After spending time shooting and exploring this beautiful island, these are my five favorite Madeira elopement locations. The ones I’d love to keep coming back to, and the ones that make for the most epic photos. Let’s get into it!
Seixal Beach
If you’re a sunrise person (honestly, after seeing what sunrise looks like in Madeira, you will be), Seixal Beach needs to be on your list. 🥰
Seixal Beach is on the northern coast, and one of the things that makes it so special is that it’s one of the very few beaches in Madeira that actually has sand. Most beaches here are rocky, which has its own charm, but Seixal offers a true beach experience with dramatic green cliffs and big Atlantic waves in the background.
The best part is that you can drive right up to the beach without needing to hike much.
Ribeira de Janela
Also on the northern coast, Ribeira de Janela is one of the island’s most dramatic spots. What makes it so special are the volcanic rock formations rising straight out of the sea, approximately 40 meters high. These enormous ancient rocks just erupt from the water, and the whole scene feels completely otherworldly. It honestly looks like something from a fantasy film.
The beach itself is rocky (no sand here!), and you can walk right out onto the rocks along the coastline. That makes for the most incredible photos where you’re standing on volcanic rock with those giant formations rising behind you and the Atlantic crashing around you. The backdrop really does a lot of the work for you 😊
Like Seixal, this spot is very easily accessible by car. Just a short walk from the parking area. Also stunning at sunrise, that early light hitting the rocks and the sea creates such a beautiful golden glow.
Fanal Forest
Fanal Forest is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. It sits at a higher elevation and is almost always inside a cloud. When you arrive, you’re essentially stepping into the fog, and through it you see these ancient laurel trees, some of them hundreds of years old, twisted into the most incredible shapes. The whole forest feels mystical.
A fun thing about Fanal is that you can hear other people in the forest, but you can’t see them because the fog swallows everything. Oh, and you’ll probably meet some cows too 😀 They roam freely through the forest and on the road, and honestly add to the whole atmosphere.
São Lourenço Trail (PR8)
This is my personal favorite trail on the entire island. And I’ve hiked quite a few trails in Madeira 😊 It is a perfect sunrise trail and ceremony spot.
São Lourenço is a peninsula trail on the eastern tip of Madeira, and what makes it so special is that you have the ocean on both sides. The landscape shifts as you go from greener, more lush vegetation near the start to this incredible, exposed volcanic peninsula with rust-colored rock formations, wind-swept cliffs, and dramatic ocean views in every direction.
The trail is 3 km one way, and takes about 1 to 2 hours one way, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to take in the view 😊 It’s rated moderate but genuinely not too difficult, and most couples could handle it totally fine even in elopement attire.
Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo is the highest point on Madeira at 1,862 meters (that’s over 6,100 feet!) and the views from up there are exactly what you’d expect from standing on top of an island in the middle of the Atlantic. Mountains dropping into valleys in every direction, clouds drifting below you, and on a clear day the ocean stretching all the way to the horizon. It’s breathtaking!! 🥰
The great thing logistically is that you can drive up to the Achada do Teixeira car park and then hike 2.8km one way to the peak. It’s not too difficult to hike either. But Pico Ruivo is one of the most well-known hikes on the island, so you’ll likely see other people on the trail. Going very early in the morning helps a lot, and I always plan my couples’ days around the quietest windows.
Also, like São Lourenço, this trail now requires a pre-booked time slot and a fee of €10,50 per person, so planning ahead is a must! It’s absolutely still worth it. The scale and drama of those views are hard to beat anywhere else on the island.
P.S. You can learn more about the trail booking process here.
And Then There Are the Secret Spots… 🤫
Some of my absolute favorite sunrise and sunset locations on Madeira I’m keeping to myself. Not to be mysterious about it, but because what makes those spots so special is exactly that nobody else is there. No other hikers, no other photographers. Just you, your person, and one of the most beautiful views on the planet.
Those locations are something I share only with my couples during the planning process. It’s one of my favorite parts of what I do, being able to take people somewhere truly special that they wouldn’t have found on their own, and knowing the photos from that spot are completely unique 😊
How Do You Choose Your Madeira Elopement Location?
Every couple is different, and the right combination of spots really depends on what you’re dreaming of. For most of my couples, we combine two or three locations across the day, moving with the light, making the most of sunrise, and ending somewhere magical in the evening. That’s honestly the dream version of a Madeira elopement. And I’d love to help you plan yours ❤️
Booking me for your Madeira elopement means you get my full location knowledge, detailed planning support, and yes, access to those secret spots 😊 Send me a message and let’s start planning your day!
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