Found in Funchal, Portugal, on the beautiful island of Madeira, the Cabo Girão Skywalk offers a breathtaking (literally and figuratively) experience. At 1,900 feet (580 meters) above sea level, it’s a jaw-clenchin’ and heart-pumpin’ time. Visitors who fear heights may want to think twice before stepping onto the glass platform, as the Cabo Girão Skywalk is the highest cliff skywalk in all of Europe. Although the Cabo Girão Skywalk isn’t super large or far-reaching, its height alone makes it a uniquely thrilling, and somewhat terrifying, life adventure.
Located at Estrada do Cabo Girão, 9300-351 Câmara de Lobos, Portugal, the skywalk was completed in October 2012, making it 13 years old. It shares similarities with the well-known Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona, USA, as both feature transparent glass floors designed to thrill visitors and give them a direct view to the ground. However, a key difference is that the Grand Canyon Skywalk sits about 2,100 feet higher (😱) and extends much farther over the edge.
The Cabo Girão Skywalk is open daily from 8am to 8pm. Admission is only €3.00 (approx. $3.50 USD) for visitors aged 12+, while residents and children under 12 are free. Unfortunately, tickets cannot be purchased online, in advance, or from a staffed booth. The only option is to use the electronic ticket machines near the entrance of the skywalk, which were available only in Portuguese, making it a tad bit hard to navigate. We experienced a long wait line, as many non-Portuguese speakers appeared to find using the ticket kiosks challenging.
While the main attraction is undoubtedly the skywalk, the visit typically only takes about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how long you want to stare out into the ocean. It can also be quite crowded. The crowds during our visit made getting good photos or clear views of the cliff below somewhat difficult, and we had to battle for both. We arrived around 11:45am, so I recommend coming closer to opening time (8am) to avoid the heavier crowds.
Aside from the skywalk, the site also features a decent-sized gift shop, a small café, and restrooms – which were being guarded by a man and obviously required a fee 🙃.
Overall, while Madeira, Portugal offers countless incredible sights, the Cabo Girão Skywalk in Funchal is undoubtedly among the top 5. In fact, if you were to Google “top sites in Madeira,” it’s almost guaranteed to appear on every list. It’s a fun and unique experience, offering dramatic views and hair-raising feelings you won’t find in many other places. While the experience is super affordable, it can get quite crowded, so arriving early is highly recommended. However, regardless of when you can go, if you’re ever in Funchal, you simply cannot miss the chance to stand nearly 2,000 feet above sea level!
