With kids · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Luke H. Gordon, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Madeira suits active families: cable cars and toboggans in Monte, natural rock pools at Porto Moniz, dolphin-watching trips and easy levada walks such as parts of the Rabaçal routes. Beaches are mostly pebbly, so resort hotels with pools and the sandy beaches at Calheta and Machico are the best bets for younger children. Top picks: Monte cable car and toboggan ride, Porto Moniz natural pools and Whale and dolphin watching. Families usually base themselves in Funchal Lido.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Funchal Lido
- Rainy-day options
- 1
- Busiest months
- August and December
Best things to do with kids
Experience · Monte
1.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. From near the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, where Emperor Charles I of Austria is buried, wicker toboggans steered by two drivers in straw hats slide about 2 km down the steep streets towards Livramento.
Ride the cable car up early in the day, then take the toboggan; taxis and buses wait at the bottom for the trip back to Funchal.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Beach · Porto Moniz
2.Porto Moniz natural pools
Volcanic lava rock forms a set of natural seawater pools at Porto Moniz, refreshed by Atlantic waves breaking over the outer rocks. The main complex has changing rooms, a lifeguard in season and calm, clear water for swimming.
Drive there via the north coast road through São Vicente and Seixal and return along the south for a full loop of the island.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
Experience · Funchal
3.Whale and dolphin watching
Atlantic spotted, bottlenose and common dolphins are seen regularly off Madeira, and sperm, Bryde's and pilot whales pass at different times of year. Boat trips run from Funchal marina and Calheta, some on traditional sailing boats.
Choose an operator that follows responsible-watching guidelines and offers a free second trip if no cetaceans are seen.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
Historic site · Santana
4.Santana traditional houses
Santana, on the green north coast, preserves the triangular thatched A-frame houses once common in rural Madeira, painted white with red doors and blue trim. A cluster beside the town hall is open to visitors, with craft shops inside.
Combine Santana with the Queimadas levada walk or the coastal viewpoints on the road to São Jorge.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
- Photo spot
Park · Funchal
5.Santa Catarina Park
This terraced park above the harbour has flowering trees, a small lake, a statue of Christopher Columbus, who lived for a time on Porto Santo, and wide views across Funchal Bay to the cruise terminal and the Desertas Islands.
Visit at sunset with a drink from the park's café terrace.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Museum · Funchal
6.CR7 Museum
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, and his museum by the marina displays his trophies, awards and memorabilia; a bronze statue of him stands outside. The island's airport is also named after him.
It takes under an hour; combine it with a walk along the marina and the seafront gardens.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
Rainy-day ideas
- CR7 Museum — It takes under an hour; combine it with a walk along the marina and the seafront gardens.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, beach and first-timers
Funchal Lido
West of the centre, the Lido or Hotel Zone has most of Madeira's large resort hotels, many with saltwater pools on the cliffs. The Lido seafront promenade leads to Praia Formosa, the island's largest pebble beach, and buses run into central Funchal in about 15 minutes.
- Good
- Wide choice of resort hotels; Sea pools and promenades; Easy bus to the centre
- Watch out
- Less local character; A bus ride to the Old Town in the evening
- Nearby
- Lido promenade, Praia Formosa, Forum Madeira
Family travel tips
- Choose a hotel with a pool, since most beaches are pebble and the sea can be rough.
- Pick levada walks without big drops or long tunnels for children, and bring head torches for any tunnels.
- Car seats for hire cars need booking ahead, especially in school holidays.
- Pack sun protection all year; the UV index is high even when it feels mild.
- Calheta's sandy, sheltered beach is the easiest swimming spot for small children on the main island.
Day trips for families
- Porto Santo (About 2 hours 15 minutes by ferry) — Madeira's small, dry neighbour has a 9-km golden-sand beach that Madeira itself lacks, and the house in Vila Baleira where Christopher Columbus is said to have lived.
- Curral das Freiras (About 30 minutes by car or bus) — The 'Nuns' Valley' is a village in a deep, almost circular valley ringed by peaks, where nuns once sheltered from pirate raids.
- Rabaçal and the 25 Fontes (About 1 hour by car) — From the Rabaçal car park, levada paths descend into a green valley to the Risco waterfall and the 25 Fontes, a pool fed by many small cascades.
- São Vicente and Seixal (About 45 minutes by car) — On the north coast, São Vicente has lava tube caves and a volcanism centre, and the nearby village of Seixal has a black sand beach and natural pools beneath green cliffs and waterfalls.
When to go with children
The best months overall are April–June and September–October. August and December are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Madeira good for kids?
Madeira suits active families: cable cars and toboggans in Monte, natural rock pools at Porto Moniz, dolphin-watching trips and easy levada walks such as parts of the Rabaçal routes. Beaches are mostly pebbly, so resort hotels with pools and the sandy beaches at Calheta and Machico are the best bets for younger children.
+What can kids do in Madeira?
Monte cable car and toboggan ride, Porto Moniz natural pools, Whale and dolphin watching, Santana traditional houses and Santa Catarina Park.
+Where should families stay in Madeira?
Funchal Lido: Clifftop resort hotels, sea pools and the Estrada Monumental promenade.