Where to look
Levada Walkers & Nature Lovers
Hikers · Nature lovers · UNESCO forest fans · Active travellers The levada trail network is Madeira's defining attraction and one of the most unique walking experiences in Europe. Over 2,500km of irrigation channels crisscross the island, and the maintenance paths alongside them take walkers through landscapes of staggering variety — narrow cliff-face paths with vertical drops on one side, tunnels through mountains, ancient laurel forest dripping with moss, and mountain meadows at 1,500m above the sea. The Levada das 25 Fontes (25 Springs Levada) near Rabaçal is arguably the most beautiful walk on the island — a flat, easy path through laurel forest leading to a series of cascades feeding into a lake. The Levada do Caldeirão Verde near Santana passes through four dark tunnels and ends at a 100-metre waterfall in a natural amphitheatre. For the summit experience, the PR1 trail from Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo takes 2–3 hours each way through otherworldly mountain scenery above the clouds.
Beach Seekers
Sandy beach lovers · Swimmers · Porto Santo day-trippers · Sun worshippers Porto Santo Island, 45km north of Madeira, is where you go for a proper beach holiday. The island has a single extraordinary feature: a 9km arc of golden sand — one of the longest natural beaches in the North Atlantic — with warm, shallow, calm water (the ocean floor shelves very gently) and almost no development behind the dunes. The island itself is flat, dry and peaceful in complete contrast to Madeira's dramatic terrain. On Madeira itself, Calheta on the southwest coast has a man-made sandy beach of imported Saharan sand — small but pleasant, with calm water and a good promenade. Prainha near Canical in the east is the island's only natural (black volcanic sand) beach. The Lido complex in Funchal has large seawater pools and a concrete sunbathing platform directly on the rocky coast — not a beach, but an excellent swimming option in the capital.
Funchal & City Lovers
City explorers · Food lovers · History fans · Garden enthusiasts · Wine tourists Funchal is one of the most attractive small capitals in the Atlantic — a city of 110,000 people stacked up a bowl-shaped valley facing the sea, with cobbled streets, ornate azulejo tile facades, a famous covered market (Mercado dos Lavradores with its exotic fruits, flowers and espada fish), and excellent restaurants. The old town around Zona Velha has been transformed into an outdoor art gallery with street murals covering every door. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden, reached by the historic cable car from the seafront, is one of the finest botanical collections in Europe — azaleas, camellias, dragon trees and an extraordinary collection of azulejo panels. The Monte toboggan run (a wicker sledge pushed by men in white suits, descending 2km of cobbled street at 30km/h) is one of Madeira's most distinctive experiences. The Old Blandy's Wine Lodge on the city centre offers outstanding tastings of aged Madeira wine.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Special occasions · Dramatic scenery lovers Madeira's most dramatic landscapes are its most romantic. The Cabo Girão cliffs — at 580m the highest sea cliff in Europe, with a glass-floored viewing platform suspended over the Atlantic — are extraordinary. Sunset from the Pico do Arieiro viewpoint, looking west as the clouds turn pink in the valleys below, is one of the most memorable experiences in the Atlantic islands. The caldeirão (volcanic crater) at Boca do Encumeada is equally magnificent. The village of Santana, in the north, is famous for its A-frame thatched houses (palheiros) painted in vivid colours — a uniquely photogenic and completely distinctive landscape. The north coast road from São Vicente to Porto Moniz passes under waterfalls that cascade directly onto the road — magnificent and slightly terrifying in wet weather. Porto Moniz has natural volcanic rock pools carved by the sea — excellent swimming at any time.
Wine, Food & Culture Lovers
Foodies · Wine enthusiasts · Culture seekers · Slow travel devotees Madeira wine is one of the world's most distinctive fortified wines — unique in its production because the wine is intentionally oxidised and heated during ageing, producing an extraordinarily long-lived and complex drink. A 100-year-old Madeira wine can still be magnificent. The three main wine lodges in Funchal — Blandy's, the oldest family wine company in the world, Henriques & Henriques and the Madeira Wine Company — all offer outstanding tours and tastings. Madeira's food culture is distinctive: espada com banana (black scabbard fish with banana), espetada (beef skewers on laurel wood, a north coast speciality), poncha (aguardente with honey and lemon), and an extraordinary variety of tropical fruits grown on the terraced hillsides. The Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal has the best selection of Madeira's endemic fruits — including the rare custard apple and the tiny banana variety that grows only here.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting activities and safe swimming Funchal is the most practical family base on Madeira — the Lido complex (seafront seawater pools) provides safe swimming with lifeguards, the cable car to Monte is an immediate hit with children, the toboggan run is thrilling for older children, and the subtropical botanical gardens are interesting and beautiful. The cruise ship terminal area has an excellent outdoor plaza with fountains for younger children. Calheta on the southwest coast has the island's best sandy beach (small but genuine) with calm, warm water and a pleasant promenade — the best option for families who specifically want a beach rather than pools. Machico bay on the east coast has a sheltered beach (partly natural, partly man-made) with calm water and good facilities. Porto Santo is the ultimate family beach destination if you are happy to take the ferry.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Long-stay visitors · Off-season explorers · Cost-conscious travellers Funchal has the widest range of accommodation at all price points — budget guesthouses in the old town, cheap city hotels away from the seafront, and self-catering apartments available year-round. Eating in the covered market café, buying fresh fruit and vegetables from market stalls, and using the excellent public bus network (the ER1 road connects the whole island) keeps costs very manageable. Madeira is genuinely a year-round destination — there is no off-peak season in the way other Mediterranean islands have. However, prices are slightly lower in November and February (outside Carnival and New Year) than at other times. The levada walks are entirely free (some protected areas charge a small entry fee). Self-catering accommodation in the interior or north coast is excellent value compared to Funchal seafront hotels.
🏙️ Funchal
Capital city. Mercado dos Lavradores, Monte garden, wine lodges, Lido pools, old town murals. Best all-round base for the island. All types · Culture · City
🌊 Porto Santo Island
Separate island 45 min by plane or 2.5h by ferry. One extraordinary 9km golden beach. Flat, sunny, peaceful — total contrast to Madeira. Beach · Families · Relaxed
🏖️ Calheta
Southwest coast. Only man-made sandy beach on Madeira. Calm water, good promenade, marina, less busy than Funchal. Beach · Families · Couples
🌿 Santana (north coast)
Famous A-frame thatched houses. Gateway to Caldeirão Verde levada. Wetter but dramatically beautiful. Authentic rural character. Nature · Authentic · Romance
🏊 Porto Moniz (northwest)
Natural volcanic rock pools. Dramatic cliff setting. End of the waterfall coast road. Very small village, limited accommodation. Nature · Scenery · Day trip
🍷 Câmara de Lobos
Churchill's favourite painting spot. Small fishing village 9km west of Funchal. Beautiful harbour, good poncha bars, working-class authentic. Authentic · Romance · Wine
🏔️ Pico do Arieiro area
Mountain summit at 1,818m. Above the clouds. Best sunrise in Madeira. No accommodation at summit — base in Funchal or Santana. Nature · Scenery · Hiking
Tips for booking
- Bring a headlamp for tunnel levadas. Several of the best routes (Caldeirão Verde, Caldeirão do Inferno) pass through long dark tunnels carved through the mountain. A headlamp is essential — the tunnels can be 500m+ long with uneven floors. Waterproof layers are also advisable as the forest can be wet even on sunny days.
- Porto Santo is best as a 2–3 night stay rather than a day trip. The ferry takes 2.5 hours each way — a round trip in a day leaves very little beach time. Fly (40 minutes from Funchal airport) or take the ferry and stay at least two nights to make the most of the extraordinary beach.
- Take the cable car up to Monte and walk or toboggan back down. The cable car from Funchal port to Monte costs about €15 one-way and gives extraordinary views over the bay. Walk the botanical garden, visit the church, then either take the cable car back or hire a toboggan run for the most Madeiran possible experience.
- Pico do Arieiro requires an early start for clear views. The summit (1,818m) is frequently in cloud by mid-morning as Atlantic moisture rises up the mountain face. Arrive at sunrise — the views across the cloud-filled valleys to the peaks are unforgettable. Bring warm clothes; it is cold at the top.
- Book a Blandy's Wine Lodge tour in advance. The tours of the historic wine lodges in central Funchal fill quickly, especially for the extended tasting sessions with older vintages. The old lodge building itself — a 17th-century manor house — is as impressive as the wines.
- The Funchal Lido is the best swimming option in the capital. The seawater complex has multiple pools of different depths, sunbathing terraces, and direct access to the Atlantic. Day entry costs around €6 for adults. The children's pool is safe and well supervised.
- Madeira's public bus network is genuinely useful. Rodoeste and Horários do Funchal buses cover the entire island from Funchal's main bus terminal. You can reach most levada trailheads, coastal villages and even Porto Moniz by bus — not quickly, but cheaply. A day rover ticket costs about €5.
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