If you have 5 days in Madeira, you’re in for a treat! Cliffs, impressive mountains, magnificent gardens…
We’ll take you to the best places and experiences on the island with our 5-day Madeira itineraries.
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.
Madeira in 5 days: what you need to know
Essential tips
- Plan your itinerary by half-day whenever possible. Check the weather forecast and adapt your activities accordingly, as conditions can vary from one side of the island to the other due to the central mountains.
- Even though the island is small, mountain roads can slow down your travels, so don’t overload your days.
- The paths along the levadas are narrow, so we recommend setting off at dawn to avoid the crowds.
Here are the driving times, to give you a better idea of how to plan your itinerary:
Do you need a car?
With 5 days, we strongly recommend renting a car, in order to..:
- adapt to the weather
- stop at all the viewpoints (miradouros)
- watch the sunrise or sunset
- more freedom to explore your favorite places
Don’t worry, driving is not as difficult as some people make it out to be. The millions of people who didn’t have a problem don’t take the time to write that everything went well.
But if you don’t want to drive, we give you some ideas in a car-free section further down the article.
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.
5 days in Madeira: where to stay
Madeira isn’t very big, so you can discover the whole island from a single location.
Most hotels and accommodation are located in Funchal, the capital.
Here are 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)
– See photos and availability - Hotel Quinta Jardins do Lago, 5 stars (on the heights of Funchal)
– see prices, pictures and availability
Ideal 5-day itinerary in Madeira: map
It’s not easy to make choices, but we’ve created our ideal 5-day Madeira itinerary for you. It allows you to see some of the different types of landscape, and visit many of the most famous places.
The days are balanced as best we can, so as not to be too long or have too much time on the road.
Here’s a map of our ideal itinerary:
If you’re based in Funchal, here’s how much driving time you’ll need for each day:
- Day 1= 0
- Day 2 = 2h30 drive
- Day 3 = 1h to 1h40 drive
- Day 4 = 2h30 drive
- Day 5 = 1h45 drive
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
Day 1: Funchal and dolphins
Stop 1 – Dolphin cruise
Start gently, but with excitement: a boat trip to watch dolphins and whales and admire the island from the sea.
A large number of whales and dolphins pass through Madeira every year, and you can see them all year round (although the species change).
If you book it on the first day, you can always change to another day of your stay if conditions aren’t right.
To help you choose your tour:
- read our article on dolphin watching in Madeira
- our preferred catamaran tour with swimming under Cabo Girao – See options and availability
Stop 2 – Old town of Funchal
Explore the charming old town of Funchal. Take time to stroll around, appreciate the buildings and enjoy the atmosphere. You are welcome to visit:
- the 16th-century Cathedral
- Museum of Sacred Art and its view of Funchal
- Jesuit College Church
- Rua Santa Maria and Mercado dos Lavradores
- Madeira Museum of Photography
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s career at the CR7 Museum
- …
More ideas in our article on the best attractions in Funchal or our list of Funchal museums.
Day 2: Pico do Ariero and Santana
Stop 1 – Pico do Arieiro at sunrise
Climb to Pico do Areiro before sunrise, for the privilege of watching the sun emerge from the sea and light up the mountains.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to see the colors change and, with a bit of luck, see the sun rise above the clouds.
Depending on your mood and physical condition, decide whether or not to do part of the Pico do Arieiro hike. Walk for 1 hour, then turn around.
Stop 2 – Traditional Santana houses
Then head down to the north coast.
First stop in Santana to see the traditional Santana houses. These are iconic triangular buildings with thatched roofs and bright colors. These houses date back to the early days of Madeira’s colonization and illustrate traditional agricultural architecture.
Then discover one of our favorite panoramas.
Enjoy the view from the top of the cable car: green mountains falling into the deep blue sea.
Unfortunately, the cable car is currently inaccessible to tourists, but we hope it will reopen. If so, take the time to go down to see the waterfalls and farms at the foot of the cliffs.
Stop 4 – Ponta de Sao Lourenço
And to end the day on a high note, head for the northeastern tip, where you’ll discover landscapes perfect for admiring Madeira’s volcanic origins.
The hike takes you along Madeira’s famous “dragon’s tail”, surrounded by barren landscapes and colorful rocks.
You can walk as far as you like, then turn around. Impressive and colorful!
The whole hike is 6.4 km/4mi, which means 3 to 4 hours to the Sardinha Café and back.
Find out more about the hike (article coming soon).
Stop 5 – Ponta do Rosto
Before setting off again, we recommend a short detour to admire the view from Ponta do Rosto of the volcanic cliffs at the tail of Madeira. What a contrast to the rest of the island!
Day 3: Cabo Girao, Camara de Lobos and garden
Stop 1 – Cabo Girao
Go to Cabo Girao at opening time to avoid the biggest crowds.
Here, you step onto a platform to experience the vertigo at the top of these cliffs, which reach 589m (1932ft). They are among the highest in Europe.
It’s quite impressive to see the height, but be aware that compared to other places, the views are very limited.
Find out more in our article on Cabo Girao.
Stop 2 – Camara dos Lobos
Stroll through the old village and port: Camara de Lobos. Madeira’s most famous.
He’s considered the most charming, and I agree. Promenades offering different views surround the tiny fishing port with its colorful boats. It’s worth spending half a day here, soaking up the atmosphere and perhaps enjoying a delicious lunch with fresh fish.
Read more in our Camara article.
Stop 3 – Take the cable car up to Monte
Back in Funchal, take the cable car to the heights of the city. A cable car links the Funchal seafront with the Monte area.
It flies over the city, offering 360° views.
Stop 4 – Admire the church and small municipal garden
Once off the gondola, don’t head straight for the famous Monte Palace garden. Take time to discover the jewels of the Monte district: the Notre-Dame de Monte church and its impressive staircase. And, surprisingly, it’s the burial place of the exiled Austrian Emperor Charles I.
Then, below the church, don’t miss Monte’s small but charming municipal garden. At an altitude of 550 m, it is home to century-old trees and native species. Access is free of charge.
Stop 5 – Monte Palace Tropical Garden
It’s a 5-minute walk to the entrance of Monte Palace Tropical Garden, one of Madeira’s best-known attractions.
It’s a magnificent garden, with lush vegetation, sculptures, architectural features and water features. There’s even a museum.
The tour is rich and the paths are steep. Enthusiasts could spend a whole day there!
See all our tips for visiting the garden.
Stop 6 – Funchal slide
There are several options for getting back down to the heart of Funchal, either by gondola, cab or a unique Madeira experience: basket sledging.
You are seated in a basket and transported up the steep streets to the center of Funchal. 2 men in traditional costumes, using their feet to guide the basket and brake. We wonder how many pairs of shoes they have to buy a year!
Day 4: Northwest coast and natural pools
Stop 1 – Fanal Forest
En route to the north-west coast, we recommend a detour via the Paul da Serra plateau to discover the Fanal forest. You can go hiking, or just admire the trees near the parking lot.
This is the Unesco natural heritage site of the Laurissilva forest. You’ll discover rolling meadows and twisting trees. It’s absolutely enchanting. Even more so if the forest is shrouded in mist!
The island and much of southern Europe were once covered by this native forest. Madeira is home to one of the largest remaining plots.
Stop 2 – Porto Moniz
Bring your swimsuit for the day, as the natural pools of Porto Moniz are a must for swimming surrounded by hardened lava.
There are 2 swimming areas: those that have been softened for public use (for a fee) and the more natural ones near the fort.
Even if you don’t swim, the scenery is worth the detour: long strips of lava, shades of blue and green, the islet in the background.
See my complete guide to Porto Moniz.
Stop 3 – Ribeira da Janela
We’re heading back east now, along the coast. And we recommend a stop at Ribeira da Janela. A staircase takes you through the rock to an observation platform where you can admire the rock pillars in the sea.
You can also walk on the beach to get a better view, but wear appropriate walking shoes, as there are big rocks… and no sand in sight!
Read more about it.
Stop 4 – Seixal natural pools
Continue eastwards and if you’re feeling fit, stop off in the center of Seixal. The lava pools, with their huge arch, are well worth a visit. But the descent to the pools is pretty steep.
Find out more about Seixal.
Stop 5 – Seixal black sand beach
Then take the car for a few minutes to discover Seixal’s black sand beach, near the port. This is one of the island’s few natural sandy beaches. And the landscape is truly volcanic, between the black sand and the green cliffs.
This beach even has a small waterfall!
Find out more about Seixal’s black beach.
Stop 6 – Miradouro Veu da Noiva
And finally, before you take the expressway back to your accommodation, stop off at Miradouro Veu da Noiva. It’s one of Madeira’s best-known viewpoints, thanks to the waterfall that gushes down the steep cliff.
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
Day 5: Levada and Ponta do Sol
Stop 1 – 25 Fontes Levada
Levadas are traditional irrigation canals running down from Madeira’s mountains. Hiking trails run alongside them. We recommend you do at least one of these hikes: the 25 Fontes.
However, our top tip is to get there before sunrise to really enjoy the place before the crowds (the paths are narrow).
The trail leads to a small lagoon and a weeping wall, covered in trickles of water, hence the name 25 fontes.
See our complete hiking guide.
Stop 2 – Ponta do Sol
Then head down to the south coast and relax on the Ponta do Sol seafront. This is Madeira’s sunniest village.
Here you’ll find a pebble beach, colorful buildings, the remains of the royal road that once encircled the entire island and the bridge that linked the island to the pier.
Be aware, however, that parking spaces can be hard to find.
Find out more about Ponta do Sol.
Alternative if you don’t go hiking
If you can’t make the morning hike, you can substitute exploring Madeira’s southwest coast.
Here you’ll find charming villages such as Jardim do Ma, Paul do Mar and Madalena do Mar.
In the latter, you can take a very short walk through the banana plantations (Rota da Banana in Madalena do Mar RB1).
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5 days in Madeira without a car
If you prefer not to rent a car and drive, we recommend staying in Funchal. This is the starting point for most organized tours.
Day 1 without a car: Funchal and Dauphin
Today, explore Funchal’s old town and its museums. Enjoy the atmosphere.
Plan a boat trip to see the dolphins. To help you choose your tour:
- read our article on dolphin watching in Madeira
- our preferred catamaran tour with swimming under Cabo Girao – See options and availability
Day 2 without car: Camara de Lobos and Tropical Garden
Head for the charming 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 the cable car back down.
Day 3 without car: Porto Moniz and the North Coast
Discover the town of Porto Moniz with its natural lava pools, the black sand beach of Seixal and the Fanal forest with its intriguing trees.
To do this, you need to join an organized tour. See program and availability
Day 4 without car: Pico do Arieiro and eastern Madeira
Discover some of the most beautiful places in eastern Madeira with:
- Pico do Arieio and its panoramic views of steep mountains
- Santana and its traditional houses
- Views of the volcanic cliffs from Ponta de São Lourenço.
To do this, you need to join an organized tour. See program and availability
Day 5 without car: your choice
Whether you feel like moving or not, you can choose:
- a guided walk along a levada – see options
- Half-day in the Valley of the Nuns: Curral das Frieiras, with its breathtaking mountains – see program and availability
- A relaxing day at the hotel
Alternatives for hiking enthusiasts
We have included 3 or 4 hikes in the above program.
But if you’re an amateur, you can cut your days in Funchal to do more.
For example:
- The complete Pico do Arieio to Pico Ruivo hike (PR1)
- The complete Ponta de Sao Louranço hike
- Levada do Caldeirao Verde (PR9)
- Verada do Pico Ruivo (PR1.2)
- Verado do Larano
- Pico Grande (PR12)
- Levada do Moinho (PR7)
See our selection of Madeira’s best hikes.
Alternatives for sports enthusiasts
If you like to challenge yourself, Madeira also offers a wide range of sporting activities in the sea or in the mountains.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- 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 and tips
What’s the best time of year to visit Madeira in 5 days?
Madeira is an ideal year-round destination with mild temperatures.
If you want the best weather, visit between May and October, when the weather is warm and sunny. But the island is also very pleasant in winter, when you can enjoy a bit of sunshine.
What to bring for 5 days in Madeira
We advise you to take:
- comfortable walking shoes,
- sunscreen,
- a bathing suit,
- layers of clothing to adapt to the weather and changes in altitude.
Is 5 days enough to visit Madeira?
A week in Madeira is generally considered the ideal length of time for a visit. In just 5 days, you can see the island’s diverse landscapes and most famous landmarks. But the program is more intense and you won’t be able to see everything.
