17 Amazing Things to do in Madeira
View sunrise above the clouds, hike through enchanting forests, encounter endless waterfalls, swim in the island’s clearest waters, admire interesting street art, take a unique form of transport, learn about the island’s irrigation system and swim in natural pools. There are so many amazing things to do in Madeira Portugal, read on for more and everything you need to know for your visit.
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The Portuguese island of Madeira is an absolute beauty. Its volcanic origin has led to rugged and diverse landscapes from craggy coastlines, deep valleys and high mountains to dense jungles, endless waterfalls and mystical forests shrouded in fog.
You’ll immediately notice just how varied the scenery is as you land. From high above, you’ll see the dramatic rock formations and sheer cliffs plunging into the ocean and as you get closer, you’ll fly past villages nestled into the side of lush mountains.
We spent 10 days on our Madeira road trip experiencing the best of what this spectacular island has to offer and the many incredible attractions it’s home to.
In this guide, we’ll share with you 17 amazing things to do in Madeira followed by everything you need to know including how long to spend, how expensive it is, the best time to visit Madeira and much more.
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Contents
Amazing Things to do in Madeira
See Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro
We’ll kick off our guide to the top things to do in Madeira with the absolute highlight of our trip; watching sunrise at Pico do Arieiro.
This is an absolute must-do on your Madeira road trip. Sitting above the sea of clouds with the jagged peaks of Madeira’s Central Mountains surrounding you as the day begins is the experience of a lifetime!
Hike Between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo
Hiking between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo follows nicely as it can be done at the same time as sunrise above. Together, they’re without a doubt some of the best things to do in Madeira.
Pico do Arierio is the third highest peak in Madeira and Pico Ruivo is the highest. Hiking between the two is one of the best hikes in Madeira and the scenery is out of this world!
Depending on the weather, you’ll probably be hiking above the clouds for much of the trail. However, as you descend between the two peaks you’ll come through the clouds and then go through them again as you reascend. This keeps you nice and cool in the heat.
Steep narrow staircases, ledges and dark tunnels can make this hike pretty challenging and if you suffer from vertigo, which Helen does, you’ll probably experience it on this trail.
Please don’t let that put you off. This hike was one of our favourite things to do in Madeira and we definitely recommend it. We’ve never seen scenery like it.
Make sure you have proper hiking footwear, plenty of food and water, suncream and layers.
Our Top Tip: if you’re doing this hike after sunrise, the start of the trail is very busy. Don’t panic, most people will only be heading to the viewpoint 5-10 minutes from the trailhead. We found the hike to be fairly quiet in the morning.
The afternoons, however, are very busy with tour buses bringing in crowds of people to hike one way. Due to the narrow paths, on the way back to Pico do Arieiro, we had a lot of waiting around for groups to finish climbing stairs so we could continue. It was a bit frustrating but the views around you are incredible so soak them up while you wait.
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Swim in the Sea at Seixal
One of the best things to do in Madeira is to visit one of the top beaches on the island; Seixal Beach.
Madeira isn’t known for its pristine white-sand beaches; most of them are pebbly. Seixal, however, is truly unique, set in a gorgeous location and is one of the absolute must-see places in Madeira!
A stretch of soft black sand with an awesome mountainous backdrop with steep sloping cliffs plunging into the ocean. Can you swim anywhere else in the world so incredible?!
The verdant cliffs tower above the ocean, the highway wraps its way around the coast and, if you look close enough, you’ll see waterfalls flowing through the ridges of the cliffs.
Another feature of Seixal Beach that makes it truly unique is the waterfall. A natural shower and perfect for a freshen-up after a dip in the sea.
Drive Through Cascata dos Anjos
One of the most unique things to do in Madeira is to drive through a waterfall!
Cascata dos Anjos is fed by a Levada; one of numerous irrigation channels that transport water around the island for agriculture. It falls down a sheer rock face on road ER101 just outside of Ponda do Sol; one of the most beautiful places in Madeira.
The road is quite narrow around the waterfall but if it’s not too busy there’s a small space you can pull up, get out and watch cars drive through it.
Hike Caldeirão Verde; one of the best things to do in Madeira Portugal
Hiking Caldeirão Verde was one of our favourite things to do in Madeira.
The trail winds through the enchanting Queimadas Forestry Park, starting at the Queimadas’ House which looks like it’s been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.
Following a Levada, water is ever-present and it seems like at every corner, you’ll meet another waterfall.
Top this off with sweeping views over the village of São Jorge and the neighbouring mountains, dense jungle surroundings, steep cliffs towering above you, narrow tunnels and an impressive waterfall, make this one of the best hikes in Madeira!
The out-and-back trail is approximately 12 kilometres. It’s pretty much all flat making it perfect for those who don’t want a particularly challenging hike but want to see some of Madeira’s most spectacular landscapes.
Our Top Tip: this is one of the most popular hikes in Madeira so we’d recommend staying in Santana and arriving early to beat the crowds.
Also, there are quite a few tunnels along the trail so a headtorch will come in handy.
Hike Caldeirão do Inferno
Hiking Caldeirão do Inferno (Cauldron of Hell) follows nicely as you can hike it at the same time as Caldeirão Verde.
Follow the same route until you reach Caldeirão Verde and the path veers to the right. Continue for 2.5 kilometres through the jungle, past even more waterfalls, through more tunnels and up a steep staircase until you reach a massive canyon. You’ll immediately see why it has the name Cauldron of Hell.
Colossal walls tower above you making you feel incredibly small. There’s usually another waterfall in the canyon, however, if it’s been particularly dry, as when we hiked, there may not be. However, the canyon and its surroundings are still amazing.
Caldeirão do Inferno is definitely one of the best places to visit in Madeira for some of the island’s most spectacular and dramatic scenery!
Visit the Casas de Santana
The Casas de Santana are small, triangular, colourful houses dating back to the discovery of Madeira and represent a part of the island’s heritage.
They were once made from straw and wood as they were cheap and abundant in this region and balanced the temperature of the interior of the house during summer and winter.
Inside, there’s an attic, where agricultural products were kept, and a ground floor divided into two separate parts; the kitchen and the bedroom.
The best place to see the traditional houses of Madeira is in Santana City Centre where you’ll find numerous houses and beautifully kept gardens you can amble around and poke your nose into.
For a truly unique experience and one of the best things to do in Madeira, you can actually stay in a Casas de Santana in the mountains. It’s incredibly peaceful and you’ll usually wake up above the clouds!
Explore Fanal Forest; one of the most beautiful places in Madeira
Plucked from the pages of a fairytale, exploring Fanal Forest is one of the eeriest things to do in Madiera!
This enchanting forest usually has a mysterious fog draped around the twisted branches of 600-year-old Ocotea Foetens trees giving it an incredible atmosphere and a great place to take photos.
You can either go for an amble around the forest which is what we did or, several walking trails start from here and take you around the surrounding area.
Our Top Tip: go early for the best chance to see the forest in the fog. We arrived at 10am and within 20 minutes it was clear. We went back earlier the next day and again by about 10:30 it had disappeared. It is, however, still one of the most beautiful places in Madeira without the mystical fog.
Hike Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Hiking Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço has to make it onto your list of things to do in Madeira Portugal as the landscape is unreal!!
Most hikes in Madeira lead you through dense jungles, past waterfalls, next to Levadas, up and down staircases and meandering around twisted branches.
Ponta de São Lourenço treats you to a dramatic rugged coastline, sheer volcanic cliffs plunging into the ocean, fascinating rock formations and panoramic viewpoints.
The trail takes you to the easternmost point of Madeira accessible on land, and the views are spectacular the entire way!
The hike is a fairly easy and flat 7-kilometre out-and-back trail with toilets and a bar/cafe close to Miradouro Ponta do Furado; the easternmost point you can access by foot.
Our Top Tip: this is one of the most popular hikes in Madeira as it’s half an hour from Funchal. Either leave early or stay in Canical.
Swim in the Porto Moniz Natural Pools
You can’t do a Madeira road trip and not swim in the natural pools in Porto Moniz!
These swimming pools were formed over thousands of years through the cooling of volcanic lava and they naturally fill with seawater. Swimming pools don’t get any better than this!
You can either visit the natural pools in Porto Moniz as a day trip or stay in the town so you can enjoy them before and after the tours come in from around the island when it’s quieter.
Our Top Tip: if you stay in the beautiful Aqua Natura Madeira, you can enjoy the pools for free. Also, the hotel’s Seaview Restaurant is a must-visit for delicious seafood.
Explore Ponta do Sol; best places to visit in Madeira
Located on Madeira’s south coast, Ponta do Sol is renowned for being the sunniest place on the island.
It’s an incredibly photogenic village with colourful buildings, vibrant red roofs and a beautiful view from the pier across the village nestled into the bottom of a valley.
Ponta do Sol is perfect for a couple of hours if you’re driving along the south coast. The cobbly streets of the Old Centre are lined with cafes, the pebbly beach is perfect for swimming as it’s sheltered from the wind and the viewpoint across the town is a must-see.
Visit Madeira's Viewpoints
It goes without saying that one of the top things to do in Madeira is to visit some of the miradouros; it’s an island of viewpoints!
If you hire a car and drive around the island, you’ll quickly notice how many signs there are pointing to ‘miradouros’ and you’ll want to get out at every corner and whip out your camera.
Madeira has some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in Europe. From narrow rugged coastline and waterfalls tumbling out of cliffs into the ocean to jagged mountain peaks swirling above a sea of clouds and crystal clear water lapping at black sand beaches.
It was incredibly hard to narrow down our list of the best viewpoints in Madeira but we’ve dedicated a blog post to our favourites. Click on the link below to check it out.
Hike Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco
Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco are two must-see places in Madeira and you’ll quickly understand why.
You begin by taking the same trail for both waterfalls and after a while the road forks. Risco Waterfall is 800 metres in one direction and 25 Fontes Waterfall is 2 kilometres in the other so they’re easy to visit on the same day.
This trail is one of the most iconic levada trails in Madeira. The scenery looks like stuff from storybooks. Twisted branches hook their way over the trail, waterfalls erupt from the sides of the path and panoramic views sweep across the valley.
You’ll spot Risco Waterfall before you reach the viewpoint as it’s huge! The waterfall is naturally quite powerful, but if you’re here after a big downpour, it’ll be even more so.
After spending some time at Risco Waterfall, head back the way you came and take the other trail at the fork in the road to 25 Fontes Waterfall.
25 Fontes Waterfall is, unsurprisingly, made up of many waterfalls flowing down the walls into a natural pool below. Again, depending on when you’re here and how much rain there’s been, will make a huge difference to how powerful the waterfall is.
If the waterfall isn’t too powerful, it’s a great spot for a dip to cool off before hiking back.
Our Top Tip: this is one of the most popular hikes and top attractions in Madeira so arrive early. We arrived around 10:30am and the car park was already full so we had to park on the side of the road.
There were a lot of people on the trail including big tour groups which ruined the atmosphere a bit. The earlier you get here, the quieter it will be.
Admire Funchal Old Town; best things to do in Madeira Portugal
When you visit Madeira, you’ll undoubtedly spend a bit of time in the island’s capital city; Funchal.
Funchal is a beautiful city with a quaint Old Town that deserves some time to be explored. Cosy cobbled streets lined with shops, bars and restaurants where locals and tourists alike come for a stroll and soak up the vibrant and social atmosphere.
You’ll quickly notice something about the buildings on Rua de Santa Maria; one of the city’s oldest streets. None of the buildings have the same door and there won’t be a dull, ordinary one in sight.
In 2010, photographer José Maria Zyberchem wanted to bring the historic street back to life and make it a centre of art so he started the Painted Doors Project.
Many local artists got involved and started painting the old doors on the street completely reviving the area. There are over 200 painted doors on Rua de Santa Maria and the neighbouring streets and it has become one of the top attractions in Madeira.
Discover the Hidden Gem of Calhau da Lapa
Due to the size of the island, many places and top attractions in Madeira get very busy by mid-morning so a great idea is to find a hidden gem.
Calhau da Lapa is a lovely hidden gem as it’s quite an effort to reach. However, it’s perfect to escape the crowds and see somewhere totally unique.
At Calhau da Lapa you’ll discover a waterfall, a remote beach at the foot of volcanic cliffs, fishermen’s cave houses built into these cliffs and some of the clearest water in Madeira.
You may be wondering why this charming and picturesque spot is still off the beaten path. To reach it, you have to walk down approximately 700 steps which, at points, are extremely steep and uneven. Also, without a car, it’s quite hard to reach the trailhead.
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind place to stay, you can even rent a cave house at the bottom of the stairs.
Go Tobogganing; one of the most fun things to do in Madeira
Tobogganing is on every list of best things to do in Madeira and for good reason!
Dating back to the 1850s, these toboggans were the primary means of transport for people living in Monte to get to Funchal. Today, they’re one of the top attractions in Madeira and a great way to get the heart racing!
A maximum of 3 people can sit in the large wicker baskets and behind them, two men traditionally dressed in cotton clothes and a straw hat will push and steer you through the narrow winding streets to Livramento; a suburb of Funchal.
At times, you may reach speeds of up to 48 km/hour on this 2-kilometre downhill stretch. It’s completely safe, a great source of income for the locals and you can enjoy spectacular views over Funchal on the way down.
Once you get to Livramento, it’s a 15/20 minute downhill walk back to Funchal.
Ride the Funchal Cable Car
To top off our list of amazing things to do in Madeira is riding the Funchal Cable Car.
Starting by the seafront in the Old Town, the cable car travels a length of 3,200 metres and rises 560 metres in 15 minutes to the village of Monte.
The cable car provides you with the best views of Funchal starting with the rustic red roofs over the city, to the quaint neighbouring suburbs and lush green countryside with the Bay of Funchal in the background.
At the top, you can visit the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. These are usually on people’s lists of things to do in Madeira, however, we’ve not included them as we weren’t massively impressed; especially for the €15 per person price.
To get back down, the tobogganing is a no-brainer!
Our Top Tip: don’t purchase a ticket in advance for the cable car, get one when you know you want to travel. If it’s too windy the cable car won’t run and you’ll lose your money.
Everything You Need to Know to Visit Madeira
Where is Madeira?
The Madeira Archipelago is in the Atlantic Ocean, 978 kilometres south of Portugal and around 700 kilometres west of Africa.
How long would you recommend to see the top things to do in Madeira?
To see the top things to do in Madeira, we’d recommend no less than a week and that would be rushing around. 10 – 14 days would be ideal.
If you only have a few days, we’d recommend basing yourself in Funchal and, as Madeira is compact, you can do day trips or rent a car from here.
The best time to visit Madeira
Madeira has a sub-tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters offering year-round sunshine.
Something to bear in mind, however, is the interior of the island is very mountainous and can be very unpredictable. Where you might have glorious sunshine by the coast, 20 minutes inland to the mountains, it might be raining.
Getting around Madeira
The best way of getting around Madeira is to rent a car so you can travel at your own pace. The roads can be quite narrow and windy as often you’re driving in the mountains but the road conditions are good and drivers are considerate.
If you don’t want to or can’t drive in Madeira, we’d recommend basing yourself in Funchal. From Funchal, buses take you east to Ponta de São Lourenço and north to Santana. They’re not very regular and it requires some planning but it’s definitely possible.
Alternatively, to remove the hassle of organising it yourself and planning around irregular buses, Get Your Guide has some fantastic tours with hotel pick-up and drop-off to pretty much everywhere on the island.
How expensive is Madeira?
Compared to London, where we live, it’s very cheap and compared to the UK, it’s cheap.
We stayed in a range of places during our visit. A 3* apartment 5 minutes walk from Old Town Funchal for €90 a night, a 4* hotel in Porto Moniz for €110 a night, a traditional Santana house for €50 and a 5* beachfront hotel in Calheta all-inclusive for €250 a night.
A bottle of local beer or the local Poncha rum drink costs around €1.50, a basic meal around €15 for a starter and main and one evening we had a lovely 3-course meal with a bottle of imported wine for €70 for both of us.
Currency
Madeira is part of Portugal and uses the Euro. At the time of writing, 1 USD is approximately 0.97 EUR. We mostly used our Monzo and Revolut cards as most places accept cards.
What plug do I need?
Like most countries in Europe, you will need either type C or F. Both of these have two round pins.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the best things to do in Madeira. If you have any questions or just want to say hi, please leave a comment. Also, check out our other in-depth Madeira guides below for everything else you need to know to have the best trip!
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