Travel tips · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luke H. Gordon, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Madeira has been Portuguese since the 15th century and has its own regional government. Island life mixes Catholic traditions, village festivals, sugar and wine heritage and a strong link with the British, who shaped the wine trade and the island's early tourism. People are courteous and slightly reserved, and a few words of Portuguese are appreciated.
Key facts
- Language
- Portuguese
- Currency
- EUR
- 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…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'Bom dia' or 'Boa tarde' when entering shops and cafés.
- Dress modestly inside churches, covering shoulders and knees.
- On levada walks, give way to walkers coming the other way on narrow sections and never walk on the channel walls in tunnels.
- Speak Portuguese or English rather than Spanish; Madeirans are Portuguese.
- Drivers on mountain roads expect you to pull into passing places; honk gently before blind bends where signs suggest.
- Book Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike ahead: Mountain trails close after storms, landslides or fires and some now require online registration; check the official trail status before you go.
- Book Levada do Caldeirão Verde ahead: Check trail status and any access requirements on the regional government's official trails information before setting out.
- Hiking levadas, swimming in the sea, and visiting Santa Catarina Park, the cathedral and the market cost nothing.
Tipping
Tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Small change is fine in cafés and taxis.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bom dia | Good morning |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you (said by a man / a woman) |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Uma bica | An espresso (local term) |
| Com licença | Excuse me |
What to wear
Casual resort dress is fine; bring a warm, waterproof layer and proper walking shoes for the mountains, which can be 10 °C colder than Funchal.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is generally safe to drink; many visitors prefer bottled water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in towns but patchy in deep valleys and some levada sections; EU roaming applies to European SIMs.
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Madeira
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Portugal's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Madeira?
Tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Small change is fine in cafés and taxis.
+Can you drink the tap water in Madeira?
Tap water is generally safe to drink; many visitors prefer bottled water for taste.
+What plugs are used in Madeira?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Madeira?
Portuguese.