Things to do in Madeira in 7 days

Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 km from mainland Portugal, the island of Madeira is known by many as the Hawaii of Europe and, to tell the truth, there are plenty of reasons why! Its combination of lush vegetation, subtropical climate and volcanic landscape make Madeira a destination with plenty to see, do and enjoy.

If you are determined to have the perfect holiday in Madeira today I share with you my ideal itinerary for a full week 's holiday. My selection of activities takes into account a little bit of everything Madeira has to offer in order for a first time traveller to experience at least a little bit of everything.

On your first day of exploring Madeira I recommend taking it easy and spending it discovering the island's charming capital: the old city of Funchal.

This is the area where the vast majority of hotels are located, which is why you won't need to travel far.

Take a guided tour to get to know the old town of Funchal

If you are a lover of history, old cities and architecture, you cannot miss a guided tour to get to know the old town of Funchal, known by the locals as Zona Velha.

This is also an adventure that I highly recommend to my friends visiting Madeira for the first time, as you will get to know a lot about the island in a short tour led by a local expert guide.

The tours come in different formats depending on the company you hire for the experience. So I recommend studying the available options in detail.

• Schedule: This tour is offered at different times, but I recommend doing it in the first group in the morning to make the most of the day.
• Price: Group tours are available from approximately €15 per traveller.
• Duration: You will need to book about 2 hours on average.

Take a lunch break in the heart of Funchal

Funchal's old town has become a foodie's paradise, as it is the area with the highest concentration of restaurants on the island.

• Restaurant Do Forte A restaurant that combines the best of traditional Madeiran cuisine with a modern twist. The price is really affordable and its location in the heart of the old town makes it one of the best alternatives.
• Taberna Ruel Restaurant The distinctive yellow façade is unmistakable. The gastronomic offer is a good mix of Madeiran gastronomy and the most traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
• Barreirinha Bar Café An excellent option for a light and informal lunch while enjoying the most enchanting views of Funchal Bay.

Visit the Fort of Santiago

Located in the historic area of the city, with a characteristic yellow colour the fortress crowns the Zona Velha promenade and offers incredible views of the historic centre.

It was built in the 17th century, when the city was vulnerable to pirate attacks. As well as enjoying the views, spend some time touring the various rooms, crenellated towers and hidden corners - take your camera with you!

• Opening hours: Open to the public from Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. The fort is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Price: Approx. €3 for an adult ticket.
• Duration: Spend 1 hour on this adventure.

Take the cable car to the top of Madeira.

Considered by travellers as one of the must-see attractions on any visit to Funchal, I recommend ending the first day of exploring the city by taking the Madeira cable car to enjoy the best panoramic views and visit Monte Palace Tropical Garden.

The lush garden was built in 1991 and represents an opportunity to discover the history and evolution of Madeira through the presence of numerous artistic panels.

• Opening hours: From 09:30h to 18:00 h.
• Price: Access to the Garden costs approximately €12 per participant.
• Duration: Book 2 to 3 hours for this visit.

On your second day of your trip I recommend an adventure into the wild nature of the western part of Madeira Island, one of the most popular experiences for tourists visiting the area. This popularity means that there are numerous local companies offering such tours.

Although some details may vary greatly depending on the company you hire for the experience, most companies use 4X4 vehicles to offer participants a Jeep safari around the island from Funchal.

I recommend that you carefully check the programme of activities and places to see before booking. Among the attractions you can expect to see during this tour are the following:

Chamber of Wolves

This is the name of the most visited fishing village in Madeira, due to the beauty of its maritime bay and its restaurants full of typical dishes based on fish and seafood.

In Camara de Lobos I highly recommend taking the tour by tuk-tuk, a small and cosy traditional taxi that takes travellers through the highlights of the town.

Porto Moniz

This area of the island is worth a visit for a dip and a swim in the natural pools of Porto Moniz. The place is surrounded by an equally charming little village.

Cabo Girao and Rancho

People from all over Europe visit Madeira to be dazzled by the stunning suspended glass platform that forms the lookout point at Cabo Girao.

It is situated at a staggering 580 metres above the highest promontory in Europe. The views are simply perfect.

• Timetable: Departure time for this type of excursion is between 08h and 09h.
• Price: You will need to book around €60 for this adventure. Meals are generally not included in the price but entrance fees to the attractions and parks are usually included.
• Duration: Reserve the whole day for this adventure, as it usually takes 7-8 hours to complete.

You simply cannot leave Madeira without doing one of its many hiking trails. The Portuguese island is a destination designed for adventure and hiking is just one of the many interesting activities you can do in Madeira.

Located in the very centre of the island, the Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail is one of the most famous hikes on the island and is commonly referred to as the 'Queen of Hikes' and with good reason! It is a 12.1km round trip and takes around 7 hours to complete.

This adventure takes travellers through the highest mountains on the island, as Pico do Arieiro is 1818 metres high while Pico Rubio climbs to 1862.

The views from this point on the island will leave you speechless. Due to its height, snow falls in this area of Madeira during the winter months.

The entire route is considered to be of moderate to difficult difficulty and is recommended for travellers with some hiking experience, although no matter what your condition all first time visitors to Madeira should book an organised hike to undertake this adventure.

• Timetable: This type of adventure from Funchal starts early in the morning between 08:00 and 09:00.
• Price: Approximately €40 per traveller. Includes a specialised guide, transport to and from Funchal and other amenities.
• Duration: The adventure can take around 8 hours to complete.

On day 4 you may find yourself a little tired from the previous day's hiking. For this reason I recommend you take things a little slower and hike those areas of Madeira that do not require a lot of physical exertion to enjoy, such as the north-east of the island.

This is an adventure that can be done in different formats, such as an organised tour from Funchal or a solo adventure to explore parts of the island at your leisure.

If you decide to hire a tour you may find yourself with an organised itinerary, but if you decide to go on your own these are the highlights not to be missed.

Levada do Caldeirão Verde

Start the day by walking one of Madeira's most impressive trails, the Levada do Caldeirão Verde.

The hike can be done in less than 4 hours round trip, following a route that takes travellers through an impressive trail with tunnels and caves.

This is a humidity-laden trail where you can enjoy native species such as laurel and ferns, as well as the beautiful and enormous Caldeirão Verde Waterfall.

Walk through the village of Santana

After the hike, head to the nearby village of Santana. This area of Madeira is famous for its traditional houses, which stand out for their colourful facades and triangular thatched roofs.

Although you will find many of these typical houses scattered all over Santana, I recommend my traveller friends who are in a hurry to head straight to the centre of the village, near the local town hall.

Here you will find a beautiful flower garden, a market with local produce and several perfectly preserved houses to take pictures of.

End the day at the Guindaste viewpoint

After you've rested and recharged your batteries, head to the Mirador Guindaste to round off your excursion to the northeast of the island.

The area is an incredible place to take pictures, offering the most breathtaking views of the ocean and the characteristic cliffs.

Make the most of your fifth day adventure by venturing beyond the geographical boundaries of Madeira by embarking on an excursion to the sister island of Porto Santo.

By now you probably know that Madeira and Porto Santo are the only two inhabited islands in the archipelago. What you may not know is that, despite their proximity, the two offer vastly different landscapes.

For an alternative to Porto Santo, another interesting excursion to do from Madeira is to visit the Desert Islands where you'll find bird sanctuaries and idyllic beaches.

If you decide to go to Porto Santo during the day there are two main alternatives.

Go on an organised excursion from Funchal

Going on an organised cruise from Porto Santo is usually the best alternative, as many companies in Funchal offer this service to travellers.

By booking the service you will get numerous advantages such as transport to and from your hotel in the city centre to the island, the boat trip, a privately guided tour of the island of Porto Santo with its most important attractions and finally time to explore the place on your own.

• Price: Approximately €135 per traveller.
• Duration: You will need to book a full day for this experience, as the excursions depart early in the morning and return to Funchal in the evening.

Go on your own.

If you decide to visit Porto Santo Island on your own you will need to take the ferry from Funchal, a convenient and practical means of transport used by locals to get from one island to another.

I recommend booking tickets in advance and taking the first trip (around 08h in the morning) to make the most of your trip.

• Price: The ferry ticket can vary between €48 and €60 depending on the season.
• Duration: The ferry trip takes an estimated 2 hours 15 minutes.

Your week of exploring the island is almost over, so make the most of your remaining days.

I recommend spending the sixth day exploring the breathtaking scenery of the Caniçal area, also known as the "tail" of Madeira.

If you are travelling by private car, Caniçal is only 20 minutes away; if you opt for public transport from Funchal, you will need to take bus 113. The journey takes around 1h 30 minutes due to the many stops.

Some of the areas not to be missed on this exploratory trip include the following.

Museu da Baleia da Madeira

If you are travelling to Madeira with children it can be fun for them to visit the Madeira Whale Museum in the centre of Caniçal.

This modern, small space features informative exhibits and interactive features that educate about the local history of whaling and the island's marine life.

Ponta de São Lourenço

After your tour of the museum head to São Lourenço, located on the easternmost part of the island. It is a must for the traveller exploring Maderia for the first time. On arrival you will be met by the spectacular cliffs and volcanic landscapes.

At the top of the cliff is a hiking trail, where the barren earth rock formations are impressively framed by the panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean that border it.

Prainha do Caniçal

On your descent from São Lourenço I recommend heading towards the coast and ending the day enjoying the waters of Canical Beach, one of the best natural sandy beaches on the island.

It is certainly the ideal place to relax in the sun before heading back to Funchal.

On your last day of your holiday in Madeira, I recommend spending it on more relaxed, but equally fun activities that involve getting to know more about Funchal's surroundings and enjoying some of the favourite activities of tourists and locals alike.

In the morning head to the Mercado dos Lavradores market

If you didn't get a chance to visit the local market on your first day of exploring, make the most of the morning of your last day. Located in the heart of the city you'll find the colourful and friendly space that makes up Funchal's traditional farmers' market.

Full of produce, local flowers, spices and seafood, the place is a feast for the eyes and the senses. However, the best part is the huge variety of local exotic fruits that I recommend you try before leaving Madeira.

In addition to the stalls, you will find in this area small cafes and bistros where you can sit and enjoy a delicious meal surrounded by the locals.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 07h to 19h; Saturdays from 07h to 14h and closed on Sundays.
• Price: Free of charge.
• Duration: Spend at least 2 hours exploring the place.

Take the dolphin and whale watching tour in Madeira

On a trip designed to allow you to enjoy Madeira's native fauna in its natural environment, a dolphin watching tour is one of the most popular activities for travellers visiting the city for their holidays.

Depending on the company you hire, the tour may include snorkelling equipment to carry out this activity and, like other boat tours in Madeira, these are usually offered in several languages, predominantly English and Spanish.

• Timetable: This type of excursion takes place at different times during the day, depending on the company you hire.
• Price: Approximately €30 to €60 per traveller, depending on the company you book with and the facilities.
• Duration: You will need to book approximately 3 hours for this experience.

Enjoy Funchal's nightlife atmosphere

Bid farewell to your perfect holiday on the island by enjoying **Madeira'**s nightlife. In the city you will find numerous bars and clubs to enjoy or, if you fancy something more intimate, a nice dinner under the starlight.

Here are some alternative bars or clubs that you might enjoy, but it is always advisable to do your own research in order to find the atmosphere that best suits your particular tastes.

• Moynihan's
• The Ritz Madeira
• Pestana CR7 Rooftop