TRAVEL GUIDE TO Madeira
An autonomous region of Portugal, located off the east coast of Africa, the island of Madeira is one of the most beautiful and unique islands in Europe.
Rugged and subtropical, the volcanic island has some of the most stunning topography that you will ever lay eyes on. From jagged mountains, luscious forests, wonderful waterfalls, beautiful black sanded beaches, and crazy coastal cliffs, Madeira has it all.
Not only is it an adventurers paradise, it’s year round warm climate alongside it’s unique and delicious food and drink scene means it can satisfy even the most relaxed of visitors.
Within this travel guide to Madeira, I highlight some of the best things to see and do, hikes, viewpoints, photography spots alongside a places to watch the sunrise and sunset.
I also provide a in depth Google Map of the Island alongside answering some of the frequently asked questions regarding travelling and visiting Madeira.
If you can’t find an answer to any information you are looking for feel free to drop me an email or a DM on Instagram
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mADEIRA FAQ’S
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
One of the standout attractions of Madeira is its year round warm weather. The local climate is notably stable, with temperatures seldom falling below 20°C (68°F) or exceeding 30°C (86°F).
That being said the best time to visit Madeira is typically during the spring (March to May) and fall (September to October). During these months, the weather is pleasantly mild, with fewer tourists (although it will never be quiet), making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and exploring the beautiful landscape.
Spring offers blooming flowers, lush greenery, and flowing waterfalls, while fall provides warm temperatures and the chance to enjoy local festivals.
The only negatives of visiting in of fall is that the some of the waterfalls will be reduced to a trickle or might have dried up completely. The island is also prone to wildfires throughout summer which can result in some of the hiking trails remaining closed.
I visited in October 2024 for 10 days, everyday was sunny with temperatures ranging between 25-30 degrees. The waterfalls however resembled more of trickle and and several of the major trails (including PR1) were closed due to previous wildfires which had left them unsafe and damaged
If I was to come back I would travel in spring.
How long to spend visiting Madeira?
10 days would be perfect amount of time to truly experience and appreciate Madeira. This duration allows you to explore the island's stunning landscapes, charming towns, and enjoy various activities whilst also have the occasional chilled day.
At a minimum you would need five days .
Although the island isn’t big, there are so many unique and interesting things to do and see. In addition the island incredibly hilly and its roads are ludicrously windy and steep, meaning getting from one side to another takes a lot longer (and more concentration) than expected.
If you have more time, two weeks can provide a more leisurely experience, with their amount of time you can see all must-visit locations without rushing. You can also take the time to visit the nearby island of Porto Santo.
What is the weather like in Madeira?
Although the climate is notably stable, with temperatures seldom falling below 20°C (68°F) or exceeding 30°C (86°F).
The islands unique geographical location alongside its mountain terrain means that the weather can be unpredictable and frequently changes.
It’s not uncommon to get multiple weather conditions in a single day. It’s also not uncommon for one side of the island to be covered in cloud or raining, and the other to be in glorious sunshine.
The north half of Madeira can be relatively wet, but the south, only receives between 600mm and 1000mm of rain per year. Outside of the relatively wet period, which runs between November and February, rain is an infrequent concern on Madeira.
Alongside monitoring the weather, you can download the Madeira Weather app for up-to-date local forecasts, it’s also worth using the app Windy to check the wind speed and direction.
In addition Madeira has a dozen or so webcams spread across the entire island. It’s always worth quickly checking these before you leave to see the weather conditions and save a potentially wasted trip.
Where to stay in Madeira?
Your choice of where to stay in Madeira will depend on both the length of your visit and what you want to do and see.
The capital city of Funchal is often recommend as a base due to its central location and plethora of attractions. It is however, very tourist driven, very busy, and isn’t a true representation of the Island.
Funchal would be a good choice if you have a limited amount of time in Madeira. However if your stay is five days or longer, I would recommend basing yourself outside of the capital in two different locations on opposite sides of the island.
My wife booked our 10 day trip to Madeira for our honeymoon, so we ended up staying the entire time in Calheta. Whilst it was extremely beautiful and a great location, driving east was a hassle, with it taking 60-80 minutes one way to reach some of the must visit locations. In total we ended up driving 1,379km in 10 days.
My suggestion would be to book half your stay on the western end of the south coast, and the other half up on the eastern end of the North Coast. This way you quickly and easily explore as much as Madeira as possible with the minimal amount of driving.
For the south coast, I couldn’t recommend Calheta enough.
The small town is has one of the lowest rainfall rates on the island and a mild climate all year round. It is home to a beautiful harbour which house half a dozen quality restaurants alongside and two man made sandy beaches which are sheltered by a large sea wall. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and offers quick and easy access to the western half of the island.
As it was out honeymoon we stayed at the Savoy Signature, which is very fancy compared to the usual low budget digs we often go for. Although expensive (we didn’t get any discount and booked a flight hotel deal through EasyJet) it was stunning and I can’t fault it.
Built into the side of the cliff, the sea facing hotel is located 30m from the coast. It has its own beach bar and restaurant alongside an amazing rooftop infinity pool which was ideal place to watch the sunset. The breakfast buffet was also top quality, we took full advantage of this and sneakily made ourselves sandwich everyday for lunch!
I don’t have experience of where to stay on the north coast, but Santana, Porto da Cruz, to Ponta Delgada seemed like lovely places and would be good options.
What is the best way to get around Madeira?
The most effective way to get around Madeira is by car.
Although Madeira has a reliable and cost effective bus system that connects major towns and attractions, they aren’t the most frequent, take a lot longer than driving, and do not reach remote locations.
By having a car it allows you freedom to visit the locations you want, whenever you want, in the shortest time possible. Meaning you can take advantage of the many incredible locations on the island to watch the sunrise and sunset.
If you do rent a car I would advise the following:
I would avoid renting a big car as many of the mountain roads and residential streets in Madeira are very narrow.
I would avoiding renting a car with a low powered engine, otherwise you will be spending most of your uphill journey changing between 1st and 2nd gear.
If you struggle with clutch control then I would definitely opt for an automatic car as some of the junctions are savagely steep.
I booked my car rental through discovercars.com, I have used them all over Europe and they search both international and local operators for the best deal.
We ended up getting a Renault Clio which was perfect, it was compact enough to handle the narrow roads but powerful enough that we weren’t stuck in the lower gears when going uphill.
In total we wended up driving 1,379km in 10 days.
What is it like driving in Madeira?
It’s an unforgettable experience and I’m not exaggerating when I say the roads are some of the steepest I have ever seen.
I’m not someone who is usually impressed by infrastructure, but the extensive and well built road network and tunnel system (there’s hundreds) alongside the steepness and quality of the mountain roads was seriously impressive.
That being said, the insanely steep and narrow winding mountains roads, and the fast paced highway make for an interesting combination.
I think the only straight and flat roads in Madeira are the tunnels which form part of the ring road which goes around the entire island.
If you are a anxious driver or someone who struggles with steep or narrow roads (and big drops) then you might not enjoy driving in Madeira.
The mountain roads will take some getting used to, especially some of the insanely steep junctions and turn offs, but become an enjoyable experience one you have settled. Locals (and tourists) also tend to park on the roads, so that also makes the narrow streets even narrower.
Its worth mentioning that the main ring road can also be tricky to drive.
Locals tend to speed and get right up your arse. In addition, the entry and exit points for junctions are very short and there is sometimes no lane which allows you to merge. There are instances where you have to pull onto the main highway from a standing start, which is very daunting when you have locals bombing around the ring road at 100kph like they are Max Verstappen.
I will also add that no one bothers to indicate, which becomes infuriating on the many roundabouts which link up the tunnels on the main road.
Is Madeira expensive?
No different to mainland Portugal, I personally found Madeira very affordable, especially the cost of drinks. A bottle of beer costs €1-2 euro whereas a pint will cost between €2.50-3.50. Coffee costs between €1-3, and a soft drink will usually be around €1.50.
Food prices vary depending where you decide to eat.
There and plenty of snack bars dotted around the island where you an pick up a light bite or sandwich for around €2-7.
If eating in a restaurant main meals will cost between €12-20. However I found the portion sizes to be very generous and the quality to be very high, especially if you are ordering fish. Sides will set you back between €3-5.
What to eat and drink in Madeira
Poncha - The traditional drink of Madeira which is made from brandy cane sugar, bee honey and lemon juice. Unless you don’t drink alcohol it’s something you have to try. Just go easy as its as strong as it is delicious. Apparently the best Poncha is to be found in Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água.
Coral - The local beer which is cheep and cheerful. They also do a delicious cider
Wine - The most popular drink on the island, grown locally its both delicious and cheap.
Bolo do Caco - A traditional Garlic bread
Bolo de Mel de Cana - Honey cake made from dark sugar cane molasses with nuts and sultanas.
Espetada Madeirense - Skewered chunks of beef marinated in garlic and bay leaves, which is grilled over wood or charcoal.
Fish, fish, and more fish - I had some of the freshest and tastiest fish I have ever eaten on Madeira. Scabbardfish is a local eel like fish which was first eaten when people colonised Madeira. One of my favourite restaurants was the Fish Factory in Paul do Mar, which offer fresh fish caught daily cooked over a BBQ.
What to wear hiking in Madeira
Like I have previously mentioned Madeira has year round warm weather, with temperatures seldom falling below 20°C (68°F) or exceeding 30°C (86°F).When I went hiking I wore shorts, trail shoes, alongside a long-sleeved hooded merino top to protect me from the sun. I also carried a lightweight rain jacket just incase.
Although you don’t need winter gear, it can get chilly windy up on the summits, so it’s good to bring and carry a three tiered layering system. I recommend wearing and carrying a merino or synthetic T shirt, a lightweight jumper or fleece, and then a lightweight waterproof jacket or wind breaker.
I visited in October and on one occasion I wore more than two layers on my top half and lightweight trousers. Remember it's better to have and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Long sleeved T-Shirt: I opt for merino as its quick drying, moisture wicking, and has anti odour properties so you can wear it hiking multiple days in a row.
Hiking Backpack between 10-25 litres: I use and recommend the Decathlon MH500 22 litre roll top
Trail running shoes: I recommend non waterproof shoes as madeira climate is so hot. I wear the Montrail Trinity Ag II from Columbia which is incredibly comfortable, breathable, lightweight and are great for wide feet.
Shorts or Leggings: I wore synthetic gym shorts
Hiking / Running socks
Things to pack and carry
Lightweight rain jacket: Madeira is known for its constant changing micro-climates, it could be bright sunshine one minute and raining the next, so its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Head torch: Some of the Levada’s pass through tunnels, so a head torch will be much better at illuminating the route than you phone. Head torches are also essential if you are planning on hiking around sunrise or sunset.
Suncream, Hat, Sunglasses
Plenty of Water and Snacks
Other useful things to know
Language – The official language of Madeira is Portuguese. However the majority of people on the island will speak and understand English
Currency – The currency In Madeira is the Euro (EUR).
Plugs – The plugs in Madeira are type F, the standard voltage is 230 V,
Paying by card - Most shops and restaurants accept debit and credit cards. I used Monzo pretty much everywhere I went. However I would recommend always having cash on hand for small transactions, in remote locations, and for tipping.
Tipping - Please tip your waiters as their salaries aren't the best in Europe. 5-10% is good amount. Cash is better but you can tip with card.
Don’t litter - this should go without saying, but always carry out any litter you take onto a hike.
Let me know what you think about the guide in the comments below. For more Madeira travel inspiration check out the following blog posts:
20 must visit viewpoints in Madeira
25 must visit photography locations in Madeira
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