Things to do in Madeira

Things to do

1. From Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

   A path cut along the ridges above the clouds, between the island’s two highest peaks. On Wikipedia

   Adventure and sportsViewpoint6 hrFreebest in the morning

2. The 25 Fontes levada

   A path along an irrigation channel, through the laurel forest to a waterfall. On Wikipedia

   Nature and sceneryNature4 hrFreetakes the whole day

3. Monte and the wicker toboggans

   Up by cable car, then back down in a wicker basket steered by two men in boaters. On Wikipedia

   Adventure and sportsViewpoint3 hr≈ €45best in the afternoon

4. The Mercado dos Lavradores

   Exotic fruit, flowers, and espada, the black scabbardfish from the deep. On Wikipedia

   FoodMarket1 hr≈ €10best in the morning

5. The natural pools of Porto Moniz

   Seawater pools in the volcanic rock, at the island’s northwestern tip. On Wikipedia

   RelaxationBeach5 hr≈ €2takes the whole day

6. Cabo Girão and its glass floor

   One of the highest cliffs in Europe, and a glass platform 580 meters above the sea. On Wikipedia

   Nature and sceneryViewpoint1 hr≈ €2best in the afternoon

7. Madeira wine

   A fortified wine aged in the heat under the roofs, in the wooden lodges of central Funchal. On Wikipedia

   FoodRelaxation1 hr 30 min≈ €15best in the evening

When to go

The most pleasant months in Madeira: from September to June, taking weather and crowds into account.

More ideas for those months: where to go in January, where to go in February, where to go in March, where to go in April, where to go in May, where to go in June, where to go in September, where to go in October, where to go in November, where to go in December.

Averages measured over recent years: mean temperatures and number of rainy days, month by month.

What budget on the ground?

Per person and per day, including accommodation, meals, local transport and visits — excluding the round trip. An estimate calculated the same way as in the app, from the local cost of living.

Budget

€50

Mid-range

€90

Comfort

€170

Getting there from Paris: the carbon footprint

Per person, round trip, in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent — manufacturing, energy and, for flights, contrails included.

Plane

800 kg

Factors from ADEME (Impact CO₂); outside France, rail uses the European average published by the European Environment Agency.

Book on the ground

Tours and tickets

• Go City Multi-attraction passes for big cities
• Klook Tours, tickets and excursions
• Tiqets Museums and monuments, skip-the-line tickets
• WeGoTrip Self-paced audio tours

Internet on site (eSIM)

• Airalo Data eSIM, by country or region
• Drimsim SIM card that works in almost every country
• Saily Data eSIM
• Yesim Data eSIM

From the airport

• GetTransfer Drivers make an offer for your ride
• Intui Private transfers at a fixed price
• Kiwitaxi Booked transfers, from taxi to minibus
• Welcome Pickups Driver waiting on arrival, price fixed in advance

Rent a car

• Auto Europe Rental comparison
• EconomyBookings Rental comparison
• GetRentacar Cars from rental companies and private owners
• Localrent Local rental companies, often no credit card needed

Partner links: if you book through them, Tripora may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you and without changing the order of these lists, which is alphabetical.

Good to know: Portugal

Plugs

Type C, F, 230 V

Emergencies

112

Driving

On the right

Near Madeira

• Tenerife Spain, 510 km
• Lanzarote Spain, 520 km
• Gran Canaria Spain, 520 km
• Fuerteventura Spain, 550 km
• Essaouira Morocco, 690 km
• Agadir Morocco, 740 km

Elsewhere in Portugal

• Azores
• Coimbra
• Faro and the Algarve
• Lisbon
• Porto
• Sintra and Cascais