Madeira – The Island of Eternal Spring

Classic white houses in Santana, the Angel’s Waterfall cascading onto the road, the black beach in Seixal, sledging down the asphalt road in Monte, banana plantations, Pico do Arieiro – the easiest mountain in the world, endless levadas, wonderful waterfalls, and countless mountain trails – all of this can be found on Madeira!

Exploring Madeira

When searching for information before my trip, I had quite a hard time organizing my plan. On many blogs, I found great information, tips, and photo spots, but everything was mixed up – one place in the south, another in the east, and a third in the middle of the island. That’s why I decided to divide the gathered information and experiences from my trip into regions, making it easier for you to plan your trip!

Attention! All the places/attractions that you really can’t miss are marked with ***!

Madeira’s Capital – Funchal

Southern Madeira

Western Madeira

Northern Madeira

Eastern Madeira

Central Madeira

Bonus for mountain lovers: Madeira’s Hiking Trails

Practical Information:

I have also prepared some practical information that might be helpful before your trip. What clothes to pack, where to park your car, when the carnivals take place, what delicious food to try and where to eat. All the information you need to plan your trip to Madeira can be found below.

Weather in Madeira

The weather in Madeira is a daily surprise. It is a mountainous area, a small island in the ocean. The weather changes very quickly, especially in the higher parts of the island. One moment the sun is shining and it’s too warm in a short-sleeve shirt, and the next moment everything is covered in fog and cold, and a jacket lands on your back. No weather apps will help! The best and, I think, only solution is to watch the live cams from different regions of the island before your trip. It’s worth having a backup plan in case the weather turns bad in a particular area of the island.

What to Pack for Madeira?

Madeira is an exceptionally unpredictable island in terms of weather. It’s better to be prepared for everything it has to offer than regret not bringing something. And above all, you should pack a lot of positive attitude, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with this island just like I did!

Organized Tours in Madeira

If you’re not motorized, don’t know how to get around Madeira, or don’t have a plan for how to spend your free time, this is the perfect solution for you. Many companies organize various tours, including mountain hikes, island sightseeing, and ferry trips with dolphin watching. The tours are available for both families and adults, and also include themed trips related to culture, art, and food. If you haven’t decided what to do yet, or if you have a gap in your plan, it’s a great idea for fun during your vacation!

Organized tours in Madeira offer not only convenience but also the opportunity to see and experience the best the island has to offer without the stress of logistics. Guides are usually local experts who will share interesting facts and stories that might be difficult to discover on your own.

Sample tours worth considering:

1. Mountain hikes: Perfect for nature lovers and those seeking an active vacation.
2. Island sightseeing: Covers the main attractions and hidden gems of Madeira.
3. Ferry trips with dolphins: An unforgettable experience, especially for families with children.
4. Themed tours: Focus on culture, art, cuisine, wine, and other island specialties.

Thanks to organized tours, you can make the most of your time in Madeira, discovering its unique nature, culture, and tasting local specialties. Whether you’re traveling alone, with family, or with friends, you’ll find something for yourself.

Planning a tour in advance or spontaneously during your stay allows you to fully enjoy all the attractions of Madeira without unnecessary worries.

Regional Delicacies of Madeira

What to eat in Madeira? What are the regional specialties? These are questions everyone asks themselves before traveling to a new place, so let’s lift the veil on Madeira’s cuisine! First and foremost, you must try Espada com banana, which is black scabbard fish served with banana. The fish looks frightening, but in taste, it’s delicate and delicious. Another fish, Dorada (dourada), served with lemon, is absolutely delicious. Don’t forget about Atlantic cod (bacalhau) or tuna steak (bife de atum) caught in the Azores. Personally, I didn’t try it because I’m not fond of tuna. Another must-try is seafood (marisco), served in many ways. A local delicacy is lapas (limpets), great as an appetizer before the main dish or as a snack to go with beer or a drink in the evening.

What are the regional drinks in Madeira? Of course, the first thing to mention is Madeira wine, which is quite strong, with 17-22% alcohol, so be careful, as it’s very easy to drink! 😀 You also cannot skip drinking Poncha with the locals. It’s a local drink made from sugarcane alcohol, honey, sugar, and various fruits. Served with or without ice, I personally recommend it with ice, though it’s also quite strong. Regional beers (cerveja), I personally really liked Coral. For those who don’t drink alcohol, I recommend coffee (bica/cafe), served in several ways with honey cake (bolo de mel), and in the Nuns’ Valley, with chestnut cake (pastel de nata)! The island also grows papayas, passion fruit, and mangoes, as well as unusual fruit hybrids such as marakujo-tomatoes or banana-pineapples, which you can buy at the market in Funchal.

Holidays and Carnivals in Madeira

When flying to Madeira, it’s worth checking the current holidays and ongoing carnivals. During some celebrations, all shops are closed, public transport operates infrequently or not at all, and some tourist attractions may be closed. The link to the official Madeira website with public holiday dates can be found HERE!

The most important/popular carnivals, events, and holidays:

Souvenirs from Madeira

Karapuza is a traditional hat with an antenna in black. In souvenir shops, you can find hand-embroidered hats with the inscription Madeira or Portugal. I think it’s a great souvenir. Another souvenir is Azulejos, which are ceramic tiles, usually in blue and white. You can find a whole range of souvenirs, from ashtrays, coasters, to various types of ceramics. Wooden signposts from the peaks or levadas are also great souvenirs, especially after conquering the highest mountain or completing a great trail along the levada. Additionally, Madeira is famous for embroidery, so you can buy beautiful tablecloths, skirts, or even a handbag. Madeira wine and the famous Poncha are must-haves, which will definitely impress your guests. You can also buy seeds of the bird of paradise flower, or Strelitzia, which you can grow at home and enjoy the beautiful flower you’ll see on every corner in Madeira. When visiting Monte, you can buy straw hats, which are part of the traditional carreiros attire. Throughout the island, you’ll also find cork products, beautiful handbags, and backpacks. Of course, you will also find fridge magnets, bottle openers, spoons, salt and pepper shakers, and a whole variety of other souvenirs!

Public Transport in Madeira

Public transport in Madeira exists, but there are many places that we won’t be able to reach by it. Many trails start from parking lots, somewhere in the middle of nowhere (which you can read about HERE!), and at Pico do Arieiro, access is only possible by car, as well as to the Rabacal Valley. Nevertheless, it’s worth trying at least once to ride the bus along the winding, narrow roads!

In Madeira, there are several bus operators:

• Rodoeste – white buses with a red stripe, operating in the western part of Madeira. All timetables can be found HERE!
• Eacl – buses with a red and gray stripe, operating in the southern part of Madeira. All timetables can be found HERE!
• Sam – buses with a green stripe, operating in the eastern part of the island and from the airport to Funchal. Timetables can be found HERE!
• Horarios – yellow buses operating in Funchal and buses with a yellow stripe operating outside of Funchal. Timetables can be found HERE!

Tickets can be purchased at kiosks near bus stops, as well as from the driver. The cost is approximately 1.50-3 Euros.

Uber, Bolt, and Taxis in Madeira

Uber – the availability of Uber in Madeira comes and goes. If you have the app, it’s worth checking, as the option to use this popular transport service might be available again.

Bolt, however, works much better. For example, you can get from the airport to Funchal for around 20 euros. Outside of Funchal, it might be difficult to get a Bolt, but in Funchal, it works quite well, and prices within the city range around a few euros.

Another option is to use local taxis, Taxiin Madeira. You can easily order transport through an app, and the download link can be found HERE!

Car Rental in Madeira

This is the best option if you want to freely explore the entire island. Many places are not accessible by bus, and you won’t always be able to get a Bolt or taxi, which operates on specific routes. On the island, you will find many car and scooter rental shops everywhere, including at the airport. I personally searched for a car several months before the trip, and after comparing prices, the best offer came from AB4RENT, which I highly recommend! The cars are new, both automatic and manual, you can easily communicate in English, and the car was delivered to the airport, and we returned it there as well!

Accommodation in Madeira

If you enjoy nightlife, want to go out for dinner in the evening, or grab a drink after a day of sightseeing, the obvious choice will be Madeira’s capital, Funchal. If, however, you value peace and quiet, the best choice would be the northern part of the island, which is a bit cooler but also less accessible. An important thing to note is that there is no heating in hotels/apartments (that’s why we need a warm pajama and socks), and the humidity on the island is quite high! If you’re traveling with a small child, it’s worth looking for accommodations with heating on Airbnb or Booking. How is heating available if it’s not in the apartments? Some hotels or landlords offer heating in the form of electric heaters! 🙂

I stayed in the center of Funchal, renting an apartment with two rooms via Booking, so we had electric heaters, a balcony, and a fairly reasonable price. The property is called: City Apartment. There was also a multi-story parking lot nearby.

Parking in Madeira

In the center of Funchal, it is very difficult to find a parking space. You should pay attention to the markings, even though they are in Portuguese, it’s easy to guess that you probably can’t park there, and also to the horizontal markings such as lines. The color scheme is very important in this case:

• White lines – free parking,
• Blue lines – paid parking (look for a parking meter),
• Yellow lines – we should not park here!

If you’re staying in Funchal for a longer period or have chosen the capital as your accommodation base, I recommend looking for a multi-story parking lot in advance or purchasing parking for the duration of your stay (NOTE! On holidays and Sundays, parking lots are often CLOSED! Check the opening hours and days of the parking lot! And spend Sundays exploring Funchal).

Madeira Airport

Madeira’s airport is not one of the largest, with 40 check-in counters, 16 gates, and 7 baggage belts, but everything runs very smoothly and quickly. 2-2:30 hours before departure should be more than enough to pass through security and still have some time to explore the airport. If you forgot to buy souvenirs, you’ll find most of what I mentioned at the airport. It’s also worth heading to the designated smoking area, which is an outdoor balcony with a view of the runway!

Should you be afraid of landing in Madeira? The runway is one of the 10 shortest in the world, but after modernization and runway extension, landing no longer associates with danger and aviation disasters. The only thing you should be afraid of is missing those beautiful views during the landing.

Sometimes, when there is strong wind, planes are forced to land on nearby Porto Santo Island or one of the Canary Islands. After landing, passengers are transported by sea to Madeira.

Glossary

• carreiros – people who drive wicker sledges, dressed in traditional white clothing and straw hats
• quintas – large estates surrounded by extensive, private gardens
• Obrigada/obrigado – thank you
• azulejos – Madeira’s hallmark, ceramic tiles
• levada – a system of irrigation channels bringing water to Madeira
• poncha – a local drink made from sugarcane alcohol, honey, sugar, and various fruits
• espada – black scabbard fish, a traditional dish served with banana (espada com banana)
• bife de atum – tuna steak
• bacalhau – salted Atlantic cod
• marisco – seafood
• espetada – beef skewer
• bifes – steaks
• cerveja – beer
• bica/cafe – coffee, small black coffee
• bolo de mel – honey cake

If my article helped you plan your route and gather the necessary information, I would be grateful for your support in making my dreams come true by buying me a coffee!