Madeira offers experiences you won’t find anywhere else in Europe. There is a reason why it’s called Hawaii of Europe. On Madeira you’ll find the most beautiful landscapes paired with the cutest villages. It’s one of the best year-round destination. No matter what month you’re going to visit you can always enjoy warm weather. That’s why you also call Madeira “The Island of Eternal Spring”.
Our top 5 tips for Madeira:
1. Wear layers. The weather can change every 5 minutes and it totally depends on what part of the island you’re on.
2. Make sure to get a rental car with some more HP so you won’t get stuck on the steep roads.
3. Don’t just stay in Funchal and go explore the whole island.
4. Bring comfortable shoes and hiking clothes. You’ll get the most beautiful views in Madeira during your hikes.
5. Wear sunscreen. Even if it’s not that hot and cloudy the sun is still burning – especially when you’re hiking.
Best hotels to stay in
If you’re visiting Madeira you can either just stay in a single hotel (for example in Funchal) or switch between hotels on different parts of the island. We stayed in Funchal and took day trips. Both ways have their pro’s and con’s.
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Budget: Santa Maria Hostel, Funchal
💵 approximately 60€ per night for a private bedroom with a shared bathroom
💵 approximately 25€ per night for a bed in an 8 person dorm
+ close to the centre
+ close to plenty of activities
+ budget friendly and very clean
+ shared kitchen
– quite noisy because of the location
Mid-Range: Alto Lido
💵 approximately 200€ per night (including half board)
+ very cute rooms and aesthetic design
+ buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner
+ nice views
+ walking distance to the supermarket
+ cute outside seating area with a pool
– parking is expensive (parking on the street is available almost all the time)
Mid-Range: Alto Lido
💵 approximately 200€ per night (including half board)
+ very cute rooms and aesthetic design
+ buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner
+ nice views
+ walking distance to the supermarket
+ cute outside seating area with a pool
– parking is expensive (parking on the street is available almost all the time)
Luxury Option: Royal Savoy – Ocean Resort
💵 approximately 350€ per night
+ large comfortable rooms
+ perfect location in a nice part of Funchal
+ parking (not included)
+ outstanding views of the ocean
– not very budget friendly
Favorite Viewpoints
You can expect the most stunning and unique views when visiting Madeira due to its unique and stunning landscapes. Your favorite viewpoint will depend on your preferences, here are our top picks:
Miradouro dos Balcoes
This viewpoint is located at the end of the PR11 Levada dos Balcoes. It’s an enjoyable 1 hour roundtrip (which is different to almost every other hike on Madeira) with an insane view at the end. One of the most charming aspects is the opportunity to feed some little birds. You can bring some seeds (or even just pick them up from the ground) and let them eat right from your hand. Parking can get a little bit complicated – but you’ll manage to find a spot. There is a little restaurant on the way if you’re looking for a snack or drink.
Miradouro do Véu da Noiva
The perfect viewpoint right by the main road. Turn right after the tunnel where you can find two parking lots (which can get really crowded during the day). The view you’ll get without having to hike is amazing and features the coolest waterfall we’ve seen on Madeira.
Miradouro do Véu da Noiva
Cabo Girao Skywalk
This one is very different to all the other viewpoints on Madeira. You will get an amazing view at every single one of them but the glass floor is making the Skywalk even more spectacular than the rest. The entry fee is 2€ which is totally fine. Make sure to get there as early as you can because the parking lots (as always) fill up rather quickly.
Best Hikes
There are so many hikes on Madeira so it’s hard for us to pick only the best out of them. We did several hikes on our trip and these three were our favorite:
PR8 Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco
PR8 Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenco
Sao Laurenco is the easternmost tip of Madeira. It’s a stunning costal hike where you’ll find a unique scenery with some of the prettiest views of Madeira. The hike is very accessible and walkable, even with children. The last peak can be pretty tough, but it’s definitely worth it. The whole roundtrip takes up to 4 hours but you can take a boat back to the marina to save yourself the way home.
PR6 25 Fontes hike & Levada do Risco
The Risco Waterfall is one of the prettiest waterfalls we’ve ever seen. The best thing about this hike is that there are so many different ways to go. That way you can choose how long your hike is going to be without missing its whole point. The way up to the parking lot is really steep, but don’t worry, there is a shuttle that will take you up for 5€. Parking can get really tough again so try to get there pretty early.
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro
This one is surely the most famous hike on Madeira and probably one of the toughest ones as well. The trail connects the three highest spots of the island. You’ll start at Pico do Areeiro and cross Pico das Torres on your way to Pico Ruivo. It will take you around 3 to 4 hours of steep staircases and climbs up the mountains. If you are looking for a shorter way to get up to Pico Ruivo you could also just drive up to the starting point of PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo and walk 3 km up to the top.
Our must-sees on Madeira
Besides our favorite hikes and viewpoints there are some other places we would recommend to visit, especially for first time visitors. Since there are so many things to do, you probably won’t be able to see everything on your list, even if you’re bringing plenty of time. You have to come back over and over again to see every beautiful place you can imagine:
Porto Moniz:
Porto Moniz is a cute municipality in the northwest of Madeira and the home to one of the biggest natural volcanic swimming pools that are popular with locals and tourists. It’s a very unique experience and definitely a must-see on Madeira.
Even if you’re not going for a swim it’s always worth to watch the waves crash.
Fanal Forest:
A very special and mystical place that looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. We highly recommend visiting when it’s foggy so the trees look even more magical in the mist. The best time to visit is in the early morning hours but we got lucky and got the whole experience even in the afternoon.
Be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and warm clothes because it can be really cold even if the rest of the island is covered in sunshine.
Honourable mentions:
Monte palace tropical garden – a huge botanical garden with a water area, flamingos and exhibitions.
Cascata dos Anjos – another beautiful waterfall in the middle of the road. A very fun experience, but rather touristy.
Seixal beach – probable one of the most epic beaches we’ve ever seen. It’s a black sandy beach with a little waterfall and a natural pool nearby. You feel like you’re on Hawaii. Parking can get pretty tough, but as you’ve already read, that’s normal for Madeira.
Seixal Beach
Cascata Agua d’Alto (Sao Vincente) – a big waterfall right next to the main road with a parking space right next to it. Worth the stop for some pictures and maybe even a little hike on the other side of the road to Ribeira do Inferno.
Ribeira da Janela – a cool free stop to watch the waves crashing through the rocks and take some amazing pictures.
Getting around with a rental
There are three ways to get around Madeira. On the one hand you can travel with an organized group (booked through your hotel). On the other hand you can travel on your own – with a rental or with public transportation. We got a rental right on our first day and this is our conlusion:
First things first: There are so many steep streets so you really need a car with enough horsepower. There are many parts where you have to start on the mountain so if you’re not really comfortable with this you should definitely get an automatic. If you aren’t familiar with driving through mountains we definitely recommend to choose one of the other options.
Parking can get tricky (not just very full) so be prepared to park on tiny parking spaces right next to the street and maybe even close to a cliff.
