Cristo Rei do Garajau is a statue of Christ the King on the headland above Garajau, near Caniço on the south coast of Madeira and east of Funchal. It stands at the cliff edge with the Atlantic directly below and the coastline running west towards the city, and the site works above all as a viewpoint: an open terrace on the point, a car park, toilets, a bar and a café. A cable car links the headland with the beach at the foot of the cliff, which makes the stop easy to extend into a longer visit.
Cristo Rei do Garajau Viewpoint
Local name: Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau
Locals will tell you the figure stood over Garajau before Rio's Christ the Redeemer was raised over Brazil.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance and toilets.
- Parking
- Free car park about 120 m from the monument; free street parking nearby as well.
- Difficulty
- A little over 100 m from the car park to the monument, on steep steps.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stops about 460 m away, with the rest of the way on foot.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day of the week.
What makes it special
The ground falls away just past the statue, and the coast opens the whole way west to Funchal, spread out along the water. The figure stands on the lip of the headland, arms out over the Atlantic. Below it the cliffs go straight down into water that reads deep blue from the top. Sunset is the hour to aim for: the light drops behind Funchal and the coastline goes dark from that end first. A cable car runs from the point down to the beach at Garajau, so the afternoon can carry on at sea level rather than ending at the top of the cliff.
Good to know
- Cable car: it runs from the headland down to the beach at Garajau; €5 per person for the return trip in mid-2026.
- The statue base: metal panels were boxed around the lower part of the figure through mid-2026, so close-up photographs of the pedestal are out.
- On site: a small bar stands by the car park and there is a café as well, which makes a drink before or after the walk easy.
Getting there
Most people drive up onto the headland and park there; the monument is a walk from the car park, and the steps on the last stretch are steep enough that your legs report back on the way up. Bus riders finish the journey on foot along the road, since the stops sit below the site rather than at it. A bar by the car park catches people either before they head down or after they come back up.
Best time to visit
Better: late afternoon into sunset. The coast runs away west towards Funchal and the light goes with it, so the town, the cliffs and the water are lit from the same side and the drop below the statue keeps its colour longest.
Avoid: low cloud sitting on the coast. Distance is what this stop is for, and with the horizon gone there is little here beyond the figure itself.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a way down to the beach?
Yes. A cable car runs from the headland down to the shore at Garajau and back up again, so the descent is not on foot.Are there toilets?
There are toilets on the site, and they are wheelchair accessible. Public toilets also sit within a couple of hundred metres of the monument, free to use.Can you go at night or before dawn?
The site is open around the clock, so sunset and after are fair game. Bring a torch if you plan to be on the steps once the light has gone.Does it work with children?
The place is set up for family visits, with toilets and a bar by the car park. Keep children close on the steps and away from the edge of the headland.