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“View of Reis Magos beach looking over at The Views Hotel.”
@mikmakmc · September 2026
Praia dos Reis Magos: beach in Madeira
Praia dos Reis Magos is a pebble beach in Caniço, with a café, showers and parking. Lifeguards are on duty during the bathing season.
Quiet pebble beach in a small fishing cove east of Funchal, with seafront restaurants.
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About Praia dos Reis Magos
Praia dos Reis Magos sits in Caniço and is best known for rounded pebbles rather than soft sand, water shoes make a real difference
Seasonal lifeguards cover the busiest hours; flags drop early if the swell turns and the pool gets closed for safety. On-site facilities include lifeguard, cafe, showers and parking.
Praia dos Reis Magos is a quiet pebble beach in a small fishing cove at Caniço de Baixo, just east of Funchal. It is one of the easiest south-coast beaches to reach on foot from nearby hotels and holiday apartments, and it feels less developed than the big bathing complexes in Funchal itself.
The beach faces south into a narrow bay, so the water is usually calmer and clearer than on more exposed stretches of coast. It shelves gently for a pebble beach, and the rocks at the eastern end create a natural snorkelling spot when the sea is flat. A handful of seafront restaurants serve grilled fish and seafood rice with their terraces practically over the water.
A paved promenade runs behind the beach, making it popular for an evening stroll or a coffee after a swim. It is not a place for a full day of beach activities, there are no water sports and little shade, but it is a good, low-key local beach for a morning swim and lunch.
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.
- Bring water shoes; entry is not soft-sand friendly.
- Cash is rarely required, cafés and parking meters mostly take cards.
- Access: easy walk from the hotels and apartments of Caniço de Baixo; follow the promenade west. Public buses from Funchal stop nearby, check the SAM/Horários do Funchal routes for 'Caniço de Baixo'.
- Facilities: seafront restaurants and cafes, public showers and toilets; lifeguard during the summer bathing season.
- Best time: morning for the calmest water; late afternoon is pleasant for a walk and a drink on a terrace.
- Combine with: the Ponta de São Lourenço drive, a boat trip to the Desertas Islands, or dinner at one of Caniço's local restaurants.
- Parking: free car park above the promenade. The seafront road's blue bays are paid 08:00–20:00 daily from 1 May to 31 October, €0.40/hour (15 min €0.10, €4.80 all-day maximum); outside those months the bays are free, the meters are removed for winter. Checked at the meter, September 2026.
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
Caniço, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.64860, -16.82670
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Frequently asked
Is Praia dos Reis Magos good for families?
Yes: Praia dos Reis Magos has a seasonal lifeguard and facilities such as lifeguard, cafe, showers and parking, which makes it well suited to families.
What kind of beach is Praia dos Reis Magos?
Praia dos Reis Magos is a pebble site in Caniço. Most of Madeira's coastline is volcanic, so soft golden sand beaches are the exception rather than the rule.
Is there parking at Praia dos Reis Magos?
Most coastal sites on Madeira have nearby paid parking, but spots fill quickly in summer. Arrive early or use local taxis and buses when possible.
Is Praia dos Reis Magos good for swimming?
Yes, the cove faces south and is usually sheltered, so the water is calmer than on more exposed beaches. It is a pebble beach, so water shoes help, and the rocks at the eastern end are good for snorkelling on flat days.
How do I get to Praia dos Reis Magos from Funchal?
Take a SAM or Horários do Funchal bus towards Caniço de Baixo and walk down to the promenade; the beach is well signed. Taxis and ride-hailing are also inexpensive from central Funchal.
Are there restaurants on Praia dos Reis Magos?
Yes, a couple of seafront restaurants serve fresh fish, seafood rice and grilled squid with terraces overlooking the cove. They are popular for lunch, especially at weekends.
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