The Complete Guide to Madeira

Plan the perfect island trip with this guide brings everything together in one place.

First time here?

Madeira Travel Guide
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS

Funchal or the west coast? Our local area guide covers every base in Madeira — from the old town to clifftop villages — so you stay somewhere that fits your trip.

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AREAS
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN

When is the best time to visit Madeira? Our month-by-month weather guide covers temperatures, crowds, events and honest trade-offs for every season.

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PLAN
Madeira Travel Guide (2026): Ultimate Tips, Itineraries & Where to Stay
GUIDE
Madeira Travel Guide (2026): Ultimate Tips, Itineraries & Where to Stay
GUIDE

Everything you need to plan a trip to Madeira in 2026, when to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to eat and the best things to do. From a local team.

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GUIDE

Choose Your Madeira Trip

Whether it is your first or second trip, these guides help you plan something that matches your travel style.

Madeira Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN

When is the best time to visit Madeira? Our month-by-month weather guide covers temperatures, crowds, events and honest trade-offs for every season.

Read more →
PLAN
Madeira Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN
Best Time to Visit Madeira: Month-by-Month Guide
PLAN

When is the best time to visit Madeira? Our month-by-month weather guide covers temperatures, crowds, events and honest trade-offs for every season.

Read more →
PLAN
Madeira Travel Guide (2026): Ultimate Tips, Itineraries & Where to Stay
GUIDE
Madeira Travel Guide (2026): Ultimate Tips, Itineraries & Where to Stay
GUIDE

Everything you need to plan a trip to Madeira in 2026, when to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to eat and the best things to do. From a local team.

Read more →
GUIDE
Staying in Madeira Without a Car: Where to Base & How to Manage
PLAN
Staying in Madeira Without a Car: Where to Base & How to Manage
PLAN

Don't want to drive in Madeira? Good news: Funchal is entirely walkable and well-connected. Here's exactly where to stay and how to manage without a hire car.

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PLAN
Madeira Airport to Funchal: All Transfer Options 2026
PLAN
Madeira Airport to Funchal: All Transfer Options 2026
PLAN

Taxi, bus or private transfer? Every option for getting from Madeira Airport to Funchal in 2026 — costs, journey times and the honest local take.

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PLAN

Madeira Itineraries by Trip Length

Planning a short getaway or a slower island escape? These Madeira itineraries help you make the most of your time.

Madeira Travel Guide
Madeira 7-Day Itinerary: The Perfect One Week in Madeira
ITINERARY
Madeira 7-Day Itinerary: The Perfect One Week in Madeira
ITINERARY

One week in Madeira, planned by locals. Seven days of levadas, west-coast drives, fresh espetada and the best of Funchal — with where to stay for each base.

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ITINERARY
Madeira Travel Guide
Madeira 7-Day Itinerary: The Perfect One Week in Madeira
ITINERARY
Madeira 7-Day Itinerary: The Perfect One Week in Madeira
ITINERARY

One week in Madeira, planned by locals. Seven days of levadas, west-coast drives, fresh espetada and the best of Funchal — with where to stay for each base.

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ITINERARY
Madeira 5-Day Itinerary: How to Spend 5 Days on the Island
ITINERARY
Madeira 5-Day Itinerary: How to Spend 5 Days on the Island
ITINERARY

Five days in Madeira, planned by locals. The essential levadas, best drives, west-coast afternoon and enough time to eat your way through the island properly.

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ITINERARY

Where to Stay in Madeira

Find the best areas, towns, and hidden village escapes to stay in Madeira.

Madeira Travel Guide
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS

Funchal or the west coast? Our local area guide covers every base in Madeira — from the old town to clifftop villages — so you stay somewhere that fits your trip.

Read more →
AREAS
Madeira Travel Guide
Why Stay in Paúl do Mar, The West Coast Escape (Copy)
AREAS
Why Stay in Paúl do Mar, The West Coast Escape (Copy)
AREAS

Paúl do Mar is Madeira at its most raw — cliff-edged, surf-washed and genuinely quiet. Our local guide to staying, eating and exploring the west coast.

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AREAS
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS
Best Places to Stay in Madeira (Area Guide)
AREAS

Funchal or the west coast? Our local area guide covers every base in Madeira — from the old town to clifftop villages — so you stay somewhere that fits your trip.

Read more →
AREAS
Where to Stay in Paúl do Mar, Madeira
AREAS
Where to Stay in Paúl do Mar, Madeira
AREAS

Three properties, one fishing village, zero tourist crowds. Your guide to choosing the right stay in Paúl do Mar — cottages, a group villa and what to know before you arrive.

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AREAS
Where to Stay in Funchal (The Neighbourhood Guide)
AREAS
Where to Stay in Funchal (The Neighbourhood Guide)
AREAS

Old town charm, sea-view balcony or pool walk-out? Our Funchal neighbourhood guide cuts through the options so you book the right base for your trip.

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AREAS

More from the Guide

Madeira Travel Guide
Best Things to Do in Madeira: A Local's Ranked Guide
EXPERIENCES
Best Things to Do in Madeira: A Local's Ranked Guide
EXPERIENCES

The island's best experiences, ranked and explained by locals, from levada walks and cable cars to whale watching, market mornings and west-coast sunsets.

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EXPERIENCES
Best Hikes & Levada Walks in Madeira (2026 Guide)
HIKES
Best Hikes & Levada Walks in Madeira (2026 Guide)
HIKES

The top levada walks and mountain hikes in Madeira: PR1, PR6, PR9 and more, plus everything you need to know about 2026 SIMplifica bookings and fees.

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HIKES
Best Restaurants in Funchal: Where to Eat in 2026
EXPERIENCES
Best Restaurants in Funchal: Where to Eat in 2026
EXPERIENCES

Skip the tourist traps. Our pick of the best restaurants in Funchal for 2026 — seafood, local classics, casual lunches and the places locals genuinely go.

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EXPERIENCES
Traditional Madeiran Food: What to Eat & Where
EXPERIENCES
Traditional Madeiran Food: What to Eat & Where
EXPERIENCES

From espetada to bolo do caco and poncha — the definitive guide to what to eat and drink in Madeira, written by the locals who eat it every week.

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EXPERIENCES
How to Book Madeira Hiking Trails via SIMplifica (2026)
HIKES
How to Book Madeira Hiking Trails via SIMplifica (2026)
HIKES

From January 2026, Madeira's levada trails require advance booking. Here's exactly how to use SIMplifica, what it costs and which trails are affected.

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HIKES
An aerial view of a coastal village with houses and buildings along the shoreline, surrounded by green hills and the ocean.

Looking for a place to stay?

As seen on Airbnb and Booking.com, book our stays direct for the best value and personal service.

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See accommodation →

Upcoming Events

Plan ahead and discover events that may interest you during your stay.

Events in Madeira
Madeira Wine Festival
Aug 27
FOOD
Madeira Wine Festival
FOOD

Two weeks of tastings, folklore and a hands-on grape harvest, split between Funchal's Praça do Povo and the wine villages.

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FOOD
Madeira Nature Festival
Oct 6
OUTDOORS
Madeira Nature Festival
OUTDOORS

Guided hikes, canyoning, biking and sea outings island-wide, autumn is Madeira's sweet spot for getting outdoors.

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OUTDOORS
Festa da Castanha
Oct 31
FOOD
Festa da Castanha
FOOD

Roasted chestnuts, chestnut liqueur and a folklore parade in a spectacular mountain valley above Funchal.

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FOOD
Funchal Christmas Market
Dec 1
FESTIVE
Funchal Christmas Market
FESTIVE

Elaborate lights, a city mercadinho and bolo de mel by the cup, Funchal does Christmas properly.

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FESTIVE
Noite do Mercado
Dec 23
FESTIVE
Noite do Mercado
FESTIVE

Last-minute Christmas shopping turns into an all-night street party of poncha and grupos de cantares around the market.

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FESTIVE
Madeira’s New Year's Eve Fireworks
Dec 31
FESTIVE
Madeira’s New Year's Eve Fireworks
FESTIVE

A world-record display lights the whole bay at midnight. The island's biggest night, and it books out fast.

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FESTIVE
EVENTS CALENDAR →
EVENTS CALENDAR →

Madeira’s Must-Do Experiences

Browse our recommendations on the best things to do in Madeira during your visit.

Things to do in Madeira
Casal da Penha
Restaurants
Casal da Penha
Restaurants

A family-run Madeiran restaurant with a rooftop terrace, Michelin Bib Gourmand cooking and fresh seafood in Funchal's hotel zone.

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Restaurants
Apolo Café
Restaurants
Apolo Café
Restaurants

A historic café beside Funchal Cathedral: coffee, pastries, and all-day dining in the heart of the Old Town.

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Restaurants
Bonita da Madeira
ACTIVITIES
Bonita da Madeira
ACTIVITIES

Bonita da Madeira offers small-group sailing trips from Funchal on a traditional wooden caravel, with dolphin and whale watching, scenic coastal routes, and swim stops along Madeira’s coastline and nearby islands.

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ACTIVITIES
Madeira WaterSports
ACTIVITIES
Madeira WaterSports
ACTIVITIES

Madeira WaterSports in Funchal offers jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other ocean adventures, providing visitors with a fun way to explore Madeira’s coastline from the sea.

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ACTIVITIES
ALL RECOMMENDATIONS →
ALL RECOMMENDATIONS →

All Madeira Guides

Latest news from the island

Get to Know Madeira
Wind Turbine Transport in Madeira: What Drivers Should Expect
NEWS
Wind Turbine Transport in Madeira: What Drivers Should Expect
NEWS

Turbine blades and towers are moving up to Paul da Serra until the end of September, mostly overnight. Which roads are affected, and what to expect.

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NEWS
Madeira-Born Moisés Henriques Leads Portugal to a Cricket Qualifier Win
NEWS
Madeira-Born Moisés Henriques Leads Portugal to a Cricket Qualifier Win
NEWS

Portugal beat Spain by 57 runs in Finland on 21 August to win their T20 World Cup qualifier, captained by Funchal-born Moisés Henriques. What comes next.

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NEWS
Ponta do Pargo Could Get Madeira's Second Casino
NEWS
Ponta do Pargo Could Get Madeira's Second Casino
NEWS

Madeira has had one casino for fifty years. The terms of reference for the new Funchal gaming concession quietly allow for a second, at Ponta do Pargo, attached to the golf project.

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NEWS
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