Do you have 3 days in Madeira? It’s a good base for discovering the island’s most emblematic sites, from its volcanic peaks to its tropical gardens, fishing villages and bustling capital. We’ve selected the must-see stops for you and here are our itineraries for visiting Madeira in 3 days.
We’ve also included alternatives if you don’t want to drive or prefer a sportier trip.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Practical tips for a 3-day visit to Madeira
What can you see in Madeira in 3 days? Is it long enough?
With 3 days, you can see the island’s main sites: Funchal and its historic center, viewpoints and villages. The program is dense but achievable if you plan your days well.
A few tips:
- Plan your itinerary by half-day if possible. Check the weather forecast and alternate according to conditions (with the high mountains in the middle, conditions can vary from one end of the island to the other).
- Although the island is not large, there are some mountain roads, so don’t expect too much each day.
- The walks along the levadas are narrow. Start at sunrise to avoid the crowds
Route time map
To orientate you when reading our itinerary below, here’s our road time map, to give you a better idea for planning your route:
Getting around Madeira
We highly recommend renting a car to explore Madeira in 3 days. The island isn’t very big, but its mountain roads can considerably lengthen journey times. With a vehicle, you can adapt to the weather, stop freely at viewpoints (miradouros) and make the most of each day. Don’t worry: driving is not as difficult as some people make it out to be.
If you’d rather not drive, we also suggest some car-free alternatives further down the article.
OUR ADVICE 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.
Where to sleep in Madeira
Madeira isn’t very big: you can discover the whole island from a single location. The majority of hotels and accommodation are located in Funchal, the capital, making it the ideal base from which to explore in all directions.
Here are all our articles to help you choose. We toured all the hotels independently, and these are our favorites:
- Where to stay in Madeira: best cities
- Best 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best hotels in Funchal Old Town
- Best adults-only hotels
- Best hotels for families
If you don’t want to look, here are two of our favorites:
- Three House aparthotel (Funchal center)
– Check photos and availability - Hotel Quinta Jardins do Lago, 5 stars (on the heights of Funchal)
– See prices, photos and availability
Ideal 3-day itinerary in Madeira: map
Here’s our ideal 3-day itinerary for Madeira. We’ve designed it to cover the different types of landscape on the island without overloading the days. Road times are balanced as much as possible for each day. If you are based in Funchal, here are the driving times you should expect:
- Day 1 = 0
- Day 2 = 2h30 drive
- Day 3 = 1h to 1h40 drive
WHERE TO STAY IN Madeira
Our independent picks for the accommodation of your dreams:
Day 1: Funchal and dolphins
Stop 1 – Dolphin cruise
Start gently, but with excitement: a boat trip to watch dolphins and whales, while admiring the island from the sea. A large number of cetaceans pass through Madeira every year, and you can see them all year round, although the species vary according to the season. We advise you to book this outing on the first day: in the event of bad weather, you can move it to another day without disrupting the rest of the program.
To help you choose your tour:
- Read our article on dolphin watching in Madeira
- Our preferred catamaran tour with swimming under Cabo Girão – See options and availability
Stop 2 – Old town of Funchal
In the afternoon, explore Funchal’s old town, whose charm and liveliness are well worth a visit. We particularly like Rua Santa Maria, with its colorful facades and lively atmosphere. Take time to visit the 16th-century Cathedral, the Museum of Sacred Art and its view of Funchal, the Jesuit College Church or the Mercado dos Lavradores to discover the island’s tropical fruits and flowers. You can also visit the Madeira Photography Museum or the CR7 Museum, dedicated to the career of Cristiano Ronaldo, a native of Funchal.
More ideas in our article on the best attractions in Funchal or our list of Funchal museums.
You can also find ideas for organized tours in Funchal here.
Day 2: Pico do Arieiro, Santana and Ponta de São Lourenço
Stop 1 – Pico do Arieiro at sunrise
Climbing Pico do Arieiro before sunrise is an experience in itself. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before dawn to enjoy the changing colors in the sky and, with a little luck, see the sun emerge above the clouds. We recommend a 1-hour walk along the trail, followed by a U-turn, depending on your mood and fitness level. The panoramic views over the ridges are breathtaking at this early hour.
Stop 2 – Traditional Santana houses
Then head down to the north coast towards Santana to discover its traditional triangular houses, emblematic of Madeira. These thatched-roof, brightly-colored buildings date back to the early days of the island’s colonization. They illustrate traditional agricultural architecture and are one of Madeira’s most photographed symbols. We find the stop worthwhile, even if the visit is short.
Continue along the north coast to Rocha do Navio, one of our favorite views on the island. From the summit, the view of green mountains plunging into a deep-blue sea is particularly stunning. The cable car is currently inaccessible to tourists, but if it ever reopens, we’d recommend descending to see the waterfalls and farms at the foot of the cliffs.
Stop 4 – Ponta de São Lourenço and Ponta do Rosto
To finish the day, we head for the northeastern tip of the island. The Ponta de São Lourenço hike takes you along the famous “dragon’s tail”, surrounded by barren landscapes and ochre and red volcanic rocks. You can go forward as far as you like, then turn around. The full hike is 6.4km, or 3 to 4 hours to the Sardinha Café and back. Before setting off again, we recommend a short detour to Ponta do Rosto to admire the volcanic cliffs from a different angle.
Day 3: Cabo Girão, Camara de Lobos and Monte
Stop 1 – Cabo Girão
Go to Cabo Girão at opening time to avoid the biggest crowds. You step onto a glass platform suspended above cliffs 589m high, among the highest in Europe. The effect is quite dizzying. Please note, however, that side views are limited compared to other sites on the island. Find out more in our article on Cabo Girão.
Stop 2 – Camara de Lobos
Stroll through the old village and port of Camara de Lobos, Madeira’s most famous. We also consider it the most endearing: brightly colored fishing boats, a tiny harbor surrounded by narrow streets, panoramic promenades offering different views at every turn. We recommend spending half a day here, soaking up the atmosphere and perhaps enjoying a lunch of fresh fish. Find out more in our article on Camara de Lobos.
Stop 3 – Cable car to Monte
Back in Funchal, take the cable car to the heights of the city. The cabin links Funchal’s waterfront to the Monte area, flying over the city and offering 360° views of the entire urban area. Once you’ve arrived, we recommend taking the time to discover the neighborhood’s jewels: the Church of Our Lady of Monte and its impressive staircase, as well as Monte’s small municipal garden, which is free to enter. This garden, located at an altitude of 550m, is home to century-old trees and native species. Surprisingly, it is also the burial place of the exiled Austrian Emperor Charles I.
Stop 4 – Monte Palace Tropical Garden
A 5-minute walk from the cable car takes you to the entrance of Monte Palace Tropical Garden, one of Madeira’s best-known attractions. It’s a garden of great richness, with lush vegetation, sculptures, architectural features and water features. There’s also a museum. We were surprised by the diversity and quality of the visit: the sloping paths make for a dynamic walk. Botany enthusiasts could easily spend a whole day here. See all our tips for visiting the garden.
Stop 5 – Funchal slide
To get back down to the heart of Funchal, you have several options: take the cable car, take a cab, or enjoy a unique Madeira experience: basket sledging. You sit in a wicker basket, guided through the steep streets by two men in traditional costumes who use their feet to steer and brake. We find this experience both amusing and typical. It’s the perfect end to a day filled with sea, village and gardens.
OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES IN Madeira
Catamaran tour to see dolphins and Madeira’s giant cliffs. – View the schedule and availability—and make a reservation!
Canyoning among the rocks! – View options and availability
Gastronomic tour to discover local specialties – View options and availability
3 days in Madeira without a car
If you prefer not to rent a car, we recommend staying in Funchal. Most organized tours depart from here, and cab and bus services are well developed.
Day 1 without a car: Funchal and dolphins
Explore Funchal’s old town and its museums. Soak up its atmosphere and architecture. You can also plan a boat trip to watch the dolphins. Our preferred catamaran tour with swimming under Cabo Girão – See options and availability.
Day 2 without car: Pico do Arieiro and East Madeira
Discover some of the most beautiful sites in eastern Madeira: Pico do Arieiro and its panoramic views over steep ridges, Santana and its traditional houses, and the views from Ponta de São Lourenço over volcanic cliffs. Join an organized tour departing from Funchal. See program and availability.
Day 3 without car: Camara de Lobos and Tropical Garden
On to the village of Camara de Lobos. Take a cab or Hop-on-hop-off bus. See hop-on hop-off tickets. In the afternoon, take the cable car to visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Take the traditional toboggan or cable car back down.
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Alternatives for landscape lovers
If you’d rather devote your third day to the great scenery of the northwest coast and swimming in the natural pools than to the gardens of Monte, here’s a great alternative. It replaces Day 3 of the main itinerary.
Fanal Forest
En route to the north-west coast, make a detour via the Paul da Serra plateau to discover the Fanal forest. This UNESCO Natural Heritage Site is part of the Laurissilva forest, of which Madeira is home to one of the largest remaining tracts in Europe. You’ll discover rolling meadows and twisted trees, particularly impressive when the mist settles in. We recommend taking a short hike or, at the very least, admiring the trees from the parking lot.
Porto Moniz natural pools
Bring your swimsuit: Porto Moniz’s natural pools are a must for swimmers. You swim surrounded by hardened lava, in pools formed naturally by the ocean. Two zones are available: those designed for the public (for a fee) and the wilder ones near the fort. Even without a swim, the landscape is worth the detour, with its long strips of black lava, shades of blue and green and the islet in the background. We really appreciated the unique atmosphere of this place. See our complete guide to Porto Moniz.
Ribeira da Janela
Heading east along the coast, stop off at Ribeira da Janela. A staircase cut into the rock leads to an observation platform from which you can admire the remarkable rock pillars rising into the sea. You can also go down to the beach to observe them better, but bring suitable footwear: these are big rocks, with no sand. Read more about it.
Seixal’s natural pools and black sand beach
Continue east to Seixal. The lava pools, dominated by a huge arch of volcanic rock, are well worth a visit if you’re in shape, as the descent is quite steep. Then take the car for a few minutes to reach the black sandy beach of Seixal, near the port. This is one of the island’s few natural sandy beaches, and the contrast between the black sand and the green cliffs on the clifftop is striking. It even has a small waterfall. Find out more about Seixal’s black beach.
Miradouro Veu da Noiva
Before taking the expressway back to your accommodation, stop off at Miradouro Veu da Noiva. This viewpoint is one of Madeira’s best-known, thanks to its waterfall that gushes out of a sheer cliff. A stop of just a few minutes, but an image that stays with you for a long time.
It’s time to book!
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Alternatives for hiking enthusiasts
We’ve included a few hikes in the program below. If you’re an enthusiast, you can cut your days in Funchal short. Among our suggestions, the Levada des 25 Fontes is one of the most accessible and beautiful. The path leads to a small lagoon and a wall covered with trickles of water, hence the name. We strongly recommend that you leave before sunrise to enjoy the site before the crowds, as the paths are very narrow. See our complete hiking guide.
In addition, here are some other hikes we recommend:
- The complete Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike (PR1)
- The complete Ponta de São Lourenço hike
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9)
- Vereda do Pico Ruivo (PR1.2)
- Vereda do Larano
- Pico Grande (PR12)
- Levada do Moinho (PR7)
See our selection of Madeira’s best hikes.
Alternatives for sports enthusiasts
Madeira also offers a wide range of sporting activities, both at sea and in the mountains. If you like to push yourself, here are some of our favourites:
- Beginner canyoning – see options
- Intermediate canyoning – see program and availability
- Kayak – see options
- Coasteering (jumping into the sea!) – see program and availability
- Diving, mountain biking…
Frequently asked questions about your stay in Madeira
What’s the best time of year to visit Madeira in 3 days?
Madeira is a pleasant destination all year round, thanks to mild temperatures in all seasons. If you’d like to take advantage of the fine weather, you’ll want to do so between May and October, when the days are warm and sunny. In winter, the island is a pleasant place to enjoy a bit of sunshine away from the continental cold.
What to bring for 3 days in Madeira?
We advise you to bring comfortable walking shoes, sun cream, a swimsuit and several layers of clothing to adapt to changes in altitude and weather from one side of the island to the other.
Is 3 days enough to visit Madeira?
A week is generally considered the ideal length of time to discover Madeira in depth. With 3 days, you can still see the island’s main landmarks. The program will be dense, so we recommend that you plan each day taking into account travel times and not overloading the stages.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Madeira
Best of
Things to do in Madeira
Most beautiful viewpoints
Madeira’s most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful gardens
Natural pools
Most beautiful hikes
Most beautiful roads
Secret places
Practical advice
Getting around Madeira
Rent a car in Madeira
Driving in Madeira
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
