Would you like to visit the Madeira archipelago, but are still deciding between the main island and Porto Santo? In this article, we answer all the questions you may have about which island is best suited to your expectations and desires! Would you prefer to discover breathtaking mountain scenery , an idyllic long golden sandy beach or original rock formations?
Check out our full comparison with photos to help you make your final decision! So will you be going to Madeira or Porto Santo?
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
The quick answer: Madeira or Porto Santo?
If you don’t want to delve deeper into the criteria listed below that differentiate Madeira from Porto Santo, find our general answer in a nutshell:
- We highly recommend a visit to Madeira if you love gastronomy, culture, outdoor activities and exceptional natural landscapes.
- We highly recommend a visit to Porto Santo if you’re looking for a relaxing change of scenery. Its immense expanse of golden sand is unique in the world.
- In conclusion, our preference is for Madeira, which offers a greater diversity of landscapes and a superior hotel, culinary and tourist offering.
Madeira highlights
- Most impressive natural landscapes,
- The most beautiful panoramic hikes,
- The most beautiful sunrises and sunsets,
- Better cultural offering,
- Best gastronomic scene,
- Best hotels in the archipelago,
- Easier to reach by plane.
Porto Santo highlights
- The archipelago’s most beautiful beaches,
- Easier to get around the island,
- Fewer tourists,
- More traditional and tranquil,
- Smaller scale.
Which island has the best beaches?
Madeira’s most beautiful beaches
Although Madeira isn’t renowned for its long, sandy beaches, the island does boast a number of pleasant bathing areas. Among the best, in our opinion, you’ll find:
- Praia do Porto do Seixal for its stretch of black sand surrounded by lush vegetation,
- Praia do Machico, a pretty crescent-shaped cove,
- Praia da Calheta, a sandy beach entirely man-made.
Be aware, however, that most of the island’s beaches are made up of rocks and pebbles, and require swimming shoes. For more inspiration, read our full article on Madeira’s most beautiful beaches here!
Porto Santo’s most beautiful beaches
Unlike Madeira, the island of Porto Santo is renowned for its carpet of golden sand, stretching no less than 9km along its southern coast. Sand has therapeutic properties. Here’s to endless strolls with your feet in the water in an exceptional setting! Our favorites include:
- Praia da Fontinha offers superb views at sunrise and sunset,
- Ponta da Calheta beach, starting point for kayak excursions,
- Praia Pedras Pretas, supervised, well-equipped area.
Discover our complete article on Porto Santo’s most beautiful beaches for an idyllic experience!
Our winning island is…
As you can see, Porto Santo far surpasses Madeira when it comes to beaches!
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR AT Madeira
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Take a car with a good engine for hilly roads, but not too big for manoeuvring.
- There’s plenty of demand and few cars, so book early.
Which island has the most beautiful scenery?
Madeira landscapes
Madeira is a hiker’s paradise. We discovered breathtaking landscapes, with lush mountains, a natural coastline and enchanting forests. On a walking tour, we took some wonderful shots above the clouds as the sun gradually rose over the island. Madeira is also known for
- winding roads that conceal many unique viewpoints,
- impressive cliffside cable cars offering breathtaking ocean views,
- its levadas, centuries-old irrigation canals that criss-cross the island and create picturesque paths for hikers,
- its superb botanical gardens,
- natural pools with turquoise waters,
- its towns and villages, especially its capital Funchal,
- sea excursions to contemplate the coast from a boat.
Landscapes of Porto Santo
Drier than Madeira, the island of Porto Santo offers superb landscapes of sand and rock, but also hiking trails where the vegetation is more present. The island seduced us for..:
- its long, golden sandy beach, which stretches for 9km and offers splendid ocean views,
- its Miradouro da Portela and windmills,
- its crystal-clear Salemas natural pools,
- Porto Santo dunes with their organic shapes,
- its Miradouro das Flores,
- its Pico Branco and Terra Chã hikes between land and sea.
- its basalt organ and the Pico Ana Ferreira cave, which we encourage you to discover accompanied by a local guide. For more information on this atypical site – see activity details.
For more inspiration, we’ve dedicated a full article to Porto Santo’s most beautiful landscapes here!
Our winning island is…
Our answer here is more nuanced. Although Porto Santo is a much smaller and more arid island than Madeira, it also boasts some magnificent natural landscapes. For our part, we prefer Madeira for its great diversity of landscapes between mountains, forests and ocean, but also for its more humid and lush vegetation.
OUR GUIDE TO PLANNING A Dream trip
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 120 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 260 photos to help you choose
Which island has the best hotels?
Best hotels in Madeira
WHERE TO STAY IN Madeira
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
Best hotels in Porto Santo
WHERE TO STAY IN Porto Santo
Option 1 : Vila Baleira (north beach)
For access to a small town and the beach
- Hotel Torre Praia – prices, pictures and availability
- Vista Dourada apartment: see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Central or southern beach
Tourist areas near the beach
- Pestana Porto Santo, 5 stars – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Porto Santo & Spa, 4 stars – prices, pictures and availability
Our winning island is…
Because of its reputation and size, Madeira offers a more varied and higher-quality range of hotels. From 3 to 5 stars, they often boast spectacular views and top-of-the-range facilities. In fact, we recommend that you stay in Funchal, as the capital is home to some of the best hotels on the island!
Which island has the best cultural offering?
Cultural activities in Madeira
Madeira boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, mainly centered in Funchal. Between admiring treasures of Sacred Art, reliving the discovery of the island, and visiting ancient noble residences, we made some wonderful discoveries that made our trip more authentic and meaningful. See our favorite museums and religious buildings below:
- Museum of Sacred Art – book your ticket here,
- the Madeira Museum of Photography,
- Frederico de Freitas Museum,
- the Henrique and Francisco Franco Museum,
- the CR7 Museum,
- Sé. Cathedral
- Jesuit College Church.
For the oenophiles among you, we recommend a visit to Blandy’s Wine Lodge, the Wine Museum, to discover the secrets of Madeira’s famous grape varieties and indulge in the local flavours. Outside the capital, you’ll also find other cultural activities such as the Whale Museum in Caniçal, the Museum in the Porto da Cruz sugarcane factory, the traditional houses in Santana, and many more surprises!
Cultural activities in Porto Santo
Because of its small circumference, Porto Santo’s cultural offering is much more limited. It’s home to just 2 museums, but its unique rock formations also tell the island’s story. You will discover:
- the Christopher Columbus Museum,
- the Casa da Serra, a traditional house,
- Porto Santo’s organically shaped dunes,
- the basalt organ and cave of Pico Ana Ferreira, which we recommend you visit with a local guide to learn more about this unique site. – see activity details.
- a guided tour in the footsteps of local pirates to delve into the island’s exciting past. – see activity details.
Our winning island is…
Once again, Madeira’s reputation and size give it a clear cultural advantage over Porto Santo. Visitors to Porto Santo are generally more attracted to the beach, and we understand!
Which island offers the best activities (sport, fun, thrills)?
Entertainment in Madeira
If you’re a fan of sensational outdoor activities, take advantage of your stay in Madeira to explore the island in a whole new way! In particular, it’s one of Europe’s top destinations for dolphin and whale watching. For an unforgettable experience, embark on a whale-watching cruise by boat. – see activity details.
Looking for a thrill? Combining exploration and discovery, we highly recommend canyoning in Madeira. With its rugged terrain, waterfalls and numerous rivers, the island is full of routes of varying complexity. – see activity details.
For fun with family and friends, visit Funchal’s 3D Fun Art Museum. With optical illusions, fantastic staging and playful games, you’ll be amazed! We took some funny, wacky shots in some very original settings – and we’re sure you’ll love them! book your tickets here!
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN Madeira
Catamaran tour to see dolphins and Madeira’s giant cliffs.
Entertainment in Porto Santo
Porto Santo also offers outdoor activities naturally linked to the ocean. For the kayak trip, you can choose between 2 destinations: Praia Zimbralinho or Ilheu da Cal. In both cases, you’ll discover the island’s magnificent coastal landscapes and spectacular rock formations. – see activity details.
Curious about Porto Santo’s seabed? On our snorkeling trip, we were lucky enough to see many fish and starfish. We even spotted a rather shy squid taking refuge in an underwater rock cavity. He didn’t come out of his hole to see us. – to see details of the activity.
For family fun, head to Quinta Das Palmeiras, a small green garden home to some curious birds! The area is particularly suitable for children. We saw picnic tables and children’s play areas.
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN Porto Santo
Depuis Ponta Calheta, découvrez la côte et les grottes en Kayak.
An unforgettable experience close to the volcanic cliffs.
Our winning island is…
Because of its size, Madeira offers a wider range of activities, but Porto Santo is not to be outdone in terms of hiking and water sports. As far as family outings are concerned, we’d recommend Madeira, as there’s very little on offer in Porto Santo.
Driving in Madeira vs Porto Santo
Driving in Madeira
Some of the island’s most beautiful landscapes can be reached without hiking, simply by car. We strongly recommend that you travel by car during your stay in Madeira, so you don’t miss out on any of its extraordinary beauty. Our favorite car rental platform is Discovercars: see offers.
What you need to know before driving:
- right-hand drive,
- numerous tunnels,
- major roads,
- steep, winding roads to gain height,
- little traffic,
- no tolls.
Read all our tips for driving in Madeira in a full article here!
Driving in Porto Santo
To make the most of the wonderful island of Porto Santo, it’s best to set off on an adventure in your own vehicle! Discover all our tips for renting a car on the island to get off the beaten track, see the most beautiful places and admire the sunrises. As you know, our favorite rental platform is Discovercars: view offers.
What you need to know before driving:
- right-hand drive,
- single trunk road,
- winding, steep roads to gain height,
- dirt and rock paths atop miradouros,
- little traffic,
- no tolls.
Our winning island is…
Porto Santo is a pleasant place to drive, with a single main road limited to 30km/h that crosses the island from one end to the other. You can’t get lost! Driving in Madeira has a bad reputation due to the very narrow, steep roads leading to the island’s peaks. For our part, we didn’t find the driving so difficult, as there was little traffic, so we took our time.
Which island has the best culinary scene?
Best restaurants in Madeira
Madeira’s capital is packed with quality restaurants, from Michelin-starred establishments to smaller, more traditional names. You’ll find something to suit every budget. Discover the 3 tables that impressed us the most:
- Restaurant Desarma (1 star) for its exceptional gastronomic menu, which revisits traditional Madeira dishes with originality and finesse,
- Restaurant Casal da Penha (bib) for authentic, generous cuisine,
- Restaurant 5 Sentidos, which brilliantly showcases local produce.
To tantalize your taste buds, check out our full article on the best restaurants in Funchal!
Best restaurants in Porto Santo
Porto Santo is home to a number of fine traditional and bistronomic restaurants, including Restaurant Teodorico, which offers gourmet local cuisine.
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Porto Santo to enjoy a good meal!
Our winning island is…
Our answer is indisputable: Madeira is the big winner. The island’s culinary offer is more elaborate and far superior to that of Porto Santo. However, you can enjoy typical Madeiran dishes in both Madeira and Porto Santo.
Climate in Madeira and Porto Santo
Close to each other, the 2 islands enjoy a fairly similar climate, although Porto Santo is much more arid than Madeira. They come together at these points:
- very windy,
- Mild winters – see our article on what to do in Porto Santo during the winter season,
- hot summers with sea breezes providing a certain coolness,
- little rain,
- good sunshine all year round,
- cloudy due to strong winds.
Porto Santo has the distinction of being drier and warmer in summer, with temperatures of around 32°C, compared with around 26°C in Madeira. The latter also features microclimates, with notable differences between coastal and mountain areas, where temperatures are generally cooler.
It’s time to book!
Compare everything: companies, prices, schedules and availability.
Combine the 2: visit Madeira and Porto Santo
Why choose if you can do both islands at the same time? You can visit Porto Santo in just 1 day from Funchal, Madeira’s capital. The average ferry journey takes 2h30. Allow around 7 hours in Porto Santo before boarding your return boat at the end of the day.
Once there, you’re free to organize your day as you wish, or follow 1 of our detailed itineraries to make the most of your experience!
