Pico dos Barcelos is a viewpoint on the hillside above Funchal, on the south coast of Madeira. The terrace looks down over the city, the harbour and the district of São Martinho, and out to the open sea. Behind it stand the mountains of the interior. A cafe and free toilets are on site. Cars come up to the viewpoint itself, so the panorama needs no walk.
Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint
Local name: Pico dos Barcelos
Funchal, its harbour and São Martinho fit into a single view, with the ridges of the interior standing behind them.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance.
- Parking
- Free car park about 70 metres from the viewpoint, plus a second, asphalted car park about 210 metres away. Street parking nearby, both free and paid.
- Transport
- Bus stops Pico dos Barcelos S, about 150 metres away, and Pico dos Barcelos D, about 190 metres away.
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday, 8am to midnight. Sunday, 8am to 8pm.
What makes it special
The view does not point one way. Funchal fills the slope below the terrace, and the harbour and the open sea lie beyond it. São Martinho spreads to the west. Behind the terrace the ridges of the interior close the picture. Turning on the spot is enough; there is no better angle further along. Cruise ships at the quay are easy to pick out. After dark the city below shows as a field of lights. The road comes up to the viewpoint, so the panorama arrives without a walk.
Good to know
- Parking — the car park fills up, and the space you find may not be the one beside the entrance.
- Toilets — free toilets at the viewpoint, for men and for women.
- Food and drink — there is a cafe on site; the nearest public drinking water point is about 420 metres away.
- Cloud — the slope above Funchal clouds over, and when it does the mountains and part of the city disappear.
Getting there
Most visitors drive up from Funchal. The car park lies about 70 metres from the viewpoint, so there is no real walk in, and a second, asphalted car park is about 210 metres away. Parking can be difficult, and the space you get may not be next to the entrance. Buses stop within about 200 metres, so the viewpoint is reachable without a car. The entrance is wheelchair-accessible.
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Frequently asked questions
What can you see from Pico dos Barcelos?
Funchal spread down the slope, the harbour and the port, the São Martinho district to the west, the open sea, and the mountains of the interior behind the terrace.Are there toilets at the viewpoint?
Yes. Free toilets for men and for women stand at the viewpoint itself.Can you get there without a car?
Yes. Two bus stops named after Pico dos Barcelos are within about 200 metres of the viewpoint.Is the viewpoint suitable for wheelchair users?
The parking and the entrance are wheelchair-accessible, and there is no walk in from the car park.