Santa Cruz | The town front at Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Santa CruzOnline

Southeast

By car

Visit Madeira’s Santa Cruz page, read on 7 October 2026, places the municipality 18 quilómetros from Funchal. The Aeroporto Internacional Cristiano Ronaldo is there. The same page says about cerca de 43 mil inhabitants, in five parishes: Camacha, Caniço, Gaula, Santo António da Serra and Santa Cruz. It does not print a driving time from Funchal, or from the airport to the beach.

The getting-around page, read the same day, says the expressways and the main roads have no tolls, for residents or for visitors. It gives the airport to Funchal as cerca de 20 a 25 minutos, by Aerobus, taxi, transfer, or rental car. It also names Uber and Bolt. It does not price a ride to the beach, and it does not print a time from the terminal to Praia das Palmeiras.

The ER101 sheet, dated 18-11-2016 and still the page online on 7 October 2026, runs the coast road through Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico. The Via Rápida VR1 row on that sheet is Concessionária Vialitoral, S.A., from Ribeira Brava to Machico (Nó Machico Sul). Santa Cruz sits on that coast road. The sheet prints no exit number for the town, and no kilometre.

The expressways list, dated 13-01-2025, is the list whose management sits with SREI-DRE. VR1/ER 101 on that list is Machico, from Nó de Machico Sul to Fazenda, ER 106. That row starts east of Santa Cruz. It is not a printed exit for the beach. The ordinary-roads page dated 07-07-2025 names ER 207 from Santa Cruz (ER 101) to Santo António da Serra, by Campo de Golfe (ER 224). ER 204 runs from Funchal (Boa Nova, ER 101) to Porto Novo (ER 206), by Caniço. ER 206 runs from Porto Novo (ER 101) to Camacha, by Gaula. None of those rows prints a length. A rental car stays on the VR1 until the signed exit. The expressway is not a place to stop and look.

By bus

The Santa Cruz rows are on the CAM page of the renumbering sheet, headed CAM - Companhia de Autocarros da Madeira, in force from 09/03/2026. The Horários do Funchal page of that same sheet does not name a Santa Cruz town line. The pages read on 7 October 2026 do not use the name SAM for these rows. SIGA’s page for this ride is titled Camacha/Santa Cruz (via Gaula). On that day it showed the old number 113 and the new number 604, and it links a PDF. The page says the timetable viewer is still in development. The PDF names Camacha Shopping and Santa Cruz, with note a) Via Ribeiro Serrão. The contact on the PDF is info@cam.pt and (+351) 291 201 151. It has weekday, Saturday, and Sunday-and-holiday columns, and a school-period column beside a school-holiday column. No year could be read on those columns. No departure is copied here. Open the PDF before you travel.

The same CAM page also names 25/675 Santa Cruz / Santo Da Serra; 128/505 Funchal / Moinhos (Santa Cruz); 203/525 Santa Cruz / Boqueirão - Via Gaula; 204/526 Santa Cruz / Achada - Via Salão; 205/527 Santa Cruz / Moinhos (Santa Cruz); 209/528 Santa Cruz / Morena. The SIGA notice of 20/03/2026 says the new numbers do not change the route or the timetable, and that the new numbers have three digits. Stops change over to the new numbers gradually, digital first. It does not print a departure.

Aerobus, old 9 and new 500, is named Aerobus - Aeroporto on that CAM page. The Aerobus PDF, read the same day, runs between the airport and Praia Formosa in Funchal. It does not name Santa Cruz, Palmeiras, or the Casa da Cultura. It says there are no journeys on 25 de Dezembro. The clocks and the fare for that bus are on the airport page of this site. The same SIGA page gives these phones for timetable trouble: Horários do Funchal 291 705 555, SIGA Rodoeste 291 220 148, CAM 291 201 151, and imt@madeira.gov.pt, phone 291 145 180, 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:00 - 17:30 on working weekdays. The beach page does not print a walking time from the terminal to the beach, and the Aerobus sheet does not print one either.

Parking

The getting-around page describes parking colours for the island, not a tariff for this beach: white lines are free, some of them for residents only, blue lines are paid, and yellow lines mean you cannot stop. Payment is generally Monday to Friday 8h–20h and Saturday 8h–14h. Sunday and holidays are free. Pay at the meter or in the iPark Driver app. The Palmeiras page and the Casa da Cultura page do not print a count of spaces, or a charge, for a parking area at the beach. Leave the promenade clear.

Praia das Palmeiras

Visit Madeira’s Palmeiras page, read on 7 October 2026, puts the bathing complex in the city of Santa Cruz, next to the municipal market. It has two areas: a pool area, one pool for adults and one for children, and a pebble beach. The Portuguese page says praia de calhau rolado. It lists a lifeguard and a first-aid post, changing rooms, showers, toilets, and a restaurant area, plus conditions for people with reduced mobility. It names the Blue Flag and does not print a year. It does not print the months, and it does not print a price for a sun lounger.

Portaria n.º 206/2026, in the Jornal Oficial of 13 de maio de 2026, lists Palmeiras, code PTMJ3M, as a praia de banhos, season 1 de junho a 30 setembro. A praia de banhos is a beach where lifeguards are present during the bathing season. On 7 October 2026 that season had ended. The ordinance does not say who is on the pebbles once it has ended. The same table gives Reis Magos - Este, code PTMH7X, the same season, and Garajau, code PTMT7N, the season 15 de junho a 15 setembro. Visit Madeira dates the Garajau reserve to 1986. Reis Magos is the other beach camera on this site.

On 17-07-2026 the regional health authority lifted a temporary ban on bathing at Praia das Palmeiras, after a new sample on 15 de julho de 2026, under Decree-Law 135/2009. The season dates are not a promise the water stayed open every day inside them. The picture is not that notice.

What the camera shows

NetMadeira's page for this camera says it is placed at the casa da cultura de Santa Cruz, with a view over the bay and over the praia das Palmeiras. Visit Madeira's page for that house puts it in the Quinta do Revoredo, at R. Bela de São José, 9100-105 Santa Cruz. Open Monday to Friday 09h às 17h, and Saturday 14h às 17h. Phone (+351) 291 520 124, casadacultura@cm-santacruz.pt. It names ramps and adapted toilets. It says John Blandy built a house on this coast in the first half of the 19th century. It describes the garden over the Atlantic. It does not call the garden, or the promenade, a terrace for watching aircraft.

The airport is in this municipality. This frame is the bay and the pebble beach. The runway, the gate, and the flight are the airport page and the Madeira Connections page on this site. The still downloaded on 7 October 2026 was 1920 by 1080, and the oembed that day was 640 by 360, which is 16:9. The stream page names the author Portal Netmadeira and the license CC BY 4.0. Use the picture for the bay, the palms, and cloud on the ridge. It is not a free space in the parking area, and it is not a lifeguard flag. Image by NetMadeira.

Sources, read 7 October 2026

Wind27 km/h

Air Temp22°C

Cloud79%

13:29 WET·Condition Guide →

Picture is live

What this picture is for

The view: Looks along the runway at Santa Cruz, built out over the sea.
Useful for: See if aircraft are using it, and if the water underneath is white.
It will not show: Not your gate, your bag, or the delay.
Do not stop on the VR1.
The camera: Image by NetMadeira
Getting there: VR1 east from Funchal. The public view is the headland, or the road toward the Santa Catarina café.

Madeira Airport, the runway over the sea

Variable Conditions13:29

Is it windy enough to bump the landing? This picture is the runway, not your gate or the delay.

Wind around 27 km/h. The picture is the runway over the sea, not your gate or the delay. Expect a bump.

Air Temperature22°C

Wind27 km/h

Cloud79%

Weather nearbyThe picture is the check

What this picture shows

The runway sits on pillars over the sea. White water means a bumpy approach. You cannot see the gate, the bags, or whether your flight is late.

Optimal Hours & Parking

Recommended hours: Expect intermittent arrival delays

Parking access: Standard municipal and roadside parking areas.

Recommended Gear & Footwear

Cloud cover is high, so paths and rock can be wet. Wear shoes with grip and pack a light rain shell.

More on this place

Informational travel guide for visitor planning. Always check official advisories from IFCN, Capitania, and Civil Protection before outdoor mountain or coastal activities.

When to go

Madeira time: 12:00

The town front at Santa Cruz. The airport is the next headland, and it is not this frame. Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.

More beach and pool cameras on Madeira Island are on the Madeira beach live cams page. Madeira beach live cams

Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.

Read more about this webcam

Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.

The town front at Santa Cruz. The airport is the next headland, and it is not this frame. Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.

About this webcam

Quick facts

Location: Santa Cruz, Madeira
Category: Southeast
Best time to watch: Morning for calm seas and sunrise colors; late afternoon for warm light
Coordinates: 32.6833, -16.7833

Weather Information

Madeira has a mild climate year-round. Use the webcams for real-time conditions (visibility, sea state, wind).

About the area

This page belongs to the Southeast category in Madeira and groups 10 related webcams. Use the category link to explore nearby views and compare conditions.

Quick Tips for Visitors

Check local visibility and ocean conditions via the webcam before heading out.
Madeira weather changes fast: bring a light jacket.
Respect signage and local guidance.

Highlights

The town front at Santa Cruz
The airport is the next headland, not this picture
Do not stop on the VR1
A jacket on the front

Nearby attractions

Santa Cruz town center
Beachfront promenade
Madeira Airport lookout

Travel tips

Assess entry and swell before swimming.
Bring sun protection and water.
Respect flags and local notices.

Photo: Stephen Colebourne CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commons

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Elevation: Sea level
Coordinates: 32.6833, -16.7833
Region: Santa Cruz
Camera: Live picture

Frame and highlights

The view

The place

•Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.
•The town front at Santa Cruz. The airport is the next headland, and it is not this frame.

Highlights

✓The town front at Santa Cruz. The airport is the next headland, and it is not this frame.
✓Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.

Santa Cruz Weather

Eastern Coastal Hub

Town center next to the airport, with sea views and a rocky promenade along the coast
Features the Palmeiras beach complex and a pleasant waterfront walking area
Can experience strong easterly winds, especially during winter storms from the Atlantic
Rough seas often affect airport operations nearby, so checking conditions here helps predict flight delays

Coast & terrain

Landscape & geography

Getting there

East of Funchal, before Machico if you are coming from the airport road. A jacket on the front, even when the town looks bright.

Related Views

10 webcams in Southeast

Browse all Southeast webcams →

Approach & Planning

Visitor logistics

What this is not

The town front at Santa Cruz. The airport is the next headland, and it is not this frame.
Do not stop on the VR1 to look at aircraft. If you want the runway, open the other picture. This one is the town.
East of Funchal, before Machico if you are coming from the airport road. A jacket on the front, even when the town looks bright.
Image by NetMadeira.

From our visits

A Local Guide

Location history

Getting there The picture is the place in the frame, and the useful question is what it leaves out. A ship alongside at the quay is not a boarding time. A ferry to Porto Santo does not show its queue in the picture. A sunny square is not a clear road up into the hills. If the hills behind the town are grey, the climb is in cloud, and Funchal being bright does not change that. Cruise days fill the pavement along the harbour. A quiet morning is not one of those days, and you can see a hull before you walk down. Do not treat a town camera as the airport, and do not treat the airport camera as this town. If you are only passing on the VR1, do not stop on it to look. Park in town and walk. Walk the last part. The useful things in these towns, the quay, the square, the café, are a few minutes on foot from a proper car park, and they are a bad place to arrive by stopping on the VR1. On a cruise morning, go early or accept a full pavement. The picture will have shown you the hull already. If you are walking up toward the hills and the ridge behind the roofs is grey, turn the walk into the town instead. You can try the climb later. A second look after lunch is enough to know if the cloud has lifted. Nothing in the frame is a boarding pass, a table reservation, or a reason to leave the car in a bus stop. Look once before you leave Funchal and once more when you still have a choice. The island changes between the city and the place in the picture. A jacket in the car costs nothing. A car left in a narrow lane costs the village its road. If the picture and the sky over Funchal disagree, believe the picture. Ten minutes later is a fair second look. An hour later can be a different coast.

Photo: Stephen Colebourne CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commons