Beach

Porto Santo is the northernmost and easternmost island in Portugal's Madeira archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. The only significant settlement on the island is the town of "Vila Baleira". The island is about 9km long, and the main industry is tourism.

Porto Santo is an ultra-peripheral region of the European Union.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Porto Santo Airport (Aeroporto de Porto Santo PXO  ^IATA).  

It takes roughly one and a half hours to fly to Porto Santo from the airports at Lisbon and Porto.

Get around

By car

• Rent a Car - Porto Santo has a good road network, that links the main points of the island. Several companies rent cars in Porto Santo, such as:

Insularcar, Moinho Rent-a-Car, Auto Jardim and Rodavante.

By bus

• By bus (Town center next to the petrol station) - Tel.: +351 291 982780 / 291 982403.

By taxi

• By taxi (Av. Dr. Manuel Gregório Pestana Junior) - Tel.: +351 291 982123.

See

Christopher Columbus house

• 1 Christopher Columbus' house. Now a museum. Exhibits about the Portuguese discoveries, Columbus, and his stay on the island are featured. The collections in this museum include maps, navigation tools, portraits and other art displays. Columbus married on the island and lived there for some time. (updated Nov 2017)
• Matriz Church (Largo do Pelourinho). Built in 1430 and pillaged in 1556 by French buccaneers. Situated in the heart of Vila Baleira, in this church beautiful paintings of Martin Conrad and Max Romer are displayed, which attract the attention of passing visitors. (updated Nov 2017)
• Pico Castelo viewpoint (437 m). This 437-metre high viewpoint has a magnificent view over Vila Baleira and the rest of the Island of Porto Santo, as well as some nearby small islands. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 Paços do Concelho (Largo do Pelourinho). Also known as Town Hall, it is in the city centre. It was built in the sixteenth century, and ever since it has been used as a jail and as a palace. (updated Nov 2017)

Do

Porto Santo's beach in the afternoon

• Porto Santo's beaches - With 9 km of beach, these are the best beaches in the archipelago. They are also known for their alleged healing properties, relieving the pain of rheumatism and helping to accelerate the recovery of bone fractures.
• The "Nossa Senhora da Graça" Feast - The main feast of the island. The feast is composed by a mass, followed by a procession and an "arraial", a traditional party.
• Porto Santo Golf Course. Has two 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course. It is promoted by Severiano Ballesteros, the Spanish golfing champion. 

Eat

• 1 Restaurante Baiana (Rua Doutor Nunes Silvestre Vieira Teixeira), R. Dr. Nuno Silvestre Teixeira 9 162, ☏ +351 291 984 649. 9:00am-1:00am. 
• Restaurante Gazela, ☏ +351 291 984 425. 

Sleep

• 1 Pestana Porto Santo, Estrada Regional 111, Nº 120, Sitio do Campo de Baixo, ☏ +351 291 144 000, fax: +351 291 144 099, reservas.madeira@pestana.com. 
• Casa Rosário Coelho - Turismo de Habitação (Rua Dona Berta Teixeira Aguiar 6), ☏ +351 291 984 306, fax: +351 291 984 571. The ideal place for those seeking quiet. This residential manor was built in 1837. 
• Pensão Central (Rua Coronel Abel Magno Vasconcelos), ☏ +351 291 982 226, fax: +351 291 983 460. 
• Hotel Praia Dourada *** (Rua Doutor Estevão Alencastre), ☏ +351 291 982 315, fax: +351 291 982 484. 
• Hotel Torre Praia **** (Rua Goulart Medeiros), ☏ +351 291 980 450, fax: +351 291 982 487. Right next to Porto Santo's beach. 
• Hotel Vila Baleira **** (Sítio do Cabeço da Ponta), ☏ +351 291 980 800, fax: +351 291 980 801. The hotel has a SPA, and the only thalassotherapy center of the island. The rooms have a beach-view. 
• Hotel Porto Santo ****, ☏ +351 291 980 140, fax: +351 291 980 149. 

Go next

Madeira - The larger island of Madeira is only 15 minutes away by flight. A visit to the beautiful city of Funchal and the Madeirense countryside would be a good idea. Boats can also be rented for the trip.