The volcanic island of Madeira lies around 1,000 kilometres from the Portuguese mainland, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It attracts visitors with its impressive mountain landscapes and unspoilt nature, as well as its pleasant climate all year round. Here, you can wonderfully combine hiking, adventure and relaxation. Madeira is also known as the ‘Island of Flowers’ due to its vibrant floral colors and is a truly special destination.
In my Madeira travel guide, I’ve put together the most important tips to help you explore the island at your own pace and ensure you don’t miss any of the top highlights. Of course, you’ll also find a map where I’ve marked all the places and sights on Madeira for you.
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🌤️ When is the best time to visit Madeira?
As already mentioned, Madeira enjoys a pleasant climate all year round. Even in winter, the temperature doesn’t drop below 20 °C, and in summer, with an average of 25 °C, it isn’t too hot. My Madeira tips are therefore suitable for all seasons. However, I’d advise against visiting during the summer holidays, as there are significantly more tourists on the island at that time.
🗓️ How many days are ideal for a trip to Madeira?
I’d recommend at least a week so you can enjoy all the island’s highlights at a leisurely pace. That way, you’ll also have a bit of time to potter around the old town of the capital, Funchal, or relax on the beach. We spent 6 days on the island ourselves and were able to explore and try out all the places and activities I recommend in my Madeira travel guide at a leisurely pace.
💡 Essential travel tips for your trip to Madeira:
1 – Car hire: I wouldn’t just recommend hiring your own car – for me, it’s an absolute must if you want to get around the island freely.
2 – Booking hikes: Make sure you book official hiking trails online in advance. The popular PR1, in particular, is fully booked several weeks in advance. But don’t worry – even if you can’t secure a place, I’ve included some top tips in this Madeira travel guide on how you can still experience the hike (at least in part).
3 – Weather: Madeira has a rainy, mountainous north and a dry south. As the mountains are very high, it is therefore not uncommon for it to be raining on one side of the island whilst the sun is shining on the other. So it’s well worth getting in the car and exploring the island even when the weather’s bad. If in doubt, just head up into the mountains. As soon as you break through the cloud cover, you’ll be greeted by glorious sunshine and you’ll be looking down on the clouds. It looks absolutely magical.
My map featuring the best tips for Madeira:
🛏️ My hotel tip in Madeira:
- right in the heart of Funchal’s old town
- surrounded by great restaurants and cafés
- ideal for exploring Funchal on foot
- stylish rooftop with an infinity pool
🥾 The most beautiful hikes in Madeira:
Madeira has been home to a globally unique water system for 500 years. To supply the arid south with water from the rainy north, small water channels – the levadas – were constructed. Many walking trails & hikes run alongside them, but you should have a head for heights if possible. A big plus is that, as well as the walks that require booking, there are also many routes you can tackle without booking.
My hiking highlights:
Levada Nova – Levada do Moinho
This combined route, comprising the Levada Nova and the Levada do Moinho, is a lovely, leisurely walk and is definitely a must-include in my Madeira travel guide. It follows a levada to waterfalls that flow impressively across the path, allowing you to walk right through them. No booking is required for this 9 km circular walk (approx. 2.5 – 3 hours), and you can enjoy spectacular views throughout the hike. To me, it felt as though we’d stepped into a fairy-tale world.
Please note: In some places, the path descends very steeply and there aren’t barriers everywhere.
I strongly recommend that you follow the route suggested on the Alltrails map; otherwise, you’ll have to climb an extremely steep slope right at the start. The route shown on the map is much more gentle, with a gradual ascent.
→ Find the walk on Alltrails here.
The car park is located at the Ingreja da Lombada church.
PR1 – Veredo do Arieiro
Welcome to the most epic hike on Madeira – arguably the hottest tip for Madeira! The famous 7 km-long PR1 links the island’s three highest peaks: Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m), Pico de Torres (1,851 m) and Pico Ruivo (1,862 m). Once you’ve been up here, you’ll know why it’s so famous and popular.
The hike is one-way only. You can take a taxi back to the car park at the starting point. The PR1 has only been open again since April 2026, after being closed for two years – and is currently only open at weekends (as of July 2026). As a result, the hike is fully booked online many weeks in advance.
THE TRICK: The first part of the hike, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, is open on weekdays too and is much easier to book online than the entire trail (even just one day in advance). The 1.2 km-long path leads up to a barrier at the Pedra Rija Belvedere – it’s only from here onwards that you need a permit for the entire hike. Whilst this is quite short compared to the full route, it’s also the most beautiful part of the PR1.
You’ll need a booking for this section too, but as mentioned earlier, there’s much more availability. On the SIMPLIFICA website, both options are labelled as PR1, with the upper section being the shorter part and the lower section covering the full 7 km hike.
Extra tip: The PR1 is particularly popular – and consequently very busy – at sunrise. Sunset is therefore the better choice, with fewer visitors and fantastic light.
Car park: Right next to the Pico do Arieiro viewpoint
⛰️ More great places to visit in Madeira:
Fanal Forest
Madeira’s laurel forest is one of the island’s natural treasures and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. In the Fanal forest, you’ll find the oldest trees on the island, some of which are up to 600 years old. The laurel trees have bizarre shapes and are covered in moss. As the forest is situated in the mountains, clouds often drift through here, creating a mystical atmosphere. A Madeira tip you shouldn’t miss!
Natural Pools
Madeira’s natural pools are breathtakingly beautiful – so adding them to my Madeira travel guide is a must. They’re situated along the coast and were formed by lava flows and the power of the Atlantic. Sheltered from the open sea by rocks, you can enjoy a relaxing swim in them. At high tide, they’re refilled with fresh seawater.
You’ll find the most beautiful natural pools on Madeira in Porto Moniz and Seixal.
Whale & Dolphin Tour
Thanks to Madeira’s unique location in the middle of the Atlantic, various species of whales and dolphins can be found around the island all year round. A whale and dolphin watching tour with an eco-friendly tour operator is therefore an unforgettable experience during your trip to Madeira. We’ve seen countless pods of dolphins and huge whales! When conditions are right, there’s often even the chance to swim with the dolphins.
Parque Florestal das Queimadas
On the north coast, very close to Santana, lies this breathtakingly beautiful forest park with its famous laurel forest. Another highlight is a traditional thatched-roof shelter. Numerous impressive walks start from here – some leading deep into the forest, past thundering waterfalls.
🌿 The best viewpoints in Madeira:
Coastal viewpoints have a magical pull on me. It’s simply breathtaking to gaze out at the endless expanse of the ocean. So, naturally, the most beautiful viewpoints have their place in my Madeira travel guide.
Miradouro Véu Da Noiva: A quick stop by the roadside offers a dramatic view of the cliffs, down which a waterfall plunges.
Miradouro da Rocha Navio: Be captivated by the stunning view across the coastline. Here, too, you’ll discover impressive waterfalls. You can also take a cable car down to the sea from here – last departure: 4.50 pm.
Ponta do Rosto: Located at the eastern tip of the island, this viewpoint offers a fantastic view of red rock formations, which provide a striking contrast to the otherwise green island.
Ribeira da Janela: The Ribeira da Janela river flows into the sea at this point. However, what makes this spot in Madeira worth a visit is the small rocky islets jutting out of the water. A flight of steps leads up to an opening in the rock on the beach, which resembles a window and offers a dramatic view.
💦 Stunning waterfalls on Madeira
Agua D’Alto Tunnel: This well-known and very popular waterfall is situated right by the roadside next to a tunnel. Pull over for a quick stop and let yourself be enchanted.
Cascata dos Anjos: The island’s most famous waterfall plunges directly onto the coastal road, which was still open to traffic just a few years ago. Today, it’s officially closed to cars and you can only reach the waterfall on foot. It’s simply magical here at sunset, when the warm light is reflected in the wild cascading water. But it’s definitely one of the busiest spots on the island too. If you’re patient, a bit of a wait will give you your moment of solitude. Or you might prefer to come at a different time of day.
🚡 My tips for Funchal
Madeira’s capital, Funchal, is picturesquely situated on a mountainside on the island’s south coast and is home to around 40 per cent of the island’s population. The city is an absolute must in my Madeira travel guide, as there’s so much to explore!
Be sure to take a stroll through the old town, with its pretty alleyways, traditional cafés and restaurants, and historic buildings. In the evening, you can round off the day in one of the many bars here. Incidentally, this is also where my favourite hotel is located: the Barceló Funchal Oldtown.
Did you know that football star Cristiano Ronaldo was born and trained in Funchal? Today, he’s not only a national hero but also an ambassador for his homeland, which he visits regularly. That’s another reason why the people here love him, and almost every boy on the island looks up to him. If you’d like to find out more, pay a visit to the CR7 Museum dedicated to him.
To get to the mountainous district of Monte, you can take the cable car. Among other things, magnificent parks await you here. One of them is the Monte Palace Tropical Garden – a real gem featuring flamingos, works of art, Japanese-style gardens and a breathtaking view.
Must-do: The best way to get back down is the Madeira way: in a traditional wicker sledge. In 1850, it was the island’s first form of public transport, used to travel down from the mountainous district of Monte – primarily for the wealthy, but also for transporting goods. Since then, the sledges have been whizzing down the steep streets from the church almost every day. Today, however, the fast-paced journey – which takes around 10 minutes – is more of a tourist attraction. Price: €30 for two people.
🍽️ My restaurant tips for Madeira:
- Las Caraibas – My favourite place for lunch, right on the coast in the north of the island; fresh fish, but also delicious burgers; must-try: passion fruit cheesecake
- Restaurante São Cristóvão – A great restaurant with generous portions and views of the cliffs; particularly lovely at sunset
- Manifattura Di Gelato – pizza and homemade ice cream; right by the harbour
Restaurants in Funchal:
- Rei da Poncha Bar – Poncha is practically a national drink in Madeira – a small cocktail made with local rum, honey and citrus fruits; particularly good at this little bar in Funchal; rustic but authentic, and they serve poncha in various flavours (my favourite: mandarin)
- TERRA Food Concept – creative vegan restaurant
- Restaurante Informal – fine dining, but affordable; with an open kitchen
- ComTradições – traditional & authentic dishes from Madeira
The island of Madeira enchanted me with its captivating charm and the wide range of activities on offer. It often reminded me of a European version of Hawaii! It was our first time here, and I think this beautiful island absolutely deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list.
I hope my Madeira travel guide inspires you to set off on a trip to Madeira yourself and to explore my tips with excitement, adding your own ideas along the way. I’d love to hear your feedback.
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