Valley of the Nuns is a quiet village located in the mountainous center of Madeira island. Tucked away in a secluded valley, lorded over by towering mountain peaks, its unique location is fascinating to see. Hardly surprising that Nuns Valley is such a popular day trip from Funchal.

Why is it called Valley of the Nuns?

The isolated location of Valley of the Nuns – or Curral das Freiras as it is called in Madeira – is very intentional. Back in the 16th century, nuns from the Santa Clara convent fled from French pirate attacks on Funchal which left most of the original convent destroyed. Eventually, the nuns reached a secluded valley 17km away from Funchal where they settled.

Now that I’ve been to the village, it’s so crazy to even try to imagine their original journey here.

Best way to get to Valley of the Nuns 

The day trip to Nuns Valley was one of the very first things I did in Madeira. It is easy to plan and it takes under an hour to get there from Funchal. Check and check!

While you can drive there, I personally would not recommend it. Try to either:

Go with a tour company. Tour companies will make a stop at the Eira do Serrada viewpoint. You’ll get out and ooh and aah over the impressive view over the valley. Then they will drive you down to Nuns Valley.

Or, take a bus from Funchal and do your own self-guided tour. As I did.

I say this because, as you’ll learn on your visit, the drive to Nuns Valley is half of the day’s adventure. More on this in a bit…

Valley of the Nuns day trip itinerary (self-guided tour)

If you opt to go to Nuns Valley by bus and explore it independently, here is my suggested itinerary:

Does this plan sound good? If that’s a yes, feel free to keep reading for a complete guide on how to go about taking the day trip (or half-day) to Nuns Valley.

And for more great day trips in Madeira, also see How to Get to Pico do Arieiro. 

How to get to Valley of the Nuns by bus 

As I mentioned earlier, going to Nuns Valley without a car is simple as there is bus service every day of the week from Funchal. First, you should consult the official bus timetable here.

You’ll go to the bus stop by the cable car in Funchal. Look for a sign for the No. 81 bus which goes from Funchal to Valley of the Nuns. As you board, tell the driver to drop you off at Eira do Serrado. All buses do not make this stop so this is important. The bus schedule I shared above flags which services stop at the viewpoint.

It will cost around 6 euros roundtrip.

Valley of the Nuns by Public Transportation on Sunday

If you plan to visit Valley of the Nuns on a Sunday (or Saturday), no problem. Buses run less frequently over the weekend, but they do run.

What to expect on the bus journey

The road to Valley of the Nuns is well-paved. That’s the good news.

Once you’re off, be prepared for hair-rising, goosebump-inducing twists and turns. If you suffer from vertigo, avoid sitting by the window. The drop-off will be right below your line of vision.

And it is terrifyingly steep.

Cars will often need to come to a full stop, or reverse even, when they meet the bus coming in the opposite direction. Because, hairpin bends and all…

The bus will stop by the car park at Eira do Serrado where I recommend you get off. It then continues on, descending to Curral das Freiras and Lombo Chao.

Eira do Serrado viewpoint

From the car park at Eira do Serrado, it is a short walk up to the viewpoint.

Language Tip: “Miradouro” is the Portuguese word for viewpoint.

It was pouring rain when I visited. And let me say this – do not let rain deter you from visiting Nuns Valley! The effect of the weather on the view over the valley is absolutely magical…

Nuns Path Hike: Eira do Serrado to Curral das Freiras

Nuns Path in Madeira is a short steep hike from the Eira do Serrado viewpoint down to Curral das Freiras. There’s good signage to guide you on your way. It takes approximately an hour from top to bottom.

It’s an atmospheric walk with outstanding views of the valley. And the trail is also quiet – you’ll hardly meet many others as you descend. Some people do opt to do this itinerary in reverse and hike up from Curral das Freiras instead. Obviously way more challenging (and certainly not how I wanted to start my lovely Madeira holiday).

The path down starts off as a long series of steps and levels out to a moderate continuous decline. Surprisingly, it is not slippery in rainy conditions – and it was absolutely pouring when I hiked down. But then again, I was wearing footwear with good grip.

The path eventually meets the road. Walk for a few minutes before arriving in the main village area. Sabores do Curral restaurant will come into view. The bus stop for your return trip will be directly opposite the restaurant.

What to do in Curral das Freiras

Have a wander around Curral das Freiras and soak in the traditional elements of the village.

See the small parish church: The Church of Nossa Senhora do Livramento.

Visit Museu da Castanha, a tiny but interesting chestnut museum in a traditional home where you can enter for free and learn the history of the production of chestnut products.

Finally, one of the best things to do in Valley of Nuns is to try a chestnut-based local dish. Go to Sabores do Canal – on the rooftop for more views if the weather permits – and choose any of the delicious options from their chestnut-centric menu. Start with the chestnut soup!

Naibers restaurant nearby also comes highly recommended. What could be more perfect after the Nuns Path hike than a tall glass of their passionfruit lemonade?

Final thoughts: is Valley of the Nuns in Madeira worth visiting?

The uniqueness of Valley of the Nuns makes it well worth a short visit. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to introduce first time visitors to the mind-blowing topography of Madeira island.

Also, Nuns Valley is probably a fun place to be in November when the village hosts their annual Chestnut Festival to celebrate the harvest. Think roasted chestnuts, chestnut cakes, chestnut liqueur… chestnut, chestnut, chestnut!