What to do in Madeira Island - Complete Guide

A destiny without words

We went, we saw, we lived and we fell in love with Madeira. Madeira Island is a simply incredible destination, and in this little mini-guide I'm going to show you what to do on Madeira Island, with the best tips to make your trip even better.

Madeira Island is part of the archipelago of volcanic islands located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the autonomous regions of the Portuguese Republic.

Only two islands in the archipelago are inhabited, Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island, and I'm going to tell you what to do on Madeira Island and a little bit about Porto Santo Island. Porto Santo too!

PORT SANTO

Portugal has surprised us so much, but Madeira Island has exceeded our expectations. Known as the Island of Flowers, it gives us the feeling of having been plunged into an enchanted world at every moment. There is tourism for all tastes and types, from paradisiacal beaches to the countryside, light walks to extreme sports. Madeira has a mild climate all year round and a cheerful, welcoming and hospitable people.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath! The landscapes of Madeira Island will take your breath away, and it's no wonder that Madeira Island won the "World's Best Island Destination" award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and is now competing again in 2020 for the World Travel Award.

Cristiano Ronaldo Airport

Madeira Airport was named after the famous footballer who was born in Madeira. Its runway is over the sea and it is considered one of the airports with the most complex approaches due to the island's relief. There are many videos of landings on Madeira Island all over the internet, but I have to confess that on the two occasions I landed in Madeira I didn't feel anything different.

Madeira Tourism official photo

However, one thing really caught my eye: the landscape of the approach is beautiful, with the green of the mountains next to the turquoise blue of the sea. Cristinano Ronaldo Airport is 20km from Funchal, the capital of Madeira.

Another important point: when you leave the airport, you are greeted with water and bananas, a fruit that is abundant on Madeira Island. At this point you can already get a taste of the welcome the island will give you over the next few days.

Madeira and COVID - What the post-Coronavirus journey is like

Before I talk about what to do on Madeira Island, I'll tell you a bit about this new normal and what it's like to travel to Madeira post COVID. To enter Madeira, you need to have tested negative for COVID or you can take the test when you arrive at the airport. If you choose the second option, you'll have to quarantine (12 hours) for the first day in your hotel and there's a chance that you'll test positive and have to return home without enjoying anything.

We did the test 72 hours before departure to guarantee any surprises. The COVID test for those traveling to Madeira and staying in Portugal can be done free of charge. Find here is the list of locations

Even with a negative test in hand, you have to go through a screening as soon as you get off the plane. Our body temperature will be taken and we will have to present our registration on the website SAFE WOOD

With this procedure we feel much safer to enjoy this paradise! I can say that today Madeira Island is one of the safest destinations to travel to.

What to do in Madeira Island?

I've put together a few tips on what we did and what I think should be on your list of things to do on Madeira Island.

Funchal - Capital of Madeira

The atmosphere in Madeira is wonderful, everyone is very cheerful and you end up feeling lighter for it. Finding bars with live music is not difficult.

Funchal is home to many of the island's attractions, such as the CR7 Museum, the Monte Cable Car, the Basket Cars and others.

We did practically everything on foot:

Cristiano Ronaldo Museum

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on the island of Madeira, and it's impossible to talk about the island without mentioning him, one of the best footballers we've ever had, not to mention the best. To this day, the player maintains a close relationship with his homeland. His brother came up with the idea of creating the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum to share with the world all the awards the star has ever received. The museum is completely private, and it's incredible how many awards you'll find there. At the end you can take a photo with the virtual Cristiano.

Toy Museum

The museum is located in the old Armazém do Mercado, and it's the largest collection I've ever had the pleasure of seeing here in Portugal! From ancient toys to modern LEGOs.

Emmanuel was able to play a bit with traditional Portuguese toys, lego and even a tricycle in the shape of an airplane! We loved our visit to this space.

Farmers' Market

I often say that the municipal markets are the heart of the city, I see so much of the local culture in the food and the people there. I love visiting these places, and the Madeira Market was no different. On Fridays, the market square is even more colorful and full of fruit, as there are more vendors. We loved this because we went on a Friday. We tasted local fruit, discovered passion fruit, bananas, English tomatoes and many other fruits. They were all delicious, and we loved getting a taste of Madeira.

Monte Cable Car

This is the largest cable car on the island. It is located in the Old Town in Funchal and takes you up to Monte, from where you can descend in the famous basket cars. The view is simply beautiful, I suggest you sit facing the sea and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. You can also see from the top the soccer pitch where Cristiano Ronaldo played when he was just 8 years old.

Other cable cars:

Fajã dos Padre

Achadas da Cruz

Ship Rock

Fajã do Cabo Girão

Garajau

Botanical Garden

Basket trolley

The basket cars were created out of necessity. In 1850 they were used as a means of transportation to get from Monte to Funchal, but today the tradition has been maintained and they are now used as entertainment. The basket cars are still produced by hand, made of wood and wicker. They are driven by two carters, one on each side, down a 2km descent lasting approximately 10 minutes.

The descent from Monte to Funchal is steep and guarantees adrenaline as well as fun. It's a great way to learn more about Madeira's traditions. Emmanuel loved it, he was screaming with joy the whole way, and when it was over he wanted more!

Jeep tour of the central region of Madeira Island

We took a jeep tour to enjoy even more the breathtaking scenery of the mountains by the sea, it's a perfect combination! Our tour was with Adventureland Madeira and we passed through:

Câmara de Lobos

It's a fishing village just five kilometers from Funchal, where boats still leave today to catch the famous swordfish, so traditional in Madeira. Its landscape by the sea is so beautiful that it inspired Sir Winston Churchill to paint it and thus took Madeira to the world.

Câmara de Lobos got its name because it had many chambers (caves) where the sea lions used to stay. Today the sea lions are on the separate Desertas Islands for environmental protection Take the opportunity to wander around the charming village and try a delicious poncha before heading off to the next attraction.

Race Mouth

The viewpoint is at the top of the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. It's a lookout point in the middle of the mountains at an altitude of a thousand meters, where you can see the island's totally impressive geography, where the sea and the mountains marry and your soul breathes happily at being able to see something like this.

From the viewpoint we can see the Curral das Freiras valley, the Eira do Serrado and the Massif Central.

Nun's Valley

Curral das Freiras is in the heart of the island, surrounded by huge mountains. It is not known for sure whether the cauldron where the village stands today was formed by erosion or volcanic activity.

It's a very secluded parish known for its chestnuts, where the Chestnut Festival takes place in November. We had the pleasure of trying chestnut-based dishes at the Sabores do Curral restaurant.

Curral das Freiras is a small parish, surrounded by huge mountains, in the heart of the island. Both the Eira do Serrado and Paredão viewpoints are excellent places to contemplate the magnificent views of this parish.

Corporal Girão

It is the highest cape in Europe and the second highest in the world at 580m. From its lookout point you can see the crystal-clear water through the glass platform that extends beyond the cliffs towards the sea.

As someone who is terrified of heights, I felt tense when I stepped out and felt vertigo, but after a few minutes looking at the beautiful view, my fear passed and I was able to enjoy the place.

Crossing the island

We left Funchal, where we were staying, and went to the north of the island to discover even more of its beauties, but of course we strolled along the way.

Bride's Veil

The landscape of northern Madeira is completely different, with its gigantic walls that end in the sea and its waterfalls that spring up in the middle of the mountains.

The most famous waterfall is Véu da Noiva (Bride's Veil), which is simply beautiful and majestic. A huge waterfall flows out of the dazzling green towards the sea.

Janela Stream

For me the most beautiful place, where I could spend hours! Huge black rocks appear in the middle of the turquoise sea, where everything seems to fit together.

The crystal-clear sea beckons you to take a dip. The floor is made of volcanic rock, which helps the water to be clear when there is no sediment swaying with the waves, making it a huge natural aquarium.

Porto Moniz Aquarium

The Porto Moniz Aquarium is located in a small castle and is great for showing children a little more about marine life. Its highlight is the huge aquarium where you can get a good look at the species.

Natural pools

The natural pools are beautiful and the landscape is unique because of its volcanic origin! The experience of diving in such a place is simply sensational. The water is crystal clear with black rocks that come out of the water, giving it an extra charm.

We visited two swimming pools:

Porto Moniz swimming pools

These are pools with more human intervention, where the bottom has been completely modified, but you can still see the surrounding volcanic rocks. There is a charge to enter, but there is all the necessary infrastructure, such as a bar, toilets and so on.

Aquarium Natural Pools

These are pools with less human intervention, showing all the nature of their volcanic formation. You can swim in crystal-clear waters and watch the sea crashing as you carefully lean against the wall that dams the water in this paradise.

We saw a beautiful sunset from inside the pools.

Seixal Shelter Port Beach

It's an incredible black sand beach, contrasting with the blue of the sea and the green of the mountains.

The green mountains frame the place along with the blue sky, I fell in love with this beach. The black area is very fine and delicious for walking, I played with the little one, who could come and go in the calm sea as many times as he wanted.

Even in the fall, due to the mild weather, it was possible to go in and enjoy the sea, which for me was a wonderful temperature.

Santana

Santana is a municipality on the north coast of the island where you'll find one of Madeira's best-known symbols, the typical Santana houses with their triangle-shaped thatched roofs.

The mountainous landscapes are beautiful with their lush green Laurissilva forest.

Madeira theme park

This is a must-see for anyone visiting Madeira Island with children. It's located in Santana and offers educational attractions. It's perfect for gaining a better understanding of the creation of the planet's islands, flora and fauna. In addition, of course, to getting to know Madeiran culture, its history and the island's attractions. I suggest that everyone starts their visit with this attraction. As well as learning through play, you can also take a ride on a little train or even a boat to enjoy some incredible family time.

Levada

It is a ground aqueduct built in the 16th century to carry water from the north to the south of the island. It is characteristic of Madeira Island and there are footpaths alongside it. It's not difficult to find a levada, you just have to go a little off the main roads to start appreciating a levada and walk along the path next to it.

Levada do Caldeirão Verde

We entered an enchanted forest and were dazzled by the color of the green. As we walked along the Levada do Caldeirão Verde, we understood why the Laurissilva Forest was listed as a World Heritage Site.

The Laurissilva Forest is a humid subtropical forest with trees from the Lauraceae family. We didn't get as far as Caldeirão Verde, which we'll leave for next time, but it's a very worthwhile walk and takes you to a BEAUTIFUL waterfall!

Gastronomy of Madeira Island

Of course, when I talk about what to do on Madeira Island, its gastronomy and flavors can't be left out. Let's start with the traditional cuisine.

Caco's cake

Bolo do Caco is actually a delicious bread that is usually served with garlic butter and parsley! You can find it everywhere, and it usually comes as a starter in restaurants.

Lapas

I didn't know it and I just fell in love with it. Once I tried it, it was my entrée at every meal.

Lapas are a type of shellfish, seasoned with garlic and grilled in a frying pan.

Skewered on a Laurel Stick

Delicious! These are cubes of sirloin, seasoned with garlic, bay leaves and salt! They are seasoned just right and completely succulent! Once seasoned, they are roasted on a skewer made from a bay leaf stick.

Black scabbard fish

It's a very traditional fish from Madeira Island, and I tried one with banana which was wonderful! It's a very tasty dish where salt and sweet go very well together, but there are several swordfish dishes in Madeira.

Tuna

Since we're on an island, there's nothing more common than fish being well used in its gastronomy. Tuna is one of these traditional fish, usually prepared grilled with olive oil, garlic, salt and oregano. Its accompaniment is fried corn, which is completely typical of Madeira.

Madeira Wine

Madeira is a wine with a high alcohol content, a golden color and a taste like no other! I've tried both the dry Madeira wine, normally used as an aperitif before meals, and the sweet Madeira wine, which is enjoyed after meals as a digestif.

Madeira Tourism official photo

Poncha

It's the traditional drink of Madeira Island and I discovered that it may be the father of the caipirinha! Whenever we stopped, we drank a poncha to brighten up the day. Made with cane spirit (our cachaça), honey and lemon juice, does it sound like the recipe for a delicious caipirinha? There are other mixtures too, with orange juice or even sugar.

Don't forget to try the honey cake or the homemade sweet potato bread, which is delicious!

Where to sleep on Madeira Island

We stayed in two hotels, one on the south coast of Madeira Island and the other on the north coast. For me, this was the best possible combination to make the most of the island!

Vila Porto Mare Resort - South Coast

On the south coast of the island, we stayed at the Hotel Porto Mare, which occupies the central wing of the resort. The view is incredible and mixes the structure of the hotel with its beautiful swimming pool, together with the green of Madeira and the blue of the sea in the background. There are 5 swimming pools, 5 restaurants, 4 bars, a spa, sports fields, children's play areas and lots of beautiful green spaces throughout the resort. Guests have free access to enjoy this marvel!

I felt like I was in the Portuguese Caribbean, I found the hotel's infrastructure very American and Caribbean, huge rooms, beautiful pools and wonderful service. The Hotel Porto Mare is in Funchal, which makes it easy to find good restaurants near the hotel or even a variety of tours and tour operators. We stayed in a wonderful room with a living room, two bathrooms with bathtubs, a double bedroom and a beautiful balcony! In addition to excellent comfort for family travelers and total privacy for the couple, since the little one stayed in a cot in the living room, it also had a full kitchen! The hotel is also close to mini markets, which are easy to find if you want to cook.

Restaurants we enjoyed

However, as we really wanted to enjoy ourselves without worrying too much, we ate in restaurants, some of them even in the hotel. Varanda is a restaurant near the pool, more relaxed with snacks, salads, sandwiches or spaghetti. We chose it for lunch shortly after our arrival on Madeira Island. We ordered a salad for the adults and spaghetti bolognese for the little one.

Il Basilico is a more refined Italian restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious dinner.

I chose a delicious risotto with octopus, prawns, mushrooms and speck and the boys each went for a pizza! Yuuummmy.

Quinta do Furão - Northwest Coast

On the north coast, in fact the northwest of Madeira, we stayed at Quinta do Furão, with huge mountains framing the landscape by the sea! Quinta do Furão is high up and this gives us the feeling of freedom with the tranquillity of paradise.

The hotel has two swimming pools, one outdoor and one indoor and heated, an incredible outdoor area with a children's playground and vineyards to make the atmosphere even more special. I felt like I was in Portuguese Switzerland. The main house, where most of the rooms are located, has a somewhat Germanic feel.

The room is light in color, with wooden furniture, super elegant and cozy, as well as an incredible balcony from which I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise every day, this is one of the benefits of traveling in autumn, the sun rises later and we can enjoy this spectacle without waking up so early.

Another very interesting thing about Quinta do Furão is that the hotel offers guests a different activity every day! I was able to witness and learn how to make the house bread, which is very traditional in Santana! A delicious sweet potato bread. Every day there is a different activity for guests to enjoy. A highlight is the wonderful breakfast, with freshly made delicacies such as pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, omelettes and more. The center of Santana is 2 km from the hotel, so I suggest you rent a car to enjoy the area on this side of the island.

Hotel restaurant

The hotel has such breathtaking views and such delicious food that even the locals from Madeira Island come to the restaurant to have a good time! On the two days I stayed at Quinta do Furão, I dined at the restaurant and each day I tried different dishes, but on all of them, I surrendered to the same starter, limpets! I loved that woody flavor. Returning to the main courses, on the first day I ordered the Caldeirão Verde steak stuffed with Roquefort cheese in a puff pastry crust, simply divine!!! Igor drooled over it and it was his choice for the second day, while for the first he chose the Rib Eye, so juicy that it fell apart even before cutting into it.

For my second day, I wanted something more seaside, so I ordered the Grilled Octopus with Risotto Nero, which was also wonderful! The little one had the famous steak with fries both days.

Porto Santo

Porto Santo surprised us in so many ways, we managed to get sun, rain, wind and beach all in one day! The landscapes are breathtaking and in its small extension it is possible to live many experiences, we saw a desert and dived into the sea just a few kilometers away.

The island of Porto Santo belongs to the Madeira Archipelago, but 71km separate the two islands. There are only two ways to get to Porto Santo: by plane or by boat from Madeira Island.

CLICK HERE and see What to do in Porto Santo

It is 11km long and 6km wide, and unlike Madeira, Porto Santo has golden sandy beaches, which is why it is also known as the Golden Island.

We were able to see inactive volcanoes with rocks melted by lava, unique rock formations and many other surprises, but I'll leave those for the text "What to do in Porto Santo"where I tell you all about this beautiful island!

More on what to do on Madeira Island besides what we did:

I certainly didn't do everything there is to do on Madeira Island - after all, Madeira is an endless paradise! But I was able to get a taste and I'm sure that one day I'll be back to do even more! I'll leave you with a list of things that I think are also worth doing and that will be present on my next visit. I hope it's helped you plan a trip that you'll remember forever.

Caves and volcanic center of São Vicente
Pico Ruivo
Pico Arieiro
Coast of São Jorge
Ponta de São Lourenço (the whole journey takes about 5 hours)
Dolphin watching tour
Caldeirão Verde Waterfall

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