To be honest, I could spend hours writing about Madeira! This small island, also known as the “Hawaii of Europe”, is packed with adventure, and I enjoyed every corner of it! There are so many incredible things to do in Madeira, that I highly recommend visiting it on your next vacation in Europe.
Being an island in the Atlantic Ocean, the natural beauty of Madeira is truly unparalleled, and is one of the top reasons that Madeira is worth visiting. And with that, comes some incredible outdoor activities to do in Madeira.
In this guide, we will go over some of the top things to do in Madeira, from outdoor activities to eating the local cuisine.
Without further ado, let’s get into the top activities in Madeira!
Top 10 Things to Do in Madeira Portugal
1. Enjoy the Food in Funchal’s Old Town
Your first stop will undoubtedly be Funchal, the island’s capital city. I recommend taking a walk through the old town (Zona Velha), as it perfectly showcases Madeira’s deep history and heritage mixed with modern-day street art.
While making your way down the old cobblestone streets, you will notice many bars and restaurants that offer traditional local food; and, believe me when I say it is nothing less than delicious.
For me, the best dish was the famous espetada! Tender beef skewers that usually come accompanied by potatoes and salad. The key ingredient that gives this dish its amazing earthy flavor is the bay leaves!
I paired my espetada with a glass of Atlantis Rose, which is a good quality table wine from Madeira.
2. Explore the Monte Palace Garden
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a truly magical place and probably the most popular attraction of Madeira.
The sight holds a remarkable collection of tropical plants from all around the world and has many lakes and ponds that are home to swans, ducks, and other animals.
Among all that natural diversity, you will encounter art exhibitions, sculptures, and one of the finest mineral collections you’ve ever seen! It will take you a few hours to explore this wonderful space, but it’s worth it.
Just be sure to avoid rainy days, as the location is high up in the mountains and bad weather can affect your overall experience.
3. Watch the Sunrise from Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro is one of the highest peaks on the island offering some of the best panoramic views of the whole island. Pico do Arieiro is very popular among hikers, with many who decide to traverse both Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo (the island’s highest point) in one day!
Hiker or not, you can easily get to the sunrise spot without breaking a sweat! Just a 30-minute drive from Funchal will get you to the incredible viewpoint.
Depending on the weather conditions, you will be able to witness the popular cloud inversion as well!
This is a perfect place for snapping some photos, however, due to the popularity of this site, be prepared to encounter many more who came for the same reason.
4. Swim in the Natural Pools of Porto Moniz
Before I visited the island, several people suggested Porto Moniz as the most popular tourist attraction out there, and when I arrived, I understood why. This small village in northern Madeira is well-known for the volcanic rock swimming pools that stand along its rugged coast.
The natural lava pools are filled with clear ocean water that blends with the gorgeous blue sky above.
I went in the afternoon to avoid the crowds, but early morning is also a good time to visit. The space is very well organized and for a small fee, you can relax the whole day.
The only thing that can get in your way are the occasional strong waves, and in that case, the pools are closed, but you can still enjoy the awesome view.
5. Spend a Day in Câmara de Lobos
The name of this fisherman’s village might sound intimidating, as it translates to ‘Chamber of Wolfs’, but the place itself is quite the opposite.
The reason it was given this name was the large number of sea (wolves) lions that lived there, but these days, you will be lucky if you come across one.
What you will find is many colorful fishing boats peacefully floating in the harbor. Actually, Winston Churchill was really inspired by this location, and you will find his favorite painting spot marked with a statue of him.
In Câmara de Lobos, you will also find one of the best wineries in Madeira! Henriques & Henriques makes some of the best Madeira wine on the island. Visit Henriques & Henriques for a wine tasting and to enjoy stunning views from the winery!
6. Experience the Cabo Girão Skywalk
If you are afraid of heights, you might want to skip this one, because even the bravest get a little dizzy here.
Cabo Girão is the tallest peak in Europe and you can get there either by renting a car or by taking a bus. The skywalk is a see-through walkway that showcases views over the cliff, allowing a breathtaking downward view of the ocean and the green fields at the bottom.
It’s quite an experience stepping onto the glass platform and feeling like you are walking across the sky.
Walking on the skywalk is free, and can easily be reached from Village Cabo Girão.
7. Visit Santana
Santana is one of the most iconic villages in Madeira, with the red and white houses with thatched roofs being one of the most identifiable destinations on the island.
Located in East Madeira, you can reach Santana by renting a car or taking one of the many tours that leave from Funchal to experience the beauty of this village.
You can easily dedicate an entire 1-2 days exploring Santana, as there are many things to do that allow you to gain a unique perspective compared to Funchal.
While in Santana, be sure to visit the Madeira Theme Park, as well as the largest rose garden in Portugal! Santana is also home to Queimadas Forest Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its precious biodiversity.
8. Stop by the Fanal Forest
This atypical forest is located in the northwestern part of Madeira where the fog forms with ease before rising to the top of the mountains.
Thanks to the thick fog, the forest takes on a ghostly appearance that combines perfectly with the crooked laurel trees that are common in this area.
The result? A truly unusual yet beautiful setting for taking photos that look like they came straight out of a fairy tale.
The forest was easy to find as it is located just one hour by car from Funchal. You may also reach it by joining organized tracking tours.
This is the largest surviving area of laurel forest in the world and for that reason, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site and a highly protected landmark.
No matter how many days you have on Madeira, you need to give this attraction a shot!
9. Walk the Sao Lourenco Peninsula
If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity in Madeira, the Sao Lourenco Peninsula, also called ‘The Dragon’s Tail’, is one of the most beautiful settings you can find.
The Sao Lourenco Peninsula is an area full of cliffs facing the sea, with an arid and rocky landscape that brings a very unique drama to the place.
The peninsula is close to the airport and is easy to recognize as it will be one of the first things you see when arriving in Madeira. The walk is moderate and anyone with average physical condition will be able to do it without problem.
Besides the walk, I really liked collecting fossils down by the beach, a dream I had long before I came to the island, and Sao Lourenco made it a reality!
10. See the Seixal Beach
Seixal Beach has a charm that can hardly be surpassed by the rest of the beaches on the island.
While most of the beaches in Madeira are pebbles or rocks, Seixal Beach is a black volcanic sand beach, that is both beautiful and relaxing to visit. Made completely out of fine sand, this beach is much more comfortable if you plan to go swimming or walk along the beach barefoot.
But the fine sand is not the only thing that this beach has to offer. The impressive landscapes, where the sea and the mountains meet, make this beach one of the favorites, both for locals and tourists.
I also recommend coming to this beach at sunrise, as you get some incredible views of the water that make it even more magical.
Conclusion
There are so many incredible things to do in Madeira; you can easily fill up a 1-2 week itinerary no problem!
I hope that this list has made your trip planning easier. These were only my top ten recommendations of activities to do in Madeira, but with so many options, I can’t wait to hear what went into your final list.
The good news is that there are tons of tours that leave from Funchal every day, with a tour for practically every activity on this list! Taking a tour makes it so you can enjoy the beautiful island without needing to coordinate your own transportation.
Author’s Bio: Jess is a California native with a HUGE passion for travel and wine tasting. When she is not found working at the hospital, you can find her playing with her mini Australian Shepherd or planning her next vacation! She created Travel + Tannins to help inspire and plan travel (wine-related, or not!) for others.
