Madeira Island: 10 highly photogenic spots you cannot miss for incredible pictures
Planning a trip to Madeira?
My top 10 favourite spots to take amazing photos in the island.
Top 1: Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro is the highest point in Madeira Island (1817m). It offers great possibilities in terms of photography, especially at sunset and sunrise. If you are an active person, it’s the starting point to one of the nicest walks on the whole island (Pico Arieiro – Pico Ruivo).
#BenTips | From a local
For you to catch amazing photos here, you need to make sure that the clouds are lower than the mountain itself. To do this, you just need to check the live webcam on the web.
By doing this you don’t spend useless energy going there on a cloudy day and seeing… nothing.
Ideal spot for couples photography, family, engagement and wedding photography.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 2: Fanal Forest
Fanal is, for me, an iconic place in Madeira. The forest of Fanal is protected by the UNESCO program because some of the trees here are more than 200 years old. If you want to feel all the magnetism of the island, this is the place you want to be. With clouds or sun, in summer or winter, this place is always worth it. The mood here is somewhat unique. If you are a nature lover, just go.
#BenTips | From a local
It’s good to spend a little time in Fanal. The road to find it is so beautiful that you’ll definitely stop a few times. You can enjoy the nature up there by walking for hours in the valley of Fanal. The feeling is amazing and the view up there is something else, the trees are very special!
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 3: Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço offers some great landscapes. It’s a place I like to go when it comes to couples photography. Be careful as it is often very windy but often worth it.
#BenTips | From a local
- It’s oriented East, perfect for sunrise photography!
- Go in the mornings! It’s less cloudy and there’s fewer people around. If you have time, do one of the best walks in Madeira; Levada de Ponta Sao Lorenzo.
- Ideal spot to shoot the moon and milky way. With “Ponta de são Lourenço” you have the best scenery for these kinds of photos.
- Ideal scenery for drone photos!
Top 4: Seixal Beach
Seixal is one of the largest black sand beaches that you can find in Madeira. It offers great possibilities for romantic couple photography. It’s for sure a spot to put on your list for amazing photography around the island!
#BenTips | From a local
- Include Seixal into a north coast tour. All the north coast is amazing and full of scenic spots to take amazing pictures.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 5: Encumeada
#BenTips - Advice from a local
Go when the clouds are LOW in Funchal. It means that you’ll easily pass over them and get even more of this “WOW” factor. Also, as always, sunrise and sunsets in Encumeada are something else and will take your photos to the next level.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 6: Tropical Garden
From all of the garden’s in Madeira, the Tropical Garden is for me, one of the most photogenic places on the island. If you buy the cable car ticket from Funchal, the entrance to the Tropical Garden is included. You can also get there easily from Funchal by bus. The entrance to the garden is 10€.
#BenTips | From a local
There is another little garden that you can walk through, completely for free. To find it, you just need to pass the big bridge in Monte and go down, don’t hesitate to walk around and explore. Lose yourself in the green vegetation under the bridge. This little garden is so beautiful.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 7: Faja dos Padres
In my opinion, Faja dos Padres is one of the most underrated treasures of Madeira. Close to Funchal, you’ll find a small piece of heaven, a unique place that only Madeira can offer. Here you’ll find some organic farms and a lovely restaurant with direct access to the beach. The only way to access this place is by cable car which makes the experience even more enjoyable as you enjoy the view on your way down.
#BenTips | From a local
- Faja is amazing at sunset time
- It’s good to spend half a day there.
- You can rent some of the rustic houses there which are lovely. Visit site here.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 8: Craneview Point
Very famous on instagram, the crane view point is a bit hidden on the north coast. It’s a very scenic place that will give you amazing photo possibilities.
#BenTips - Advice from a local
- It’s oriented East, perfect for Sunrise photography!
- Go in mornings! It’s less cloudy, and it has fewer person around. And you have then all the time to the one of the best levada in Madeira: Levada de Ponta Sao Lorenzo.
- Ideal spot to shoot moon and milky way. With “ponta sao lorenzo” you have here the top scenery for this kind of photos.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 9: The door on the sea
You’ll find this door in Faial, close to the ruins of Sao Jorge. A unique place where you can take some awesome photographs like this one. The ambiance here is very special. I would definitely recommend passing here while doing a North Coast Tour.
#BenTips - Advice from a local
- To get a photo like this you need to come at the end of summer so the sun is nice and low, that’s how I got this photo.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Top 10: Funchal
Funchal has many spots where you can take lots of cool photographs. Whether it’s fashion or couple shots, you’ll find lots of hidden spots all over Funchal. Your creativity can be limitless with all of the colours and scenery that you’ll find downtown.
#BenTips - Advice from a local
- Go to Sé Boutique Rooftop! A unique hotel rooftop in the heart of Funchal.
- Try to visit the Forte sao Tiago, you’ll have some great views there.
- Walk and explore the little streets of Funchal, they are the best for fashion photography
- Check my Funchal Top 10 Photography Spot Article.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
- Let's go for photos ?
I Transfer my photos to wood and do an art exhibition about it
How to transfer your photos to wood?
1. You'll need some "Foto Transfer Medium" glue.
You can find easily in any art & craft shop. Otherwise, just order it on Amazon here:
2. Open any Photo or Image Editor, and apply "mirror" effect on your photo
In order to have the photo in the good sens after gluing it.
3. Print your photo with any LASER printer
Inkjet printer gives poor results most of time
4. Follow this step-by-step tutorial to understand how to transfer your photo on wood!
It's the same I followed to create mine !
5. Turn the result into a nice exhibition in your local business !
After i transferred my photos into wood, i propose to a local lounge bar to do an exhibition about it. – Yes, so cool! My goal with this process was to give life to my photography. People are more likely to buy a beautifully framed piece of wood than “just” printed photography.
I tried to play with the different woods I could find. Also, it allowed me to create an exhibition with a little budget since all the wood I use were recycled from the beach.
For this exhibition, I chose to frame them in a handmade black frame that was matching the decoration of the bar, so they look perfectly fitted for the place.
Liked it ? Discover the inauguration day in video!
▷ Where ?
FNC291 Bar, Funchal Madeira Island, Portugal
▷ Credits :
VIDEO BY : Rodolfo Fernandes DJ : Gillez Bzhr
36 mobile wallpapers to download for free
FREE DOWNLOAD
36 mobile wallpapers (HD)
Tired of your mobile wallpapers ? Here is a list of my favourite “portrait” format, so you can have all the fun to change your homescreen background. Hope you like them! Just click on any photo you like, then press long to save into your phone!
Click to open, then “save image as”
How i did my most amazing photo
Back in 2015 I was visiting Paris with my fiancée, my now betrothed Portuguese wife. Me myself being born and growing up in Strasbourg, I suggested it be nice to do a city break in Paris before heading further on our way to my hometown, my origin by birth.
It was a beautiful November day, strangely calm and quiet with blue skies and the sun burning hot. Somewhat unusual for the time of the year in Paris. We decided to roam the streets of the city center, I believe we strolled for no less than twelve kilometers on that day.
We visited all the historically symbolic places, the romantic streets and alleys and of course, the Eiffel Tower.
While strolling through the fancy stores in the famous shopping streets, my wife got surprised by the security guard whom asked to see her bag. As a Portuguese, she’s never experienced such a thing – someone looking through your bag when entering the store, rather than when leaving it. I had to explain to her that due to what happened with Charlie Hebdo, France was really on alert. It’s part of the French routine to live with such security measures everywhere.
I took this photography on the top of the Basilica Sacré Coeur.
With such a lovely day coming to its end, a most magnificent sunset was imminent. I proposed to her that we jump into a cab, only to go the short distance up to “Montmartre” in order to view the whole city in the twilight of the setting sun (such cliché, I know). But do not judge me, at the time we were fiancée and fiancé and the day truly did call for it.
With my camera being in burst mode, the first clicks scared a resting bird that was enjoying the very same view as we. In a way I am happy about, since she flying away made my picture even more awesome. At the moment, I was really happy with my picture and I knew it would be a keeper.
I even remember watching the photo, saying to myself:
“Wow, People may interpret the bird as a symbol of peace… Thank you, Bird!”
I was really happy with my picture.
Later on as we had jumped on the very last train heading towards Strasbourg, around 9 PM if my memory is correct. Some 20 minutes into our final journey to “home” we learned about the horrible news. About the devastating attack that had struck Paris on this day. (Terrorist Attack, 13 November 2015) It was unimaginable, terrible, truly horrific and hard to swallow. We had walked most of those streets during our day visiting the capitol.
We were all crying for the people that lost their lives this day. And I’ve learned a big lesson that day too. Life lesson, but also photography lesson.
This sunset picture of that day in Paris was now historic.
It became, for me at least, the symbol of peace, and how light actually fight the darkness.
Keep fighting folks, we are documenting History
Anytime, every time.
Vive la France
Benjamin.