Madeira

Dramatic Cliffs and Eternal Spring

Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean known for its lush green landscapes and dramatic cliffs. The terrain includes volcanic peaks, terraced gardens and coastal paths that offer panoramic views of the sea. Local towns feature colorful buildings and historic churches, while markets sell fresh produce like bananas and grapes. Weather stays mild year-round due to ocean currents, making outdoor activities possible at any season. Visitors can explore caves, waterfalls or simply enjoy quiet beaches with clear waters.

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Island in Portugal

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.9

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Older locals might speak only Portuguese, but most people in hospitality and shops can communicate in English without issues.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Madeira Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for hiking and coastal scenery. Walk levada trails, visit botanical gardens, enjoy ocean viewpoints and explore mountain villages.

Place score

8.0

Best at:

Islands

Natural sites

Sea

Wine

Hiking

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 10

Couples

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

Portugal – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Portugal has widespread acceptance of cashless payments, particularly in urban areas and larger businesses. Cards are commonly used, and mobile payment options are increasingly available. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary but not mandatory in Portugal. In restaurants, leaving a 5-10% tip is common, especially if the service is exceptional. Taxi drivers usually expect a small tip of around 5-10%, and hotel staff appreciate tips for their services.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally accepted in most public spaces, such as parks and beaches. However, certain municipalities may enforce restrictions in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places like restaurants and bars. Designated smoking areas are available in many public spaces.

Portuguese Republic Day (October)	National holiday with public celebrations and some closures, particularly in Lisbon.
Christmas (December)	Holiday celebrations and increased tourism, expect crowded areas and higher accommodation prices.
Carnival (February)	Festive celebrations with parades and events, especially in Lisbon and Madeira. Expect lively crowds.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Portugal boasts rich cultural heritage, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Public transport is reliable, and the country is known for its mild climate, especially in the southern regions.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Madeira, Portugal

🌤️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

☀️

Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	April - Oct., Dec.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - March, Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Climate varies by area: south coast (Funchal) sunnier and drier, north coast and mountains cooler, wetter and cloudier

Christmas and New Year are very busy, with a big fireworks show in Funchal on 31 December

Flower Festival runs in April or May, depending on Easter

Hiking trails (levadas) can close after heavy rain or after wildfires

Don't miss

🥾 Hike the stunning Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail above the clouds
🌊 Drive along the dramatic coastal roads of Madeira’s north coast
🏖️ Swim in the volcanic natural pools of Porto Moniz
🌺 Stroll through the colorful Monte Palace Tropical Garden in Funchal
🍷 Taste Madeira wine at a traditional local wine lodge

You've been here?

Why travel to Madeira?

Madeira is a paradise for outdoor lovers. The levada walks (historic irrigation channels) lead through misty laurel forests and past breathtaking waterfalls. Pico do Arieiro offers sunrise views above the clouds and Cabo Girão has one of the world’s highest sea cliffs. The island’s volcanic beaches and natural lava pools provide a unique coastal experience, though don’t expect soft white sand. Funchal, the capital, has a charming old town, great seafood and famous Madeira wine. But driving here can be nerve-wracking with its steep, winding roads and public transport is limited outside the main areas.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Funchal
A vibrant coastal city on Madeira’s southern coast offers a mild climate, terraced gardens and historic architecture. Visitors enjoy scenic harbor views, local markets and easy access to the island’s lush mountains and dramatic cliffs.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Monte
2 Monte Palace Tropical Garden
3 The Snug Old Town
4 Casas de Colmo-traditional houses
5 Fajã dos Padres
6 Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools

🎡Places for activities

1 Santo da Serra Golf Club
2 Madeira Story Centre
3 Museu CR7
4 Museu da Quinta das Cruzes

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Fanal forest
This ancient forest in Madeira's Fanal region features towering laurel trees, misty trails and rare endemic species. It offers a serene escape into nature's untouched beauty, surrounded by lush greenery and historical significance within Portugal's archipelago.
2 Ponta de São Lourenço
3 Pico Ruivo
4 Boca da Encumeada
5 Cascata das 25 Fontes
6 Tern Partial Nature Reserve

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado dos Lavradores
2 Blandy's Wine Lodge
3 Armazém do Mercado
4 Art center Caravel

🎈Events

Madeira Flower Festival
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Carnival of Madeira
Atlantic Festival
Madeira Wine Festival
Columbus Festival
Festa da Senhora do Monte
Nature Festival
Funchal Jazz Festival
Madeira Ultra Trail

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a car to explore steep roads and remote levada trails easily.
Pack layers for microclimates; mornings sunny, afternoons misty in mountains.
Book levada hikes in advance during peak season to secure guided spots.
Taste poncha cocktail at local bars; it's made from local rum, honey and lemon for authentic flavor.

How to travel to Madeira

Madeira Airport (FNC) in Funchal connects to major European cities. There are no ferries to mainland Portugal, but a ferry runs to Porto Santo Island. Taxis, buses and rental cars are available from the airport.

Access summary

From Funchal Airport (FNC): Aerobus or taxi to Funchal, about 20–40 minutes.
From Lisbon/Porto: Direct flights to Madeira typically around 1.5–2 hours.
Island driving is very steep; allow extra time for mountain roads.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Madeira

Funchal has the most accommodation options, from luxury resorts to budget stays. Rural areas offer charming quintas (traditional manor houses) and Porto Moniz is great for a quiet nature escape. Camping is limited.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Pestana Casino Park Hotel & Casino

8.9

Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel

8.9

Muthu Raga Madeira Hotel

8.1

Dom Pedro Garajau

8.3

Quinta Da Penha De Franca

8.9

Hotel Quinta Do Furao

9.5

Melia Madeira Mare Hotel

9.1

Hotel Porto Mare - PortoBay

9.3

TURIM Santa Maria Hotel

9.2

Pestana CR7 Funchal

8.7

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Madeira

Renting a car is the best way to explore Madeira, but driving on steep, narrow roads can be challenging. Public buses exist but are infrequent in rural areas. Taxis and guided tours are good alternatives for reaching more remote spots.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-39 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 39% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£50	£107	£267
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£56	£128
🍝 Food per day	£20	£42	£113
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£9	£26

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£17
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£9
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£47
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£8

Safety information overview

General safety

Madeira is very safe, with low crime rates. Pickpocketing is rare. Be cautious on steep hiking trails and coastal roads, as weather conditions can change quickly, making some paths dangerous.

Health & Medical

Medical services are high quality in Funchal, with hospitals and clinics available. In rural areas, facilities are limited. The sun can be strong, so hydration and sun protection are essential.

Accessibility

Funchal’s main areas are walkable, but hilly. Some levada walks have uneven terrain, making them difficult for those with mobility issues. Public transport is limited in rural areas.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and clean. In rural areas, bottled water is sometimes preferred. Many hiking trails lack water sources, so bring enough for long treks.