Madeira in 3D: Explore Portugal's Hidden Gem on Your iPhone

A volcanic island adrift in the Atlantic, Madeira rises from black-sand coves to cloud-wreathed peaks, laced with ancient irrigation trails and laurel forest. Here's how to explore every corner of Madeira in 3D with live Street View — right from your iPhone.

A volcanic island adrift in the Atlantic, Madeira rises from black-sand coves to cloud-wreathed peaks, laced with ancient irrigation trails and laurel forest.

But here's the catch: most people will never stand here in person. The flights, the crowds, the sheer distance — Madeira stays firmly on the someday list. The good news is that you no longer have to wait for someday. You can explore Madeira today, in full 3D with live Street View, right from your phone.

Madeira's laurisilva forest is a relic of the ancient woodland that once covered southern Europe millions of years ago. That history is exactly what makes it worth seeing up close — and worth scouting properly before you go.

What makes Madeira special

A few sights define Madeira, and you'll want to find each of them when you explore in 3D:

• Pico do Arieiro — The island's third-highest peak, often floating on a sea of clouds at sunrise.

• Fanal Forest — A gnarled, moss-draped laurel forest that looks lifted from a fairy tale, especially in fog.

• Cabo Girão — One of Europe's highest sea cliffs, with a glass skywalk suspended 580 m above the ocean.

• The wider setting — half the magic of Madeira is the landscape around it, which reads best from above in a 3D view.

Together, these sights give Madeira its unmistakable character. Exploring in 3D lets you move between all of them in seconds — comparing the angles, judging the distances, and deciding which ones deserve the most of your time when you finally visit in person.

How to explore Madeira in 3D with MAPAS

You don't need a plane ticket to walk these streets. Here's the fastest way to experience Madeira from your sofa:

1. Open MAPAS and search for Madeira, Portugal — the map drops you straight into the region.

1. Switch to 3D view and tilt the map so the terrain, buildings and landscape rise into relief around you.

1. Drop into Live Street View near Pico do Arieiro, the view most visitors travel here for, and look around in every direction.

1. Fly across to Cabo Girão to see it from an angle few travellers ever reach on foot.

1. Turn on GPS navigation to trace the real walking route between the sights — so the day you arrive, you already know it by heart.

The best viewpoints to look for

When you're exploring in 3D, aim for these spots — they're the exact angles photographers wait all morning for:

• Pico do Arieiro — 32.7357° N, 16.9286° W

• Fanal Forest — 32.8092° N, 17.1447° W

• Cabo Girão — 32.6560° N, 16.9931° W

Line any of them up in 3D first, and you'll know precisely where to stand — and which hour of the day gives you the light — long before you travel.

Why see it in 3D before you go

Scouting a destination virtually isn't just fun — it saves real time and money. You'll spot which viewpoints are worth the climb, how the sights connect, and where the crowds gather, so your actual visit is spent seeing rather than searching. You arrive already oriented, instead of burning your first morning getting lost.

And if a trip to Madeira isn't on the calendar yet, the 3D tour stands on its own — a genuine way to experience one of the world's most remarkable places from wherever you are.

Good to know

A few essentials before you dive in:

• Cost — MAPAS is free to download on the App Store, with no sign-up required to start exploring.
• Best for — trip planning, virtual travel, and scouting photo spots like Pico do Arieiro before you commit to a route.
• Works on — iPhone and iPad, so you can plan on the couch and navigate on the road.
• Part of — our "Hidden Places You Must See" series, a growing collection of the world's most surreal destinations in 3D.

Plan the real trip (when you're ready)

Fly into Funchal and rent a car — Madeira's mountain roads are half the adventure. Hike the levada trails, and chase sunrise above the clouds at Pico do Arieiro.

Whenever you do go, a little virtual scouting means you'll spend your time on the ground soaking it in rather than working out where to point the camera. Until then, the 3D version is open 24/7 — no crowds, no flights, no queue for the viewpoint.