The Cabo Girão Skywalk is the most famous viewpoint of the Câmara de Lobos area, and one of the most spectacular in all of Madeira — a glass-floored platform perched on the edge of one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
The cliff of Cabo Girão rises around 580 metres straight from the Atlantic, a sheer wall of rock a short drive west of Câmara de Lobos. At its top, a transparent skywalk juts out over the void, its glass floor allowing visitors to look straight down the cliff face to the ocean and the tiny terraced fields — the fajãs — far below. It is a genuine thrill, and not for those uneasy with heights.
The views are immense: the platform looks out over the Atlantic and along the coastline, from Câmara de Lobos towards Funchal. A cable car nearby descends the cliff face to the fajã below. For the visitor, the Cabo Girão Skywalk is an unmissable stop, combining a memorable thrill with one of the great panoramas of Madeira.
Highlights
- A glass-floored skywalk on a clifftop near Câmara de Lobos
- One of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, around 580 m
- A transparent floor looking straight down to the ocean
- Immense views along the coast towards Funchal
- A cable car descends the cliff to the fajã below
History & context
Cabo Girão is a sea cliff rising around 580 metres above the Atlantic, west of Câmara de Lobos, and one of the highest in Europe. Long a celebrated viewpoint, it was given a glass-floored skywalk in 2012 — a transparent platform projecting out over the cliff edge. A cable car descends the cliff face to the Fajã do Cabo Girão, the strip of farmland at the foot of the cliff.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Clear days for the best views; mornings tend to be less crowded on the platform.
⏱️ Duration
45 minutes – 1 hour
♿ Accessibility
Good. The skywalk itself was designed to be accessible, with step-free access to the platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cabo Girão Skywalk?
It is a glass-floored platform on the clifftop of Cabo Girão, near Câmara de Lobos, around 580 m above the Atlantic.
How high is the cliff?
Cabo Girão rises around 580 metres straight from the sea — one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Is the skywalk suitable for those afraid of heights?
The glass floor looks straight down the cliff to the ocean — a genuine thrill, but not for those uneasy with heights.