Best Things to Do in Madeira: Top Experiences & Tips

Q: What are the best things to do in Madeira?

Hiking Pico do Arieiro and the levadas, the Cabo Girão skywalk, the Monte gardens and cable car, the traditional toboggan ride, whale watching, and tasting Madeira wine and poncha are the highlights.

Q: What is Madeira famous for?

Madeira is famous for its dramatic mountains and levada walks, Madeira wine, the Funchal toboggan ride, whale watching, and the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks.

Q: Do you need a car to do things in Madeira?

A car or organised tours help a lot, as many hikes, viewpoints and north-coast spots are spread out and reached by mountain roads. Funchal itself and the cable car are walkable.

Q: How many days do you need in Madeira?

Four to seven days lets you combine the main hikes, Funchal and the Monte experiences, whale watching, and a north-coast day trip.

Q: What is there to do in Madeira when it rains?

Visit the Monte Palace garden, a Madeira wine lodge, Funchal's museums and market, or take the cable car; the south coast is often drier than the mountains.

MP

Mariana Pavão

August 6, 2021 • 4 min read

Best Things to Do in Madeira: Top Experiences & Tips

The best things to do in Madeira, in short

Quick answer: Madeira is made for the outdoors. The must-dos are hiking Pico do Arieiro and the levada walks, the Cabo Girão skywalk, the Monte gardens reached by cable car, the traditional toboggan ride, whale and dolphin watching, and tasting Madeira wine and poncha. Add the natural pools of Porto Moniz and the misty Fanal forest if you have time.

Madeira packs mountains, forests, sea cliffs and a lively capital into one small island, so there is far more to do than beaches. Here are the best things to do, from big hikes to local flavours. Looking for landmarks and sights rather than activities? See our guide to Madeira's best attractions.

View of Madeira's rugged north coast with layered cliffs, terraced hillside, and misty ocean in the distance — Madeira's north coast offers some of the island's most dramatic cliff views

Top things to do in Madeira

1. Hike Pico do Arieiro (and on to Pico Ruivo)

Madeira's third-highest peak is reachable by road, with staggering views above the clouds. The classic PR1 trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, the island's highest point, is one of Europe's great mountain walks. Go early for sunrise and clear skies.

Book your guided hike here!

Purple Pride of Madeira flowers in bloom with mountain peaks rising above a sea of clouds — Madeira's highest peaks often sit above the clouds, and spring brings the island's signature Pride of Madeira flowers into bloom.

2. Walk the levadas

Madeira's levadas are irrigation channels turned walking trails that thread through the laurel forest and mountains. Favourites include the Levada das 25 Fontes and the Levada do Caldeirão Verde. See our Madeira hiking trails guide for routes and difficulty.

See the Madeira Nature & Hiking Tour

3. Cabo Girão skywalk

One of the highest sea-cliff viewpoints in Europe, with a glass-floored platform looking straight down to the ocean and terraced fields far below. Short, easy and unforgettable.

Woman photographing the coastline from the glass-floored Cabo Girão skywalk in Madeira — Cabo Girão's glass-floored platform puts visitors directly above the ocean and terraced fields

4. Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Above Funchal, this lush garden layers exotic plants, koi ponds, tiles and sculptures across a hillside. Pair it with the cable car and toboggan for a classic Monte half-day.

5. Ride the Funchal cable car to Monte

The cable car glides from Funchal's seafront up to the hilltop parish of Monte, with sweeping views over the bay. It is the scenic way up to the gardens.

Blue cable car gondolas suspended on the Funchal to Monte cable car line in Madeira — The Funchal cable car climbs to Monte in about 15 minutes, offering wide views over the city and coastline along the way.

6. Take the traditional toboggan ride

From Monte, hop into a wicker toboggan (carro de cesto) and let two straw-hatted drivers steer you down the steep streets. A quirky, only-in-Madeira experience.

Drivers in white outfits pushing tourists in a wicker toboggan down a Monte street in Madeira — The Monte toboggan ride carries passengers down steep streets in a wicker sledge, a tradition dating back to the 19th century as a fast way to reach Funchal.

7. Taste Madeira wine and poncha

Madeira's fortified wine is world famous; visit a lodge in Funchal for a tasting. Then try poncha, the local sugarcane-spirit drink, in a village bar.

See the Madeira Cultural Heritage Tour

8. Go whale and dolphin watching

The deep Atlantic around Madeira is rich in marine life, with boat trips out of Funchal and Calheta spotting dolphins and several whale species. See our whale watching guide.

9. Swim in the Porto Moniz natural pools

On the island's northwest tip, volcanic rock forms natural seawater pools you can swim in, sheltered from the Atlantic swell. A refreshing stop on a north-coast drive.

Aerial view of Porto Moniz, a coastal town in Madeira with a harbor jetty and volcanic rock formations — Porto Moniz sits on Madeira's rugged northwest coast, known for natural volcanic pools carved into the black rock.

10. See the Fanal forest

An ancient laurel forest of gnarled, centuries-old trees that turns wonderfully atmospheric when the mist rolls in. A favourite with photographers.

Twisted ancient trees silhouetted against a sunrise with fog rolling through Fanal Forest in Madeira — Fanal Forest's centuries-old laurisilva trees are a UNESCO-protected feature of Madeira, often shrouded in fog that adds to the eerie atmosphere.

11. Visit the Santana houses

In the north, the traditional A-frame Santana houses with their colourful thatched roofs are a charming glimpse of old Madeira.

Traditional triangular Santana house with thatched roof, red door, and blue trim in Madeira — Santana's colorful A-frame houses, with their thatched roofs, are one of Madeira's most distinctive architectural traditions.

12. Tour a banana plantation

Bananas are part of Madeira's identity; a plantation visit shows how the island's terraced farming works, often with a tasting.

See the Best of Madeira Island Tour

Now that you have a list of where to start on your must-do and must-see list for Madeira, it's time to get that trip in the books and start packing! We are here to help you every step of the way, working with you to plan your ideal Madeira getaway. Contact us today to get started.

Frequently asked questions about things to do in Madeira

What are the best things to do in Madeira?

What is Madeira famous for?

Do you need a car to do things in Madeira?

How many days do you need in Madeira?

What is there to do in Madeira when it rains?

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