Historic landmarks
Main monuments, best viewpoints, and what’s worth your time in Santa Cruz.
Private Transfers in Santa Cruz — Airport & Day Trips
Private and reliable transfers in Santa Cruz – airport, hotel, business travel and day trips across Portugal.
Explore the best of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a destination in Portugal.
Weather
20°C
Partly cloudy
Lisbon time 23:55 • 22 Oct 2026
Nearest airport
FNC
1 km
Funchal Airport
Region
—
Portugal
Population
42,168
Residents
Landmarks · Cuisine · Hotels
Delicious cuisine
What to eat, where locals go, and quick “must-try” food in Santa Cruz.
Hotels & stays
Book the right stay in Santa Cruz: best areas, smart picks, and options for every budget.
Monastery de São Cristóvão de Lafões
Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões tem a designação «Monumento de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz da Trapa e São Cristóvão de Lafões.
Aqueduct do Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões
Aqueduto do Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões tem a designação «Incluído em sítio classificado» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz da Trapa e São Cristóvão de Lafões.
Parish church da Conceição
Igreja Matriz da Conceição tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Church e claustro do Convento Franciscano de São Boaventura
Igreja e claustro do Convento Franciscano de São Boaventura tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Fábrica da Baleia do Boqueirão e respectiva rampa de varagem, Boqueirão
Fábrica da Baleia do Boqueirão e respectiva rampa de varagem, Boqueirão tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Moinho de água (propriedade de José Alexandre Freitas), Ribeira da Fazenda
Moinho de água (propriedade de José Alexandre Freitas), Ribeira da Fazenda tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Municipal» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Moinho de água (propriedade de Maria Ernestina Santos Andrade), Boa Vista
Moinho de água (propriedade de Maria Ernestina Santos Andrade), Boa Vista tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Municipal» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Moinho de água (propriedade de José da Silva Espírito Santo), Boa Vista
Moinho de água (propriedade de José da Silva Espírito Santo), Boa Vista tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Municipal» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Hospital da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santa Cruz das Flores
Hospital da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santa Cruz das Flores tem a designação «Incluído em sítio classificado» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz das Flores.
Parish church de Santa Cruz
Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz.
Convent dos Franciscanos
Convento dos Franciscanos tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz.
Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória
Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória tem a designação «Imóvel de Interesse Público» na fonte ligada a Santa Cruz.
Atum à Madeirense
Atum à Madeirense is a cornerstone of the seafood tradition in the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, where the Atlantic has shaped cooking for centuries. Portugal's 1,800 km coastline gives its cooks access to some of the Atlantic's finest fish and shellfish. Best at a waterfront tasca in Madeira Island, where the catch comes in daily and preparation stays simple.
Peixe-Espada com Banana
Peixe-Espada com Banana is a cornerstone of the seafood tradition in the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, where the Atlantic has shaped cooking for centuries. Portugal's 1,800 km coastline gives its cooks access to some of the Atlantic's finest fish and shellfish. Order it at a local restaurant close to the water — freshness and simplicity are everything with this dish.
Bolo do Caco
Bolo do Caco is one of the defining dishes of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, combining simple local ingredients with techniques refined over centuries. Slow-cooked one-pot dishes like this one reflect the Portuguese rural genius for turning few ingredients into deeply satisfying meals. The recipe varies between households across Madeira Island, shaped by seasonal availability and personal memory. Order it at a local tasca in Madeira Island for the most authentic version.
Carne de Vinha d'Alhos
Carne de Vinha d'Alhos has fed communities in the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira for generations, built on the honest pairing of local ingredients and slow cooking. Pork in all its preserved and fresh forms has sustained Portuguese rural communities through every season for centuries. The recipe varies between households across Madeira Island, shaped by seasonal availability and personal memory. Order it at a local tasca in Madeira Island for the most authentic version.
Pão de Ló Madeirense
Pão de Ló Madeirense is one of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira's most cherished sweet traditions, tied to local ingredients and a long pastry heritage. Portugal's convent sweets tradition — surplus egg yolks, sugar and centuries of monastic ingenuity — gave birth to some of the world's most distinctive pastries. The finest versions are still made by local pastelarias who resist the shortcuts of mass production. Best enjoyed fresh with a bica coffee — the definitive sweet moment of any visit to Madeira Island.
Madeira Wine
Madeira Wine is a defining wine of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, where the combination of soil, climate and native grape varieties creates a distinctive character. Local grape varieties — many found nowhere else in Portugal — contribute flavours that are entirely regional in character. Estate wineries with multi-generational experience coax consistent quality from challenging, character-rich soils. Available at local quintas and regional wine shops — an essential part of visiting Madeira Island.
Bolo de Mel
Bolo de Mel is one of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira's most cherished sweet traditions, tied to local ingredients and a long pastry heritage. The combination of local eggs, sugar and regional flavourings gives Bolo de Mel a character impossible to replicate elsewhere. Small-batch production by family confectioners in Madeira Island keeps the recipe close to its origins. Best enjoyed fresh with a bica coffee — the definitive sweet moment of any visit to Madeira Island.
Poncha
From the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira comes Poncha — a regional product whose character is inseparable from the environment that produces it. Produced in limited quantities using local raw materials, it carries authenticity that no industrial alternative can replicate. Available at local markets and artisan shops in Madeira Island — a meaningful souvenir of the region.
Vinho Madeira
Vinho Madeira is a defining wine of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, where the combination of soil, climate and native grape varieties creates a distinctive character. Local grape varieties — many found nowhere else in Portugal — contribute flavours that are entirely regional in character. Estate wineries with multi-generational experience coax consistent quality from challenging, character-rich soils. Pair it with local seafood, grilled meats or the regional cheese board for the full Madeira Island experience.
Espetada madeirense
Espetada madeirense is one of the most distinctive local products of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, shaped by the region's specific landscape and accumulated craft knowledge. Produced in limited quantities using local raw materials, it carries authenticity that no industrial alternative can replicate. One of the most rewarding purchases a visitor to Madeira Island can take home: local, authentic and impossible to find elsewhere.
Espada com banana
Espada com banana is one of the most distinctive local products of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira, shaped by the region's specific landscape and accumulated craft knowledge. Produced in limited quantities using local raw materials, it carries authenticity that no industrial alternative can replicate. One of the most rewarding purchases a visitor to Madeira Island can take home: local, authentic and impossible to find elsewhere.
Bolos de mel
Bolos de mel is one of the subtropical Atlantic island of Madeira's most cherished sweet traditions, tied to local ingredients and a long pastry heritage. The combination of local eggs, sugar and regional flavourings gives Bolos de mel a character impossible to replicate elsewhere. The finest versions are still made by local pastelarias who resist the shortcuts of mass production. Best enjoyed fresh with a bica coffee — the definitive sweet moment of any visit to Madeira Island.
Santa Cruz travel guide & FAQ
Guide to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a municipality in the district of Ilha da Madeira, NUTS III Região Autónoma da Madeira (NUTS II Região Autónoma da Madeira, code 3108). According to INE, Census 2021, the resident population was 42,168. Source: INE, Census 2021, dados.gov.pt.
Places associated with Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Old Town, Church of São Salvador and Santa Cruz Beach. Opening hours, ticket prices and heritage classification are not cited here; the monument search is at imovel.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt.
Regional products and dishes to look for: Madeira Wine, Bolo de Mel and Poncha. The national DOP/IGP register is at DGADR.
There is no road connection from Lisbon, Porto or Faro. The gateway is Funchal Airport (FNC), 1 km away.
In the same region, the visit combines with Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Machico and Ribeira Brava.
Confirmed monuments for Santa Cruz: 30. Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões (Monumento de Interesse Público), Aqueduto do Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões (Incluído em sítio classificado), Igreja Matriz da Conceição (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Igreja e claustro do Convento Franciscano de São Boaventura (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Fábrica da Baleia do Boqueirão e respectiva rampa de varagem, Boqueirão (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Moinho de água (propriedade de José Alexandre Freitas), Ribeira da Fazenda (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de água (propriedade de Maria Ernestina Santos Andrade), Boa Vista (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de água (propriedade de José da Silva Espírito Santo), Boa Vista (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Hospital da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santa Cruz das Flores (Incluído em sítio classificado), Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Convento dos Franciscanos (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Igreja de Santa Cruz (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Moinho de Vento do Vale Farto (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Edifício da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santa Cruz (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Igreja de Santa Cruz (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Cruzeiro de Santa Cruz (Incluído em sítio classificado), Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Paços do Concelho de Santa Cruz (Monumento Nacional), Tribunal Judicial (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Solar dos Morenos e Capela de N. S. dos Remédios (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Forte de São Fernando (Em vias de classificação), Casa de Agrelos, incluindo Capela, terraço com balustrada e jardim de buxo (Monumento de Interesse Público), Zona Classificada de Santa Cruz da Graciosa (Imóvel de Interesse Público), Moinho de vento (propriedade de Manuel S. Bettencourt), Arrabalde (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de vento das Fontes, Fontes (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de vento (propriedade de João Carlos Bettencourt), Fontes (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de vento do Pico das Mentiras (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal), Moinho de vento (propriedade Luís Correia do Carmo Bettencourt), Corpo Santo (Imóvel de Interesse Municipal).
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers, so you can book with confidence.
Santa Cruz had 42168 residents in 2021, in the district of Ilha da Madeira. Source: INE.
On this page: Monastery de São Cristóvão de Lafões, Aqueduct do Mosteiro de São Cristóvão de Lafões and Parish church da Conceição.
Regional cooking points to Atum à Madeirense, Peixe-Espada com Banana and Bolo do Caco.
Yes. gotoo trips and transfers runs the transfer to Santa Cruz from Funchal Airport (FNC), 1 km away.
Map of Santa Cruz
Highlights
- Resident population in 2021: 42,168 (INE, Census 2021)
- Places: Santa Cruz Old Town and Church of São Salvador
- Regional products: Madeira Wine and Bolo de Mel
- Reference airport: Funchal Airport (FNC), 1 km
Private transfers in Santa Cruz
- ✓ Fixed price · no surprises
- ✓ Up to 90 min airport waiting included
- ✓ Professional licensed driver
Getting to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz sits about 1 km from Funchal Airport, roughly 5 minutes by road. Public transport often means changes and waiting, and may leave you a walk from where you want to be. A private transfer takes you door-to-door, with a fixed price and no connections — from €16 from Funchal Airport.