Things to do in Madeira: how to choose
Madeira is small, but the roads are steep. Porto Moniz in the northwest is roughly 60 kilometres from Funchal, and that is a long drive. You will not see everything in one trip, so pick a few anchors and build the days around them. The activities in Madeira below run from high mountain trails to gardens in Monte, the western cliffs and the open ocean.
Two things changed in 2026. First, every official hiking trail needs an online booking and a fee. Second, several sights raised their entry prices. All prices on this page are adult prices for 2026 unless stated, and they can change. This is an independent guide, not the official tourism website.
1 to 5: mountains and levadas
Walking in Madeira is the main reason to come. Book the slot first, then plan the rest.
1. The Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo ridge
The classic route is 6.1 km and takes about 3 hours, with tunnels cut into the rock and a steep stair near Pico das Torres. The full crossing costs €10.50. It reopened on 1 May 2026 and runs daily since 26 June, but from Pedra Rija it is one-way towards Pico Ruivo. Plan your return transport.
Pico do Arieiro →2. Levada do Caldeirão Verde
The official page lists 8.7 km one way along a levada through four tunnels to the Caldeirão do Inferno, starting at the Queimadas forest park. Many walkers stop at the waterfall pool of Caldeirão Verde. Secondary sources report that the last stretch is closed after rockfall, so check the status.
Levada walks →3. Levada das 25 Fontes
A medium walk of 4.3 km one way from Rabaçal to a lagoon fed by many small springs, about 3 hours there and back according to the official page. Some guides give a longer distance because they start at the café. The nearby Levada do Risco is a short, easy detour.
All ten levadas →4. Vereda dos Balcões
The easiest walk here: 1.5 km one way from the road at Ribeiro Frio, about 1.5 hours return. On a clear day you see Pico do Arieiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. Afterwards you can visit the trout farm in Ribeiro Frio.
5. Fanal and the laurel forest
The Vereda do Fanal runs 10.8 km one way from Assobiadores on the Paúl da Serra plateau to Fanal. It crosses UNESCO laurel forest with very old trees. Fog is common at Fanal. Because the route is linear, you need a taxi, a transfer or two cars.
Our picks: the highlights
Pico do Arieiro, the west coast and the dolphins.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided walk at Pico do Arieiro
Pick-up at the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, the Stairways to Heaven ridge and the Ninho da Manta viewpoint. The PR1 trail fee and booking are included.
Check availability →
Dolphin and whale watching by catamaran
Certified crew and guides with a spotter on land. No hotel pick-up, and food and drinks are sold on board.
Check availability →
West Madeira waterfalls and Fanal forest
Pick-up in Funchal and Caniço, a guide and transport. Lunch, the optional skywalk (€5) and the Porto Moniz pool fee (€3) are extra.
Check availability →Madeira tours and activities
Guided levada walks, sunrise trips to Pico do Arieiro, jeep tours and whale-watching boats, with live prices and availability.
6 to 10: Funchal and Monte
Gardens, markets and a cable car, all within a short drive of the capital.
6. Mercado dos Lavradores
The covered market in Funchal opened in 1940 and has 122 stalls. According to the city it is open Monday to Friday 7:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 7:00 to 14:00. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Go in the morning.
Funchal →7. The cable car to Monte
The ride takes about 15 minutes and climbs 560 metres from the old town. A return ticket costs €22 and a single €16. After a modernisation, five cabins with glass floors opened in April 2026. The operator lists daily service from 8:45 to 17:45.
Monte →8. Monte toboggan
The basket sledges run about 2 km down towards Livramento. Since 1 May 2026 a ride costs €30 for one person, €40 for two and €60 for three. There is no ride back up. Ask at the station for the opening hours.
Toboggan and cable car →9. Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Adults pay €18, children up to 14 with an adult enter free. The garden opens 9:00 to 19:00 from April to September and 9:00 to 18:00 from October to March. The palace itself is not open to visitors. The entrance is next to the top cable car station.
10. Madeira Botanical Garden
Since 1 January 2026 entry is €10 for visitors over 12 and €3 for children. It is open daily 9:00 to 18:00 with the ticket office closing at 17:30. Older guides still print €7.50, which is outdated.
What to see in Funchal: a simple day
Start at the market, take the cable car up to Monte, walk through one of the two gardens and ride the toboggan down. The toboggan ends below Monte, so allow time to get back into town by taxi or bus.
11 to 15: coast, north and ocean
Longer drives, bigger views and the water.
11. Cabo Girão skywalk
A glass platform on one of the island's highest sea cliffs, listed at 580 metres by the official tourism site. Entry has been €5 since 1 January 2026, up from €3. Children up to 12 and residents are free. Parking space is limited.
Cabo Girão →12. The natural pools of Porto Moniz
The municipal pool complex costs €3 per person, with €1.50 for students and over-65s. It opens 9:00 to 17:00 in winter and 9:00 to 19:00 in summer, with lifeguards. The Cachalote pools at the entrance of town are free but have no lifeguard. Rough seas can close pools.
Porto Moniz →13. Seixal and the Véu da Noiva viewpoint
The village of Seixal has a black beach and natural pools. Reports on the pool entry fee conflict, so ask locally. The Véu da Noiva viewpoint sits on the old road between São Vicente and Seixal and faces a waterfall that drops from a hanging valley.
14. Santana and its thatched houses
The triangular houses with straw roofs are the symbol of Santana on the north coast. Most of them stand in the Parque Temático da Madeira. We could not verify ticket prices, so check them before you go. Santana is also the end point of the PR 1.2 trail from Pico Ruivo.
Santana →15. Whale and dolphin watching
Boats leave all year from Funchal marina, Calheta, Machico and Caniçal, and Porto Santo. Commonly seen are common dolphins, spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and pilot whales. Check current prices with the operator.
Whale watching →One more idea outside the list: Porto Santo, 71 km away, has a golden beach of about 9 km. See Porto Santo for the ferry and the short flight.
Plan the details
Where to base yourself and how to get around.
Things to visit in Madeira if you have only a few days
Most trips to Madeira work best with one mountain day, one day in Funchal and Monte, and one day on the west or north coast. With three or four days for your holidays in Madeira, choose one walk and one coast day, as the FAQ below suggests. The best places to see in Madeira on a short stay are the Pico do Arieiro ridge, the cable car and gardens at Monte, and the natural pools at Porto Moniz.
These Madeira attractions lie in different parts of the island, so group them by region instead of crossing the island twice. The Cabo Girão skywalk and the Botanical Garden fit well around those anchors. Madeira's must-see list stays short because the roads are steep and slow.
Madeira in December: festive season and mild weather
Funchal's festive season runs from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, with a fireworks show at midnight on New Year's Eve. The programme for 2026/27 is not yet published. In the Funchal climate record for 1991 to 2020, December is the wettest month, with 94.8 mm of rain and a mean air temperature of 18.3 °C on the coast.
Madeira in January
January is slightly cooler on the coast, with a mean of 17.1 °C and 67.1 mm of rain. The mountains are wetter and often foggy, and trails can close at short notice, so check the status before you plan a ridge walk. Our weather month by month page has the full table.
Things to do in Madeira: frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Madeira?
Most visitors name the walk from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. It is open, but you must book a start slot online, it costs €10.50 and it is one-way from Pedra Rija.
How many days do I need in Madeira?
A week lets you combine two mountain days, a Funchal and Monte day and a day on the west and north coast. With three or four days, choose one walk and one coast day.
What can I do on a rainy day?
Funchal's market, the Botanical Garden and the Monte Palace garden work in light rain. The mountains and the north are wetter than the south coast, and trails can close at short notice.
Which sights have an entry fee in 2026?
The Cabo Girão skywalk (€5), the Porto Moniz pools (€3), the Botanical Garden (€10), Monte Palace (€18) and the cable car (€22 return). Each official trail costs €4.50.
Can children join the hikes?
The official trail pages say children up to 12 are exempt from the fee, but the forest institute requires registration for all visitors regardless of age. Book a slot for them too.