Praia das Palmeiras lies in Santa Cruz, on the east coast of Madeira, next to the island's airport. The shore is large pebbles rather than sand. Beside it stands a lido with seawater pools for adults and children, and there are natural rock pools in the rock shelf. A promenade lined with palm trees runs along the front, with views over the ocean and the marina. It is a family beach, busy with local people in summer and sheltered enough for easy swimming. Aircraft landing at Madeira Airport pass in view.
Praia das Palmeiras
Aircraft on approach to Madeira Airport come in to land in full view of the beach.
- Accessibility
- Public toilets nearby have step-free access. Recent renovation work on the beach area included accessibility improvements.
- Parking
- Paid car parks about 100 and 120 m from the beach, asphalt surface. Around €0.40 an hour in mid-2026.
- Transport
- Bus stop Igreja STA Cruz T-113, about 240 m from the beach.
What makes it special
Praia das Palmeiras is a pebble beach, not a sandy one, and the stones are large. Beside it runs a lido: seawater pools for adults and children, with natural rock pools in the rock shelf alongside. A promenade lined with palm trees follows the front, with views over the ocean and the marina. The beach is sheltered, so the water is calmer here than on Madeira's exposed coasts, and it fills with families and local people. The other draw is overhead. Madeira Airport is next door, and aircraft come in to land in full view of the beach.
Good to know
- Bring water shoes. The shore is large pebbles, and getting in and out of the water barefoot is uncomfortable.
- The pools close for the winter. Out of season the lido stands empty, and anyone swimming is doing it in the open sea.
- It gets crowded in peak season. Come early in the day if you want space near the water.
- On the beach: umbrellas, a shower and free wooden boards to lie on over the stones. Kiosks, bars and restaurants are close by.
- Free public toilets stand about 130 m away, with step-free access, and there is a drinking water point nearby.
Getting there
Most people drive. Two car parks sit within about 120 m of the beach, and the last stretch is on foot along the seafront promenade. Buses stop in Santa Cruz by the church, a few hundred metres from the shore. The beach is next to Madeira Airport, which makes it a workable stop before or after a flight.
Best time to visit
Better: the warm months, arriving early in the day.
Avoid: peak season once the beach has filled, and 25 December, when Santa Cruz closes down.
The pools run in season only and are shut in winter, so out of season the beach comes down to the open sea and the promenade. In summer the pebbles fill with families and local people, and the spots nearest the water go first.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Praia das Palmeiras on the map
The lido pools and the sheltered shore are calm, but the open sea beyond them takes Atlantic swell and wind, and conditions there change with the weather. In winter the pools are closed and only open water is left.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Praia das Palmeiras a sandy beach?
No. The shore is mostly large pebbles, with some patches of sand. Water shoes make it much easier to walk on.Are there swimming pools?
Yes. The lido has seawater pools for adults and children, and there are natural rock pools alongside. The pools are closed in winter.Is it suitable for children?
Yes. There are pools for children, and the beach is sheltered from strong waves, so the water is calmer than on the open coasts.Can you watch planes from the beach?
Yes. Madeira Airport is next to Santa Cruz, and arriving aircraft come in to land in view of the shore.How busy does it get?
In peak season it is crowded, mainly with families and locals. Space near the water goes early in the day.