How many days · Madeira · Portugal
How many days do you need in Madeira?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luke H. Gordon, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
7 days is the sweet spot for Madeira, and 4 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 7 days
- Minimum
- 4 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10 h (Dec) to 14.3 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Mercado dos Lavradores, Monte cable car and toboggan ride, Cabo Girão and Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike |
| 2 days | Rushed | Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike, Monte Palace Tropical Garden and Madeira Botanical Garden |
| 3 days | Rushed | Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town, Funchal Cathedral and Blandy's Wine Lodge |
| 5 days | Good | The highlights plus a day trip to Porto Santo |
| 7 days | Ideal | A slow trip with day trips such as Porto Santo and Desertas Islands |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Madeira add up to roughly 22–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike (5–6 hours return), Levada do Caldeirão Verde (4–5 hours return) and Monte cable car and toboggan ride (Half a day).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Mercado dos Lavradores | 1 hour | Funchal Old Town |
| Monte cable car and toboggan ride | Half a day | Monte |
| Cabo Girão | 45 minutes | Câmara de Lobos |
| Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike | 5–6 hours return | Central mountains |
| Monte Palace Tropical Garden | 2 hours | Monte |
| Madeira Botanical Garden | 1.5 hours | Funchal |
| Rua de Santa Maria and the Old Town | 1–2 hours | Funchal Old Town |
| Funchal Cathedral | 30 minutes | Funchal |
| Blandy's Wine Lodge | 1 hour | Funchal |
| CR7 Museum | 45 minutes | Funchal |
| Câmara de Lobos harbour | 1–2 hours | Câmara de Lobos |
| Levada do Caldeirão Verde | 4–5 hours return | Santana |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 7 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 4 days | Focus on Mercado dos Lavradores and Monte cable car and toboggan ride |
| With children | 8 days | Slower days and time for Monte cable car and toboggan ride |
| With day trips | 9 days | Add Porto Santo and Desertas Islands |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.3 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Madeira with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 4 days enough in Madeira?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 7 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Madeira?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Porto Santo and Desertas Islands.