Where is Seixal?
Seixal is a small village on the volcanic island of Madeira. It is part of the municipality of Porto Moniz along the north east coast of the island. Madeira is a little island but is full of natural beauty which is why the island gets branded as the, 'Hawaii of Europe'.
The small town is a great spot for a relaxing beach day with great views of the mountainous coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Seixal is 40km away by road from the capital city of Funchal on the south coast so if you are not staying over in Seixal and you are using the capital as a starting point to explore the island of Madeira then you are easily able to go on a day trip to visit Seixal.
If you are visiting Seixal for the day then there is a parking lot inbetween the beach and natural pool just off the main road. However, the car park has limited spaces so you may have to find a safe roadside spot to park your rental car. This ultimate travel guide includes the 12 best places in and around the quaint village of Seixal.
1. Black Sand Beach
Seixal beach is one of the best beaches on the entire island!
At the bottom of the small village of Seixal is the stunning black sand beach. It is an absolute must-see and is easily the main beach in the north east region of Madeira.
Madeira’s volcanic geology has over time created a super soft, black sandy stretch of coastline.
With the beach being wide enough to accommodate a lot of visitors, it is a perfect place to sit and relax!
On a clear day you can see right down the north coast of Madeira past São Vicente.
Due to Seixal's popularity the best time to visit is either earlier or later on to avoid the midday peak in visitors who come for the day.
TOP TIP: there are NO sun beds available like other beaches around the world so the best way to sunbathe is to bring a towel to lie on.
Sand art on Seixal beach
Want to go for a swim?
The access into the water at Seixal beach is one of the easiest from Madeira island. The concrete sea wall helps keep the bay calm by reducing the size and strength of the incoming waves.
The sand underfoot leads you into the water gradually making it a safe entry into the water as there is no sudden or unexpected drops of the sea floor under foot.
TOP TIP: Bring footwear you don’t mind getting sandy to avoid burning your feet as the black sand heats up more than a golden beach!
2. Chão Da Ribeira Viewpoint of Seixal
We found this viewpoint on our walk to Sao Vicente, and what a great accidental view to come across!
The view overlooking Seixal sums up the geographical location of the village and the elements that make it unique.
See the map below for the exact location.
Heading to this viewpoint from the centre of Seixal is a short hike of 5-10 minutes. The short incline is a bit physical but the amazing view makes it worthwhile.
You get one of the best views of the village and can clearly see how it has been built into the beautiful landscape.
3. Natural Swimming Pool
Madeira island is susceptible to strong currents that make swimming in the ocean unsafe.
To combat this issue, natural pools have been built using the natural lava rock to protect an area of ocean water from tidal currents. The natural pools of Madeira are now one of the most popular tourist attractions the island has to offer making it safe to swim year round.
Seixal has its own natural pool. It is located to the left of the beach as seen below on the map.
It is a calm pool and is accessible via a ramp or staircase. It is a great place to still go for a swim in the ocean but without the dangers associated with waves and tidal currents.
If you are looking after somebody who wants to swim then the option of this natural pool is ideal.
It is calm and accessible making it a safer option than the beach.
One of the best things about this natural swimming pool is that there is Lounge Bar Clube Naval bordering the pool with an outdoor terrace so you can keep watch.
Why not check out the Madeira collection?
4. Praia Da Jamaica
On the opposite side of the village to the black sand beach is Praia da Jamaica. It gets its name from the coastline path being lined with palms for hundreds of metres.
See the location on the interactive map below.
The rocky beach is surrounded by lush green cliffs and has impressive views of the north coast.
It is a beautiful spot to sit and admire the natural landscape and the infinite view of the clear blue Atlantic Ocean. It is also a great location for a flat coastal walk along the promenade.
NOTE: Although the ocean looks appetising, swimming is not advised here due to strong currents and swell.
5. Spot the Crabs
Red and brown coloured crabs populate the lava rocks along the coastline. They blend into the landscape, but once you start looking you begin to spot loads…keep an eye out!
Red crab
Two crabs
6. Grab Something to Eat
Food choices are limited in Seixal. Only two restaurants and one supermarket were open when we stayed in Seixal, April 2023.
My top picks:
Lounge Bar Clube Naval
This restaurant has a relaxed vibe and is good value for money considering its location. It is located along the coast bordering the natural pool with a large indoor space and an outdoor terrace with seating equip with umbrellas for shade. For guidance, a latte and pizza cost me £8 (April 2023 prices).
SolMar
This seafood restaurant is situated on a roof terrace in the centre of Seixal village. It is priced higher than the Lounge Bar but a wide range of fresh seafood is available to choose from.
Supermarket
There is only one supermarket in the village. It is located in the heart of the village and has a good selection of everything you would need from a supermarket. There is also a cafe attached to the supermarket if you want to grab a light meal, pastry, or a coffee.
7. Explore the Village
Seixal is a small coastline parish covering 36.37 km².
You can easily explore the whole village wandering around the narrow roads and hidden paths in 1-2 hours. Seixal's urban design is unique with lots of old buildings built around the natural elevation.
Many properties have small, but dense, beautiful gardens creating an attractive village.
TOP TIP: If you are staying overnight in Seixal, book early as options are limited!
A garden in the village
8. Beach Waterfall
Head down to Seixal’s black sand beach and on the right you will find a beautiful waterfall.
Waterfall on the right
The waterfall is small compared to other waterfalls on Madeira, but it does provide a nice backdrop sound when relaxing on the beach and it is a great way to wash off your sandy feet.
Waterfall close up
9. Miradouro Do Vue Da Noiva Viewpoint
One of Madeira's most incredible views is Miradouro Do Véu Da Noiva.
The Atlantic Ocean crashes into huge cliff faces creating the dramatic northern coastline of Madeira. The waterfall you can see from the observation deck falls more than 100m into the Atlantic Ocean from an above valley.
Miradouro Do Vue Da Noiva observation deck is just a short 5-10 minute walk from Seixal centre.
See the map below for the exact location.
Explore the Coast
Seixal is a great place to explore more of Madeira’s north coast. My top 3 nearby places I would recommend are within a 15 minute drive or bus journey.
Rodoeste are the local bus company at run a cheap bus service everyday to the 3 places listed below.
If you are short on time your best option is to visit all of these 3 places within the same day or two.
10. Explore Ribeira de Janela
Ribeira da Janela is famous for its picturesque rock formation set just off the pebble coastline.
It is one of the amazing things natural forces have formed and a popular spot for nature lovers and photographers.
11. Explore Porto Moniz
The town of Porto Moniz is famous for its award winning natural pools.
If you are wanting to go for a swim in a natural pool and the one at Seixal is too busy then during high season the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools can accommodate more people.
TOP TIP: check the weather forecast before going as the natural swimming pools can get shut if the tidal conditions are deemed to be unsafe for bathers.
Read my ultimate travel guide to Porto Moniz which includes useful general information, the facilities available to the general public, and the top 9 things to do and see!
12. Explore Sao Vicente
Sao Vicente is located in an impressive valley surrounded by green mountains covered in lush vegetation. It has a range of beach front cafes offering you more options than the minimal restaurants in Seixal.
Sao Vicente is a little town home to one of Madeira’s top landmarks – a white clocktower.
Thank you for reading this ultimate travel guide on the best things to do in Seixal, keep Creating Resfeber!
Why not check out my other Madeira travel guides and blogs?
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