Last Updated on 8.7.2026 by Vojta
Madeira loves to sell itself as an island of viewpoints and levadas — and it isn’t wrong. But if you’re wondering what to do in Madeira and you want more than a cliff-top photo of the Atlantic, you’ll soon discover the island’s other side: a cable car climbing high above Funchal, a ride down the road in a wicker toboggan, a tasting of wine that has been maturing here since the 18th century, a boat trip to see dolphins, and genuine thatched Madeiran cottages. All of it is there to be experienced, not just photographed.
We’ve put this guide together as a list of specific attractions, experiences and towns worth visiting — with prices, opening times and tips on what’s worth booking ahead. At the end we add a ready-made suggested loop around the island for 3 to 5 days, ideas for families and rainy days, and an honest budget. If you’re after viewpoints and natural scenery instead, take a look at our separate article What to See in Madeira — here we’re chasing the experiences.
Things to Do in Madeira in Brief
- How many days: ideally 5–7, though 3–4 is enough for the basic loop.
- Car: all but essential — the attractions are scattered right across the island.
- Must-do experiences: the cable car up to Monte plus the Carreiros toboggan, a dolphin-watching trip, and a Madeira wine tasting.
- For families: the aquarium in Porto Moniz, the lava rock pools, the toboggan and the cable car.
- Book ahead: the official levada walks (timed tickets from January 2026), the ferry to Porto Santo, and whale-watching trips.
- Budget: roughly €70–120 a day for two people.
How to Plan Your Visit to Madeira (Car, How Many Days)
Madeira is smaller than people imagine — you can drive from Funchal to the far end of the island in about an hour and a half. But it’s a vertical island: the roads wind up and down in hairpins, you thread through dozens of tunnels, and what looks close on the map takes longer thanks to all the hills. That’s why a car is, practically speaking, almost essential — the attractions, towns and levada trailheads are spread out everywhere, and while public transport does work, planning a whole day around it is a headache.
A small hire car costs roughly €20–35 a day outside peak season, with a tank of fuel around €60 for a few days of driving. In Funchal, expect to pay for parking (car parks are about €1 an hour), while on day trips parking is often free or just a couple of euros.
As for length of stay: 3–4 days is enough for the basic loop and the main experiences, but the sweet spot is 5–7 days, so you can also fit in a levada walk and a relaxed day by the sea. The best weather usually runs from April to October, and whale-watching trips typically operate from April to October too.
💡 Tip: Base yourself in or around Funchal — it sits in the middle of the south coast and puts you closest to most of the attractions. Find places to stay in Funchal here →
20 Things to Do in Madeira
We’ve ordered them so you can string them together into a logical loop — from Funchal through the south and north, right out to the neighbouring island. For each one you’ll find what it is, why it’s worth it and how much it costs (prices checked for the 2026 season, in euros).
1. Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal — a Market Full of Colour and Flavour
This covered market from the 1930s is the best place to taste Madeira quite literally. Pyramids of exotic fruit, fish stalls (look out for the black scabbardfish, the grinning espada), flowers and the scent of spices. Try a fruit tasting — but ask the price first, as the sellers can push hard. Free to enter, usually open Monday to Saturday mornings.
2. Funchal–Monte Cable Car — the Ride Above the City
Probably the island’s most famous experience. From the harbour, the cabin carries you up in around 15 minutes to the district of Monte, high above Funchal, with the bay spread out below you. A return ticket costs around €20, one way about €14. We’d recommend riding up by cable car and coming back down by toboggan (more on that below).
3. The Monte Toboggan (Carreiros do Monte) — a Ride in a Wicker Basket
A tradition from the 19th century, when locals travelled down from Monte this way. Two men dressed in white with straw hats push and steer you down the winding road in a wicker basket on runners. It only lasts a few minutes and it’s more a laugh than an adrenaline rush, but it’s an inseparable part of Madeira. The price is around €35 for two people.
4. Monte Palace Tropical Garden — an Exotic Garden Above Funchal
Right in Monte lies a sprawling garden full of tropical plants, oriental ponds with koi carp, Japanese gardens and tiled panels. You could easily spend a couple of hours here. Entry is €18, free for children under 15. It pairs beautifully with the cable car ride.
5. Jardim Botânico — the Botanical Garden with a View
Funchal’s botanical garden rises in terraces above the valley and offers hundreds of plant species along with a cracking view over the city and the sea. It’s at its loveliest in spring. Entry is €10 from January 2026, €3 for children aged 6–12. You can also reach it by a separate cable car from Monte.
6. Sé and Funchal Old Town — Wandering the Lanes
The 15th-century Sé Cathedral, with its beautifully preserved wooden ceiling, stands in the centre, and around it spreads the Zona Velha (old town), with its painted house doors (the “Arte de Portas Abertas” project), restaurants and lively bars. Entry to the cathedral is free. This is the place to have espada with banana for dinner and a glass of poncha.
7. The CR7 Museum — a Tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo
Madeira is the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, and right on Funchal’s waterfront (beneath the Pestana CR7 hotel) sits his museum, packed with Ballon d’Or trophies, silverware, shirts and interactive exhibits — there’s even a wax figure for a selfie and a video wall of his goals. Football fans, and especially children, will love it; everyone else will get round it in half an hour. Admission is quoted at roughly €5–11 depending on the source, with cheaper tickets for children — check at the desk. It’s usually open 10:00–18:00 (later in summer). It combines nicely with a stroll along the marina and the old town.
8. Madeira Wine Tasting at Blandy’s Wine Lodge
Madeira is famous for its fortified wine, which matures here in the warmth — and you’ll understand it best in Blandy’s cellars on Avenida Arriaga in central Funchal. The guided tour (Premium, around 45 minutes) walks you through the history of the family and the firm, the making of the barrels and the lodges where casks lie ageing for decades, ending with a tasting of three samples of Madeira wine; the pricier combined version adds a sample of a vintage Frasqueira. Reckon on from around €15 per person. It’s usually open Monday to Friday, roughly 10:00–18:30, with shorter hours at weekends. Fortified Madeira pairs superbly with dark chocolate or the local biscuits — a good note to end on before dinner. Book ahead in season.
💡 Tip: Experiences such as boat trips, winery tours or attraction tickets are well worth booking online in advance — in season they get busy. Tours and experiences in Madeira via GetYourGuide →
9. Dolphin and Whale Watching — an Experience on the Water
The waters around Madeira are among the best places in Europe for spotting cetaceans — dolphins and pilot whales live here year-round, and in spring and summer migrating sperm and fin whales join them. Catamarans and smaller fast boats set out from Funchal marina on roughly 2–3 hour trips; morning departures tend to have calmer seas and the highest success rate. Most operators offer a “guarantee” — if you see nothing, you go out again free of charge. Prices start at around €35–45 per person, with the season running roughly April to October. Take a windproof jacket and sun cream: it’s breezy out on the water and the sun is strong. Book ahead in season.
10. Câmara de Lobos — the Fishing Town Churchill Loved
A picturesque fishing harbour about 9 km west of Funchal (15 minutes by car), where Winston Churchill liked to come and paint, and the birthplace of poncha (a cocktail of honey, lemon and rum). An hour’s stop is enough — the harbour is open any time, and the bars and cafés by the water are typically open through the day into the evening; you’ll pay for parking. For more on the surrounding scenery (Cabo Girão), see our article What to See in Madeira.
11. Calheta — a Golden Beach, an Art Museum and a Rum Distillery
This seaside town in the south-west is a lovely stop for anyone who wants to combine a swim with a dose of culture. It has one of the island’s few man-made golden-sand beaches and a calm marina. Right in the centre stands the MUDAS museum of modern art, set in an award-winning concrete building built into the hillside; entry is around €4, and it’s usually open Tuesday to Saturday, roughly 9:30–17:30. A little further on, at the Engenhos da Calheta rum distillery (one of the oldest sugar mills on the island), you can see traditional rum and cane-honey production and have a tasting — entry is free.
12. Curral das Freiras — a Village in a Volcanic Bowl
The “Valley of the Nuns”, on the floor of a volcanic crater, is best enjoyed from the Eira do Serrado viewpoint (20–30 minutes by car from Funchal, free car park, a few minutes on foot to the platform). Down in the village, try the local chestnuts — in liqueur and in soup. We cover the scenic detail in our article What to See in Madeira.
13. Porto Moniz — the Natural Lava Rock Pools
On the north-western tip of the island you can bathe in pools formed by solidified lava while the Atlantic crashes just beyond. Entry to the managed section is around €3, and there’s a free, wilder section next door. For more on the north coast (and neighbouring Seixal), see our article What to See in Madeira.
14. Madeira Aquarium (Aquário da Madeira) — for Families
Right in Porto Moniz, inside the 18th-century São João Baptista fortress, is a small but appealing aquarium with species from the surrounding Atlantic waters — sharks, moray eels and starfish in a touch tank. Children love it, and it’s an ideal stop when it happens to be raining in the north. Entry is around €7 for adults and €4 for children. It combines nicely with a swim in the lava pools next door.
15. São Vicente and the Volcanic Caves — a Look Inside the Island
This tidy town on the north coast, with its little white church and cafés, makes a pleasant stop as you tour the north (roughly 45 minutes by car from Funchal over the mountains). The main draw, though, is the São Vicente Caves and Volcanism Centre: more than 700 metres of lava tunnels around 890,000 years old, explored with a guide, plus a small volcanology centre where you’ll grasp how Madeira actually came to be. Entry is around €8, usually open Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 9:00–18:00. An ideal plan for a rainy day in the north.
16. Santana — Genuine Thatched Madeiran Cottages
The iconic casas de colmo can be found right in the centre of Santana by the town hall (the Núcleo de Casas Típicas), around 45 minutes by car from Funchal over the mountains. Viewing them from outside is free (open roughly 9:00–19:00). A quick, photogenic stop; for more on the north see our article What to See in Madeira.
17. A Guided Levada Walk — a Madeira Classic
Levadas are irrigation channels, and alongside them run hundreds of kilometres of easy paths through forest and along the cliffs. Beautiful, “essential” routes include the 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde. Note: from January 2026, the official waymarked walks require a ticket for a specific date and time (around €4.50 per route, free for children under 12). With a guide you can tackle the route safely even without experience.
18. Machico — a Historic Town and a Golden-Sand Beach
In the east of the island, close to the airport, lies Madeira’s second most populous town and the spot where Portuguese explorers first landed in 1419. Come here for the calm atmosphere of the historic centre, with its 15th-century church, a little fort and a busy fishing harbour. Machico also has a man-made beach of golden sand shipped in from Morocco, where you can enjoy a pleasant swim — entry is free. It combines well with a walk out to the nearby Ponta de São Lourenço.
19. Ponta de São Lourenço — a Walk to the Easternmost Point
A completely different face of the island: a bare, windswept, ochre-coloured peninsula spilling into the sea. The waymarked, undemanding trail (roughly 8 km there and back) is one of the loveliest walks on the island and it’s free. Take water and a windproof jacket — you won’t find any shade out here.
20. A Day Trip to Porto Santo — the Island with the Golden Beach
Madeira doesn’t have many sandy beaches — but its sister island, Porto Santo, has nine kilometres of unbroken golden beach with a gentle slope into the sea, its sand famed for its healing properties. You get there on the Lobo Marinho ferry from Funchal in about 2–2.5 hours; a day trip is doable (over in the morning, back in the evening), but for a relaxed visit it’s better to stay overnight. On the island you can hire a bike or a buggy to circle the coast, drop into the town of Vila Baleira or head up to the viewpoints. A return ticket in tourist class costs around €60. Buy tickets in advance, as they sell out in summer; euros are used both on board and on the island.
💡 Tip: You can quickly compare flights and connections to Madeira (Funchal airport, FNC) online. Search for flights to Madeira →
A Suggested Loop Around Madeira (3–5 Days)
Because the attractions are scattered right across the island, it makes sense to drive them as a loop. Here’s our tried-and-tested plan, which you can manage by car with a base in Funchal:
- Day 1 — Funchal and Monte: the Mercado dos Lavradores market, the old town and Sé Cathedral, then in the afternoon the cable car up to Monte plus the Monte Palace garden, and down by toboggan. Poncha in the Zona Velha in the evening.
- Day 2 — south and experiences: a morning dolphin-watching trip from Funchal, then a tasting at Blandy’s or the CR7 Museum in the afternoon, with a stop in Câmara de Lobos.
- Day 3 — west and north: Curral das Freiras, then across to the north-west to Porto Moniz (lava pools and aquarium), with a photo stop on the way back.
- Day 4 — north and levadas: São Vicente with the volcanic caves, Santana with its traditional cottages, and a levada walk (e.g. Caldeirão Verde) booked in advance.
- Day 5 — the east or Porto Santo: either historic Machico and a walk out to Ponta de São Lourenço, or a full-day ferry trip to the beach on Porto Santo.
Only have three days? Combine Days 1 and 2 into one intensive Funchal day and skip Porto Santo.
What to Do with Kids / in the Rain
Madeira isn’t a purely “kids'” destination, but there’s plenty here to keep families happy — and most of it works even in bad weather:
- The cable car up to Monte and the toboggan — children love both.
- Madeira Aquarium in Porto Moniz — an ideal stop when it’s raining outside.
- A dolphin-watching trip — an experience for the whole family (younger children will cope better on a calmer catamaran).
- The CR7 Museum — a hit for football fans.
- The lava pools in Porto Moniz — swimming safe within the rocks.
In persistent rain, the museums and wineries of Funchal or the Madeira Shopping centre come into their own too. What’s more, the weather changes quickly depending on which side of the island you’re on — when it’s raining in the north, the sun may well be shining in the south.
How Much It Costs (Budget)
A rough daily budget for a couple staying in an apartment, driving a car and taking in a few attractions. Prices are for the 2026 season:
You’ll save most on food by choosing an apartment with a kitchen and making lunch your main meal of the day (the set lunch menu is usually around €10–15). Boat trips and tastings are one-offs, so spread them across several days.
💡 Tip: Outside the summer peak (May, October) both accommodation and car hire are noticeably cheaper, and the island is less crowded. Compare places to stay in Funchal →
Where Next
- What to See in Madeira (2026)
- Madeira: the Most Beautiful Places (2026)
- Weather in Madeira (2026)
- Where to Stay in Madeira (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Experiences and Tickets in Madeira
traveller-approved · GetYourGuide
Prices and ratings are indicative (source: GetYourGuide); you’ll see the latest once you click through.
What should I do in Madeira if I only have a weekend? Focus on Funchal and its surroundings: the Mercado dos Lavradores market, the old town with the Sé Cathedral, the cable car up to Monte with the Monte Palace garden, and the toboggan ride down. On the second day, add a dolphin-watching trip and a Madeira wine tasting. A two-day stay won’t fit much more than that.
Is it worth having a car in Madeira? Yes, you really can’t do without one. The attractions and levada trailheads are spread right across the island, and public transport is impractical for full-day trips. A small car costs roughly €20–35 a day outside peak season.
How many days should I set aside for Madeira? Three to four days is enough for the basic loop and the main experiences, but the ideal is 5–7 days, so you can also fit in a levada walk, a day by the sea and perhaps a trip to Porto Santo.
How much do the cable car and toboggan at Monte cost? A return ticket on the Funchal–Monte cable car costs around €20 (one way about €14). The traditional Carreiros do Monte toboggan ride costs roughly €35 for two people and lasts only a few minutes.
Can you see whales and dolphins in Madeira? Yes. The waters around the island are among the best in Europe for spotting cetaceans. Two- to three-hour trips set out from Funchal (from around €35–45 per person), most often in the April–October season. Most operators offer a second trip free of charge if you don’t see anything.
Do you need to book the levadas in advance? From January 2026, yes — for the official waymarked walks (such as 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde) you have to buy a ticket for a specific date and time, around €4.50 per route. Children under 12 go free. Book ahead, as capacity is limited.
What can you do in Madeira with kids or in the rain? Safe bets are the cable car and toboggan at Monte, the aquarium in Porto Moniz, a dolphin-watching trip, the CR7 Museum and the lava pools. In the rain, the museums, the Funchal wineries and the shopping centre all work too. On top of that, the weather varies from one side of the island to the other.
Is a trip to Porto Santo worth it? If you want a sandy beach, definitely. The sister island has nine kilometres of golden sand, and you get there on the Lobo Marinho ferry from Funchal in about 2.5 hours. A return ticket in tourist class costs around €60. Buy tickets in advance, as they sell out in summer.
Does Madeira have a sandy beach? There are few natural sandy beaches, as the island is mostly rocky. You can, however, swim at the man-made golden-sand beaches in Calheta and in Machico, where the sand was shipped in from Morocco. For an unbroken nine-kilometre beach, head to the sister island of Porto Santo.
Where can you taste Madeira wine? The best option is a guided tasting right in the cellars of Blandy’s Wine Lodge in central Funchal. A basic tour with a tasting costs around €15, with an extended version at roughly €20. The fortified wine has been maturing here in the warmth since the 18th century.
How much does a holiday in Madeira cost? For a couple, reckon on roughly €125–245 a day including accommodation, food, a car and a few attractions. You’ll save with an apartment that has a kitchen and a set lunch menu at around €10–15. Everything is noticeably cheaper outside the summer peak.
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