Things to Do in Câmara De Lobos, Madeira

Câmara de Lobos is a traditional fishing village on Madeira's south coast, famous for its colourful wooden boats called 'xavelhas' that have been hand-painted in vibrant reds, blues, and yellows for centuries.

Winston Churchill painted the village's harbour in 1950 during a visit, calling it 'the most beautiful village in the world,' and the exact spot where he set up his easel is still marked by a plaque.

The village's name means 'Chamber of Wolves' in Portuguese, named after the large seals (sometimes mistakenly called sea wolves) that once inhabited the rocky coves.

Câmara de Lobos is the heart of Madeira's scabbardfish (espada) industry—the deep-sea fish caught here at night is a local delicacy served in restaurants across the island.

The village sits at the base of steep cliffs and has been home to the same fishing families for generations, with many still using traditional hand-line fishing methods passed down through centuries.