3 days in Madeira

Day by day

1. Day 1: Mercado dos Lavradores and Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town

   Mercado dos Lavradores, Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town and Monte cable car and toboggan ride, then Funchal Old Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town

      Walk it in the morning to see the doors, then come back at night for dinner and poncha.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Espetada

      Traditional restaurants in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos and Santo da Serra are known for it, as well as many places in Funchal.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Funchal Old Town

      Rua de Santa Maria and the surrounding lanes fill with restaurant terraces and small bars until around midnight.

2. Day 2: Cabo Girão and Câmara de Lobos harbour

   Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos harbour and Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike, then Funchal marina and centre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cabo Girão

      Go early or late in the day to avoid tour coaches, and check the sky first; low cloud can hide the view completely.

   2. Late morning

      Câmara de Lobos harbour

      The harbour of colourful fishing boats is one of the most photographed scenes on Madeira; Churchill painted it in 1950, and a plaque marks his viewpoint.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black scabbardfish with banana

      Almost every restaurant on the island; the fish itself is on display at the Mercado dos Lavradores fish hall.

   4. Afternoon

      Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike

      Bring a head torch for the tunnels, warm layers and plenty of water; it is cold at dawn even in summer.

   5. Evening

      Funchal marina and centre

      Bars and a handful of clubs near the marina and Avenida do Mar, busier at weekends.

3. Day 3: Monte Palace Tropical Garden and Madeira Botanical Garden

   Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Madeira Botanical Garden and Funchal Cathedral, then Lido area in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Madeira Botanical Garden

      Combine it with Monte by taking the connecting cable car across the João Gomes valley.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bolo do caco

      Snack bars, roadside stalls and restaurants across the island, often brought to the table as a starter.

   4. Afternoon

      Funchal Cathedral

      Completed in the early 16th century, the Sé is one of the few buildings in Funchal surviving from the island's early colonial era.

   5. Evening

      Lido area

      Hotel bars and lounge terraces with sea views along the Lido and Estrada Monumental.

Before you go

• Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike: Mountain trails close after storms, landslides or fires and some now require online registration; check the official trail status before you go.

If it rains

• Swap in Blandy's Wine Lodge (Funchal): Book a guided tour with tasting to see the cask lodge; the walk-in tasting room alone misses the best part.
• Swap in CR7 Museum (Funchal): It takes under an hour; combine it with a walk along the marina and the seafront gardens.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Funchal Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Funchal Lido ($$$) suits families, luxury, beach and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–20 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10 hours in December to 14.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Madeira
• 2 days in Madeira
• 5 days in Madeira

Questions travellers ask