This Madeira travel guide covers everything you need to know—from the best areas to stay to essential tips for driving on the island and must-try restaurants. It’s loaded with insider tips to help you have an unforgettable trip!
Madeira is truly one of a kind—unlike mainland Portugal (or anywhere else we’ve been!). So there are lots of things you should know before you show up with your suitcase at the airport.
We were fortunate to have our team member Amanda visit before us and share all sorts of insider tips. Her advice made such a difference, and now we’re passing that knowledge on to you!
We’ve put together this Madeira travel guide packed with helpful info so you can feel fully prepared. Be sure to give it a thorough read so you know what to expect!
Madeira Travel Guide
- Our experience
- Best time to visit
- Top things to do in Madeira
- Perfect Madeira itinerary
- Getting around Madeira
- Staying connected
- Weather in Madeira
- Tips for avoiding the crowds
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
Our experience in Madeira
We’ll be honest—before visiting Madeira, we were a little nervous. We’d seen so much on social media about it being overcrowded, and there wasn’t a lot of solid info online about the hikes we wanted to do.
But once we arrived, all our worries disappeared—we absolutely loved it!
Traveling in Madeira feels completely different from exploring mainland Portugal. You have to stay flexible (the weather changes constantly!), which is exactly why we designed our Madeira itinerary with interchangeable days.
The island itself is unlike anywhere we’ve ever been—while bits of it reminded us of other places, the overall experience was totally unique. And for what it’s worth, we didn’t find it nearly as crowded as people made it out to be.
The only thing we wish we would have done differently would have been to book our accommodation a little earlier to snag a more central location.
Best time to visit Madeira
Madeira is a year-round destination thanks to its mild, subtropical climate—but the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for.
Spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) are ideal for pleasant weather, blooming landscapes, and fewer crowds than the busy summer months.
We visited Madeira in early-June and found it to be a great time overall. It was busy, but nowhere near as crowded as we’d expected from what we saw online.
Even better, many of the trails quieted down in the late afternoons, and we often had viewpoints nearly to ourselves just before sunset. The weather was fantastic—though true to Madeira’s reputation, we experienced sunshine, clouds, fog, and rain all within the same week (often in the same day!).
Things to do in Madeira
If you’re looking for the very best things to do in Madeira, here are our top recommendations:
- Go hiking!! This is one of the main reasons to visit Madeira afterall and there are so many interesting and unique trails on the island!
- You must do a levada hike on Madeira at least once, and PR8 Ponta de S. Lourenço Trail is another stunner.
- Catch a sunset at Pico do Arieiro. (You can read more about this in our hiking guide as well, though the peak is fully accessible by car.)
- Visit the eerie and mystical Fanal Forest
- Take a dip in a natural pool (Seixal or Porto Moniz)
- Ride in the traditional wooden toboggans through the streets of Monte
Want more more information on these and other things to do in Madeira? Check out our itinerary below…
Perfect Madeira itinerary
Want the perfect Madeira itinerary planned for you?
We created a done-for-you one-week Madeira itinerary that’s packed with details—including hidden gems we discovered on our own trip, detailed driving routes, and local restaurant recommendations (including what to order!). All in a downloadable PDF that makes planning a breeze.
It’s designed to take all the guesswork (and hours of research!) out of planning your Madeira adventure so you can spend less time glued to your laptop and more time soaking up those epic coastal views and misty mountain trails.
If you want a stress-free, ready-to-go plan that shows you exactly how to see the best of Madeira, this is it!
How to get around Madeira
Madeira is an island you’ll have to fly into. Most flights route through mainland Portugal, but there are some European cities and a handful of North American cities with direct flights.
As a small island, you can drive from one end of the island to the other in under 2 hours. And because everything is so spread out, we definitely recommend having your own rental car.
However, there are a few things you should know about driving in Madeira before you hit the road, so be sure to read the following carefully…
Rental car
We highly recommend getting an automatic vehicle (even if you know how to drive manual). The roads in Madeira are something else—steep, winding, intersections on hills, crazy tight parking garages!
Search & Compare Rental Car Prices
- Discover Cars: We personally use this aggregate site to compare rental car prices from all the big name companies and get the best price possible.
- Booking.com: We’ve had good experiences finding rental cars with this site (formerly RentalCars.com) in the past.
Tips for driving in Madeira
Driving is absolutely the best way to get around Madeira. However, it can be tricky.
Here are some things to know:
- Know what to expect: Curvy mountain roads, lots of tunnels, narrow two way drives, low guard rails and steep cliffs! No entrance ramps on highways – you must stop and wait for a break in traffic to get on the highway.
- Download Google Maps offline. There are lots of tunnels throughout the island, and you’ll lose service inside. Usually they open up right into a roundabout where you need to know your exit immediately. Pay close attention to your maps.
- Add time to what Google Maps tells you.
- Instead of putting the exact destination in your map, navigate to your parking spot for each place you want to go.
- Don’t rely on navigation completely: There were lots of times it told us to turn on some crazy tiny/steep roads that were very difficult to drive on, then we realized it was just a “short cut” off the main road. We recommend sticking to main roads and recalculating the route if it brings you on a shortcut.
- If you’re traveling with a partner, be sure someone is paying close attention to the navigation. It’s really easy to miss turns, and you will spend a lot of time back-tracking if you’re not watching closely. (We speak from experience!)
- Some of the parking garages are crazy and unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. Read reviews of parking garages before attempting to go in them. There were some that were so tight, it was nearly impossible to maneuver.
Staying connected while traveling in Madeira
We recommend using Airalo to download a local eSIM to stay connected while traveling abroad. We used ours for our entire 3-week trip and had great connection the whole time.
→ We have an entire article on how to get cell service abroad that walks you through how to use Airalo and other options to consider.
Weather in Madeira
You should be prepared to experience all sorts of weather in Madeira. Definitely be prepared for rain (it rains a lot!), and cooler temperatures that you’d expect on a tropical island.
The weather can vary drastically around the island, so while it’s rainy in one region, it can be completely sunny in another. For this reason, it helps to be flexible with your itinerary. Check the predicted weather the night before to help determine which area of the island you’ll want to visit the next day.
Tip: Use Windy.app to track weather as it is the most accurate.
Good to know: Ponta do Sol is known to be the sunniest place on the island. So if everything is looking rainy, try going here.
Packing Tip:
- Rain jacket: a must for Madeira
- Lightweight puffy jacket: this would be really nice to have
→ Be sure to download our FREE Portugal packing list before your trip as it includes all the essentials for Madeira, plus packing tips for visiting mainland Portugal as well!
Our experience: We visited in early June and had all types of weather: warm sunny days, fog, rain, and chilly evenings.
Tips for avoiding crowds in Madeira
Madeira has become more and more popular over recent years, and videos of crowds have gone viral.
- So is it too crowded? If you follow the tips below we don’t think so.
- Is it worth it? Again, if you follow the tips below, yes! And we’re people who really despise crowds in nature.
Travel in off-peak season
Even the shoulder and low seasons can be crowded these days, but it will be much less so than traveling during the peak of summer. If you can, plan your trip for late spring or early fall.
Get ready for early mornings
Madeira is a place where you will need to start your day early (if you want to avoid crowds). There are tour buses on the island, so you’ll want to avoid arriving at the same time as these groups, especially at the levada hikes, which have narrow paths.
Sunset is a good time to explore
Surprisingly, we found many places nearly empty at sunset. I assume many people are eating or heading back to their accommodation at this time, but if you’re up for it, golden hour can be a good time to hike or hit some viewpoints (as long as you have a headlamp and are prepared).
Make reservations
We personally chose restaurants where we didn’t need reservations. However, we’ve made notes in our where to eat section on which spots you may want to think about reservations for (especially if you’re traveling during peak season).
Consider skipping the popular views
There are lots of “iconic viewpoints” on social media, and they are without a doubt very beautiful. But I’d recommend being less concerned about exactly what viewpoints you’re going to and just pulling over when you see a pretty spot that catches your eye.
They are EVERYWHERE, so in my opinion, there’s no need to go out of your way for a specific viewpoint.
Where to eat in Madeira
Madeira is a small island with lots to explore. There are lots of different small towns and villages with plenty of good spots to eat. Here are just a handful of our favorite places throughout the island (in no particular order)…
Southern coast
- 90° Bar | Grill | Restaurant: Amazing views from this small glass-enclosed dining room (reserve if you plan to be there at sunset).
- What to order: Great seafood, pasta & tiramisu
- Note on parking: There is a sharp hairpin turn up a steep hill to get to this restaurant. Luckily there is a fairly spacious parking lot right at the top. (You can also stay parked here to walk down to the Cascada do Anjos waterfall if you want.)
- Restaurante O Polar: No-frills spot recommended to us by our Airbnb host (most other diners were locals). They served the best espetadas we had in Madeira (& reasonably priced).
- What to order: espetadas (beef skewers), bolo de caco, milho frito, passion fruit mousse
- Minerva: Cute terrace with oceanside views, make a reservation if you’ll be dining around sunset hour.
- What to order: ceviche, miso eggplant, chocolate mousse with ginger crumble
- Loft Brunch e Cocktails: Boho vibes with good brunch food (and multiple locations around Funchal).
- What to order: Smoothie bowls, turkish eggs, and the volcano pancake, named Etna!
Northern coast
- Avista Navios: Good spot for breakfast in Seixal. Incredible views from their balcony or garden terrace.
- What to order: breakfast set (yogurt, toast, eggs, cheese, fruit, coffee)
- Restaurante Seixal Butcher: Good spot for lunch to enjoy an amazing view while you eat.
- What to order: Order your own espetadas from this butcher shop, then carry it behind the shop to the person at the grill who will cook it for you. Try Brisa, a passionfruit soda from Madeira.
- Conchinha: Small, casual restaurant with great sandwiches; try to sit outside if possible.
- What to order: Prego (beef) sandwich, limpets
- Restaurant São Cristóvão: Located beside the Miradouro de São Cristóvão, this restaurant offers stunning views and great local cuisine.
- A Pipa restaurant & bar: Located in the tiny fishing village of Porto da Cruz, this restaurant has excellent seafood (but mediocre service in our experience). Try to sit outside because the inside is kind of stuffy.
- What to Order: Limpets, grilled squid, fillet of scabbard. The poncha is strong but tasty.
Central
- Rabaçal Nature Spot Cafe: This cute cafe makes a great place to have a light lunch after finishing your hike
- What to order: quiche, either a passionfruit cheesecake or lemon pie.
- Snack Bar Flor da Selva: A charming and rustic little snack bar about 10 minutes down the Levada dos Balcões trail where you can enjoy lunch with a view (& kind owners)
- What to order: Tomato soup, grilled local trout, garlic bread, homemade cake
- Sabores do Curral: Rooftop terrace good for lunch
- What to order: This region is known for chestnuts, and you can order them roasted, in soup, and in dessert.
- Restaurante O Recante: Highly rated restaurant with Portuguese cuisine (and huge portions!)
- What to order: The rack of lamb and tuna steak were both delicious!
Foods & drinks to try
Madeira has a different cuisine than mainland Portugal, and you should absolutely try the local foods!
Here’s a list of must-try foods in Madeira:
- Espetada: beef skewers
- Bolo do Caco: sweet potato flatbread with garlic butter
- Prego no Bolo do Caco: juicy steak sandwich served on bolo do caco bread
- Limpets: shellfish grilled and drizzled with garlic, butter, and lemon—best enjoyed seaside.
- Picado: platter of bite-sized beef pieces in a savory sauce
- Espada com Banana: fried black scabbardfish with sweet banana
- Milho Frito: crispy cubes of fried cornmeal
- Bolo de Mel de Cana: dense, spiced honey cake (a Christmas tradition)
- Passion fruit pudding: exactly what it sounds like
- Brisa: passionfruit soda
- Poncha: The island’s signature drink made with aguardente de cana (sugarcane rum), honey, lemon, and sometimes passion fruit or orange juice.
- Madeira Wine: fortified wine, available from dry to very sweet, usually an aperitif
- Nikita: cocktail made with beer, white wine, vanilla ice cream, and pineapple (sometimes other fruits)
Where to stay in Madeira
We recommend choosing a place to stay that is somewhat centrally located and where you have some outdoor space to enjoy breakfast on a terrace.
Anything on the southern coast between Arco da Calheta and Câmara de Lobos is a good area with a lot of accommodation options and a central location.
Personally, we don’t recommend staying in Funchal. There are great restaurants here and it’s worth exploring for a few hours, but the reason you come to Madeira is the nature (not to stay in a condo in a big city).
TIP: Book your accommodation early. If you want a place that is comfortable, well-located, and not crazy expensive, try to book it as early as possible for the greatest selection.
Hotel and Airbnb recommendations
Camacha: Chalé das Figueirinhas
This is where we personally stayed and it was really nice for our family. The house is cozy and has everything you need, plus, it’s in an incredibly peaceful area. The only drawback is that it’s not near much of anything, so we had to do more driving than if we had stayed in a little more centrally-located area.
Arco da Calheta: Calhau Grande
- family-owned
- reasonably priced for Madeira
- rave reviews
- beautiful outdoor area for sunset
Porta do Sol: Escarpa – The Madeira Hideaway
- located in the sunniest area of the island
- amazing pool and views
- onsite restaurant
Madalena do Mar: Tropical house
- sea views from your private terrace
- nice central south-coast location
- recently renovated
- good for families
Staying in one place vs. splitting time
You could split your time between 2 locations (one that’s on the east part of the island and one near the west). If you’re lucky and get perfect weather, this can be a great way to split your time.
However we’d warn that the weather can very much dictate your activities. If you stay on the west part of the island for 3 days but during this time the eastern half has much better weather, you might find yourself driving much MORE than if you’d have been based more centrally.
Staying in one place the whole time can also be nice so you don’t have to pack up and move.
Plan your trip to Portugal
From vibrant cities to seaside escapes, we’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect Portugal adventure—from city guides and road trip itineraries to food tips and hidden gems! Start with our Portugal homepage or dive into some of our favorite articles below…
- 3-Day Lisbon Itinerary: Explore Portugal’s lively capital like a pro.
- 2-Day Porto Itinerary: Discover this charming riverside city in a weekend.
- More articles coming soon!
Perfect Portugal itinerary
Want the perfect Portugal trip planned for you?
From the colorful streets of Lisbon to the storybook castles of Sintra, the medieval charm of Óbidos, and the vineyard-covered hills of the Douro Valley—Portugal is overflowing with beauty and culture. But planning the perfect route can be overwhelming (trust us, we’ve been there!).
That’s why we created our done-for-you Portugal itineraries—each one crafted from our own travels, plus countless hours of research and insider tips from locals.
We have a 2-week road trip itinerary that takes you through Lisbon, Sintra, Óbidos, Monsanto, Peneda-Gerês National Park, Porto, the Douro Valley & more, a Lisbon & Porto itinerary for those short on time, and a Madeira itinerary for the ultimate island adventure.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll get a complete, stress-free plan packed with expert advice, and local recommendations, so you can simply show up and enjoy the adventure!
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