Red roofs surround Câmara de Lobos bay, with the waterfront below for a walk through the fishing town.

Câmara de Lobos

006 from Funchal
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Câmara de Lobos is one of Madeira's most historic and picturesque fishing villages. Famous for its colorful boats (Xavelhas), Winston Churchill's painting spot, and the delicious traditional drink, Poncha. The name translates to "Chamber of Wolves," referring to the monk seals (sea lions) that were discovered here by the early explorers.

Getting there and back

Where to board

Route 006 is a Rodoeste service from Funchal; its SIGA sheet lists Câmara de Lobos and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos right after Funchal. It runs only a few trips a day, so for a quick hop use the other Rodoeste services on the all-routes page, which the stop list on each route page confirms.

From the stop

The Câmara de Lobos timing point is in the town; the fishing harbour, the Churchill viewpoint and the waterfront bars are a few minutes on foot.

The way back

Route 006’s return calls at Câmara de Lobos only on trips that are not marked “via rápida”; check the route page’s dated block.

How to get to Câmara de Lobos by bus

Câmara de Lobos is very well connected to Funchal: the Rodoeste services heading west pass through the town, and route 006 lists it as its first timing point after Funchal. Open a route page to confirm the stop before you board.

Travel Tip: For the most scenic approach, take the public bus from Funchal towards Cabo Girão and get off at the Câmara de Lobos stop. Download the Madeira Bus app for stop information and full offline schedules.

What to see in Câmara de Lobos

Walk around the harbor to see the colorful fishing boats. Visit the point where Winston Churchill painted in 1950. Try the local "Nikita" or "Poncha" at the many waterfront bars. The Ilhéu viewpoint (garden island) offers great views of the bay and Cabo Girão in the distance.

Best time to visit

Câmara de Lobos is vibrant all day. Late afternoon is particularly beautiful as the sun hits the harbor. It's also famous for its Christmas decorations and the Sea Festival (Festa do Peixe-Espada Preto) in summer.

Keep the timetables with you

Madeira Bus is free to download: the free version covers journey planning on the SIGA network and offline timetables in English, Portuguese, German and French. The offline route map is a paid premium upgrade.