Top 10 Experiences in Madeira, Portugal

Thank you for joining us at “Focus on the Journey” where we hope to inspire you to get out there and explore and experience the world and have some fun, while creating your own lasting memories. We want to help make things easier for you by sharing our well planned, detailed and researched itineraries, recommendations and top experiences. Travelling to us is more than just a vacation, it’s the chance for an adventure, filled with new experiences!

In this post we’ll be introducing Madeira, discussing a brief history of the island and revealing our top experiences.

For more information on the island, check out our posts, “How to Get the Most out of Your Seven-day visit to Madeira, Portugal”, for the perfect Itinerary and “Tips and Recommendations, helping you create your perfect journey to Madeira, Portugal”. We also love trying the local foods, you can check out our post on how to make the delicious and traditional “Sopa de Tomate e Cebola (Tomato and Onion Soup with a Poached Egg and bread)”.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction to the City
2. Madeira’s Historical Run Down
3. Top Ten Experiences
4. References
5. The Wrap up

1. Introducing Madeira, Portugal:

Madeira is a Portuguese Island chain made up of four islands: Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas and Selvagens. These islands were formed 20 million years ago from Volcanic ash. Only Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited, the other two, Desertas (meaning deserted) and Selvagens (meaning wild) are natural reserves. This island chain is located 700 kms off the coast of Africa and almost 1000 kms from mainland Portugal. Madeira, the largest of the islands at 741 sq kms is well known for its rugged, volcanic landscapes, amazing hikes, including the unique levada trails, (along irrigation channels) that crisscross the island and a sub-tropical climate. They are also known for their pre-historic Laurel Forest, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), natural ocean pools, the beautiful capital city of Funchal, their many wineries around the island producing Madeira Wine, black sand beaches and their interesting history! So, if you’re an adventurer, love hiking and the outdoors, a foodie, like wine tours or history, this island will be a great choice!

2. Madeira’s Historical Run Down:

• Although Madeira had been mentioned in history previously by Pliny the Elder in the first century AD, the first time it was chartered on a map was 1351, on the Medici Atlas. Then, it wasn’t until 1418 that Prince Henry “the Navigator”of Portugal, after realizing how important the Islands of Madeira was for the sailors exploring the Atlantic ocean, sent Joao Goncalves Zarco to the Islands, first to Porto Santo, then in 1419 to Madeira, claiming it for Portugal. This was during the time call the Age of Discovery, when the Portuguese explorers were sailing the seas looking for new lands and claiming new places for themselves.

• Colonization didn’t start until 1420, first in Machico as its capital, then due to its superior harbour the capital city changed to Funchal in 1508.

• Sugar quickly became the most profitable export for the Island, so slaves were brought in from the Canary Islands and West Africa to work the cane fields. Funchal and the island of Madeira were Europe’s main sugar producers until the mid-16^th century, making Madeira very wealthy. That changed once Brazil and the Caribbean sugar hit the European market. Shortly after wine took over as their main export.

• In 1773, slavery was abolished by the Marquis de Pombal, the same man who rebuilt Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755.

• In the mid 1800’s Madeira became a popular winter destination for wealthy Europeans. William Reid, a poor sailor came to Funchal in 1836 and started renting out house to aristocratic visitors and made a fortune. He then built a hotel, Reid’s Palace, in Funchal, which opened in 1891 and is still in operation.

• In 1976 the Islands of Madeira became autonomous, except for tax, foreign policy and defense.

• In 1985, the most famous Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, was born in Funchal.

• In 2008, Funchal celebrated their 500^th Anniversary as the capital city of the Madeira Archipelago!

3. Top 10 Madeira Experiences:

1. Funchal:

Funchal has been the capital city of Madeira for over 500 years, with a population of about 106,000 people and located on the south/east side of the island approx. 25 mins from the airport, this city has a lot to offer. Funchal is a great place to stay when visiting the island, especially if you choose not to rent a car. There is a large selection of accommodations here, as well as markets and little grocery stores, lots of restaurants and shops of all kinds. Within the city you can explore, the old town filled with history, walk down Rua de Santa Maria and check out their painted doors, art project, visit the Mercado dos Lavradores indoor market, check out century’s old churches, convents, museums, the Story Center, pretty gardens and lookouts, and of course walk along the amazing waterfront. From Funchal, you can take the gondola up to Monte, have lunch with an incredible view and discover both the Madeira Botanical Gardens and the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, then take the traditional wicker basket ride back down into town. Or you can take the ferry over to Porto Santo right from the waterfront and spend the day on their white sand beaches or join a whale watching tour or one of the many other tours that would take you all over the island. If you do decide to rent a car, which we did, pretty much anything you can drive to is under an hour away! So not only is Funchal a great place to explore, it’s also a great place to base yourself. For more information on Funchal and our 2-day Itinerary and walking tour check out our posts “Top 10 Experiences in Funchal, Portugal” and How to make the most out of your 2-day visit to Funchal, Portugal.”

2. Porto Moniz and the Natural Pools:

 Porto Moniz is located on the far North/West side of the island, aprox. 45 to 55 mins drive from Funchal. This picturesque little seaside town has lots of shops and restaurants, most serving delicious seafood and great views of some incredible cliffs and rock formations. But the main draw here is the natural pools. Millions of years ago this dramatic coastline was formed by volcanic eruptions and erosions, it also created the deep basins along the islands edge, then the ocean waves filled up these basins, making an amazing place to swim. The Natural Ocean pools are located at: Vereda das Pocas 9270 Porto Moniz, they are open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm (till 5:00pm in the winter) and cost 3 euros per person, with discounts for kids, seniors and the disabled. Although you can swim here all year round, it is definitely cooler in the winter, so be mindful of that, as well if the sea becomes rough and the waves are too high coming into the pools, they will close, until things get calmer. They did close the day we were there, after we swam and were eating lunch at the restaurant above the pools (Sea View Restaurante) the waves were amazing to watch! As always, I suggest getting here early, as parking fills up quickly and the pools can get busy, especially in the summer months and on weekends. This is a definite must-see attraction!!

3. Cabo Girao Glass-bottom Skywalk:

The Cabo Girao Glass-bottom Skywalk is located at Estrada do Cabo Girao 9300-351, Camara de Lobos, about a 15 mins drive west of Funchal. It is open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm and cost 2 euro per person over the age of 12. It opened in October of 2012 and is the highest cliff skywalk in Europe, reaching a height of 580m or 1900ft. The views here are pretty spectacular and it doesn’t take up too much of your time, well worth a stop, a great place to start your day when you are heading west.

4. Santana and the Thatched Roof Houses 

Santana is located on the north/east side of the island and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2011. It’s approx. 50 mins from Funchal. Here there are beautiful viewpoints of the coastline, many hiking options, including a shorter hike to Pico Ruivo nearby, and most notably, they showcase the Thatched Roof houses. These iconic houses date back to the 1500’s and are one of Madeira’s most famous attractions. They are made of wood and typically wheat or rye from their cereal crops, for the rooves. They have an A frame and consist of an attic, which was used for food storage and the ground floor, which had a kitchen and bedroom. The exterior colours were typically white, red and blue. These are a must-see heritage site!

5. Seixal:

Seixal is located on the north/west coast of the island, approx. 45mins from Funchal and 12 mins from Porto Moniz. It’s a pretty little town with breathtaking views of the Jurassic Park looking mountains, coastline and ocean. Seixal is best known for its black sand beach, as well, it also has some lesser-known natural pools to swim in for free. You also have the option to kayak, canoe or sup from the beach area. Definitely worth a stop on the way to or from Porto Moniz.

6. Levada do Risco Hike at PR6.1:

The Levada do Risco is one of the many amazing levada hikes on the island of Madeira, which are really something special and should not be missed. We choose Levada do Risco for a few reasons, we hadn’t been to this part of the island yet, there were two levada hikes in close proximity, so we could do two hikes from the same parking lot and both had the potential to see waterfalls, which I enjoy! The Levada do Risco starts at PR6.1 parking lot on regional road ER 105. From here, there is a 2km downhill walk to get to the start of the hike, or you have the option to take one of their shuttle buses down, they are 3 euros one way, or 5 euros return, they operate between 10:00am and 6:00pm, but check on timing before you go as this could change. We walked down, then took the shuttle back up, which was a life saver after doing both hikes. The Levada do Risco is a 3 km return hike, with a beautiful tall, narrow, waterfall at the end and follows the levada system. It takes approx. 2 hours to complete and is considered to be an easy hike, that is good for the whole family. We really enjoyed it!

7. 25 Fontes Hike at PR6:

The 25 Fontes is another amazing Levada hike, we did this one the same day as the Levada do Risco and it worked out very well, although we were a little tired. You have the same option from the parking lot to walk the 2 km downhill trek to the start of the hike or use the shuttle. Not far from the starting point is a café called Rabacal Nature Spot Café, it’s a great place for a sit-down lunch, snack, gelato or to pick up food for a picnic. It also has free washrooms inside or paid washrooms outside at the back of the building. We were super happy to find this place, the food and gelato were great!! The 25 Fontes hike is 8.6 kms return, takes approx. 3 hours and is considered a moderate hike, it does have some stairs and uphill sections that make it hard at times. It ends at the 25 Fontes or 25 waterfall springs. It is a beautiful half circle wall of rock, with plant life growing on it and water cascading down into shallow pools, where you can sit and cool your feet. You definitely want good hiking shoes for this one as parts of the path can get wet and slippery.

8. Sao Vicente:

  Sao Vicente is located on the north/west coastline of the island and is known as the village between two mountains. It is 35 mins from Funchal and 20 mins from Porto Moniz. This small town of just under 6000 people, is situated on the ocean in the middle of two towering mountains, with a river running through it. The landscape itself is worth a stop, but it does have a very cute town area, with a beautiful church, some restaurants and a beach area, popular with surfers. Sao Vicente also has the Nossa Senhora de Fatima Chapel that is perched up on top of a tall hill overlooking the town, you can drive to the bottom of the hill, but once you get there you will have to climb a long staircase to reach it, but you will be rewarded with beautiful views. A visit to Sao Vicente works well on a day you’re traveling to Porto Moniz.

9. Ponta de Sao Lourenco hike at PR8:

The Ponta de Sao Lourenco hike is located in Canical, on the most easterly point of the island, approx. 35 mins from Funchal. This is a beautiful peninsula hike with dramatic cliff and sea views. Get here early, sunrise, if possible, to avoid crowds, beat the heat and capture some beautiful photos in the best possible light. The hike itself is only 6 kms round trip, but there is a lot of up and down hilly sections, that make it quite tiring. It is considered a moderate hike, that would take you about 2:30 to 3:00 hours to complete. I believe it is one of the more popular hikes and is worth it. There is a café near the end of the hike called Casa do Sardinha, which was a blessing the day we were there, it was already hot and we were tired, but as we came up over a crest and looked out over the peninsula we saw a building with palm trees around it, we both looked at each other and said Mirage? But no, it wasn’t, they had great food and drinks and a paid washroom. As well we found out that we had an option to take a cool boat ride around the point and then be dropped off closer to parking lot, we did take that option and where happy we did. This is a must see! 

10. Vereda do Areeiro at PR1, Sunrise hike:

   The PR1 Vereda do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo is the most popular hike on the island, with outstanding views. If you hike from Areeiro to Ruivo and back it’s about 12 kms and would take approx. 6 hrs. The other option would be to hike from Areeiro to Ruivo to Achada do Teixeira, which would be 8.5 kms and take approx. 4 to 4.5 hours. Once there you can take a taxi back to get your car at PR1 Areeiro, that drive takes about 1 hour. This is what I’m planning to do in the spring, so I’ll let you know how it goes. When we did this hike, we drove up to Vereda do Areeiro and only hiked to the Miradoura do Ninho da Manta (lookout). It was only 700m and 20 mins (one way) from the start, but it had breathtaking views, I would recommend this option for those who don’t have the time or willingness to do the full hike. There are still a lot of up and down hills and stairs on this short section, but worth it. If you can get there for sunrise, it will be rewarding. I’ve attached a link for the sunrise times, so you can put your travel month in and get the times of both sunrise and sunset.

**All pricing, opening/closing hours and days listed here are as of May 2024 and are subject to change, so be sure to check before you go. I like these websites for all your current info: Visit Madeira or Visit Portugal

4. References:

All of this information, research and suggestions came from my own experiences I had while exploring this amazing island. As well I spent countless hours reading travel books, like DK Eyewitness, Portugal and DK Eyewitness Top 10 Madeira, Walking on Madeira, a great hiking book, and the Lonely Planet Portuguese Phrasebook and Dictionary. I also read multiple Travel blogs and Portugal/Madeira tourism websites like, Visit Madeira  and Visit Portugal

5. The Wrap up:

After reading this, I hope you feel inspired to visit this Portuguese Island of Madeira, it is truly a beautiful and interesting place, with incredible history and lots to experience. For a perfect seven-day Itinerary please read our post “How to get the most out of your Seven-day visit to Madeira, Portugal” and our “Tips and Recommendations, helping you create your perfect journey to Madeira, Portugal”.

At Focus on the Journey, we love everything travel: planning, research, maps, books, itineraries, tours, trying local foods, meeting new people, hiking, cooking, relaxing and of course creating memories and artwork, through our photos! We enjoy talking travel too, whether it’s sharing our experiences or hearing about yours. So, comment, ask questions, give advice, join our mailing list, like, follow, pin, share with friends, anything goes, let’s talk travel!

Thank you,

From Focus on the Journey,
with Wild Meadow Studio
A Travel and Photography Blog

By: Beth de Verteuil