São Jorge Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the north coast of Madeira, at São Jorge. It was built in 1959 on top of a cliff, and its light sits 271 metres above the sea. The tower is closed to the public, so a visit means looking at the building from the outside. Vineyards cover the slopes around it, and the lighthouse is best seen from vantage points on the roads nearby.
São Jorge Lighthouse
The light stands 271 metres above the sea, yet from the ground beside the tower the water is not visible at all.
- Entrance
- The lighthouse is closed to the public: no ticket, and no access to the tower.
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible, and the approach from the car park runs down a slope.
- Parking
- Two car parks within walking distance: the nearest about 480 m from the lighthouse, a second at about 500 m that is free of charge.
- Difficulty
- A walk downhill from the car park to the lighthouse, and a climb back up on the return.
- Transport
- Bus route 103 stops at Estrada do Farrobo, about 360 m from the lighthouse.
What makes it special
The draw is the building itself, and nothing more. The tower is closed, so there is no climb and no lamp room. From the ground beside it the sea is hidden. The cliff drops away directly below and out of sight, and the growth around the site covers the rest of the view. What is left is the architecture and the garden at the foot of the tower. The lighthouse looks better from a distance than from its own gate. Vantage points on the roads nearby show it standing on the cliff, and that is the view worth stopping for. Cars pull in at the top, and some turn round without getting out.
Good to know
- Closed to visitors. The tower is not open and there is no way inside. The visit is a look from the outside.
- No sea view. The cliff below the lighthouse is out of sight from the site, and the growth around it blocks the rest.
- The best views are elsewhere. Vantage points on the roads around show the lighthouse on its cliff; from the gate you see only the tower.
- No toilets at the lighthouse. The nearest public toilets are about 660 m away and free.
- Drinking water. A public fountain, marked Fontanário, stands about 480 m from the lighthouse.
Getting there
A sign on the main road marks the turn-off, and the approach is by car. Parking is about 480 m from the lighthouse. The last stretch is on foot, down a slope steep enough to notice, and the same slope is a climb on the way back. A bus stop is within walking distance for anyone not driving.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside São Jorge Lighthouse?
No. The lighthouse is closed to the public. It is an active light, and the visit is a look at the tower from the outside.Is there a view of the sea from the lighthouse?
No. The cliff falls away directly below the tower and stays out of sight, and the growth around the site covers the rest. The lighthouse in its setting is seen from vantage points on the roads nearby.Is there parking?
Yes. Two car parks are within walking distance, the nearest about 480 m from the lighthouse. The second, at about 500 m, is free of charge.Can you get there by bus?
Bus route 103 stops at Estrada do Farrobo, about 360 m from the lighthouse.Is the site wheelchair accessible?
No. The entrance is not wheelchair accessible, and the approach from the car park runs down a slope that has to be climbed again on the way out.