Madeira · Portugal

Madeira

Atlantic island with mild weather year-round, with green mountains, levadas for walking, very high cliffs and Funchal, the capital, among gardens and the sea.

Açores e Madeira

In the photo: Ponta de São Lourenço

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Madeira is a volcanic island in the Atlantic, about 1,000 km from Lisbon and closer to the coast of Africa. It was discovered by Portuguese navigators in 1419 and settled thereafter. The climate is mild year-round, with temperatures typically between 17 °C and 26 °C.

Funchal, the capital, slopes down in an amphitheater from the mountains to the sea. It has the Zona Velha, with painted doors, the Mercado dos Lavradores, the 15th-century Sé and gardens such as the Jardim Botânico and the Monte Palace, atop the Monte, from where you descend in basket sledges.

The interior is mountainous and covered by the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The levadas, irrigation channels with trails alongside, are the main way to explore it on foot. Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo exceed 1,800 meters, and Cabo Girão has one of the highest cliffs in Europe.

This destination brings together 1 city: Funchal.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Madeira is

Contornos: Direção-Geral do Território, CAOP 2025, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Madeira

✈ Aeroporto da Madeira (FNC), in Santa Cruz · 16 km to Funchal

Madeira Airport (FNC) is about 16 km from Funchal. Confirm before booking. From Lisbon, the flight takes about 1h45. There is also a seasonal ferry to the island of Porto Santo.

Madeira · Madeira Capital

Funchal

Capital of Madeira, set in an amphitheater between the mountains and the sea. In the center are the Sé, from the 15th century, the Mercado dos Lavradores and the Zona Velha, with painted doors. Above, the Monte has the church, the Monte Palace and the descent in basket sledges. Nearby are the Jardim Botânico, Cabo Girão, Pico do Arieiro and the natural pools of Porto Moniz in the northwest.

The local experience

Things to do in Madeira

Funchal · Madeira · Market

Mercado dos Lavradores

Market from 1940 with an art‑deco façade and azulejo panels, where tropical fruits, flowers, black scabbardfish and island products are sold. It stands at the entrance to the Zona Velha.

Funchal · Madeira · Historic neighborhood

Zona Velha do Funchal

The oldest neighborhood of Funchal, around Rua de Santa Maria, with doors painted by artists, restaurants, the Capela do Corpo Santo and the Forte de São Tiago by the sea.

Funchal · Madeira · Cathedral

Sé do Funchal

A Manueline cathedral from the late 15th century, with a white façade and volcanic stone, featuring a cedar wood ceiling from the island decorated with marquetry. It is one of the few buildings from the Age of Discoveries that survived almost intact.

Funchal · Madeira · Neighborhood

Monte e carros de cesto

A parish on the heights of Funchal, at about 550 meters, with the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte, where the last emperor of Austria is buried, and the carros de cesto, which descend the steep streets guided by carreiros.

See 5 more places in Madeira

Funchal · Madeira · Garden

Monte Palace Madeira

A tropical garden on the Monte, with lakes, waterfalls, plants from various parts of the world, historic tile panels and a museum of minerals and African sculpture.

Funchal · Madeira · Garden

Jardim Botânico da Madeira

Botanical garden from 1960 on an old estate about 300 metres above sea level, with Laurissilva plants, cacti, tropical plants and geometric beds with a view of Funchal.

Funchal · Madeira · Viewpoint

Cabo Girão

Cliff about 580 metres above the sea, one of the highest in Europe, around 15 km from Funchal, with a glass platform suspended over the void and views to the cultivated fields below.

Funchal · Madeira · Mountain

Pico do Arieiro

Third highest peak in Madeira, at 1,818 metres, where the road reaches almost to the summit. From here starts the mountain trail to Pico Ruivo, the island's highest point.

Funchal · Madeira · Beach

Piscinas naturais do Porto Moniz

Seawater pools formed by volcanic rocks at the extreme northwest of Madeira, about 50 km from Funchal, where Atlantic waves break next to bathers.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

The island receives visitors year-round. From April to October there is usually more sun and the sea is more pleasant. In spring the Festa da Flor takes place; at the end of the year there are New Year's Eve fireworks. From November to March it rains more in the mountains.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four to five days allow you to see Funchal, the Monte, Cabo Girão, Pico do Arieiro and do one or two levada walks. A week lets you circle the island at a relaxed pace.

Which city to stay in

Funchal’s center and the Zona Velha put the market, the Sé and the cable car within walking distance. The hotel zone, west of the center, concentrates seafront hotels with saltwater pools. Those wanting nature can stay in the island’s north, such as São Vicente or Santana, or on quintas in the mountains.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Madeira

Do you need a car in Madeira?

For Funchal, no. For Pico do Arieiro, Cabo Girão, the north and the levadas, a car or organized tours are very helpful. The roads have many curves and tunnels.

What are the levadas?

Irrigation channels built from the 15th century onward, with trails alongside that cross the island. They are the most common way to hike in the mountains.

What's the best time to go to Madeira?

Year-round, because of the mild climate. From April to October there is usually more sun; in winter it rains more in the mountains.

Can you swim in the sea in Madeira?

Yes, but the coast is rocky. There are natural pools, like those at Porto Moniz, pebble beaches and seawater pool complexes in Funchal.

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