Travel Guide to Madeira Island, Portugal: 4-Day Itinerary
Get ready for an unforgettable trip to Madeira, the island paradise and “Pearl of the Atlantic.” This itinerary will guide you through the very best of Madeira.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I will get a commission if you decide to purchase anything through my links. I choose products and services for these links that I believe in. :)Madeira might be one of my favourite destinations ever. If you’re here, you probably know Madeira is a Portuguese island located off the coast of northwest Africa has been dubbed the “Pearl of the Atlantic. Let me tell you: it absolutely lives up to its name.
I spent 4 days in Madeira in the month of June and although I wish I could spend a lifetime on this island, 4 days is a good amount of time to throughly explore.
For more of an in-depth guide to visiting Madeira, check out my comprehensive guide to solo travel Madeira where I go over all of the details you need to plan the perfect trip.
Madeira Island, Portugal is a popular spot for tourists and digital nomads.
Where to Stay in Madeira:
This itinerary is built around accommodation in Funchal, and I definitely recommend staying here if you only have 4 days on the island. It is a great base.
Staying in Funchal comes with its advantages such as being close to many attractions, festivities, and things to do on Madeira Island.
Here is a list of recommended places to stay in Madeira:
Pestana Carlton: I really enjoyed my time at the Pestana on Porto Santo, they are a popular Portuguese hotel/resort chain. A friend has stayed at this location before and had nothing but amazing things to say about it.
Quinta Da Penha De Franca:Best hotel for solo travelers in Madeira
Hotel Caju: Close to the beach, good for solo travelers, couples, and families, breakfast included
Best Hostels in Funchal: Hostelworld Funchal
Options for Nomads: DIGITAL NOMADS Madeira Islands
Best Luxury Resort Hotel: Reid’s Palace
Night time view of Funchal, Madeira.
How to get around in Madeira
I’ve noticed that a lot of guides will recommend renting a car and to be honest, that surprises me a bit because it is pretty easy to get around Madeira via public or private transport.
I definitely recommend exploring public transport before renting a car. Especially if you will only be here for a few days, and are staying in Funchal.
The Aerobus (€6.50 one way, cash only) has convenient shuttle services from the airport to the front step of many hotels and accommodation sites in Funchal and guided tours make it easy to explore Madeira without renting a car.
I ended up only taking one taxi the whole trip and that was because I had to get to the airport by 4AM (it was easy to book a taxi, it was about €28ish, but I absolutely do NOT recommend a flight out at that stupid hour ha ha!).
As always, check with your hotel and see if they offer airport shuttle services as many of them do.
Getting to Funchal city centre from the airport is made very simple with the Aerobus.
4 Days in Madeira: Itinerary
Let’s get into it! This section will take you through each day, one by one. After each day, you will find a quick summary and list of things to do.
The Madeira Promenade follows the beautiful coastline.
Day 1: Exploring Funchal
After I checked into my hotel, I immediately headed out to explore the city of Funchal. I did a lot of walking this day!
I created a quick Google maps of all of the stops I made this day. I spent 1-2 hours seeing everything but it completely depends on how long you want to explore each area. There are also tons of things to see and explore along the way.
The Funchal Promenade felt like the most iconic place to begin my Madeira trip. There is a mini outdoor market where I found pastries, food, and, of course, poncha which is a traditional alcoholic drink made from brandy, honey, and orange juice. If that is your kind of way to start your vacay…I HIGHLY recommend starting with a good Madeiran greeting of poncha.
After the promenade I made my way to the Jardim Municipal do Funchal - a gorgeous park garden in the middle of the city.
The Praça do Município was the next thing I saw, a historic square surrounded by notable buildings such as the Museum of Sacred Art, Church of St. John, and the Funchal City Hall. The black and white tiles throughout this area of town showcase traditional Portuguese design and incorporation of “azulejos” (glazed ceramic tiles).
Then, the second to last stop of the afternoon - the Mercado dos Lavradores, a stunning courtyard market, lined with local vendors of fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and beautiful handcrafted goods. It's a must-visit on this trip, especially if you want to try some of the local fruits, including the famous monstera delicious or maracuja banana.
The very last stop I made was Zona Histórica do Funchal - old town. It is such a fun place to explore but it is also has some really great restaurants and that is where I sat down for dinner before heading back to the hotel.
TLDR: Madeira Day 1
Today, we are getting to know Funchal on a self-guided walking tour. As we start to explore the city, we discover the island charm of Madeira as we take in the sights and sounds of this destination.
Find the Google Maps guide here: INTRO WALKING TOUR FUNCHAL
Funchal Promenade
Jardim Municipal do Funchal (public park & garden)
Praça do Município (historic square)
Mercado dos Lavradores (fruit market)
Zona Histórica do Funchal (old town)
Day 2: Monte Gardens + Funchal Parks
A tropical paradise awaits you at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens in Madeira, Portugal.
The Monte Palace Gardens are a staple stop when visiting Madeira. From Funchal, I found it to be an easy transfer up to Monte, the mountain village. The first of two transportation options is to take the cable cars! The view of Funchal and the ocean from the cable car is absolutely unreal.
One of the days I was in Funchal, there was a wind advisory and they unfortunately had to shut the cable cars down for the day. However, if the cable cars are not operating due to a wind advisory or if they're not your preferred mode of transport, don’t worry, there is a bus that takes you from Funchal to the entrance of the gardens (€2 one way, cash only).
The view over Funchal from the cables cars is stunning!
Entrance to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens is €18.
One thing about me when I’m traveling is I’m going to see the gardens. Botanical gardens, greenhouses, parks, whatever it is…I’m there. Let me tell you, this is the queen of tropical gardens. The collection of plants in the garden is endless. You could truly spend hours in this beautiful place.
You’ll come across tropical wildlife all throughout the gardens.
On the property, there are also several museums, houses, and lakes to explore. There is a cafe at the top of the hill and another when you make your way to the bottom.
As you make your way through the gardens, you may also encounter peacocks, chickens, flamingos, swans, and other birds and animals that freely wander the grounds.
Toboggan Ride: Monte to Funchal
When you do finally decide it is time to head back down the mountain, keep in mind, a third transportation option enters the chat!
One of the well-known attractions in Funchal is the toboggan run that starts in Monte and drops you off just outside of Funchal. You will be guided down the mountain in a traditional wicker basket by two chauffeurs called “carreiros.”
Starting in the 1850s, this means of transportation was and is part of everyday life for Madeirans.
You can also take the cable cars back down the mountain and the bus runs about every hour (check timetables).
Funchal Parks
After a day of walking up and down mountain paths, I wanted nothing more than a relaxing picnic in one of Funchal's parks. Local parks are one of my favorite places to visit when traveling, as they offer a glimpse into the everyday life of the locals. There are several parks in Funchal that make a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Jardim Municipal do Funchal, a park in the middle of Funchal city centre, often has concerts and performances happening at the outdoor amphitheater.
Some of my favorite parks in Madeira are:
Jardim de Santa Luiza
Jardim Municipal do Funchal
Santa Catarina Park
TLDR: Madeira Day 2
Cable Cars or bus to Monte
Monte Palace Gardens
Picnicking in Funchal Parks
Day 3: Guided Tour of the Island
A guided tour around Madeira takes you through some of the most scenic sites of the island.
I will always, always, always recommend signing up for a tour guided by a local. Local guides offer expertise and special insight, ensuring you get the most authentic experience possible.
This guided tour took me on a safari jeep style tour of the island, and it was hands down, my favorite thing I did on this trip.
Each member of our small group was picked up from our hotels in an open top jeep, which gave us absolutely stunning views as we explored the west side of the island.
Sexial’s black sand beaches and dramatic cliff backdrop makes for a popular Madeira destination.
There were several areas of Madeira this tour went through. Here are some of them:
Sexial is known for its black sand beaches. The village itself is so quaint. Walking through the neighborhood almost reminded me of a Studio Ghibli movie (iykyk), cozy and absolutely full of charming details.
Porto Moniz is known for the natural pools and clear, blue water. The rugged, raw landscape makes for a picturesque place to stop for lunch another quick swim in the natural volcanic pools.
Câmara de Lobos is a small fishing village just outside of Funchal with a vibrant atmosphere.
When we stopped in this quaint village, the town was preparing for a festival. The village was decorated with colorful decor made out of recycled material.
Câmara de Lobos, decorated for a festival.
Madeira Skywalk is a glass platform with beautiful views of Madeira.
Side note: if glass platforms aren’t your thing for whatever reason, the cafe here has seating with EXCELLENT views of the ocean (from personal experience ha ha!)
The tour continues through the beautiful mountains of Madeira along the backroads, complete with a stop at a mountain bar and cafe where we tried traditional poncha.
Overlooking the dramatic mountainous landscape of Madeira, Portugal.
TLDR: Madeira Day 3
Today we took a guided jeep safari tour of the west part of Madeira:
Seixal
Porto Moniz
Câmara de Lobos
Madeira Skywalk
Exploring the Madeira mountain range
Day 4: Porto Santo
Porto Santo is a small island in the same archipelago as Madeira. This tiny island, sometimes called Madeira’s “little sister island,” is known for its golden, silk sandy beaches and phenomenal resorts.
If you are wanting to take a day trip from Madeira, the ferry runs frequently between the two islands each day.
Overlooking Porto Santo from the airport.
Outside of the unbelievably beautiful beaches, there are multiple hikes with views that will leave you in awe. Check out this YouTube video that showcase the hikes and things you can do in Porto Santo. You will quickly find out why this island stole my heart.
Camara de Lobos, Madeira
I hope Madeira lingers with you, the way it has with me.
Madeira offers so many unforgettable experiences for travelers seeking adventure, natural beauty, and cultural immersion. From the fun and upbeat city of Funchal to the charming villages, stunning beaches, and breathtaking landscapes, everyone I’ve ever met who’s been to this Portuguese island has always been planning their return.
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Explore the wonders of Madeira with this comprehensive 4-day trip guide.