Article
One Week Wandering Around Madeira
Published on October 11, 2025
The Portuguese island of Madeira is, without a doubt, the most breathtaking place I’ve experienced with my own eyes. Its incredible views are endless, and the variety of things to do is impressive for such a small island. In the span of a single day, you can find yourself hiking above the clouds, taking a cable car down a steep mountainside, and enjoying the sunset while swimming in the sea. One week was the perfect amount of time to get acquainted with the island’s offerings, from experiences in nature to discovering important aspects of culture, and simply enjoying relaxing in the sunshine.
If you’re considering visiting Madeira, be aware that they’re currently experiencing overtourism, which is significantly impacting those who call this island home. Over the last five years, the increase in tourism has led to the desctruction of many natural sites, transportation limiations, and a general overwhelm of the island’s resources. Please remember to respect the environment around you and the locals you’re interacting with, and remain mindful of the impact this steep increase in visitors has had on the island.
Day 1
When planning our trip to Madeira, we decided to base ourselves in Funchal, the capital city. We used Kindred, one of my favorite booking platforms, to book our accommodation. Funchal was a perfect choice for us, as it allowed easy access to points of interest by car and foot. I highly recommend renting a car while visiting! However, if you choose not to, Funchal provides good access to public transit, and its central location is ideal for guided tour pick-ups.
To begin our first day, we walked around the Funchal’s old town and Santa Catarina Park, where we watched a magnificent sunrise before our whale watching excursion. If you read about our trip to the Azores, you know that our whale watching plans were sadly cancelled due to weather. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for us this time, and we were lucky to spot an abundance of short-finned pilot whales!
Following our excursion, we drove east along the south coast, stopping at the Cristo Rei and Pico do Faucho viewpoints before our hike at Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8). This hike was one of my highlights of the entire trip. You’ll need about 1.5 hours to complete the trail one-way, and have the option of taking a water taxi back at the end of it. Although that was our plan, we missed the last boat and found ourselves with no choice but to get some additional exercise and walk the trail all the way back. If you’re planning to do this hike, be aware that it consists of many unsteady ups and downs, and you’ll definitely be feeling it in your legs over the next couple of days.
Following all of that physical exertion, we picked up a couple of well-deserved and tasty pizzas from Ciao Pizzeria Funchal and promptly called it a night.
Day 2
Our second morning in Madeira started at the Mercado dos Lavradores, an indoor market with stalls selling local fruit, spices, and other regional goods. We were pleased to be offered samples of fruit that was new to us, such as the aptly named Monstera Deliciosa, which tastes like a mixture of banana, pineapple, and kiwi!
We were then picked up at a meeting spot in Funchal by our tour guide, Luis, for a day trip highlighting the best of the West of the island, which I highly recommend! Booking this full-day tour allowed us to visit major attractions without worrying about the planning, driving, or parking. Some standout attractions included the Cabo Girão viewpoint, the Fanal Forest, the town of Porto Moniz and their natural pools, and the town of São Vicente. These day tours are also wonderful ways to meet other travellers and to learn about regional culture and history from local guides.
Following our return to Funchal, we ate one of our favorite meals of the trip at MadCuba and tried “poncha”, a traditional alcoholic drink from Madeira, at Rei da Poncha.
Day 3
Our third day in Madeira started early, with hopes of watching the sun rise above the clouds at the summit of Pico do Arieiro (PR1). Some of the best money we spent this entire trip was booking a guide to drive us to and from the location. Even though we had a car, we were still getting accustomed to the challenging roads in Madeira, and driving on steep, narrow, and winding roads in the dark just didn’t sound like a good idea. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to experience the sunrise we hoped for due to rain and fog, but perhaps that just gives us a reason to go back!
By the time we arrived back to Funchal, we still had the whole day ahead of us! We ate breakfast at Art Food Corner Madeira before embarking on the Funchal Cable Car (or “teleférico”), which transported us to the town of Monte in 15 minutes. We bought a one-way ticket with the plan of taking one of Madeira’s traditional wicker toboggans (“carros de cesto”) back downhill. Even though my fear of heights definitely kicked in while ascending to Monte, the mesmerizing views of the city below were worth it.
Once back on the ground, we admired Monte’s church and walked around Monte park, a free alternative to the paid botanical gardens nearby. Finally, we headed to the Associão dos Carreiros do Monte for our ride downhill! If you’re planning this activity, make sure to bring cash to pay for the toboggan ride and to plan how you’ll get back to Funchal from Livramento, the town where the ride ends. There are taxi drivers waiting at the end to bring you back to Funchal for €20, but we opted to take a €2 bus instead.
Once back in Funchal, we stopped for a quick and inexpensive bite to eat at Casa do Bolo do Caco, where I tried the traditional pork, wine, and garlic sandwich (“carne viho e alhos”) on Madeira’s traditional “bolo do caco” bread.
Next up was an afternoon adventure to the town of Madalena do Mar. There, we walked a short “banana route”, where we saw bananas in all stages of growth and spent our evening watching an unforgettable sunset at the most western point of the Madalena do Mar beach. Our dinner at Brasa Mar, just steps away from our spot on the beach, was delectable and was made even better by the friendly staff. We shared the mixed grill for one (it’s plenty!) and the “milho frito”, a Madeiran side dish of fried cornmeal that I’m still craving!
Day 4
With still so much left to see, our fourth day started strolling through gardens with a magnificent sea view at the Quinta Splendida Wellness & Botanical Garden hotel. Our next stop was Miradouro do Guindaste, followed by Miradouro da Rocha do Navio, one of my favorites of the trip! The view from this lookout is enhanced by the surrounding hydrangeas and the cable car access to the beach below.
From there, it was a short drive to visit the “casas de Santana“, traditional triangular-shaped homes with thatched rooves that have become an iconic Madeiran landmark. If you visit this location, you’ll find local products and souvenirs for sale. However, we enjoyed visiting this home, where we met the owner, who offered us coffee liqueur and shared his story with us.
The stand-out viewpoint of the entire trip was our next stop, the Miradouro de São Cristovão. The panoramic view of the lush green landscape contrasting with the bright blue hue of the ocean was stunning. We loved being able to soak it in over a cold drink, thanks to the astutely-placed drink stand nearby.
We ended our day in the town of Seixal, where we found a hidden gem offering a unique view of the surrounding scenery, and marvelled at the beauty that is its black sand beach surrounded by vibrant green mountains.
Day 5
Our last full day together allowed us to enjoy a few final stops. First up was the Cascata dos Anjos, a waterfall cascading directly onto the roadway below and into the sea. From there, we made our way to the towns of Ponta do Sol (known as the municipality with the most sunshine yearly) and Câmara de Lobos (a charming fishing town filled with quirky art installations).
To wind down the trip, we enjoyed an entire afternoon of relaxation at the Doca do Cavacas natural pools. for under €15, we got access to the pools, two lounge chairs overlooking the sea, and an umbrella – a great deal! We stayed until the sun was setting, and treated ourselves to dinner at Theo’s for a memorable dining experience.
Days 6-7
After my travel partner sadly left the island, I moved to the Sentido Galsol hotel for two more days of relaxation. Read my honest review of this hotel here! The sea view from my room was unforgettable, and I enjoyed not having to leave the resort while still enjoying Madeiran food, culture, and views. The resort offered a complementary breakfast, multiple on-site bars and restaurants, spa access with panoramic ocean views, access to pools and the sea, and a live music night with traditional Fado music. My time in Madeira definitely ended on a high note!
With everything I’ve just typed out, I feel like I still have so much left to say – and to see! Madeira is unlike anywhere I’ve ever visited, and I’m proud to know that a large portion of my ancestry originates there. I can’t wait until the day I get to discover even more of this tiny but mighty island.
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