Praia da Ponta do Sol

The beach itself is not the reason to come. Praia da Ponta do Sol is boulders end to end, with nowhere comfortable to lie down, and the town behind it does the work. Colourful buildings stand under steep cliffs, and a promenade runs along the front with places to stop for a drink. A cluster of restaurants fills the alley just behind the seafront, and there is a café down by the water. The bridge near the beach looks straight back over the stones and the sea. This is open Atlantic, and the waves look and sound like it rather than like a sheltered bay. Most people are here for the sunset.

• Boulders, not sand. The beach is stone end to end, and there is nowhere comfortable to lie down.
• Not a serviced beach. Infrastructure is limited, so bring what you need with you.
• It gets busy. The seafront fills up even in spring, and summer is busier still.
• Water temperature. In spring the sea can be milder than the cool air suggests.
• Food is close by. There is a café by the beach and a cluster of restaurants in the alley behind the seafront.

Ponta do Sol sits on the south coast of Madeira, and most people arrive by car on a drive along that coast. Car parks stand 27 m and 41 m from the seafront, so you park almost at the water and walk down to the front. Street parking is spread through the town as well. Buses stop by the seafront. The old road tunnel entrance into the town ends at the spot people use for the sunset.

Better: earlier in the day, or late afternoon for the sunset.

Avoid: high summer, when the seafront is packed.

The front is busy even in spring, and going early leaves more room on the stones. The sunset is what most visitors come for, and the viewpoint at the end of the old road tunnel entrance is where they head for it.