Eira do Serrado — Curral das Freiras Viewpoint (1,095 m)
Eira do Serrado is Madeira's most dramatic inland viewpoint — a 1,095 m belvedere above the glacial crater village of Curral das Freiras (the 'Nuns' Valley'). The platform sits a 2-minute walk from a free car park on the ER107, has a café and small hotel, and is the classic postcard shot looking down 600 m into the crater. A lower roadside lookout at ~800 m is signposted on the drive down — worth a 5-minute stop, but Eira do Serrado is the headline view.
What is Eira do Serrado?
Eira do Serrado is Madeira's most dramatic inland viewpoint — a 1,095 m belvedere above the glacial crater village of Curral das Freiras (the 'Nuns' Valley'). The platform sits a 2-minute walk from a free car park on the ER107, has a café and small hotel, and is the classic postcard shot looking down 600 m into the crater. A lower roadside lookout at ~800 m is signposted on the drive down — worth a 5-minute stop, but Eira do Serrado is the headline view.
Key facts
- Elevation
- 1,095 m
- Looks over
- Curral das Freiras (the 'Nuns' Valley')
- Drive from Funchal
- ≈ 25 min via ER107
- Parking
- Free, large lot 100 m from the belvedere
- Entry
- Free, open 24/7 (café 09:00–18:00)
- Facilities
- Café, small hotel, gift shop, public toilets
- Best light
- Mid-morning (low cloud often burns off by 10:00)
- Secondary lookout
- Miradouro do Curral das Freiras, ~800 m, on the road down
About Eira do Serrado
Eira do Serrado is one of Madeira's signature miradouros
At 1095 m, Eira do Serrado sits above the usual cloud line — mornings here often start with a sea of white filling the valleys below. The Atlantic weather moves fast at this altitude, so the view can flip from zero visibility to panorama in minutes. Dress for wind and carry a jacket even in summer.
Eira do Serrado (1,095 m) looks straight down into the Curral das Freiras bowl from the south rim — arguably the single best 'wow' view on the island, and a 25-minute drive from central Funchal. There is a small hotel, a souvenir shop, a café, and a short flat 200 m path from the car park to the main viewing platform.
What to know before you go
- Bring a windproof layer — even on warm days the exposed clifftops are noticeably cooler.
- First light and the last hour of the day are when the cliffs colour up — middle of the day is the harshest window.
- Parking is small at most miradouros; arrive early or be prepared to wait briefly for a spot.
- Stay behind the railings — the cliffs are higher than they look.
Best time to visit
Year-round, but May, June, September and October combine the most settled weather with the best light. Avoid windy days for clifftop viewpoints.
Location
Funchal, Madeira · Open in OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
32.71044, -16.96256
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Frequently asked
What is the best viewpoint of Curral das Freiras?+
Eira do Serrado at 1,095 m — the panoramic belvedere on the ridge directly above the village. It's a 25-minute drive from Funchal and a 2-minute walk from free parking. There's a smaller roadside miradouro at around 800 m on the descent into the village, but the headline view is from Eira do Serrado.
How do you get to Eira do Serrado?+
Drive from Funchal via the ER107 (through Santo António and Curral dos Romeiros) — about 25 minutes. There's also a SIGA bus (line 181, formerly 81) from Funchal to Curral das Freiras that stops near Eira do Serrado. Most visitors come by car or organised tour.
Is there an entry fee for Eira do Serrado?+
No — the viewpoint and the car park are both free. The café, hotel and gift shop are independent businesses you can use or skip.
What is the best time to visit Eira do Serrado?+
Mid-morning, 10:00–12:00. Low cloud often fills the crater at sunrise and burns off by mid-morning; afternoons can cloud over again. Sunset is dramatic when the conditions cooperate but harder to predict.
Is Eira do Serrado the same as Curral das Freiras?+
No — Eira do Serrado is the viewpoint on the ridge at 1,095 m. Curral das Freiras is the village in the crater 600 m below. They share the search term because Eira do Serrado is the canonical lookout over the village; most visitors do both as a half-day trip.
Is Eira do Serrado free to visit?+
Access is free. Some neighbouring private terraces or cafés charge for seating, but the official viewing platform doesn't.
How long should I spend at Eira do Serrado?+
Allow at least half an hour. On a clear day it's tempting to stay through golden hour, so build that into your schedule.
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