Madeira travel guide

When to go, how to get around, what to do & where to stay

Written by the Madeira Info team, living on the island · Updated 2026-09-13

Madeira is a Portuguese sub-tropical island 1,000 km south-west of Lisbon. Five to seven days covers the headline experiences, though you could spend years here and still not see everything there is to see. A hire car makes the island so much easier to navigate; budget €100–€180/day for a mid-range trip.

Things to do →Best time to visit →Getting around →Where to stay →Itineraries →

Madeira is a Portuguese sub-tropical island 1,000 km south-west of Lisbon, best visited between April and October for hiking, swimming and food. Five to seven days covers the headline experiences: a sunrise on Pico do Areeiro, a levada walk, the Porto Moniz natural pools, Cabo Girão's glass skywalk, and a couple of days in Funchal: though you could spend years here and still not see everything there is to see. A hire car makes the island so much easier to navigate; buses alone don't. Budget €100–€180/day for a mid-range trip including car, accommodation and meals.

First time in Madeira?

Best months: April–June and September–October.
Days needed: 5–7 for the headline sights, 3 minimum for a taster.
Hire a car: yes, from day two, buses don't reach the north or the trail-heads.
Where to base: Funchal for first-timers; add a night in the north for the drama.
The must-do trio: Pico do Areeiro sunrise, one full-day levada walk, Cabo Girão skywalk.
Budget: €100–€180 per person per day, mid-range, including car and meals.

Read the full first-timer's guide →

When to go

Madeira's climate is mild year-round (16–25 °C at sea level). The sweet spots are April to June (wildflowers, dry trails, sea warming to 20 °C) and September to October (warmest sea, lightest crowds, wine-grape harvest). July and August are hot and busy on the south coast. November to March is mild but wet on the north, and at its most lush for the laurel forest. See our month-by-month guide and the weather breakdown.

Getting there

Funchal airport (FNC, "Cristiano Ronaldo") is 25 minutes east of the city with direct flights from most of western Europe. From the airport a Bolt is around €15, the Aerobus shuttle €6.70, an official taxi €25–€30. Full details on getting to Madeira and airport transfers.

Getting around

Hire a car, the tunnel network makes the island a two-hour drive end-to-end and unlocks every trail-head, viewpoint and north-coast village. See transport, car hire, driving tips and the SIGA bus network.

Named attractions

The eight landmarks every first visit should include.

Cabo Girão

Europe's second-highest sea cliff: glass skywalk 580 m above the Atlantic.

Porto Moniz Natural Pools

Volcanic-rock pools filled by the sea on the north-west tip.

Pico do Areeiro

1,818 m summit reachable by car: the classic Madeira sunrise.

Monte

Botanical garden, cable car and the wicker-toboggan run to Funchal.

Curral das Freiras

Chestnut-growing village hidden inside a vast volcanic crater.

Ponta de São Lourenço

The wild treeless peninsula at the island's eastern tip: PR8.

Mercado dos Lavradores

Funchal's central market: flowers, tropical fruit, scabbard fish.

Câmara de Lobos

Fishing harbour Churchill painted: home of poncha and espetada.

Top 10 things to do

See the full things-to-do hub →

Best beaches on Madeira

Madeira is volcanic so most swimming spots are natural pools and pebble coves, but four proper beaches deliver an easy afternoon in the sea.

Machico

Imported golden sand

The locals' favourite. 120 m of soft sand in the old capital's bay on the east coast, sheltered swimming, showers, restaurants across the road.

Calheta

Imported golden sand

The sunniest corner of the south-west, two protected beaches inside the marina, warm calm water: the family default.

Prainha

Natural black sand

The only naturally black-sand beach on Madeira, tucked below the cliffs near Caniçal on the wild east coast.

Praia dos Reis Magos

Pebble

Local pebble beach at Caniço with clear water, a beachfront church and two long-standing seafood restaurants.

Note: Porto Santo is a separate island in the archipelago, its 9 km golden-sand beach is Madeira's best, but you'll need a ferry or short flight to get there. See day trips below. Full list: all Madeira beaches →

Best hikes

The three walks that define a Madeira trip.

PR1 Areeiro → Ruivo

The ridge walk between Madeira's two highest peaks. 7 km one-way, hard, unforgettable.

PR9 Caldeirão Verde

17.4 km flat forest levada to a 100 m waterfall. Four unlit tunnels, bring a torch.

PR6 25 Fontes

10 km through the Rabaçal laurisilva to a waterfall amphitheatre. The classic first levada.

2026 trail fees: most official PR trails now cost €4.50 for non-residents, rising to €10.50 on PR1 (Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo). Book online via the IFCN/Simplifica portal before you go, the popular routes sell out in peak months.

The Madeira walks guide → · 20 best levada walks ranked →

Where to stay

Funchal for first-timers: everything is reachable. Caniço / Garajau for a quieter base near the airport. Calheta for the sunniest south-west coast. Porto Moniz or São Vicente for the dramatic north. Machico or Santana for the east side. See where to stay in Madeira.

What to eat

Espetada (beef on laurel skewers), espada com banana (black scabbard with fried banana), lapas grelhadas (limpets), bolo do caco (sweet-potato bread with garlic butter), poncha (rum, honey, lemon) and Madeira fortified wine. Full breakdown on restaurants and bars, or head straight to the best espetada spots.

Sample itineraries

3 days: long weekend+

Day 1 · Funchal old town, Mercado dos Lavradores, cable car to Monte, toboggans down.
Day 2 · Sunrise Pico do Areeiro, drive the north coast to Porto Moniz for the natural pools.
Day 3 · PR8 Ponta de São Lourenço at sunrise, afternoon at Machico beach and espetada dinner.

5 days: the classic+

Adds a full levada day (PR9 Caldeirão Verde or PR6 25 Fontes) plus Cabo Girão and Câmara de Lobos.
Add a west-coast day: Fanal at dawn, Achadas da Cruz cable car, sunset at Ponta do Pargo lighthouse.
Best mix of hikes, viewpoints, food and one beach afternoon.

7 days: comprehensive+

Adds Curral das Freiras crater village, Santana's A-frame houses and Ribeiro Frio.
Room for a Porto Santo day-trip (ferry or flight) if beach time is a priority.
Slower pace, real sit-down lunches, time to wait for the weather window on the ridge.

Full Madeira itineraries →

Costs & budget

Typical 2026 prices in euros, confirmed on the ground by the Madeira Info team.

Item	Budget	Mid-range	Comfort
Accommodation / night (double)	€45–€70	€80–€130	€180+
Car hire / day (compact)	€22–€35	€40–€60	€75+
Meal per person (with drink)	€10–€15	€18–€28	€40+
Coffee (bica)	€0.90	€1.20	€2.50+ (specialty)
Monte cable car (single / return)	€16 / €22	€16 / €22	€16 / €22

Full trip-cost breakdown → · Accessible Madeira guide → · Madeira with kids →

Practical essentials

Currency: Euro (€). Cards accepted almost everywhere; carry €20 in cash for small cafés and rural fruit stalls.
Language: Portuguese. English is widely spoken in Funchal, hotels, restaurants and on tours.
Plug type: Type F (two round pins), 230 V, 50 Hz, same as mainland Europe.
Tap water: Safe island-wide, straight from the tap. Bring a refillable bottle.
Tipping: Not required. 5–10% in restaurants and rounding up taxis is appreciated.
SIM / eSIM: EU roaming works free. Buy an MEO, Vodafone or NOS SIM at the airport if you're outside the EU.
Safety: One of the safest places in Europe. Emergency number 112 (police, medical, fire, sea rescue).
Time zone: WET / WEST (UTC+0 winter, UTC+1 summer), same as Lisbon and London.

Day trips

Porto Santo

Separate island · Golden sand

Porto Santo sits 40 km northeast of Madeira and is reached by a 2h15 ferry from Funchal (the Lobo Marinho, daily in summer) or a 15-minute flight. Its 9 km beach is the archipelago's best swimming sand, and the island is flat and quiet, a half-day is possible but an overnight is much better.

On a cruise?

6–10 hours in port

Cruise ships dock in Funchal harbour, walking distance from the old town. See our cruise-port day plan for a proven Funchal + Monte + Câmara de Lobos loop that fits inside a typical port call.

Frequently asked

How many days do you need in Madeira?

Five to seven days covers the headline experiences, though you could spend years here and still not see everything there is to see. That window is enough for two big hikes, a north-coast drive, Funchal, Cabo Girão and an east-side day at Ponta de São Lourenço. Less than four forces hard tradeoffs.

What is the best month to visit Madeira?

April–June and September–October offer the most stable weather and thinnest crowds. July–August is warmest, November–March is mild but the north can be wet.

Is Madeira expensive?

Cheaper than the Algarve or the Canaries. A mid-range double room is €70–€120, a full meal with wine is €18–€30 per person, a hire car runs from €25/day, and most viewpoints and beaches are free.

Do you need a car in Madeira?

Yes for anything outside Funchal. Public buses are good for the south coast and central Funchal, but reaching the north coast, trail-heads and the west takes several connections. A hire car pays for itself by day two.

Is Madeira safe?

Yes, one of the safest places in Europe. Low crime, well-marked trails, reliable taxis. The only real hazards are sea conditions on the north coast and weather changes on the high ridges.

Can you drink the tap water in Madeira?

Yes, tap water is safe across the whole island, straight from the tap. It comes largely from mountain springs and levada catchments and meets EU drinking-water standards. Bring a refillable bottle.

Is Porto Santo part of Madeira?

Porto Santo is a separate island in the Madeira archipelago, 40 km northeast of Madeira. It takes a 2h15 ferry from Funchal or a 15-minute flight. Its 9 km golden-sand beach is the archipelago's best, but it is not on Madeira itself: treat it as a day trip or short overnight.

Keep planning

Itineraries · Packing list · With kids · Solo travel · In winter · For digital nomads · Local secrets · Off the beaten track · Mountain biking in Machico · Cruise port day · Accessible Madeira