Porto Moniz
Swim in lava-rock pools on the Atlantic
- About 1 h from Funchal
- Free or €3
Lava-rock sea pools on the north-west tip. One set is free and wild, the other has lifeguards and changing rooms.
Plan your Madeira trip like a local
Whether you need a car, how to book the trails, where to stay and the places Madeirans go, from someone who grew up on the island.
By Michael Martinez, born and raised in Madeira, and his family on the island
Plan it in five decisions
The full planning guide-
How many days
Five is the length I suggest most often.
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Where to stay
One base in Funchal or on the sunny south coast works for most trips.
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Car or no car
Most trips are easier with one. When you can skip it, and what that changes.
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Walks first
Pick your hikes before the rest: each one needs a timed slot.
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A spare day
Keep one day free and swap it in when cloud closes the mountains.
The places worth the drive
Pico do Arieiro
Watch the sun rise above the clouds
- 1,818 m
- Viewpoint free · PR1 €4.50
Watch the sun come up over a sea of cloud, then walk the ridge towards Pico Ruivo if your slot is booked.
Seixal
A black-sand beach that looks like a film set
- Black sand
- Free
A black beach under green cliffs on the north coast, wild on a swell day, glassy on a calm one.
Tour links are affiliate links: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
- Village
Câmara de Lobos
A working fishing bay, poncha and espetada
- Beach
Ponta do Sol
A pretty pebble beach and the digital nomad village
- Swim
Garajau
Cristo Rei and the marine reserve
Hidden gems
The Madeira I take my friends to
Places where Madeirans feel the island differently. Locals know them all; most visitors drive straight past.
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Airport Beach Santa Cruz
One of the latest beaches I have found, and right now probably the one I love most. You swim in clear water right under the runway, with the planes landing a few metres above you. It is hard to put into words.
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The Seixal photo stop Seixal
On the way down to the beach, look for the big SEIXAL sign. The small entrance on the left gives you the whole bay, without the crowd.
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Sunset at Maktub Pub Paúl do Mar
For me, the best sunset on the island. The crowd there is great, especially at weekends, and the caipirinhas and the music are spot on.
Start with what you love
Free tools for the questions everyone asks
Whether you need a car, how the trail bookings work and which walks are worth the effort, with prices and rules checked this year.
- Free tool
Do I need a car?
Six questions about your trip, an honest answer and what the car really costs with full cover, set against the price of day tours.
Get my answer - Free tool
How to book a trail on SIMplifica
Every classified walk needs a timed slot, from €4.50. The booking step by step, the Portuguese form translated and a fee calculator.
See the steps - Map
Every PR trail on one map
All 42 classified walks by area, with difficulty and the ones you can walk without a booking.
Open the map - Guide
The best Madeira hikes, according to 13 guides and 11,700 reviews
Ranked by how many published guides pick them, with Tripadvisor ratings and what walkers on Reddit say about each one.
See the ranking
The experiences I would book
With a car you can skip most tours. These four are the exceptions: the sea, a day without driving, the tracks and the PR8 without the parking.
- Sea
Dolphins and whales from a quiet catamaran
Three hours along the south coast from Funchal marina, with a swim stop when the sea allows.
From €40
Check dates Read the guide first - No car needed
The peaks and the north coast in one day
Pico do Arieiro, the Balcões walk, Santana and Porto da Cruz, with pick-up in Funchal or Caniço.
From €34
Check dates Read the guide first - Off-road
Fanal, Seixal and Porto Moniz in an open 4x4
A full day in the west on tracks a hire car cannot take, with a guide at the wheel.
From €69
Check dates Read the guide first - Hike
São Lourenço without the parking hunt
A lift from Funchal to the PR8 and back, and the only option with the trail permit in the price.
Permit included
Check dates Read the guide first
I have not taken these exact tours; each guide says what I have done myself. Affiliate links: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money. More in tours worth booking.
Personal plan
Rather we planned it for you?
Tell us your dates, your group and what you love. My family and I plan every day by hand, with a plan B for the weather and the places we use ourselves. €149 for up to 5 days, ready in 48 hours, full refund if it does not work for you.
This season
Coming for Christmas or New Year?
The Market Night on 23 December, the lights over Funchal and the fireworks over the bay. When to go out and where to watch from.
Before you go
Who writes this site?
Michael, who was born and raised in Madeira, writes and checks every page. Pages that carry prices or rules show the date we last checked them.
About usHow does the site make money?
Some links to car hire, tours and places to stay are affiliate links. If you book through them we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Each one is marked next to the button, and we tell you when something is not worth the money.
How we make moneyHow many days do you need in Madeira?
Five is the length I suggest most often: enough for Funchal and the sea, the peaks, the north coast, the east and the south-west, one area a day. Take seven if you want the big walks.
Itineraries for 3 to 10 daysWhere should I stay in Madeira?
For a first visit, central Funchal. With a car, the Lido or quieter Caniço work well. Choose the west or the north when the place you wake up matters as much as the days out. One base is enough for most trips.
Where to stay in MadeiraDo I need a car in Madeira?
Not for Funchal. For the north coast, the mountains at sunrise and most trailheads, a car makes the trip far easier. Without one, tours with pick-up in Funchal cover the main sights.
Do you need a car in Madeira?When is the best time to visit?
August and September for swimming: Funchal averages about 27 °C by day and it almost never rains. April and May for walking in mild weather. December for Christmas and the New Year fireworks. Winter stays mild on the coast, about 20 °C by day in January, but October to December bring the most rain and the mountains are often in cloud.
The best time to visit, month by monthDo I need to book the hiking trails?
Yes. In 2026 every classified PR trail needs a timed slot on SIMplifica, children and residents included. Most cost €4.50; the full PR1 is €10.50.
How to book a trail on SIMplifica