Madeira Road Trip: The Ultimate 7 Day Itinerary

Madeira is a small island, but there’s a lot of stuff to see. From bathing in natural pools formed by volcanic activity to walking along mountain trails above the clouds, we saw tons of incredible nature on our Madeira road trip route. And it’s definitely somewhere that you want to visit with a car.

Compared to other places we’ve gone on a road trip, Madeira’s public transport doesn’t really cut it, especially away from the capital. It would have been a massive headache for us to get to places like the Pico Ruivo hike or the Fanal Forest without a car, not to mention the various miradourous (scenic viewpoints) scattered about the island. 

Although a week might seem a long time to spend on an island that’s only 741 km2 (286 sqm), we found there was plenty to do and see over seven days. So, let’s get started!

🚗 In a hurry? Book your car via ➡️ ➡️ Discover Cars + 🏨 stay in a central location in Funchal ➡️ ➡️ Melia Madeira Hotel.

Madeira Road Trip: Quick Overview

DAY 1: Funchal 

We started our road trip around Madeira in Funchal, which is the island’s capital and home to its largest port. Fun fact: its name derives from the fact that the first Portuguese who rocked up noticed a lot of wild fennel growing about the place. 

🅿️ Recommended Car Park: Almirante Reis Car Park

📍Doca Do Cavacas Natural Pools

Our first stop was a little way out of town, but the best time to visit the Doca do Cavacas is usually in the mornings when the tide is low. A natural pool formed by volcanic activity a heck of a long time ago, it’s a cool little spot to chill out with amazing views over the sea and Praia Formosa. 

Unfortunately, we couldn’t actually swim when we visited in October, as the water was a bit too rough, and the natural pool is only open when the tide is low. We tried three times, but sadly no dice. You can check the Doca do Cavacas website before going so you don’t have a wasted trip – there are live webcams where you can see the state of the sea. 

There’s a modest entry fee, and you can pay extra to rent an umbrella with sun loungers. The place isn’t especially large, but we noticed it was well equipped with facilities, including changing rooms, showers, sun loungers, and a bar serving up simple drinks and food.

📍Jardim Monte Palace Madeira

A place you can enjoy regardless of the tides is the Jardim Monte Palace. Spread over 70,000 square metres, it’s a lovely, green, serene space, with a quirky mix of exotic plants, East Asian structures, and a museum of African art. Seriously random, but pretty!

The park is right at the top of a hill in the north of Funchal, but there’s a cable car that connects with the downtown and takes about 20 minutes. It’s a ride with gorgeous panoramic views and well worth the 18 euros we paid for a round trip.

One of our fav things here was the picturesque lake. There was live music playing when we visited, so we grabbed a pina colada (served in a real pineapple skin) and sat down beside the water to enjoy the relaxing tunes.

📍Mercado dos Lavadores Farmers’ Market

The tropical climate of Madeira is great for growing exotic foodstuffs, and there’s nowhere better than the Mercado dos Lavadores to see all the amazing produce that the island has to offer. It’s got a particularly good selection of tropical fruit, including everything from passionfruit to soursop.

Inaugurated in 1940, it’s safe to say the prices at this farmers’ market have gone up a lot over the decades, particularly since the place became a bit of a tourist attraction. We didn’t end up buying anything since everything seemed crazy expensive, but it was still worth popping in for window shopping and to soak up the vibe.

📍Stroll Rua de Santa Maria

Just next to the Mercado dos Lavadores is the Rua de Santa Maria, Funchal’s main pedestrianised street. It’s full of cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops, so a great place to grab a bite or purchase a memento.

We visited on Sunday, and it was pleasantly quiet, but during the week, the whole old town area was a lot livelier.

There are numerous cool painted doors here to snap pictures of – and don’t forget to look up as the cable car passes above the street!

WHERE: Location

📍São Tiago Fortress 

Keep heading down the Rua de Santa Maria, and you’ll quickly come to a side street that leads off to the city’s 17th-century fort. Originally built to stave off pirate attacks, it’s hard to miss, thanks to its bright yellow walls.

Today, there is a restaurant inside, but you don’t have to dine here to get up on the battlements. Just ask the staff here to let you up to the top of the fortress for fab views of the ocean and the harbour.

WHERE: Location

📍Dinner At GALERIA

Where else to end the first day of our Madeira 7 day itinerary but with a delicious dinner! As we’ve already mentioned, there are quite a few places to eat on Rua de Santa Maria, but this one attracted us with its funky interior décor.

The food was delicious and beautifully presented without being OTT-priced. We especially liked the fish soup, which was flavourful, hearty, and perfect for an October evening.

WHERE: Location 

DAY 2: North West

After a day in the capital, it’s time to get the roadtrip Madeira itinerary properly underway! This isn’t an island that takes a particularly long time to drive across, so we opted to go to the opposite side for a little beach time. 

📍Sunrise At Seixal Beach 

Seixal Beach is about an hour’s drive from Funchal. It’s one of Madeira’s most famous shorelines, thanks to its unique, soft black sand.

We particularly recommend coming here to enjoy the stunning sunrise. Dress warm, take a thermos with a hot drink of your choosing, and enjoy the spectacle. We stopped at a small local cafe on the way to the beach to pick up our coffee.

For some weird reason, Google Maps have the location a little wrong, but you can work it out with a bit of common sense. Head in the direction of the harbour, and DON’T try to follow the directions to the “Parking Lot of Seixal Beach,” which is completely wrong. 

There is a small free car park just in front of the beach (not marked on Google), but it’s also possible to park on the street if this is full.

WHERE: Location

📍Miradouro Do Véu Da Noiva

Madeira is famous for its miradouros: scenic viewpoints where you can take awesome pics of the island’s natural beauty. 

We’ve included some of our favs throughout this Madeira road trip itinerary, starting with the Miradouro do Véu da Noiva. Just off the coastal highway above Seixal Beach, it overlooks the coast and (in the distance) a cascading waterfall. 

There is a free car park right by the viewpoint, so you basically pull up and just start snapping!

WHERE: Location 

📍Sao Vicente 

Drive another 10 minutes east from the Miradouro do Véu da Noiva, and you’ll come to Sao Vicente, a cute little town famous for its chapel. It’s a sleepy sort of place with several all-day cafes if you fancy grabbing a bite of breakfast.

WHERE: Location

📍Capela De Nossa Senhora De Fátima

Perched above Sao Vicente, Capela de Nossa Senhora de Fátima is quite a trek on foot from the town centre. We’d suggest driving up to the street just below, where there’s free parking. After that, you’ll still have to clamber up a steep staircase, but it’s not too far to go.

Honestly, we loved this place! The chapel itself is an unusual little building, but it’s the beautiful views up here of the surrounding mountains, valley, and picture-perfect houses that make a trip unmissable. We visited in the morning, and the sun was perfectly positioned for some epic drone shots.

WHERE: Location 

📍Miradouro Ilheus Da Ribeira Da Janela

With the day now in full swing, double back on yourself and head west to the Miradouro Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela, which is famous for its unique rock formations. These pierce upwards from the sea and were created (like so much of Madeira’s landscape) by volcanic activity.

From the car park, you need to go up some stairs and through a tunnel to access the viewing platform, but you can also just perch on some of the massive stones that lie along the beach.

The car park is free and has plenty of space, so there’s no need to worry about overcrowding. Toilets have been installed near the tunnel if you need a quick pitstop.

📍Porto Moniz Swimming Pools

Larger than Doca do Cavacas, the natural pools at Porto Moniz are well maintained and a super nice place to relax. The accessibility also depends on tides, but these ones are better shielded by rock, so they tend to be open.

There’s a bar, changing rooms, umbrellas and loungers for hire, and even a small playground. We couldn’t find any free parking here, but there is paid parking all along the coast.

If the Porto Moniz pools are closed, you can try your luck across the bay, where there are other pools that have been carved out of black volcanic rock by nature on the eastern side of the town.

📍Teleférico Das Achadas Da Cruz

One of the steepest cable cars in the world, the Teleférico das Achadas da Cruz has a 98% inclination! The ride is short but epic, taking you to a part of the shore that is cut off from the rest of the island.

After stepping off the cable car, we walked along the scenic coastal path, watching the sea crash into the cliffs below. For wave riders, it looked very surfable! The only structures were a couple of abandoned houses, so make sure to take some snacks and water.

While it’s definitely worth including in your itinerary for Madeira, you don’t need to allocate more than an hour max. We accidentally got stuck here for much longer because we took the cable car just before the lunch break, which left us stuck down below for way too long, plus, there was then a massive queue to go up. 

Don’t be like us. Make sure to take the cable car after 1 pm!

DAY 3: Pico Do Arieiro To Pico Ruivo Hike

Next up on our 7 day Madeira itinerary, we’ve dedicated a day to trekking one of the island’s most iconic hiking routes. Known informally as the Pico to Pico trail, it runs from Madeira’s third-highest peak, Pico do Arieiro, to its highest peak, Pico Ruivo.

We visited Madeira mainly to do this hike, and we couldn’t have been more disappointed when, after 2 km, we stumbled upon a closed gate that prevented us from continuing the hike. We were later told that the route had been closed since the summer due to wildfires and a risk of landslides. 

So before your trip, check the most recent Google reviews and this site to make sure you don’t end up making the same travel fail!

We did still manage to watch the sunrise from Miradouro do Juncal, located at the start of the hike, behind the car park and the station building. There’s also a less busy place to watch light spilling over the mountains at Miradouro do Ninho da Manta, which is the first official viewpoint of the hike, located 1.5 km from the start. 

We were planning to do the return hike, which is meant to take about 4 to 5 hours and covers 11 km. For anybody who only wants to go one way, it’s possible to book a tour and save your legs!

DAY 4: South Coast

After the arduous Pico to Pico hike, you’ll probably want to take it fairly easy on Day 4 of your 7 days in Madeira. We’re talking leisurely strolls through picturesque villages, chilling out by waterfalls, and sipping local wines. The south coast is the sunnier side of the island, so don’t forget the shades and suncream!

📍Câmara de Lobos Harbour

Begin the day at Câmara de Lobos, a picturesque fishing village that’s only 15 minutes’ drive from Funchal. Its main claim to fame is that Winston Churchill came here in 1950 and painted the gorgeous scenery. 

You can actually visit the viewpoint where he set up his easel by walking up the stairs located on the eastern side of the harbour. Comparing the vista now to Churchill’s painting, Câmara de Lobos has clearly become more densely populated, but it’s still a pretty panorama.

📍Lunch At Minerva

There are numerous restaurants dotted about Câmara de Lobos, but we lunched at Minerva so we could dine on their sweet little balcony, overlooking the sea. 

Seafood is a must here, so Robin ordered the ceviche while Mal had a sandwich with black scabbard, a local fish that you’ll see on a lot of menus on your Madeira road trip.

WHERE: Location 

📍Wine Tasting At Barbeito

After lunch, continue the gastronomic journey with a short drive to Vinhos Barbeito, in the hills above Câmara de Lobos. Call ahead to make a booking – they are very responsive and helpful.

We paid €15 for a package that included 4 different wines, including some really expensive vintage ones. The host was super friendly, the group was small, and the tour was informative. Basically, it’s awesome value. We even ended up tasting more wines than were indicated in the package, which is always a win! 

WHERE: Location 

📍Cabo Girão Skywalk

Floating 600 m above the ground, the glass-bottomed Cabo Girão Skywalk is essentially a glorified miradouro. 

The views are admittedly spectacular, but no more so than other coastal viewpoints, so it’s not a must-see. However, given the cheap price and the fact that it’s located just off the road between Barbeito and the next stop on our Madeira Portugal itinerary, Ponta do Sol, it’s worth a quick stop off. 

📍Ponta Do Sol

Known as the sunniest place in Madeira, Ponta do Sol is said to have the best weather of any place on the island.

We also thought it was the prettiest town we visited on Madeira, the colourful buildings lining the beachfront making for a scenic backdrop to the harbour.

Wander around the cute town, go to the pier to get a nice view of the coast, and chill on the beach, which is lovely, even in the off-season. We visited in October, and the sea was still pleasant to swim in. 

📍Cascata Dos Anjos

End the day with a walk from Ponta do Sol to Cascata dos Anjos, aka the Waterfall of the Angels. It’s not the most heavenly sight we’ve ever seen, but it is an unusual one, the waterfall cascading directly onto the road. 

Cascata dos Anjos is also known as the car wash by Madeirans since locals are allowed to drive through the water. For visitors in hire cars, you have to park a little way away if you opt not to walk.

But why would you not walk? It’s an easy stroll from Ponda do Sol: just head through the tunnel going west out of town and follow the path. On the way we passed a banana plantation with a help-yourself spot where the owners leave spare bananas for people to take.

If you can, time your trip for sunset. There are fewer people at this time of day, and the colours are gorgeous.

DAY 5: North East

The northeastern part of Madeira contained some of the wildest (in an enchanting way) scenery we saw, from verdant forest to jagged coastline. Lace-up those walking shoes for this part of the trip!

📍Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR 9 Hike)

Even though we missed out on the Pico to Pico hike, we did have a hugely enjoyable time walking the Levada do Caldeirão Verde trail. Named for the channels used to transport water in past centuries, it’s fairly easy because the journey is mostly flat.

The route starts in front of some traditional houses, one of which contains a cafe where you can get a celebratory coffee at the end of the hike. Just make sure you bring cash, as they don’t take cards!

Amidst the lush forest, there are 5 tunnels in total that you walk through, so it helps to have a torch, although we just about managed with our phones. A raincoat is a must-have, as it’s often quite damp, especially when you get to the level of the clouds.

The end point of the hike is a waterfall, which was officially closed off when we went due to a past landslide. Most people ignore the sign, though, because what would be the point of going all that way and not seeing the cascade? Having said that, you should make your own decision regarding safety.

It took us just over 4 hours to cover the 13 km there and back, and we recommend starting as early as possible. We began just before sunrise and had a fab experience, but on the return journey we passed crowds of people beginning the trek. 

Since the paths are narrow, it can be a bit tricky squeezing past people travelling in the other direction. Plus, from 11 am onwards, we’d imagine parking is a bit of a nightmare. 

So, just to reiterate, go early!

📍Santana Village

Continue your Madeira road trip with a stop off in Santana for lunch. This village is home to a bunch of traditional houses that emulate the habitations of the first settlers, who built simple homes from wood in triangular shapes, topped off with thatched roofs. 

📍Rocha do Navio Viewpoint

On the outskirts of Santana is the Rocha do Navio Nature Reserve. It’s possible to descend the rocky coastline via cable car or by hiking down steps cut into the cliff. 

Since you may feel hiked out already, we recommend just stopping by the viewpoint to take in the jaw-dropping coastal view and moving on.

📍Miradouro Da Ponta Do Rosto

Finish the day taking in the rugged coastline of the Dragon’s Tail of Madeira, a narrow strip of land that (sort of) sticks out the backside of the island. It’s possible to go further along the ‘tail’ than the Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto, but this viewpoint has a little car park right next to it for minimum effort. 

It gets super windy on this part of the coast, so don’t stand too close to the edge or you might get blown away! Our recommendation? Bring warm clothing and hang around to watch the sunset.

DAY 6: Fanal Forest, Fouentes Hike 

By this point you’ve probably realised that we were really digging the natural landscape on our Madeira road trip. There’s just so much photogenic scenery to enjoy – and as keen photographers, one of the most fun places to snap pics was in Fanal Forest.

📍Fanal Forest

You don’t have to come to Fanal Forest during first light, but that’s when the scenery is at its most mysterious and otherworldly. Filled with ancient trees that are centuries old, the landscape has an almost magical quality when it’s shrouded in fog, which you’re most likely to encounter during the early morning.

Especially famous is the Witch Tree, whose twisted branches are said to resemble the body of a witch in black robes. We didn’t have quite enough mist, but we still could see the huge body resembling a person! So creepy!

Speaking of the weather, it can be quite wet and damp in the fog, so make sure you wear something waterproof and warm-ish. It’s apparently quite chilly even in summer, and it definitely was in October.

If you don’t mind hanging about for a while on a foggy morning, it’s quite cool to see the mists dissipate, revealing the verdant green landscape in all its glory. Alternatively, you can double back in the afternoon just to see the comparison – it’s only about 15 minutes from our next stop.

📍25 Fontes Hike & Levada Do Risco PR6

If you haven’t yet had your fill of glorious nature hikes through dense forest, ending up at gushing waterfalls, this is another great trek to check out.

What we found most unique about this route was the part where you come across a pool that’s fed by multiple rivulets and one big gusher streaming down the side of a cliff. 

Apparently, there are 25 ‘fontes’ or ‘sources,’ hence the name, but we didn’t bother to count – we were too busy lounging about on the surrounding boulders and enjoying the scenery. 

DAY 7: Whale Watching Tour

It’s so easy to come back from a week-long holiday feeling exhausted, so we like to try and work in a chill final day if we can. That’s why we suggest capping off a Madeira 7 day itinerary with a relaxing boat tour to see some of the local wildlife before enjoying one last glorious sunset.

📍Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour

As we mentioned right at the beginning of this post, Funchal is home to Maderia’s main port. From here, several companies operate boat tours that take you out on the Atlantic Ocean.

We decided to check out one that advertised the opportunity to see some marine life. There’s no guarantee, of course, since it’s basically a bit of a gamble as to whether anything will turn up. 

Luckily for us, we got to see a few schools of bottlenose dolphins as well as a couple of pilot whales, which was a pretty cool experience. The crew helped amp it up by mentioning some interesting facts and pointing out notable features of the coastline. All in all, a satisfying trip.

📍Cristo Rei Statue

After you’ve enjoyed some downtime post-boat, head out to the Cristo Rei Statue just east of Funchal, aiming to arrive just before sunset. 

There’s quite a bit of free parking nearby, but it’s also possible to stop on the side of the road if the parking lot is full.

The Cristo Rei Statue is only about 15m (49ft) tall, including the pedestal – so not quite as impressive as the one in Brazil! The setting, though, is very dramatic, and you can keep walking along the path past the statue for some great ocean views.

Afterwards, conclude your Madeira 7 day itinerary with a farewell beer or cocktail at the nearby café.

Madeira Road Trip Tips

Where To Stay?

Funchal is where we stayed, and to be honest, it’s pretty hard to beat as a base. It’s the largest habitation on the island, so it has plenty of facilities; plus it’s in a central location, which makes it super easy to go on trips around the island.

How To Get Around? 

By car! Driving is by far the easiest way to see Madeira. There are a couple of local bus companies that run routes around Funchal, as well as connecting Funchal to Santana and Camara de Lobos. However, it’s not possible to get to a lot of the hiking routes or coastal viewpoints without a car.

What’s The Best Time To Visit?

Summer is obviously when it’s hottest on Madeira, which is great for sun worshippers. We chose to go in October because it still gets up to about 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), but it’s outside peak season, meaning fewer fellow tourists.

Is 7 days enough in Madeira?

1 week in Madeira is just right, as that gives you plenty of time to see and explore Funchal, go on multiple amazing hikes, and drive along the coastline. Any longer than 7 days and, you’ll probably find yourself short of things to do – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you enjoy slow travel!

Is it difficult to drive on Madeira?

Overall, we didn’t find it too difficult to drive on Madeira. There are lots of windy and hilly roads, but as they are almost all well-maintained, we didn’t feel like traversing the island was risky or dangerous. Instead, it just meant lots of cool views!

Final Word

Even though we didn’t get to see everything we wanted to on our Madeira road trip itinerary – missing out on the Pico Do Arieiro To Pico Ruivo Hike still haunts us – we had a great time exploring the island. For nature lovers and people who enjoy gorgeous scenery, there’s really no reason for complaints!