Madeira is amazing – We recommend you check it out

In 2024 we had stunning adventure in the Galapagos Islands.  We enjoyed this experience with new friends we made while on the cruise (check out our posts here).  We were invited by one of the couples who are from Madeira, Portugal, to come and visit.  So, we did!  This post shares with you some the great experiences we enjoyed in Madeira, Portugal.

Background – Madeira

Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean.  It is southwest of mainland Portugal. It is the southernmost point and region of Portugal.  While logistically close to Africa, it is culturally, politically and ethnically associated with Europe.  Its population is largely descended from Portuguese settlers, and is around 250,000.  

This archipelago includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Desertas, administered together with the separate archipelago of the Savage Islands.  Madeira is very self sufficient and full of opportunities to hike, cycle, and camp.  It has a large ecotourism sector that is ever-expanding to enjoy the island and all it has to offer.

Getting to Madeira

We flew in via Air Europa to Madeira from Barcelona.  We found the airline very efficient and orderly, particularly given how frantic and busy the Barcelona airport is.

Getting around Madeira

If residing directly in Funchal and its immediate area, no car is really necessary.  If you are slightly out of the central town, be prepared to either walk some hills or take transit or taxis.  Better yet, rent a car.  We decided to rent a car for our stay and it was extremely helpful.  It allowed us to see alot of the island and do it on our own schedule.  

We did see hop-on hop-off, (City Sightseeing – Funchal (Madeira) )which would be a great option to see around a larger area and get your bearings.  The aforementioned bus system/transit appeared quite extensive.  There were bus stops EVERYWHERE, even up at the top of the peaks in the central island.  click here to learn more about their public transport.

Accommodation

There are a number of options available on where to stay in Madeira.  As we stayed with friends, we were saved the need to explore these in more detail.  For more information, start your search with Visit Madeira, Where to Stay.

Activities in Madeira

There is a wide variety of activities and attractions to see and do while on the island of Madeira.  We opted for a combination of the Top-10 sights to see and some exploration days to enjoy as much as we could of the island.  Here we are sharing some of the activities we enjoyed.  This is not a laundry list – there is much more to see and do!

Walk around Funchal

An eminently walkable city, it has beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to shop, eat, drink and enjoy.  We spent a day enjoying the Funchal Cathedral (climb to the top lookout!), the Artesanato da Madeira (local crafts), Mercado dos Lavradores (farmer’s market), enjoyed a treat at Fabrics Santo Antonio (and bought some to take home), and then met our friends for a late afternoon madeira tasting.

Another day we took the cable car up to Monte, walked around the Monte Palace Madeira Tropical Gardens, then enjoyed a toboggan ride down the hill towards Funchal.  

Self Guided Driving Tours

Full Day

Depending on the amount of time you have available, a self guided driving tour to capture a few sights in a day is well worth it.  With our hosts and friends, we spent one day venturing from Funchal to Machico (great viewpoints and scenery); take the old winding roads (not the new tunnels) from Machico, through Ribiera de Machico, to Portelo for the lookout point; up to Porto da Cruz. 

Here on the coast we stopped for midmorning coffee, a walk around the point, to the rum house – Engenhos Do Norte – for a tasting of local rum.  We continued onwards to Santana, where we enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Quinta do Furao on their awe-inspiring veranda.  Following lunch, we doubled back to the road for Pico das Pedras and went to Achada do Teixelra seeking the view of the elusive Pico was Torres and Pico do Areeiro peaks.  However, we were not fully successful on this day.  We travelled back down for the levanda walk from Pico das Pedras to Quelmadas.  

Half Day

For a half day self-guided driving trip we went from Funchal, along the south coast west to Pico da Cruz, on the older winding roads to Pico da Torre, and on to Cabo Girao Viewpoint.  Here you can see the cliffs down to the water through a glass platform – scary and not for those with a fear of heights!  Then we headed back to Pico dos Barcelos, and on up to Eira do Serrado – a beautifully scenic peak.  At 1095m up, when you look down at Curral das Freiras, a small town in the valley, it looks like toy houses have been placed there!

Pico do Areeiro at 1818m is phenomenal.  A military weather station is at the top, along with a large amount of hikers preparing to do the Areeiro to Pico Ruivo hike.

Jeep Tour

Green Devil Safari provided us an action packed day of off roading and sight seeing.  We drove from Funchal up to   Porto Moniz and Fanal. Stops along the way included the Enchanting Fanal Forest (ancient laurel trees which are spooky in their size and formation!); volcanic pools of Porto Moniz for some light, refreshing swimming; Veu da Noiva Waterfall in Seixal (sheer down a cliff face, so close we could feel the spray); and the Paul da Serra plateau to get panoramic views of the islands north and south mountains and valleys.

Madeira Wine Tasting

You shouldn’t really visit Madeira and not try the wine.  We started off at Pereira D’Oliveira while in Funchal on our first full day, just to give it a try.  Our free tasting was quick and tasty, but we were holding out for our big booked tasting later that day at Blandy’s.

Blandy’s Wine Lodge was a once in a lifetime experience!  Our local friends had booked a tour for all of us and we enjoyed a detailed tour through the lodge to learn more about the Madeira wine making process – the vineyards, winemaking and unique challenges that go into making this world-renowned fortified wine.  Following our 1-hour tour we were provided an amazing guided tasting in their  vintage room of four of their vintage Madeiras.  Check out our instagram of our Blandy’s Wine Lodge vintage tasting on our instagram feed (@planetsaipo).

Shopping

For local crafts and wares, the aforementioned Artesanato da Madeira (local crafts), Mercado dos Lavradores (farmer’s market), are great to check out.  Funchal is full of lovely local boutiques and artisan shops.  For local Madeira Hand Embroidery, there is Bordal.  It is wonderful to see these wares still available and so exquisitely showcased throughout the island.  You need to look for the embossed gold symbol for authenticity to ensure you are securing the real deal.  At Bordal in Funchal, you can observe the handiwork in progress, as well as buy kits to try it out for yourself.  

Food & Drink in Madeira

There is a world of diverse cuisines available in Madeira.  The European influences are prevalent (portuguese, spanish,french), as are the African influences.  There are some very specific dishes you should try, and plentiful restaurants that serve them.  Below, we’ve noted some of the dishes and meals we enjoyed.

Espada

Filete de Espada is one of the most iconic dishes of Madeira’s gastronomy. This fish, the Black Scabbardfish, is caught in the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the stars of Madeiran fishing, known for its tender texture and delicate flavour.  We were fortunate and enjoyed it at our hosts’ home.  Just mention it at a local restaurant with fish on the menu and they likely will have it!  It is delicious –

Espetada

This is skewered meat, done on the grill.  It is a standard offering and meant to be enjoyed with friends and family. The secret of the espetada lies in its simplicity, both in preparation and seasoning. The unique flavour that garlic, bay leaf, and the charcoal grill give to the meat creates an irresistible combination that delights the palate.  Vila de Carne in Camara de Lobos does it extremely well – make sure you get the cornmeal side along with the sweet potato!

Poncha

Madeira’s iconic alcoholic drink, Poncha is a strong, sweet, and citrusy cocktail made with sugar cane brandy (aguardente), honey, and fresh lemon or orange juice.  It is traditionally mixed with a special muddling stick to create a frothy texture.  You can sometimes get different flavours of it.  Poncha Tavern was our introduction to this drink from our guide with Green Devil Safari – wicked! 

Quinta Jardins do Lago – The Beresford Restaurant

Excellent for a wow dinner.  Leading up to dinner we enjoyed a drink on the patio.  Our dinner was a special 3 course meal of Salmon Tataki, Suckling Pig with Sweet Potato, and a Mango Parfait with Madeira Rum for dessert.  It was a lovely dinner to linger over with friends in a beautiful old manor house.  With a well-curated wine list to match, its was a beautiful treat.

Atlantic Restaurante (Clube de Turismo da Madeira)

In case you want to see even more of the amazing shoreline view around Funchal, check out this beautiful restaurant.  Located in the Clube de Turismo da Madeira, it is busy with local members enjoying the swimming pool and other club amenities.  The food is well presented and very tasty, and the staff friendly and fun.  We enjoyed our final evening here with our friends.  From pasta, salads, fish and steak, it was well enjoyed by all of us.

Lapa Bay Restaurant (Porto Moniz)

If up at the NorthWest coast of the island enjoying the natural swimming pools, this restaurant is a great option.  We enjoyed a large buffet of local treats and local white and red wine for a reasonable price.  With mediterranean cuisine – fish and meat – there were lots of options.

Quinta do Furao (Santana)

Up on the North coast, we enjoyed our lunch at the Quinta’s restaurant.  Tempura vegetables, grilled prawns and seared duck breast – all of it was very good, and enjoyed on their terrace overlooking the ocean.

Summary

This is a very short summary of all you can see and do while in Madeira.  Indeed, we spent a-lot of time visiting with our friends and enjoying their hospitality. There is so much to see and do in Funchal and the larger island of Madeira.  We look forward to the opportunity in the future to go there and experience more!

Check out more of our travel recommendations here!