Before you go: bases, transport and season

Madeira Airport (FNC) sits on the southeast coast near Santa Cruz, about 20–30 minutes by car from Funchal. Funchal is the most practical single base: it has the widest choice of luxury hotels, restaurants and tour departures, and the expressway network means most of the island is within 60–90 minutes. Our guide to the best luxury hotels in Madeira covers clifftop resorts, quintas and design hotels in and around the city.

Driving is rewarding but demanding: roads are steep, narrow and full of tunnels and hairpins. Choose a small automatic car, avoid mountain roads after dark if you’re nervous, and use car parks rather than roadside spots at popular viewpoints. If you’d rather not drive, private drivers and small-group jeep tours cover every stop in this plan.

Madeira is a year-round destination. Coastal temperatures are mild in every month, but the mountains can be cold, wet and cloud-covered. Spring (April–June) brings flowers; September and October are warm with calmer seas; winter is quieter and greener with more rain in the north. Check the official Visit Madeira site for events, and remember the New Year fireworks and the Flower Festival in spring fill hotels early.

Pack for several climates in one day. A typical Madeira day might start at 8°C on a summit and end at 24°C by a coastal pool, so bring a fleece, a waterproof shell, grippy walking shoes, swimwear and sun protection. Mobile coverage is good in most areas, but download offline maps for tunnels and mountain roads. Most restaurants accept cards, though small cafés in villages may prefer cash.

This plan is deliberately unhurried, with one anchor activity per morning and flexible afternoons. It is not designed for experienced trekkers who want to tick off the full Vereda routes or overnight in the mountains; if that is you, add two or three dedicated hiking days and stay closer to the trailheads in Santana or the Paul da Serra area.

Day 1: Funchal’s old town, market and gardens

Ease in with a slow day in Funchal. Start at the Mercado dos Lavradores, where tropical fruit stalls and the fish hall give a quick introduction to the island’s produce. Walk east into the Zona Velha (old town), where the painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria turn a simple street into an open-air gallery.

After lunch, take the cable car up to Monte or save it for Day 5 and visit a garden instead. The Madeira Botanical Garden has terraced beds and views over the bay, while private estates such as Palheiro Gardens are calmer and more manicured. Finish with sunset drinks on a hotel terrace above the harbour and a seafood dinner of espada (black scabbardfish) or grilled limpets.

For hotel areas, the Lido district west of the centre has many of Funchal’s resort-style hotels with large pools and sea-facing terraces, while the old town and the area around the marina suit travellers who want to walk to restaurants. Hillside quintas above the city offer gardens and quiet but usually need a taxi to reach dinner. Couples combining Madeira with other romantic trips can find more ideas in our luxury honeymoon destinations roundup.

• Pace: easy, mostly walking.
• Tip: the market is liveliest on Friday and Saturday mornings.
• Taste: try poncha, the island’s sugarcane rum drink, in moderation if you’re driving tomorrow.

Day 2: Pico do Arieiro sunrise and a levada walk

Madeira’s highest viewpoints are the island’s signature experience. Drive up to Pico do Arieiro (about 1,818 m) for sunrise above the clouds; the road from Funchal takes roughly 45 minutes. Some visitors continue on the famous ridge trail to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak, but it involves steep steps, tunnels and exposure and is periodically closed for repairs. Check current status on the regional government’s trail information and booking portal before planning it, and note that many official trails now require a small online fee.

In the afternoon, swap altitude for a levada, one of the island’s historic irrigation channels with flat paths alongside. The Levada do Caldeirão Verde (from Queimadas) and Levada das 25 Fontes (from Rabaçal) are among the most popular; both pass through UNESCO-listed laurel forest. Go early to avoid crowds at 25 Fontes, and carry a torch for tunnels.

• Pace: moderate to demanding.
• Pack: warm layers, rain jacket, proper shoes.
• Tip: the webcams on regional sites show whether the peaks are above the clouds before you set off.

Days 3 and 4: the northwest and the wild east

Day 3 heads northwest. Drive through the Paul da Serra plateau to Fanal, a misty forest of ancient laurel trees and grazing cattle that feels almost unreal in fog. Descend to Porto Moniz for a swim in the natural lava-rock pools, which are fed by the Atlantic and calm on most days. Continue east along the coast to Seixal, where a black-sand beach sits beneath green cliffs, and stop at the Véu da Noiva viewpoint for a waterfall dropping straight into the sea. Return via the São Vicente tunnel to Funchal, or overnight on the north coast for a quieter change of scene.

Day 4 explores the far east. Ponta de São Lourenço is a dry, windswept peninsula of red and ochre cliffs completely unlike the rest of the island. The out-and-back trail is about 7–8 km with some steep sections and no shade, so start early with water and sun protection. Afterwards, swim at Prainha, one of the island’s few natural dark-sand beaches, then eat in Machico, where the bay is calm and the promenade relaxed. If you have energy, the clifftop viewpoint at Ponta do Rosto is superb at golden hour.

If you overnight on the north coast between Days 3 and 4, Santana’s traditional triangular thatched houses and the Rocha do Navio cable car down to a sea-level nature reserve make worthwhile morning stops before heading east. The north side is cooler, greener and noticeably quieter after dark than Funchal, which many couples prefer.

Day 5: Monte, Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão

Spend the final day close to Funchal. Ride the cable car to Monte to visit the church and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, then descend the traditional way in a wicker toboggan steered by two carreiros in straw hats. It is touristy but genuinely fun, and the ride ends partway down the hill where taxis wait.

In the afternoon drive west to Câmara de Lobos, a colourful fishing village once painted by Winston Churchill, then on to Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs, where a glass skywalk projects about 580 m above the ocean. End with a farewell dinner in Funchal or a wine tasting at one of the historic Madeira wine lodges, where you can compare the four classic styles from dry Sercial to rich Malvasia.

If you have a sixth day, add a boat trip from Funchal to look for dolphins and whales, or a day trip to Porto Santo for its long golden beach. For another Atlantic island trip, compare this plan with our Azores luxury hotels guide or which Canary Island is best for luxury.

Costs, bookings and how the days compare

The table below helps you reorder days around the weather; swap Days 2 and 4 if the peaks are clouded in.

Book popular experiences such as whale watching, private drivers and restaurant tables a few days ahead in peak periods. Trail fees for official routes are modest, but parking at Pico do Arieiro and 25 Fontes fills early. Travel and safety updates for Portugal are available from your government’s travel advice service and from the Visit Portugal tourism board.

Frequently Asked Questions