First Time in Madeira – The Complete Guide to Madeira, Portugal
If it’s your first time in Madeira, you might be expecting a small island with a couple of viewpoints and some villages, but you’ll find so much more adventure packed into one place, you’ll wish you had booked a longer trip.
Madeira is an island and a small archipelago owned by Portugal. This beautiful volcanic island (don’t worry, there have been no eruptions for 6,500 years!) is lined with black sand beaches and unique farmland.
It’s bigger than it looks. At first glance on a map, Madeira looks like a small dot off the coast of Africa, but you might find yourself overwhelmed when you are planning your first trip.
First Time in Madeira – Complete First Timers Guide
Madeira feels like a breath of fresh air as opposed to visiting major tourist destinations. Yes, it gets busy (more so when a cruise ship is in), but it has a very authentic feel to it. The locals are so proud of their island (and love talking about it), and they are super friendly!
There’s a great mix of attractions and activities to attract any type of traveler.
Plenty of hikes for adventure seekers, laid-back cafes for the older crowds, cable cars and viewpoints for the photographers, beaches and tidal pools for sunshine seekers, and so much more!
Basics for your first time in Madeira
- Currency: Euro
- Country: Portugal
- Language: Portuguese
- Capital: Funchal
- Airport: Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport
- Madeira Islands: Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas, and Selvagens (only Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited)
How to Get to Madeira
The only way to get to Madeira is by plane or boat.
If you are flying from the UK, then you have several options for flights. There are direct flights from all the major airports in the UK and plenty of smaller airports including Leeds, Luton, Bristol, and Newcastle. And with a little under a 4-hour flight time, this small island suddenly becomes very accessible.
If you are coming from the US, I highly recommend flying into Lisbon and hopping on a flight to the island from there. (If you’ve never been to Lisbon, check out my First Timers Guide for Lisbon) There are more than a handful of flights from mainland Portugal every day, so you will have plenty of options.
However, Azores Airlines has one direct flight a week between Madeira and JFK.
Madeira Airport is a VERY small airport, so don’t arrive too early when you leave for your flight.
Once you clear security, follow signs for the smoking section – it’s a huge outdoor balcony where you can sit and watch the planes land in one of the world’s most challenging airports… so cool!
If you’re into that cruise life, then there are plenty of cruises that have half days/whole days in Madeira. Most cruises will dock at Funchal, so plan your day accordingly, or try to find a cruise that has more than a day in Madeira (very rare). Most cruises labeled “Canary Islands Tour” will also stop in Madeira.
Where to stay your first time in Madeira
There are hotels and Airbnbs scattered across Madeira, but you might want to base yourself in an area that is easily accessible for buses and tours.
If you want to really explore the island your first time in Madeira, then I recommend staying in Funchal. You can get plenty of buses, taxis, and tours from the city center throughout the day and throughout the year.
Accommodation is very budget friendly compared to a lot of Western Europe destinations and you can easily get luxury for under €200 a night!
I highly recommend the Four Views Baia. You are close enough to the center to walk everywhere, but also overlooking the surrounding mountains and ocean, so you get gorgeous views no matter where you are looking. Every room has a balcony, the ridiculously massive breakfast buffet is included, and the staff is friendly and welcoming… what more could you want?
If you want to stay closer to the airport, then Santa Cruz is the place for you. It’s also a very family-friendly area.
If you want to still be around activities, but don’t want to stay in a big city, then stay in Porto Moniz. The tidal pools are kind of a big deal and there’s nothing like having a morning coffee while watching the waves crash against the rocks. Porto Moniz is literally the opposite side of the island from the airport and you would benefit from renting a car.
How to get around Madeira
The lack of a train system makes it harder to get around without a car, but it’s very possible.
There are tons of tour options on Viator and Get Your Guide, you can easily pick a couple and see the highlights of the island in two or three days. I cannot recommend an open top 4×4 private tour enough… the best way to tour the island and get a real taste of Madeira.
If you’re not big on tours, then you can take the bus all over the island. Tickets are VERY cheap and you can even buy a day ticket and hop on/hop off wherever and whenever you want.
If you are feeling brave then you can rent a car, but some of the roads are not for the faint-hearted. If you don’t like heights, then don’t drive in Madeira, because some of the roads are barely clinging onto the side of a cliff with no road barrier.
The only motorway on the island is the V1 and it loops around the whole island, if you have a weak stomach, you can plan your day trips with places off the V1.
There are plenty of taxis for everyone and they even do day trips around the island for you. This is the perfect option if you want to go to a specific destination for a while and not hop around from place to place. They are a little more expensive than booking a tour on Viator, but at least you can leave whenever you want and spend as much time as you like.
Madeira has 7 cable car systems throughout the island which is perfect for getting from the bottom of the mountain to the top (and vice versa). Of course, you will have to get a bus or taxi to the cable car station, but at least you won’t have to hike up to the top yourself!
Things to do your first time in Madeira
Take a tour
I’ve already mentioned this, but it’s the perfect way to see the highlights during your first time in Madeira!
If you want a really personal experience, then take a private jeep tour for the day. The tours are fully customizable and you’ll get the complete attention of the guide so they can answer any questions you have!
When you are picking your tour, you might be overwhelmed with all the choices and maybe a little confused with all the names of places you have never heard of.
So I have some tips for picking the right tour for you and getting the most out of your day.
Full-day tours are normally split into the west side or east side.
The most popular tours are the west side tours, you get to see some of the best highlights of Madeira.
West side points of interest include: Cabo Girão, Porto Moniz, Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol, Ribeira Brava, São Vicente, Cascata dos Anjos, Fanal Forest, and Seixal.
East side points of interest include: Santana, Porto da Cruz, Pico do Arieiro, Machico, Laurissilva Forest, and Ponta de São Lourenço.
This is the small group version of the private tour I took and it was amazing: Madeira Off-Road Tour *Ask for John!
Natural Pools and Beaches
Madeira is home to two of Europe’s best beaches, the golden beaches of the neighboring island, Porto Santo, and the small enclosed black sand beach at Seixal.
And who doesn’t love a black sand beach?
You probably want to note that all the beaches on Madeira are black sand or small pebbles and all the beaches on Porto Santo are a rich, golden color.
However, if you want more traditional sand on Madeira, Machico, and Calheta get sand imported from Africa every season.
If tidal pools are your thing, then check out Porto Moniz. There are two sets of natural pools.
The natural swimming pools are the “main pools”, you can’t miss them with a huge entrance and viewing balconies, but my favorite are the lava pools. About a 10-minute walk to the east.
Don’t get me wrong, both are gorgeous and worth a visit, but I promise you will spend more time at the smaller lava pools!
If you want a quieter natural pool to lounge around in, then check out the tidal pool at Seixal.
Hiking
There are countless hikes around the island ranging from easy to extremely challenging.
The most popular hikes are the levada walks. Levadas are unique to Madeira and are a system of channels that carry water from several sources to the lower part of the island. The 1,300 miles worth of water channels are used for irrigation and hydropower.
One of the “easiest” levada walks is the Levada das 25 Fontes which takes you through narrow paths and trails to a pool of water with multiple spouts of water cascading down the rocks.
If you’re up for the challenge, then you can hike to Pico Ruivo, Madeira’s highest peak and reward yourself with a view above the clouds.
Village Tour
Driving around the towns and villages is a great way to fill up your itinerary for your first time in Madeira!
You won’t be able to visit them all so I recommend googling them and then picking three or four to visit for the day.
You can check out traditional houses or Casas Típicas de Santana in the village of Santana on the north part of the island. The “gingerbread-like” houses were built by some of the first settlers on the island and have been restored to their former glory.
Câmara de Lobos is a small fishing village on the coast, their claim to fame (and trust me, you will hear it a lot) is the photo of Winston Churchill painting the bay during his holiday in 1950. His painting spot is immortalized forever and you can visit it yourself, it’s known fittingly as Churchill’s Viewpoint.
São Vicente is a small village in the northern part of the island. Although a small part of the village is on the coast, the majority of the village is inland and sheltered by the mountains. If you want to explore some lava tubes and caves, this is the place to do it and if you like surfing, you’ll be able to catch some waves here.
Other places to take note of include Jardim do Mar, Ponta do Sol, Caniçal, Porto da Cruz, and Ribeira Brava.
Viewpoints
Everyone loves a good viewpoint… am I right?
Madeira is not short on views or miradouros and at some point, you will end up on top of a mountain or cliff… trust me, you will.
If you still want to get the amazing views from above, but would rather have a relaxing holiday than spend an entire day hiking up and over mountains… don’t worry, you can get tons of gorgeous views via cable car or a short walk from a parking lot.
Cabo Girão is the most famous viewpoint in Madeira. This is Europe’s highest seacliff and one of the highest in the world, for added viewing pleasure, you can walk on the glass platform that extends from the top of the cliff out towards the ocean.
Tip: The platform is not that big and can get very crowded in the summer. Arrive before 9am and you’ll have the whole place to yourself! There can be a little condensation on the bottom of the glass, obscuring your view down, but it doesn’t hinder your experience!
Cristo Rei is another popular viewpoint; it’s Madeira’s version of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, standing 14 meters tall on the cliff. You can take a cable car down to the beach at the bottom or just walk a little bit further on from the statue and get even more amazing views.
Pico do Arieiro is the 3rd highest peak in Madeira, which might seem like it’s impossible to get to without a long hike… wrong! This viewpoint is easily accessible by car and then a short walk from the parking lot.
Boat Tour
Since you are on an island, you should consider a boat tour!
Dolphin and whale watching is a very popular activity in Madeira, and there are plenty of excursions throughout the day.
There are sunset cruises or day cruises, even a ferry to Porto Santo.
You can walk down to the harbor area and choose from a plethora of tours or find one on Viator.
My favorite is the “Madeira Pirate Ship”. You get great views of the island as you sail down to Cabo Girão and you can’t beat a Madeira wine tasting with honey cake. Oh, and you’re on a frickin’ pirate ship?!?!?! I rest my case.
But seriously, you sail around in a replica of Columbus’ flagship, the Santa Maria, and the views of the island are breathtaking… the huge dolphin pod we saw jumping and playing a few feet from our boat was just the icing on the cake.
This is the exact boat tour I took: Santa Maria de Colombo
Explore Funchal
Madeira’s capital has SO MUCH TO OFFER! Don’t forget to actually explore where you will most likely be staying your first time in Madeira!
If you want to fill your day up, take the cable car to the Monte Palace Gardens, take another cable car to the Botanical Gardens, and then end your afternoon with a traditional wicker toboggan ride down the mountain… totally normal, right?
What’s great about Funchal is that you can make it as hectic or as chill as you want.
If you want a relaxing day then browse the shops, have a coffee in one of the many cafes, go in search of all the painted doors on Rua Santa Maria, walk around the farmer’s market, have a poncha, and then end your day with a walk along the ocean to the Fort of São Tiago and watch the waves crash against it.
Events
If you want to do something different for your first time in Madeira, then you can go during an event, yes, it might be a little busier, but there is nothing like Madeira at Christmas time, and the New Year’s Eve fireworks are some of the most spectacular in the world.
They made a name for themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006 for the largest pyrotechnic performance, in which over 66,000 fireworks were set off at 37 launch sites throughout the island.
If you can’t make the holidays, don’t worry, there are plenty of other events going on every month. Check out the Madeira Plunge in January or the Carnival in February.
You can always check the Official Madeira Events Website and see what’s happening during your visit!
What to eat and drink on your first time in Madeira
Don’t worry, you’re not going to go hungry your first time in Madeira!
What’s great about Madeira is that you can find common Portuguese dishes from the mainland that you will recognize, but you’ll also find tons of dishes unique to the island!
This is just a quick overview and not an in-depth look… that’s a whole other post!
You will see Bola da Caco on every menu as a starter… it’s Madeiran garlic bread, but the bread is something to shout about – made from flour and sweet potato, it’s like a mix of naan, flatbread, and crumpets… just trust me here. It’s only a couple of euros everywhere you go, so why not?
Madeira has no shortage of seafood. You will normally see Lapas (or limpets) on the menu as a starter (tastes a little bit like a small, crunchy mussel) with plenty of fish choices as a main. From swordfish to parrotfish to sea bream.
But the fish that dominates most menus is scabbard fish. I’ll let you Google for yourself if you want to see what a black scabbard fish looks like, but it’s not pretty. This fish is a deep-sea predator that can only be caught with deep-sea fishing equipment.
The scabbard fish is usually served with bananas (another local food) and sometimes topped with passion fruit dressing. Definitely worth trying at least once!
If you want to try some meat, then order espetadas. It’s grilled beef on skewers. Most restaurants will hang the skewers in the middle of the table for you.
If you only need one reason to visit Madeira during Christmas.. let carne vinha d’alhos be the reason! It’s pork marinated in garlic and wine and then slapped in between Madeira bread. I COULD EAT ONE OF THESE EVERY DAY… don’t judge me. It’s not a common dish to find outside of the holiday season, but if you are there for Christmas, you’ll find it at every other stall throughout the markets and fair.
If you’re looking for desserts, try the bolo de mel de cana, Madeira honey cake.
For drinks, go with the classic Madeira wine. It’s very sweet and I would compare it to port. You can find wine tastings throughout the island; some restaurants offer their own tasting, but you can always find a glass (or bottle) of it on every menu.
*Fun fact: America’s founding fathers toasted with Madeira wine after signing the Declaration of Independence!
If you want something more fruity, try some poncha. Traditionally made with aguardente de cana (which is sugar cane brandy), honey, sugar, and lemon juice, this VERY strong drink was used by fishermen to keep them warm.
Now, every restaurant or cafe has its own version of poncha. Most commonly found with orange juice or passion fruit, but you will find the “traditional” lemon poncha everywhere.
This is the only warning I’m giving you… this stuff is strong. Also, don’t chug it… enjoy it. The advice I got from a local was one poncha to last you the evening, and that’s about right… definitely no more than two!
Are you heading to Madeira? Have I missed anything that you think is important? Are you now inspired to book your next trip to Madeira?! Let me know in the comments below!
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