Madeira travel guide: what to know before you go

From dramatic volcanic landscapes to golden sand beaches, gardens filled with exotic plants and walking trails which criss-cross the island, not to mention art and history in capital Funchal, there’s something for adventure seekers, culture lovers and those who simply want to relax in the sun.

So for everything you need to know before you go, our Madeira travel guide will help you have a memorable trip, from flight times to unmissable food, things to do in Madeira and more.

Madeira sits off the north-west coast of Africa, around 1,500 miles from the UK and 600 miles south of Portugal. Flights take around four hours from the UK, with direct routes from various airports including London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, plus some seasonal direct flights from Bournemouth and Belfast.

Madeira airport, officially Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport but usually referred to as Funchal airport for its location just outside the island’s capital, is the only international airport in the island group, which also includes Porto Santo and the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens islands.

The airport is around 20 minutes’ drive from the city of Funchal itself. You can also arrive to the Port of Funchal, a stop for many international cruise ships, including routes departing from Portsmouth, with itineraries visiting Morocco and the Canary Islands as well as the Azores.

There are no railways on the island, so the best way to get around Madeira is on four wheels.

You’ll find taxis in Funchal, although it’s easy to explore the city on foot, while cable cars connect Funchal and Monte to avoid walking up some of the island’s steep hills.

There are also buses which run across the city and to some nearby tourist attractions, operated by Horarios do Funchal. The earliest buses depart at around 6am, with most lines finishing around 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays although some buses will run until around midnight. There are more limited hours on Sundays and public holidays. Find details of routes and timetables on the website; while the information is in Portuguese, your web browser may be able to translate this for you.

The SIGA bus network covers the rest of the island, as well as Porto Santos. Several previous bus companies were amalgamated into this single organisation in summer 2024, making it much easier to navigate the public transport network than previously. There are plans to make tickets available via the website, with some timetable information and tourist guides currently in English – frequency of the routes varies, with more limited hours on Sundays and public holidays.

Yes, plenty of car hire options are available if you’d prefer to drive yourself around Madeira, which can be more convenient than waiting for public transport.

It’s important to remember that the island’s roads are often narrow and twisting, so be prepared for this fact before you put the keys in the ignition and only rent a car in Madeira if you’re comfortable driving on mountainous roads. A compact car with plenty of power is a good option rather than a larger vehicle, but a 4x4 isn’t required.

You’ll need your passport, driver’s licence and a credit card in order to hire a car in Madeira. An International Driver’s Permit isn’t required for UK drivers if you have a photocard licence.

Known as the Island of Eternal Spring, Madeira’s subtropical climate is one of its biggest attractions, from the wonderful plants in the botanic gardens to walks in the ancient laurel forests and hikes along the historic levadas, irrigation channels hewn from the rock. Add in whale-watching and bird-spotting, the attractions of the pretty capital Funchal, plus the biggest sister island Porto Santo and it’s easy to fill your time. These are a few of the unmissable Madeira attractions.

Whether you’re looking for art and museums, historic sites or a taste of Funchal’s vibrant everyday life, there’s plenty to discover in the capital.

Art-lovers can visit the Sacred Art Museum in the Episcopal Palace, with artworks dating back to the 15th century, such as the large striking pieces showing medieval life in Madeira by Flemish artists. Or head to MAMMA, the Museum of Modern Art of Madeira for more contemporary works. Giant murals and bright artworks enliven the cobbled streets of the old town as you explore too.

Funchal, capital of Madeira

Or find historic sites aplenty, including the city’s 15th century gothic cathedral, Our Lady of The Assumption, and the medieval Santa Clara Covent. This can be visited at various times during the day, to get an idea of daily life in this working nunnery, as well as seeing their remarkable collection of ecclesiastical paintings and statues.

Keep an eye out too for the butter yellow walls of the Forte de São Tiago, the fortress which once protected the capital against attack and which has since been used for everything from sheltering flood victims to operating as army headquarters and housing a modern art collection.

To learn more about the archipelago’s history, Madeira Story Centre whisks you through 14 million years, from the islands’ volcanic origins to 16th century pirate attacks and more modern times. And save time to browse the Mercado dos Lavradores, the farmers’ market at the heart of the city, known for its Art Deco styling and hand-painted tiles, as well as the piles of fresh produce grown on the island.

Madeira is renowned for its gardens, with the subtropical climate and fertile volcanic soil helping to create some truly exceptional collections of plants and flowers. The Quinta Boa Vista Garden just outside Funchal is renowned for its orchids, while the Madeira Botanical Garden houses thousands of exotic species from around the world, including a garden dedicated to plants used in cooking and medicine, and flora native to Madeira.

If you aren’t able to explore the Laurissilva Forest, Madeira’s ancient laurels which are found particularly in the north, you can see some examples in the capital’s Magic Gardens, along with other indigenous flora. One of the most impressive attractions in Madeira is the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, home to around 100,000 plant species from across the world, along with sculptures and art, an ornamental tile collection and a small museum. You can stroll past Chinese-style pagodas, waterfalls and water features as you explore, as well as enjoying some great views out to the bay.

Pico Ruivo, Maderia’s highest peak

Centuries ago, hundreds of kilometres of manmade channels were created, used to carry water to irrigate the farmland. And today these ancient waterways, or Levadas, make perfect paths to explore the island. Recognised for their cultural significance by UNESCO, they range from easy flat trails such as the Levada da Referta to more challenging routes, such as the one leading to Pico Ruivo, Maderia’s highest peak. Others give you the chance to walk past waterfalls and watermills, as well as the laurissilva forest within Madeira National Park, which has enduring for millions of years.

Madeira’s volcanic origins mean that most of the beaches on the island are pebbly or shingle and lined with basalt rocks, so while the water is wonderfully clear and ideal for snorkelling during the warmest months, there are fewer places to relax on the sand. Madeira’s best sandy beaches are both artificial, created using sand imported from Morocco, but are none the less enjoyable for that.

Both Praia da Calheta and Praia de Machico are around 30 minutes from Funchal, and popular with the locals as well as visitors. If you want natural sand, neighbouring Porto Santo is known as the Golden Island thanks to its beautiful beaches, just a two-hour ferry ride away from Madeira.

From the shimmering waves lapping the shore to its highest peaks, you’re guaranteed some fabulous views wherever you explore in Madeira. But for a panorama to remember, there are several viewpoints which shouldn’t be missed when you’re planning what to do in Madeira.

Pico do Arieiro is the third-highest peak on the island, right in the heart of Madeira, with views as far as Porto Santo on a clear day. There’s a road to the top if you don’t want to hike up. Not far away, there are more views out over the countryside and up to the peaks from the Eira do Serrado viewpoint, which overlooks the Valley of the Nuns at the bottom of a volcanic crater.

But perhaps the most memorable viewpoint is at the cliffside village of Cabo Girao. Not for the faint-hearted, this is where you’ll find Europe’s highest cliff skywalk, a glass walkway 589 metres up, extending out over the Atlantic.

Formed after a volcanic eruption almost 900,000 years ago, the Sao Vicente caves were the first volcanic caves in Portugal to be opened to the public. During the short tour, you can wander past stalactites, solidified lava and illuminated caverns along the 700-metre trail, before learning more about Madeira’s dramatic geological past at the Volcano Centre, which explains how the caves were created.

While there’s plenty to tempt you to Madeira year-round, the island hosts a string of festivals to make your visit even more memorable. The best-known is the Madeira Flower Festival, held two weeks after Easter, which sees colourful flower-packed floats parade through Funchal on the Sunday. The night before, local children also use thousands of flowers to create a Wall of Hope on Avenida Arriaga, for an uplifting and colourful spectacle.

The island also celebrates Madeira Day on July 1, with a national holiday marking Madeira gaining its autonomy from mainland Portugal in 1976, as well as the week-long Columbus Festival in September, remembering the explorer’s links to Madeira, where he lived for several years, including a re-enactment of Columbus’s arrival to Porto Santo harbour. Many of the island’s festivals are religious in origin, including Cantar dos Reis, celebrated on the 12th night after Christmas with outdoor concerts around the island, plus the street parties and dancing of Carnival in the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday and the Monte Festival in August, where Nossa Senhora do Monte Church is decorated to honour Funchal’s patron saint, with a procession before a party. Add in classical music and fireworks at June’s Atlantic Festival, Madeira’s Jazz Festival in July, and celebrations of cherries, wine and chestnuts during the year, and there’s always something to see.

You’ll find a variety of traditional dishes served in Madeira, including meats and fresh seafood.

The most typically Madeiran choice of fish is espada, also known as the black scabbardfish, which is traditionally prepared with a passionfruit and banana sauce, or sometimes with fried banana on the side.

Limpets (lapas), cooked simply with fresh lemon and butter are another favourite, while you’ll also find plenty of cod dishes on menus.

For those who prefer meat, one of the island’s most famous dishes is espetada, a grilled beef dish, seasoned and cooked on skewers over hot coals, while you’ll also find other meats including chicken and pork marinated in garlic and served on skewers.

A regular starter and side dish is bolo do caco, a fluffy bread made from flour and sweet potato, which is also used for sandwiches.

There’s plenty to satisfy a sweet tooth, including various tropical fruits which grow on the island, especially maracuja, or passion fruit. You’ll also come across Madeira honey cake, which is traditionally made for celebrations and is quite different from British Madeira cake.

The island’s climate also lends itself to growing grapes, with dry white wines and sweet reds made from grapes such as Complexa and Tinta Negra, along with the famous fortified Madeira wine. This comes in dry varieties as well as the better-known sweet wine drunk after dinner.

You’ll also find local lager Coral, plus Portuguese brands including Super Bock and Sagres. The national drink is Poncha, made with rum, honey and sugar, usually combined with lemon or another citrus juice.

Madeira subtropical climate means you can often enjoy sun year-round, with mild winters and warm summers.

August is the hottest month on the island, with temperatures rising to around 26-27C and little rainfall, although it can still get cool in summer if you’re heading into the hills and during early morning and evenings thanks to the breeze off the Atlantic.

Winters can be wet, helping the island’s famously lush vegetation and flowers to flourish, but it’s rarely cold with the temperature usually staying above 15C and an average of around 18C even in December.

Spring and autumn are some of the most pleasant times to explore Maderia, with temperatures usually hovering between 17C and the low 20Cs, perfect for walking and sightseeing without getting too hot. April and October tend to be among the rainier months but you can still expect plenty of sun.

Madeira has some very tempting places to stay, whether you’re looking for a great base to explore the island or somewhere to get away from it all, as well as escorted tours to Madeira.

If you’d like to stay in Funchal, you’ll find five-star luxury at the all-inclusive Enotel Lido, which is also a great base for an independent tour of Madeira’s Enticing Gardens. Or four-star Hotel Vila Baleira is another lovely alternative on our Madeira Uncovered group tour, including trips around the island as well as the capital itself.

Or the Monte Mar Palace hotel on the island’s north coast is ideal if you’re hoping for a relaxing break, with fantastic views over to the Atlantic and a weekly shuttle to Funchal. If you’re looking for an active break, it’s a great place to come back to at the end of the day after walking Madeira’s Levadas.

You can combine both Enotel Lido and Monte Mar Palace hotel, as well as a stay at Torre Praia on Porto Santo, as part of an 11-day Madeira and Porto Santo Island Hopping break. Or the Contrasts of Madeira with Porto Santo group tour, includes a stay at the four-star Hotel Madeira Regency Cliff in Funchal and Hotel Enotel Santo da Serra in Santo António da Serra, in the island’s north-east.

For keen gardeners, there’s also a special group tour for the Madeira Flower Festival, staying at the five-star Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina.