Travel guide · Portugal
Madeira travel guide
Levada walks, laurel forests and mild Atlantic weather all year
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luke H. Gordon, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Madeira is a steep volcanic island in the Atlantic about 1,000 km south-west of Lisbon, known for its mild year-round climate, its levadas — irrigation channels with walking paths that contour through the mountains — and the UNESCO-listed Laurisilva laurel forest. Most visitors stay in or near Funchal, the capital, with its Mercado dos Lavradores, cable car to Monte and wine lodges, then hire a car to explore the north coast, the high peaks of Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, and villages such as Câmara de Lobos and Porto Moniz. Beaches are mostly pebble or rock, with golden sand on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Portugal
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- FNC, PXO
- Mid-range daily budget
- $130–$240 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Levada walks, Madeira wine, Laurisilva forest and New Year's Eve fireworks
Why visit Madeira
- More than 2,000 km of levadas carry walking paths through the mountains, from gentle forest strolls to cliff-edge routes.
- Funchal's winter highs average around 19 °C, which makes the island a classic escape from the northern European winter.
- The ridge walk between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, at over 1,800 metres, runs above a sea of clouds.
- Food and drink are distinctive: espetada on bay-leaf skewers, black scabbardfish, bolo do caco, poncha and fortified Madeira wine.
- New Year's Eve fireworks over Funchal Bay and the spring Flower Festival are among Portugal's best-known celebrations.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Market · Funchal Old Town
Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's 1940 Art Deco market hall has azulejo tile panels at its entrance, a courtyard of flower sellers in traditional dress, stalls of tropical fruit such as custard apple and passion-fruit varieties, and a fish hall where black scabbardfish and tuna are laid out each morning.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Experience · Monte
Monte cable car and toboggan ride
The cable car climbs from the Funchal seafront to the hilltop parish of Monte, about 550 metres above the sea, in roughly 15 minutes.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Viewpoint · Câmara de Lobos
Cabo Girão
One of Europe's highest sea cliffs, Cabo Girão drops about 580 metres to the ocean, with a glass-floored skywalk at the top looking straight down onto terraced fields called fajãs at the foot of the cliff.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Nature · Central mountains
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike
The PR1 trail links Madeira's third-highest peak, Pico do Arieiro at 1,818 metres, with the highest, Pico Ruivo at 1,862 metres, along a dramatic ridge of stairs, tunnels and narrow ledges.
- Time needed
- 5–6 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Garden · Monte
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Next to the Monte cable car station, these hillside gardens wind through ponds with koi, tree ferns, cycads, Chinese and Japanese-style gateways and long panels of Portuguese azulejo tiles.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Garden · Funchal
Madeira Botanical Garden
On a hillside above Funchal, the botanical garden displays native Madeiran plants, succulents and tropical species, with patterned carpet beds and views over the bay.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Funchal Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
Funchal Old Town
Painted doors on Rua de Santa Maria, the market and the cable car station
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, beach and first-timers
Funchal Lido
Clifftop resort hotels, sea pools and the Estrada Monumental promenade
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and couples
Câmara de Lobos
Colourful fishing harbour, poncha bars and Churchill's viewpoint
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Caniço and Garajau
Quiet clifftop resorts east of Funchal near the Cristo Rei statue
What to eat
- Espetada — Chunks of beef rubbed with garlic, salt and bay leaf, threaded onto bay-wood skewers and grilled over embers, then hung from a hook above the table.
- Black scabbardfish with banana — The deep-sea black scabbardfish, caught on long lines off Câmara de Lobos, is served as a white fillet fried in batter or breadcrumbs and topped with fried banana, sometimes with passion-fruit sauce.
- Bolo do caco — A round, flat sweet-potato bread cooked on a basalt stone (caco), served warm, split and spread with garlic and parsley butter.
- Limpets — Limpets grilled in their shells in a cast-iron pan with garlic butter and lemon, a popular starter with a cold beer.
- Milho frito — Cubes of cornmeal cooked with kale and herbs, set, then deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside; the classic side with espetada.
- Tuna steak — Thick slices of local tuna, marinated in garlic, bay and wine vinegar, grilled or pan-fried and served with milho frito or boiled potatoes.
When to go
Madeira is a year-round destination. April to June and September to October offer the best mix of warm sun, wildflowers and good hiking conditions. July to September is best for swimming, with the sea at its warmest, while winter is mild in Funchal and ideal for escaping colder climates, though the mountains are wetter. New Year's Eve and the Flower Festival are the busiest times.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Flowers, green mountains and dry, sunny days in May; the Flower Festival makes Funchal busy around April or May. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm and dry with the best sea temperatures; busy with families and the highest prices in August. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm seas and the wine harvest in September, with showers returning in October and November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild in Funchal with more rain inland; Christmas lights and New Year's Eve fireworks draw big crowds. |
Getting there and around
Madeira's Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport is at Santa Cruz, about 18 km east of Funchal; airport buses reach the city in about 30–40 minutes and taxis in about 20–25. Its runway, partly built on columns over the sea, is known for strong crosswinds that occasionally cause delays or diversions. Porto Santo has its own small airport with flights from Madeira and Lisbon.
Madeira is about 57 km long and very mountainous, but a network of expressways and tunnels links the main towns: Funchal to the airport takes about 20 minutes and Funchal to Porto Moniz about an hour. There are no trains, so most visitors hire a car or combine buses, taxis and day tours.
Plan your days
Four days covers Funchal, Monte, one levada walk and a drive along the north coast. A week lets you add the Pico do Arieiro–Pico Ruivo hike, the east-end peninsula walk, the west coast's natural pools and a day on Porto Santo.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Portuguese
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is generally safe to drink; many visitors prefer bottled water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected.
Madeira is relaxed and low-key for visitors. The main risks are natural: narrow levada paths with sheer drops, slippery tunnels, sudden mountain fog and strong Atlantic swells, especially on the north coast. Check trail status after heavy rain or fires, and swim only where it is calm.
Flights to Madeira
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Madeira?
Four days covers Funchal, Monte, one levada walk and a drive along the north coast. A week lets you add the Pico do Arieiro–Pico Ruivo hike, the east-end peninsula walk, the west coast's natural pools and a day on Porto Santo. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Madeira?
Madeira is a year-round destination. April to June and September to October offer the best mix of warm sun, wildflowers and good hiking conditions. July to September is best for swimming, with the sea at its warmest, while winter is mild in Funchal and ideal for escaping colder climates, though the mountains are wetter. New Year's Eve and the Flower Festival are the busiest times.
+What is Madeira known for?
Levada walks, Madeira wine, Laurisilva forest, New Year's Eve fireworks, Monte toboggans, Mild winters and Cristiano Ronaldo's birthplace. More than 2,000 km of levadas carry walking paths through the mountains, from gentle forest strolls to cliff-edge routes.
+Is Madeira expensive?
Madeira is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $130–$240 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Madeira?
Strongly recommended if you want to hike or explore beyond Funchal, since buses to trailheads and villages are infrequent. If you stay in Funchal and use taxis or tours for a few excursions, you can manage without one.