Things to do in Madeira
Fill your Portuguese adventure with the best things to do in Madeira and have more fun than you can shout Siuuu! at in true Cristiano Ronaldo style.
Best things to do in Madeira
Madeira is a lovely island with many attractions, including great hiking paths and stunning views. It also boasts a fascinating history, great street art, and a variety of excursions and outdoor activities to choose from.
Levada walks
The first item you should bring is your hiking shoes, as the island is a hiker's heaven. It's known for its levadas, which are little water canals that were intended to move water from the highlands but are now used as beautiful hiking paths.
On Madeira, there are several levadas with various degrees of difficulty. Many would take the entire day, while others will only require a few hours. Levada 25 Fontes & Risco, Levada do Alecrim, Levada Caldeirao Verde, oraz Levada do Furado are the most beautiful (and indeed, most renowned) levadas in Madeira.
Drink in the views from a Miradouro
Driving around Madeira is the greatest way to see the island. It's important studying the definition of the Portuguese phrase miradouro, which means "viewing deck," because there are several signs pointing to various observation decks. Some are immediately off the road and only take a few minutes to reach, while others need a little climb. If you have the time, it's worth checking out any point of view you come across since we're often pleasantly pleased.
Balces, Cabo Giro, Eira do Serrado, Miradouro do Guindaste, Véu da Noiva, and Eira da Achada are only a few of the most popular sights in Madeira.
Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos is famous in Funchal, while Miradouro da Portela is popular in Porto Santo. Both Madeira and Porto Santo feature a viewpoint called Portela, which is equally lovely.
Take a ride in a cable car and see a different view of the island
Madeira has a number of cable cars. The most well-known one connects Funchal's Old Town to the summit of Monte Hill and the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens Park, which is then connected to another park – Botanical Gardens. For a few minutes, this cable car would then provide you with an incredible perspective of Funchal's whole bay.
Faj dos Padres and Garajau Beach have shorter, more modern, and more pleasant cable cars.
Cable cars to Faj da Rocha do Navio and Faj da Quebrada Nova in Achadas da Cruz are among the most memorable journeys in Madeira's north and north-west. Each transport you to quiet and unusual locations, where you may take in some very spectacular vistas.
Stroll through a botanical garden
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens and Madeira Botanical Garden are two of Funchal's most well-known botanical gardens.
Both are lovely, both are unique, and both provide a spectacular perspective of Funchal. Municipal Garden and Santa Catarina Park are also available to the public in the city centre. Aside from them, the island has a number of additional gardens and parks. Many resorts in the area take pleasure in their lovely grounds.
Go for a dip in a lava pool (seriously!)
Nature-created volcanic pools are popular swimming places on Madeira.
The pools at Porto Moniz are the most well-known volcanic pools. Doca do Cavacas, Funchal's own pool facility, is also available. It's smaller and still under the shadow of the Porto Moniz waters, but it has a spectacular view of the Cabo Giro cliff and... great weather, because southern coast's weather is normally the greatest.
Check out the amazing street art that adds colour to Madeira
The most well-known street art can be seen in Funchal's Old Town, where, in addition to wall paintings, there are lovely decorated doors. A gorgeous, big whale painting – La Baleia – and a striking mural – a depiction of Cristiano Ronaldo within that neighbourhood where he was brought up – are among the other artworks in Funchal.
The street art in Camara de Lobos, a nearby fishing community, is especially fascinating. Volunteers adorned the doors using repurposed materials in this example. Machico also has some beautiful street art.
See somewhere unique with a trip to a Fajā
Fajā is a flat patch of ground formed by flowing lava at the base of a cliff, shut off along one side by a rock face and then on the other with sea. They're lovely, isolated spots that are relatively abundant in Madeira. Each faj is unique and charming, and it is worthwhile to try to visit one of these.
Fajā dos Padres or Fajā da Rocha do Navio are two of the favoured options.
Allow yourself to be awestruck by the mountain summits draped in a blanket of clouds.
The sight of majestic mountain peaks wrapped in dense clouds, as well as the quiet that accompanies these sights, is a true treat for the senses. When driving across the island, you'll come across Pico Ruivo, Pico do Arieiro, Encumeada, and indeed Eira do Serrado.
Pico do Arieiro is Madeira's third highest summit. It are among the most popular destinations on the island since it is conveniently accessible by automobile. The PR1 hiking trail, which connects the summits of Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, is highly recommended for energetic travellers. The famed "Stairs to the Sky" can be found on this path, quite near to Pico do Arieiro. This magnificent mountain summit is well worth a visit, whether hiking or driving.
From above and below, have a look at the Nuns' Valley
One of my favourite sites in Madeira is the Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns). It feels like you're on a foreign island even though it's only 40 minutes away from Funchal.
Looking down, you can see it from the lovely Eira do Serrado vantage, which is a popular stop on many day excursions. I further urge that all mountain enthusiasts spend at least one night at the Eira do Serrado Hotel and Spa, which has the same name.
The Nuns Valley, however, should not be viewed just from above. Trekking into to the area and wandering through its towns is worthwhile, especially to the water - Poco dos Chefes – where you may bathe in the summer.
You shall see the actual, perhaps less visible side of Madeira, which is distant from the opulent hotel areas of Funchal, once you stroll around and get lost someplace down a tiny valley street.
Take a stroll where the ocean meets the mountains and cliffs.
Hike on Ponta do So Lourenço or Vereda do Larano if you are athletic enough and don't suffer from vertigo.
The roads in Madeira are separated into two categories: "levada" and "vereda." In Portuguese, vereda refers to any path that does not follow the levada. It is also worthwhile to go on a minimum of one additional non-levada walk on Madeira.
In addition to the "cloud trail" indicated in point # 8 - Vereda do Arieiro – Ruivo, the Ponta de S. Lourenço and Vereda do Larano are two of our top choices for you.
The Ponta de S. Lourenço is undoubtedly one of Madeira's most popular tourist attractions. If we get the chance, we should surely hike the PR8 path, especially with the sunrise. The route is particularly popular since it is easily accessible by bus, making it a viable alternative for those without a car.
You also won't need to have a vehicle for the Vereda do Larano because Machico and Porto da Cruz are both accessible by bus. It is not really a trail for anyone afraid of heights, as it frequently leads straight up to the brink. It is, however, a wonderfully lovely walk, and the views along the way, as well as while approaching Porto da Cruz, are also very spectacular.
Try some of Madeira's traditional foods and beverages while you drink in amazing views too!
Madeira has a plethora of excellent eateries. The majority of them provide traditional meat, fish, and shellfish cuisines.
Espada com banana ("Espada com banana"), squid ("Lulas Grelhadas"), or an appetiser called Lapas Grelhadas ("Lulas Grelhadas") — limpets roasted inside a special pan accompanied by garlic and butter and dusted with fresh lemon, all of which definitely brings out the flavour while it is all cooked. We suggest Lapas to anyone and everyone, unless you're not a seafood enthusiast — you could enjoy it a lot still though so give it a go.
Espetada is a Madeira "shashlik" made of beef (typically roasted around a steel spit or a bay laurel stick), flavored with salt, garlic, and bay leaves, and grilled over wood or charcoal.
Restaurants that specialise in Espetades are common in Madeira, and you can spot them by the iron supports embedded within the tables, and from which your server drapes the cooked
Madeira is also known for its diverse selection of indigenous beverages. The delicious Poncha may be more renowned than Madeira wine. It's more common to get together with pals for a Poncha than to get a drink.