Madeira Guide
What to do in Madeira:the must-sees, without wasting time
Madeira fits into 57 km in length, but each side of the island has its own weather, mountain roads and best visiting time. Here's what really deserves a slot in a trip, the time to allow for each site, and the mistakes that ruin the most days on the ground.
The sights not to miss
Ranked by real interest, not Instagram popularity. The time indicated includes the drive from the south coast.
- 01
Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro
The island's most spectacular viewpoint, at 1,818 m, above a sea of clouds. Arrive 45 minutes before dawn: the car park fills up very quickly and the mountain road demands caution at night.
2 to 3 hrs
- 02
Fanal forest
Centuries-old laurel trees shrouded in mist, on a high plateau. The magic works best early in the morning or late in the day, when the fog rolls up from the north.
1 to 2 hrs
- 03
Walking the levadas
The UNESCO-listed irrigation channels form hundreds of kilometres of almost flat trails. Levada das 25 Fontes, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Levada do Rei: each has its own difficulty level and season.
3 to 5 hrs per hike
- 04
The natural pools of Porto Moniz and Seixal
Pools carved into the lava and filled by the ocean. The north of the island can be rough: check the sea conditions the same morning before making the drive.
Half a day
- 05
The Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula
The eastern tip of the island, arid and reddish, the total opposite of the humid forests of the north. A very exposed there-and-back hike: cap, water and an early start.
3 hrs
- 06
Funchal, its market and its restaurants
The Mercado dos Lavradores, the old town with its painted doors, the cable car up to Monte, then the descent by wicker toboggan (carros de cesto). In the evening, the restaurants of Câmara de Lobos, ten minutes away, are often better and cheaper.
1 day
- 07
The beaches, and the real question of sand
Madeira is volcanic: black sand at Seixal and Praia Formosa, imported golden sand at Calheta and Machico, beach resorts in Funchal. For a real fine-sand beach, head to Porto Santo, a 2-hour ferry ride away.
Half a day to 1 day
- 08
Cabo Girão and the south coast
The skywalk suspended 580 m above the ocean, then the villages of Ponta do Sol and Jardim do Mar. This is the sunny side of the island, even when the north is under cloud.
Half a day
Madeira is visited by area
The north and centre: hikes and waterfalls
São Vicente, Santana, Seixal, Porto Moniz and the great levadas. This is the humid side: dense vegetation, frequent mist, cooler temperatures. Best visited in the morning, when the sky is clearest.
The south and west: sun, villages and restaurants
Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Ponta do Sol and Calheta. The sunny side, where most people prefer to stay and where most of the good restaurant addresses are found.
The mistakes that ruin a trip
- Wanting to see everything from Funchal: mountain roads lengthen every journey, it's better to have two bases over a week.
- Ignoring how weather varies by side of the island: it can be raining in the north and 24°C in the south on the same day. You adapt the plan in the morning, not three months ahead.
- Booking a hike without checking its status: some levadas close after a landslide, sometimes for months.
- Planning Pico do Arieiro on a misty day: the viewpoint is then completely blocked.
- Underestimating travel times: 40 km of mountain roads is not 30 minutes.
This is exactly the work I do beforehand: ordering visits according to the weather by area, light timings and real travel times. See planning a trip to Madeira or the best time to go.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Madeira in a week?+
Seven days are enough to combine two or three levada hikes, sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, Fanal forest, the natural pools of the north, Ponta de São Lourenço and two days between Funchal and the south coast. It's best to split the stay into two bases, one in the south and one in the west or north, to avoid hours of mountain driving.
What to do in Madeira in 3 days?+
For a short stay, I focus everything on the south and centre: Funchal and its market, Cabo Girão, an accessible levada such as the 25 Fontes, and sunrise at Pico do Arieiro. The north and Porto Moniz are kept for a future trip, unless you're happy with one long day of driving.
What to do in Madeira when it rains?+
Rain is almost always local: it's often enough to move to the south or west of the island. Otherwise, the Funchal market, the Madeira wine lodges, the CR7 museum, the Porto Moniz aquarium, heated pools and good restaurants make excellent plan B options.
Do you need a car to visit Madeira?+
In the vast majority of cases, yes. The most beautiful viewpoints, waterfalls and hiking trailheads are not served by buses. Without a car, you can get by with organised excursions and taxis, but your options are significantly reduced.
How long does it take to drive round Madeira?+
Technically, you can drive round the island in a day, but that's the best way to see nothing. Allow five to seven days instead to cover the main areas without spending your whole trip on the road.
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