruz 9 km, 19 km and 35 km.
Best time to visit
June to October is peak season for swimming, with the warmest water in September. The site stays open year-round but the Atlantic gets bigger and colder from November.
Location
Machico, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.71960, -16.76890
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Frequently asked
What is the official name of Machico beach?
The Machico council boards call it Praia da Banda D'Além. Most visitors simply know it as Praia de Machico.
Is Machico beach accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes. It is signed as a Praia Acessível, and the site map on the beach shows an accessible entrance, an amphibious chair, accessible toilets and a first-aid post.
Is there a lifeguard at Machico beach?
Yes, during the bathing season. Flags are flown on the sand: green for swimming allowed, yellow for care, red for no swimming and chequered when the beach is temporarily unguarded.
What are the emergency numbers for Machico beach?
The beach board lists 112 for emergencies, 291 213 112 for the Maritime Authority (MRSC) and 291 700 112/5 for Civil Protection. Machico town hall is 291 969 990 and the local fire brigade 291 965 183.
What is not allowed on Machico beach?
The posted code of conduct bans animals during the bathing season, soap in the showers, sound systems, camping, fires and fishing. Inflatables shouldn't be used when it is windy.
Are there running trails from Machico beach?
Yes. A trail-running board on the beach maps six training routes with Strava links, 4 km, 17 km and 22 km from Machico, and 9 km, 19 km and 35 km from Porto da Cruz.
Plan around Praia de Machico
The nearest town, viewpoint and walk: the three things most visitors pair with Praia de Machico in a day.
Nearby on Madeira
Other places within easy reach of Praia de Machico.
Plan the rest of your trip
The four guides most first-time visitors reach for.
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