The plan at a glance
| Day | Area | Main stops | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funchal | Old town, market, Monte | Minimal |
| 2 | Mountains | Pico do Arieiro, permitted PR1 section, Poiso | 1–1.5 h · weather-dependent |
| 3 | East | Ponta de São Lourenço, Machico | About 1 h |
| 4 | North | Santana, São Vicente, Seixal | 2.5 h across the day |
| 5 | Levada + flight | 25 Fontes or Caldeirão Verde | 1.5 h plus airport |
Day by day
Funchal old town & sunset
- Morning: Mercado dos Lavradores, Rua de Santa Maria street art, Sé Cathedral.
- Lunch: bolo do caco + espetada in the old town.
- Afternoon: cable car up to Monte, gardens, toboggan ride down to Livramento.
- Sunset: Pico dos Barcelos, keeping the day within Funchal.
Eat · Tasca Literária Dona Joana Rabo de Peixe, Armazém do Sal (book ahead).
Sleep · Funchal centre — walkable, near the marina.
On the ground · Parking: the Almirante Reis car park by the cable car station is the easiest paid option; the old town streets are one-way and tight.
Hour by hour
- 08:00 – 09:15Coffee + pastel de nata, then Mercado dos Lavradores (the fish hall is liveliest before 09:30).
- 09:30 – 11:00Rua de Santa Maria street art walk → Sé Cathedral → Fortaleza de São Tiago.
- 11:00 – 12:30Cable car from Almirante Reis up to Monte.
- 12:30 – 14:00Monte Tropical Gardens + Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte.
- 14:00 – 14:15Optional wicker toboggan down to Livramento — or walk Levada dos Tornos for free.
- 14:30 – 16:00Late lunch in the old town.
- 16:30 – 17:15Coffee, hotel break or an unhurried walk along Avenida do Mar.
- 17:15 – 19:30Drive or take a taxi to Pico dos Barcelos for sunset, then return to Funchal.
Pico do Arieiro + a flexible mountain morning
- Check the summit webcam and IPMA warning before leaving; move this day if the ridge is clouded, wet or windy.
- Drive to Pico do Arieiro for sunrise (1,818 m), allowing about 35 minutes from central Funchal plus parking time.
- Only walk the currently permitted PR1 section if IFCN lists it open and you hold the required timed booking.
- Have a late breakfast around Poiso or Ribeiro Frio, then keep the afternoon free for delays, rest or Funchal.
- Do not combine this morning with Porto Moniz: the west and north coast have their own days below.
On the ground · The summit parking arrangement can change and fills early. Follow signs and staff directions, never park on access bends, and check the live IFCN status before setting out. A trail booking does not override a closure.
Hour by hour
- 05:30 – 06:10Drive Funchal → Pico do Arieiro. Add 15–20 minutes if you need the lower overflow parking area.
- 06:10 – 08:00Sunrise and summit viewpoints. Layers are essential; conditions can be cold and windy even in summer.
- 08:00 – 10:30Optional short walk on the open, booked section of PR1. Turn back at the permitted limit; do not assume the full route is open.
- 10:30 – 12:00Drive down to Poiso or Ribeiro Frio for a late breakfast or early lunch.
- 12:00 onwardLeave the afternoon uncommitted. Mountain weather, parking and trail controls regularly add delays.
East: Ponta de São Lourenço + Machico
- Walk PR8 to the eastern tip (about 2.5 h return, 6 km, exposed, no shade, carry water).
- Lunch at Casa do Sardinha if it is open, otherwise back in Caniçal.
- Afternoon: Prainha (Madeira's only natural dark-sand beach) or Machico old town.
- Sunset at Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto.
On the ground · The São Lourenço car park is full by 09:30 most days in summer — start early and you also miss the worst of the heat.
Hour by hour
- 07:15 – 08:00Drive Funchal → Baía d'Abra (about 35–45 min), allowing extra time to find a legal space.
- 08:00 – 11:00Walk PR8 at an unhurried pace, including water and photo stops.
- 11:00 – 12:00Buffer for the return walk, heat or parking delays.
- 12:15 – 14:00Lunch in Caniçal; do not rely on Casa do Sardinha being open.
- 14:15 – 17:30Choose one relaxed afternoon stop: Prainha or Machico, rather than rushing through both.
North loop: Santana, São Vicente, Porto Moniz
- Santana A-frame houses (quick stop) → Faial viewpoint.
- São Jorge and São Vicente — check locally which stretches of the old ER-101 are open before detouring.
- Lunch in São Vicente or Seixal.
- Seixal black-sand beach + Véu da Noiva waterfall viewpoint.
- Finish at the Porto Moniz lava pools with dinner at sunset.
On the ground · Allow a full day: the north coast is slow. Use the modern signed route and never enter a closed old ER-101 section, even if a navigation app sends you there.
Hour by hour
- 08:00 – 09:00Drive Funchal → Santana using the expressway. Park in the signed centre car parks.
- 09:00 – 10:15Santana houses and coffee; keep this stop short enough to protect the slower coast section.
- 10:15 – 12:30Continue west through São Jorge to São Vicente, using signed open roads only.
- 12:30 – 14:00Lunch in São Vicente or Seixal, with time left for service delays.
- 14:00 – 17:30Seixal beach and Véu da Noiva, then Porto Moniz pools.
- 17:30 – 19:00Return to Funchal on the VE4/VE1 tunnel route; allow about 75–90 minutes.
One big levada + flight home
- Choose one: Levada das 25 Fontes (about 3 h, waterfalls, busiest), Levada do Caldeirão Verde (5.5–6.5 h, tunnels), or Vereda dos Balcões (1 h, family-friendly).
- Pre-book your paid PR slot at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt the night before.
- Afternoon: late lunch at the Santana A-frame houses or back in Funchal.
- Evening flight from FNC — allow 90 minutes from Funchal centre including the car drop.
On the ground · Rabaçal's own car park is small and often full by 09:00; the official shuttle from the ER-105 lay-by saves circling.
Hour by hour
- 07:30 – 08:30Drive to the trailhead (Rabaçal for 25 Fontes, Queimadas for Caldeirão Verde).
- 08:30 – 13:00Walk the levada — 25 Fontes about 3 h return, Caldeirão Verde 5.5–6.5 h.
- 13:30 – 15:00Lunch at Santana or Rabaçal.
- 15:30 – 17:00Return to Funchal on the VE1. Shower, repack.
- 17:00 – 18:00Drop the rental car at FNC (about 30 min from Funchal centre).
- 18:00 –Flight home. Be at the airport 90 minutes before departure.
If the mountain weather turns
- Check the live webcams at 06:00 — if Pico do Arieiro is above the cloud, go that morning whatever the plan says.
- Cloudy peaks usually mean a clear north coast: swap in Porto Moniz, Seixal and São Vicente.
- Rain everywhere? Mercado dos Lavradores, the museums, a wine lodge tasting or the cable car below the cloud line.
- Check live levada conditions the evening before any walk — official IFCN closures are listed trail by trail.
Sources and last verified
Editorial facts last verified on 2026-09-05. Prices, timetables and trail status change — these are the official sources we check against, and the ones to confirm on the day.
- IFCN Madeira — Official trail status and closures
- Simplifica — PR trail booking and fees
- ANA / Aeroportos — Funchal airport flight board
- Horários do Funchal — Funchal bus routes and fares
- Porto Santo Line — Ferry timetable and fares
- IPMA — Official weather warnings
Frequently asked
Is 5 days enough for Madeira?
Yes for the highlights. Five days gives you Funchal, the mountains, the east peninsula, the north coast and one full levada walk. What you lose compared with a week is Porto Santo and a second walking day.
Should I add Porto Santo to a 5-day trip?
Usually not. The ferry is about 2 h 15 m each way, so it consumes a full day out of five. Keep it for a seven-day trip or fly if you are set on going.
Where should I stay for five days?
Funchal — every day on this plan is within an hour's drive, and you avoid moving hotels mid-trip.