Madeira: The Hawaii of Europe – Exploring Portugal’s Island Paradise

Madeira: The Hawaii of Europe – Exploring Portugal’s Island Paradise

Madeira Island is a place that exceeded all my expectations. As somewhere that I have had on my bucket list for a very long time, I was impressed that it exceeded the hype I created in my mind. I was there for only one week, exploring its breathtaking landscape, unique nature and hiking trails, and can confidently say that it’s one of the most spectacular islands I’ve ever visited.

Madeira lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 1000km (620 miles) from mainland Portugal and is often referred to as the Hawaii of Europe. Its lush vegetation, subtropical climate and volcanic landscape will make you feel like you’ve stepped foot on a remote paradise island when in reality you’re less than a 2-hour flight from continental Europe. The landscape of this island is truly incredible. I had moments of feeling as if I was in Jurassic Park, waiting for the pterodactyls to fly overhead. As if that isn’t enough to convince you to visit, Madeira was once again elected the best island destination in the world at the World Travel Awards. It is the seventh consecutive time that the Region has won the award. Let’s take a look at what is include in this article. You can click any section to skip ahead:

• Quick Guide
• When to Visit
• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Where and What to Eat
  • Local Foods to try
  • Restaurants
• Top Activities / Sites

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Quick Guide

LANGUAGE: Portuguese is the National language but most people spoke English as well as German and French! 

CURRENCY: Euro is the currency, but credit cards are widely accepted but as always having cash on hand can never hurt.

DRESS CODE: the island is used to tourist and there were no strict dress codes as many people were visiting beaches or in hiking gear. Just remember to be respectful when entering religious places.

When to Visit Madeira

Located in the heart of the Atlantic, the island of Madeira has a subtropical climate. Temperatures are mild all year round. However, the best time to travel to Madeira is from April to August to avoid rainy days and enjoy mostly blue skies during your trip. If you planned to go to Madeira during other months of the year, no worries, you will still enjoy a lot of sunshine

In the middle of winter, temperatures hover around 20 degrees and rarely drop below 15 degrees Celsius. In Summer don’t expect unbearable heat like in some parts of Europe, as the temperatures rarely exceeds 25 degrees C.

Transportation in Madeira

The best way to explore the island is to rent a car and embark on an epic Madeira road trip. Although some places in this itinerary are accessible by bus, having a car will give you the freedom to stop wherever you want and allow you to get around Madeira much faster. It also allowed us to wake up early to beat the crowds and plan our days out to whatever worked best for us. Some days we felt tired and wanted to go slower than planned and others we fit in a lot more than we set out to do. We rented with MadPoint and everything went very smoothly. We picked the car up at the airport, and dropped it back off before our flights home. It was less than €250 for the full week.

PRO TIP: Make sure you get a small vehicle as the roads are not the widest and parking can be difficult. However, also make sure you have a car with enough horsepower to climb steep hills!

Accommodation

As with most islands, you are able to travel around it within a few hours. End to end is less than 2 hours but it always makes your life easier if you book accommodation in a good base location. In Madeira, Funchal is the hotel area and where we decided to base ourselves. We found that being closer to the airport for our arrival and departure days gave us that extra time to spend on the island instead of needing to travel.

We chose to use AirBnB for the stay as there is a building in the hotel area that has private residencies and we thought this would be a great fit for us. There was a pool, parking on site, tons of restaurant options within walking distance and only a 10 minute drive to the main old town of Funchal. The natural swimming coves right below and the views of the ocean were stunning. I would highly recommend this area for at least a portion of your stay.

If you want to take a look at all the accommodation options around the island here is a great place to start:

Hostels:

If you are more interested in parties, nightlife and having automatic meet ups then maybe a hostel is for you! Check out the options here.

Where and What to Eat in Madeira

As with many aspects of madeira, its food scene is influenced by many countries due to its location and history. While its main features are Portuguese, you can find anything from African or Japanese, to American and Italian restaurants scattered all around the island. This isn’t to say that they don’t have their own traditional dishes that you absolutely cannot miss while on the island. I have decided to split the food into two categories to help you choose the local dishes and some non-traditional restaurants we enjoyed during our visit.

Local Dishes:

Bolo do Caco

This delicious round flatbread should not be missed at any dinner table. It is THE appetizer of Madeira. Usually served fresh from the oven, this delicious bread will reach you with a healthy spread of mouth-watering garlic butter. Bolo do Caco is a perfectly sharable appetizer and the average price of about 2.5-4.0 € is usually very fair.

Honey cake 

Honey Cake (bolo de mel de cana) is one of the main desserts and you will be able to buy it in almost any souvenir shop. It’s not made from honey but dark sugar cane molasses with nuts and sultanas in it. It is very rich, and should last long months after it’s baked. Well, we ate it in two days because it was so delicious!

Picados

As with Bolo do Caco, this typical dish of Madeira works best when shared. It consists of fried pieces of beef (also widely available with chicken) topped with garlic and gravy. The meat is served on a bed of french fries (oftentimes homemade.) The easiest way to order it is by indicating the number of people that will share a picado. In our experience, portions are usually very generous.

Espetada

Another typical Madeiran meat dish is espetada, cubes of beef grilled over open fire. While barbecue is popular throughout Portugal, in Madeira, the peculiarity is the seasoning of the pieces of meat with salt, garlic and native laurel. In addition, the meat cubes are traditionally skewered on laurel sticks, which give them a wonderful flavor. Since restaurants usually use iron skewers (not less delicious), you might want to visit one of the numerous local festivals which take place year around in different places in Madeira. Here, you will have the chance to grill the meat yourself with real laurel sticks while mingling with the locals.

Poncha

Besides delicious dishes, of course, Madeira also offers something to quench your thirst. Probably the most famous drink of the island is poncha. Based on local sugar cane brandy (Aguardente de Cana de Acura), honey, and fresh lemon juice, poncha tastes wonderfully refreshing. Dating back as early as the 16th century, poncha was the seafarer’s remedy of choice against vitamin deficiency. Be warned, these are quite strong!

Nikita

Apparently, Madeira is not afraid of strange combinations when it comes to food and drinks. But in my humble opinion, they’re welcome to keep experimenting. One stellar result is the Nikita, a tasty drink that resembles of a creamy Piña Colada, but is quite distinct at the same time. A classic Nikita is made from beer, pineapple juice and vanilla ice cream – and tastes wonderfully refreshing. The drink supposedly got its name from a song by Elton John, which the inventor – a local from the town of Camara do Lobos – liked particularly well.

PRO TIP | The Nikita is also available in a non-alcoholic version, with lemonade instead of beer, so the whole family can join the fun.

Restaurants:

Sushi by Gavina’s:

We had sushi 3 times while on the island and this was our first meal after we arrived. It was located very close to our hotel and when we walked past it looked too delicious to pass up. Everything we had was very fresh and extremely tasty. I think the portion sizes could be a little larger for the price but it was good quality. We ordered a half liter sangria pitcher (€7.40), Tori no yakisoba (€12.80 large), Maki dyo fly (€7 for 5 pieces) and Tropical dragon (€7 for 5).

Pão de Deus (in market) 

When we visited the Mercado dos Lavradores, we were looking for something to eat and to grab and go while we explored. We found a pastry/cafe in the lower area of the market and ordered two Queada (typical cheese pastry) and a pizza pastry for about €8 all together.

Jolie Juice Lovers (in market) 

While we had our pastries in the Mercado dos Lavradores, I was really craving some fresh juice. There are stalls around the upper part of the market that sell all kinds of fruits, vegetables and many offer juice as well. However, in the bottom of the market, hidden in the corner under the stairs is Jolie Juice Lovers and it was the perfect short stop for us. The shop has swings and benches to relax on and offers a great variety of juices. We ordered the Mango tango (€3.50) and the T Amarillo hero (€3.50). They were delicious !

The Red Car (food truck) 

The Red Car has a full store location as well as a food truck located in the Funchal bay. We had walked past it when exploring old town and had to pass it after our catamaran cruise. There are lots of little food and drink trucks in this open lot and we decided that we wanted to give it a try! We ordered a cheeseburger and drink deal (€6) with a side of 5 cheese rolls (€3.90). The burger was outstanding and we almost ordered another one.

Clube Naval do Funchal 

We found this place as it was only a two minute walk from our accommodation. We saw that there was a great place to go swimming and a glass deck viewing point. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices despite being a Club. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. Food presentation was next level and everything was very delicious. We ordered a glass of Rose €3, Cider €3.50, Cesar chicken salad €9, and a Chicken wrap €7.50.

Papa Manuel 

This was another spot that was only a ten minute walk from our accommodation. The strip near us offered so many amazing options that we wanted to try as many as we could. They had a lovely view of the water below and a large selection of Italian food. We ordered the larger pitcher of sangria (€12), a large portion of the Ravioli Maison (€11.70) and a Pizza prosciutto (€12). They were amazing and so well prepared. The crust of the pizza was thin and crispy but not too hard, and the cheese was incredible. The pasta was filling and full of flavor.

Restaurante Cabrestante

This was our only disappointing meal, saved simply by the fact they did offer the best Nikita’s we had on the entire island. If you want to go for just a drink or perhaps for their local fish then I think it would be worth visiting. However, do not order the Cesar salads (€9.85). Ours came with zero dressing and after asking for it they eventually brought out an orange dressing saying this is their “fresh” cesar, and it’s not white because it isn’t processed. It taste nothing like any cesar I have had and we were very disappointed. Since our trip I have had someone tell me that a “Spanish cesar” is in fact a little orange in color and I would love to hear if anyone else has had this experience. Our highlight though as I said were the Nikitas (€4) which were truly incredible.

Funchal Tap craft beer

We were exploring old town when we decided that we wanted to grab a drink and stumbled upon Funchal Tap Craft beer. Boy oh boy can I highly recommend this place! They have an assortment that changes regularly on tap as well as more in the fridge. We each ordered small beers from the tap €4.30 – €5.10 and they were amazing! I had the Salted Caramel Gose from Rio Maior, Santarém and my fiancé had the Corals Peach chamomile Gose from Berlin. We saw they had great reviews on food as well and decided to order food. The food was fresh, flavorful and delicious! Our Quesadilla (€11) came with two sauces and choices in bean, chicken, pork or beef and they offer the same for Burritos (€12).

Mad Cuba 

Happy Hour at Mad Cuba gives you 2 drinks for €6 from a limited selection of choices (Mojito, daiquiri, margarita, caipirinha). The atmosphere is very laid back, they play cuban music and the staff was very friendly. They do offer food as well but we had eaten before we came so I cannot advise of the quality of food.

Sakura

This was our second round of finding sushi on the island, and while it was good, it was our least favorite of the three. We ordered a large pitcher of Sangria (€8.50 for a liter), Hot roll cream cheese (€7.9), Philadelphia hot roll (€9), and Arroz frito (€5.90) which is a fried rice dish. They gave us larger portions than we expected as well as a free appetizer, which was a friend onion ring with a spin. The staff was friendly and we did enjoy our meal.

FERRUGEM no Garajau Bistro

We were finding food before heading out for drinks to celebrate my fiancé’s birthday when we came to this highly rated spot. To be honest, while the food was good it wasn’t incredible and the service was quite slow. Multiple tables that sat down and ordered after us had their meals well before us and by the time we got the food we were very hungry. I ordered the prawn risotto (€14) which pleasantly had enough prawns and wasn’t overly fishy tasting. My partner ordered a Burger (€8) and said it wasn’t nearly as good as the food truck burger. I had a glass of wine and he had a cider.

NOS COPOS 

This was the cocktail bar we found for celebrating my fiancé’s birthday and it was a great spot. All of their cocktails we ordered were €7 and each was extremely tasty. The highlights were the Dream, Madeira Special and their Grasshopper. You get a bowl of nuts as a snack and this is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy night life, people watch and relax with delicious cocktails.

Sushi Dragon 

This was our final sushi of the trip and we saved the best for last! This place at first seemed a bit sketch as it was in a mall like location but we never should have doubted them. I ordered there all you can eat lunch for €13 and it includes appetizers, sushi, sashimi, maki, tempura and more. It was all incredible!! I was nervous about not choosing the specific pieces they brought the first round but every single piece was delicious. The only thing we didn’t love surprisingly was their version of the Nikita (€3), as they made it with wine not beer, making it sour in our opinion.

Extras:

A few extra things we had that were tasty but I didn’t write fully down were their other drinks at various snack bars, the gelato, their breakfast cheese boards and the incredible truffles! If you want specific info on any pleas leave a comment below and I will be happy to share.

Top Activities

Monte Palace Tropical Gardens and Cable car

The Monte Palace is a 70,000-square-meter area featuring a beautiful garden, a small lake, and a museum. The botanical garden holds a collection of more than 100,000 species from all around the world. You can see swans and ducks at the small lake, peacocks and chickens are wandering casually around the gardens and there are flamingos in a small bath. Visitors can also indulge in two oriental gardens and see beautiful Koi fish.

Since 1991, the Monte Palace Madeira Museum has been displaying the region’s culture and nature. There are more than 1000 sculptures in one of the finest private mineral collections. About 700 kinds are on display, coming from Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, and North America. The garden is open every day from 9:30 am till 6:00 pm, while the museum welcomes visitors from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. You can take a free guided tour, but you’ll need to book it in advance. The admission is 12.50 euros for everyone 15 years and older.

Getting to the Gardens

Getting to the gardens there are a variety of options. The most popular are the cable cars. The Madeira Cable Car is a part of the Old Town and will take you from Funchal to Monte in 15 minutes. The admission is 16 euros per person, with a 50% discount for children (7-14), and a free entry for younger guests. The Botanical Garden Cable Car connects the Botanical Garden Station with Monte. It’s somewhat cheaper than the Madeira Cable Car. You’ll pay 13 euros per roundtrip adult ticket and 7 euros for a child’s ticket (6-11). The trip takes about 9 minutes and is a cool way to enjoy the botanical garden and the city’s highlights from above.

Don’t miss an opportunity to come back down by a toboggan ride in a traditional wicker basket sled. Used by locals before, these sleds are one of the must-do things in Madeira. It can go at a speed of up to 30 km per hour and is a fun way to travel to Funchal. However, it will cost you from 25 to 40 euros, depending on how many people are riding. 

If you have a car and do not want to spend the extra money for the experiences, there is a parking lot nearby that you can drive to. You can also arrive by taxi or bus.

Mercado dos Lavradores (farmers market) 

The Market was established in 1940 and is located on Rua Brigadeiro Oudinot and Rua Hospital Velho. Designed by Edmundo Tavares, it’s also an important local architectural site. Open from Monday through Saturday, the market has fruit, vegetables, herbs, fish, and flowers. It’s the city’s “melting pot,” combining various cultures and uniting residents with tourists. As mentioned above in the food section, they have pastry shops, a juice bar and a fresh made ice cream stand as well. You can also find lots of spices here and take some home.

Old Town Funchal

We continued our way up towards the historic buildings of Zona Velha, the first settlement’s place. History enthusiasts and architecture buffs will enjoy the area’s atmosphere. We enjoyed Corpo Santo Chapel, the original 15th-century building, and visited the Socorro Church. Then, we took a walk on Rua de Santa Maria, the oldest street in Funchal. Many local businesses, like boutiques and small factories, are also in the Old Town. The city has many doors that are decorated as well and it was fun to see the different artwork. At night, the Old Town comes alive and fills up with street artists creating a unique atmosphere. Bars and restaurants invite the city’s visitors for relaxing evening.

Funchal Bay: Dolphin & Whale Watch Luxury Catamaran Cruise

One of the highlights of our trip was to take a catamaran ride around the island just before sunset to look for dolphins and whales. We booked through Get Your Guide and chose our tour group because they never have more than 15 people aboard. Other groups were taking out 100 and that was not the type of experience we were looking for. Our tour included a welcome drink, a very tiny snack and the chance to go snorkeling and swimming briefly in the cove. We did manage to see a pod of whales!

Portugal has a law however that you cannot spend more than 10 minutes close to the animals so that they are not overwhelmed or stressed out. I think this is an incredible law, but it did mean we were competing with other boats to get a close look and it was very brief. I personally believe that a limited time is a fair trade for the animals well-being, but I want to be transparent for my community so you can have realistic expectations.

Book your tour here:

Sé Boutique Hotel

Nestled along a tiled street, the stylish Sé Boutique Hotel is set in a 15th-century building in a vibrant area of central Funchal, just a two minute walk from the Cathedral. Even if you don’t stay as a guest you can enjoy all the true perks of this place.  Unwind at the funky rooftop bar with panoramic views, chic lobby cafe, green-hued Italian restaurant, or cozy tapas bar. Let’s not forget the spa and posh indoor pool, too. The whole place makes for a unique experience! We enjoyed their love music performances as well as sunset came and the city started to light up.

PRO TIP: if you want to fly a drone or take pictures on the roof, make sure to ask permission. We had written consent long before we traveled and confirmed again with workers upon arrival. The tiles on the roof are very old and some are loose, make sure you do not cause damage! 

Praia do Porto do Seixal 

Seixal beach has to be one of the most magical experiences of the entire island, no doubt in my mind. It is a scene straight out of Jurassic Park. The black sand beach is surrounded by lush green vegetation, a waterfall and stone natural pools. If you ever wondered why Madeira is referred to as Europe’s Hawaii, this beach will make it clear. This place is nothing short of magic. I have always wanted to visit a black sand beach and this was my first, but definitely not my last! Pack a blanket, a book and some snacks to relax in the super soft sand and hang out for the day. There is a shower before you head up to the parking areas to clean off as well.

Ribeira da Janela

Ribeira da Janela is a small village in the Porto Moniz area, named after the island’s longest river. It’s an important agricultural area for the country, producing potatoes and grapes. However, the village is best known for its wonderful Levada. It’s easy to reach from the regional road ER101. Look out for the sign stating Ribeira da Janela or Lamaceiros. Levada’s highlights are exceptional coastal views, cliffs, and a couple of small waterfalls. The local greenery includes eucalyptus, laurel trees, ferns, banana plants, and passion fruit. 

Porto Moniz and Piscinas Naturais Velhas

Porto Moniz swimming pool was formed over thousands of years, through the cooling of volcanic lava. The pools are crystal clear water, with fish easily visible and you can snorkel or just float around.  The landscape surrounding the pools are unique due to a panoramic view that the swimmer has over the sea coast and the rocks. There are two areas you can swim. The new ones with an Entrance fee: 1,5€ or we recommend going to the old ones that are free! There is a restaurant on site as well with incredible views and a gift shop. 

Pico do Arieiro 

By far a major highlight of our Madeira itinerary and, to be honest, one of the highlights of my entire life was Pico do Arieiro. The word ‘speechless’ is thrown around a lot but never have I been more speechless in my life. Madeira is just full of scenic hikes and sunrise makes them even more magical.

This route is an unforgettable experience and provides stunning views of the island. Pico do Arieiro is the island’s third-highest peak. Most of the time, we were walking above the clouds at the height of 1500 meters. You can choose to take either one of the two trails – eastern (easier but longer) or western (shorter, but steeper). Both will connect you with Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. It takes a 45-minute drive from Funchal, and there’s an enormous parking lot. At Pico do Arieiro, you’ll find an observation deck, a small cafe, and a gift shop. On your hike, you’ll also see Ninho da Manta viewpoint (great for birdwatching!) and a vast area called Pedra Rija, a few short tunnels, and many other neat spots. The ending point of the hike is at the Achadas Teixeira.

Balcões viewpoint

Balcões trail (Levada dos Balcões) may be one of the shortest in Madeira Island but possibly one of the most surprising. The route is only 3 km long (round trip), completely flat and can be easily covered in 1 hour. In the middle of the trail, you can also find a small café/restaurant, which serves some light meals.

Câmara De Lobos 

Camara de Lobos translates literally as ‘chamber of wolves’. Quite a dramatic name for a quaint fishing village. However, it truly is a pretty little fishing village set in a peaceful cove just 9km outside the centre of Funchal. With its white-washed buildings with red-tiled roofs and idyllic sea views, it’s the stuff postcards are made of (or should that be Instagram photos now?). It’s so close to the city centre and easily reachable by bus, so it’s an easy day trip from Funchal for visitors to Madeira. We were blown away by how charming it truly was. Stroll the streets to see the art installations, grab a snack or drink at one of the seaside cafes or go for a swim in the beautiful waters.

Ribeira Brava and Spiral Staircase

Next along the coast, we accidentally stumbled across a viewpoint looking over Ribeira Brava, which turned out to be a cool little stop. This small town, named Wild River after its river, is located on the southwestern coast of the island and boasts a picturesque seafront and promenade. We found a spiral staircase and decided to stop for a little bite to eat.

Cabo Girão and the Skywalk

This viewpoint is probably one of the most famous viewpoints on the island. It host a glass floor platform built above a nearly 600-meter-high cliff at the oceanside. Located in the South part of the island, this viewpoint is one of the most visited ones and very easy to get to. It cost €2 per person to enter and th money goes towards maintaining the area. If you have a bad fear of heights or vertigo it may not be for you, but it’s very secure so be brave!

Ponta de São Lourenço

On the most eastern side of Madeira island is São Laurenço Point, one of the most postcard perfect spots in Madeira. Situated near the town of Caniçal, São Lourenço Point is a peninsula that you can easily hike to and therefore the trail is one of the most popular and crowded hikes in Madeira. We went early in the morning to beat the crowds as well as the heat. It was getting busy as we got back to our car. This hike was much longer than we expected and therefore we were not properly prepared with snacks or water. Don’t make the same mistake. There is a cafe at the end of the hike but it’s pricey and you need to make it there to get refreshments. They do offer boat rides back if you find yourself too tired.

Length of PR8 hike: 8km round trip (not including the steep stairs at the end)
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate with a very steep climb at the end

A Ponte Velha

This is a hidden gem of the island. I actually only found it because a friend visited the island a few months before and stumbled upon it. He didn’t know the name of the bridge but we were able to search the map and match it! It is hidden in the hills and surround by lush green above a small river below. This is now a location. that we will remember forever as this is where my fiancé crashed our brand new drone only a few weeks after we bought it. We were able to recover it after an hour hike down to the water and while the drone was broken, we got our SD card… silver lining!

Casas Típicas de Santana

Santana is a beautiful village stretching along the northern coast of Madeira. Known for its traditional triangle-shaped homes, this town is a must-visit stop. The homes are natural stone with a straw rooftop and used to be local farmers’ residences in the 16th century. There are five historic houses. Each is a shop selling souvenirs, traditional foods, plants, and other local goods. There’s a parking lot not far from the homes, which is quite comfortable for those traveling by car. If you visit the village in July, there’s a massive festival of traditional music and dancing. 

These houses date back to the discovery of Madeira and represent a part of Madeira’s heritage. These small, triangular and colorful houses were made of straw, from the cereal plantation that served to cover them, and wood, because it was cheap and abundant material in this region and important to balance the temperature of the interior. The high slope of the roofs allowed the rainwater to drain, thus ensuring the impermeability of the house.

Parque Florestal das Queimadas

Parque Florestal das Queimadas is on the west coast near Santana.  It is a beautiful park flanked by the Laurissilva Forest with wide trails and picnic areas.  This park takes us to a wonderful forest full of the densest and most extraordinary vegetation; imposing trees, flowers and famous trails such as Caldeirão Verde, Caldeirão do Inferno and Rancho Madeirense, where you will find typical houses from Santana and a restaurant / coffee shop. It gave me major Hansel and Gretel vibes as soon as we arrived, and you can see how magical and fairytale like the woods are.

Ponta do Sol

Are you looking for the sunniest place in Madeira? Because then you are in the right place in Ponta do Sol.  At least that’s what the statistics show.  According to the stats, the weather is particularly sunny and mild.  And the name already says it all. Translated, the place means “sun point”. 

It is easy to access, via the VR1 from the city center in Funchal around 30 minutes. To the west, the popular seaside resort of Calheta can be reached in about 12 minutes via the VE3.  You are also quickly on the north coast. You can reach São Vicente via the scenic VE4 in about 30 minutes. Our favorite spot was this bridge with lots of access to swimming spots in the coves below.

Cascata dos Anjos

It is undoubtedly one of the coolest sights in Madeira!  The Cascata dos Anjos: The waterfall that flows onto the street.  You can drive under the waterfall or stand under the jet of water yourself.  In any case, this experience is something very special!  Madeira’s Anjos Waterfall is located on the coast road between Ponta do Sol and Madalena do Mar. Depending on the amount of rain in the past few days, the waterfall can be so powerful that the coast road is temporarily closed. 

The Cascata dos Anjos is no longer an insider tip. The waterfall became so well known, especially through Instagram, that many tourists now come here.  If you want to enjoy the waterfall as quietly as possible, it is best to plan your visit early in the morning.  During the day there are constant visitors on site.  The location on the southwest coast means that the waterfall is a popular destination until sunset.  In the evening the water jet is illuminated by the setting sun.  Therefore, the golden hour is an ideal time to visit, especially for photographers. If you want the chance to get those dramatic photos and to be super extra (like my photos below haha) I can say its worth going early!

Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco waterfall 

Located in Rabaçal in Paul da Serra, Levada das 25 Fontes is an iconic trail in Madeira. You can access it via the regional road ER110, and from there, you can walk or take a bus to reach the start of the trail. There are two trails with two different parking lots. Both are part of one of the island’s most visited levadas. The walk is about 11 km roundtrip and will lead you to some of the island’s most outstanding sites. You will see Lagoa das 25 Fontes, 25 water springs streaming down into the lagoon. If you feel courageous, you can take a swim in the cool refreshing water. You can also see Lagoa do Vento or Lagoon of the Wind and the impressive Risco Waterfall.

Fanal Forest

Located on the north-western end of Madeira, the Final Forest is a great Instagrammable spot. In addition, it is a scenic location for photography. It’s about 50 km from Funchal and 10 km east of Ribeira Da Janela. So it won’t be hard to find if you enter Faial Parking in your navigation. With its curled trees and mysterious fog, this ancient forest looks like a fairy tale scene. There are three main ways to enjoy the forest. The easiest way is to park your car in the parking lot and climb the stairs to the local viewpoint. Then there are two trails available – Vereda do Final and Levada dos Cedros. The first one is an 11-km hike (one way!) through a well-preserved Laurissilva forest. The second one will keep you walking for about 6 km until you reach a magical tiered waterfall.

We sadly did not get to experience the mysterious fog conditions but even on the sunny day it was a beautiful location. I did add two photos from a friend who visited and had a magical photoshoot!

Cristo Rei

This Christ the King has a lookout tower with a beautiful view over part of Funchal Bay and a wonderful view over the Atlantic, more than enough reasons to visit this place. Did you know that this is Christ the oldest King in the world? Yes, this simple and small statue existed before all the major and most iconic ones known in the world. This Christ the king was built in 1927. You can hike down below to get more great views and look up at the statue from below. Or, you can go to Garajau beach, on foot or by cable car (the cost is €2.50 round trip).

Santa Cruz Plane Spotting

Usually listed as one of the most dangerous airports in the world, Madeira Airport on the island of Madeira definitely has got some security issues. However, thanks to the professionalism of the pilots, and the safety of all the processes involved during both takeoff and landing, there have not been any major issues recently. Still, the question can still be answered: why is Madeira Airport so dangerous?

Madeira Airport is dangerous for two major reasons: the runway and weather conditions. The runway is really narrow, and the winds can blow very hard. If you want to see some examples I suggest you check out this video: STORMY Winds 45Kts Extreme Landings Crazy Go Arounds || Madeira

Now pilots have to go through additional training and have a certain level of experience in order to fly to Madeira. The airport location allows for some crazy airplane spotting locations to watch the landings and if you have the time I highly suggest it! 

THE END

Now you have all of my top recommendations for your next trip to the magical island of Madeira. I have to admit, there are more things that I wanted to do and see but wasn’t able to reasonably fit into our schedule without burning out. This just means I will need to visit again! We spent 7 full days but I think 10 or two weeks would be the best way to see as much as you can, or slow travel and spend a full month here! I fell in love with this Jurassic European Hawaii island and can say it exceeded my expectations and it should be added to everyones bucket list!

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Happy travels xx

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Trip: July – August 2023

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