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Local Insights For Madeira

Trip Ideas Curated by Madeira Nests

We’re thrilled that you’re preparing a trip to Madeira! This guide is packed with local knowledge to help you make the most of your stay. Whether you’re coming for a few nights or a full week, this is your go-to resource for itineraries, local cuisine, transport tips, and insider advice

Feel free to share your plans with us and we’ll be happy to provide personalized feedback.

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How to Organize Your Days

– Most guests stay 4–5 nights to fully appreciate what Madeira offers.
– If short on time, focus on highlights: at least half a day in Funchal and another half to full day outside of Funchal because each area offers a very different experience.
– Our apartments’ central location means you can explore Funchal on foot or with short Uber/taxi rides and they have plenty of restaurants and attractions walking distance
– In less than one hour from our apartments, you can reach any point on the island by car.
– OPTION: Many visitors split their time between Funchal and other parts of the island staying in two accommodations. Consider using one of our apartments as a base for the full trip, returning each day to the comfort of a modern home.
– Ask us about our 15% discount to add before or after your stay extra nights at any Savoy Signature hotel in Funchal and Calheta. A great combo!
💡 BONUS TIP: Book a window seat on your flight to Madeira for spectacular views as you approach the island.

Itineraries Without a Car

Our apartments are perfectly located for exploring Funchal on foot and even visiting Monte without a car.

– From Reid’s Gardens: Avenida do Infante → Placa Central → Jardim Municipal → Teatro Baltasar Dias → Cathedral (Sé).
– From Insular: Mercado dos Lavradores → Rua Santa Maria → Barreirinha → Forte de São Tiago.
– Return by Avenida do Mar → Marina → Palacio São Lourenço → Museu CR7
– Recommended local stops: Bordal Workshop for traditional madeiran embroidery, Brandy’s Wine Lodge or one of the other local wineries, and Casa Santo Antonio for freshly baked traditional cookies.
OPTION: If you have extra time, take the cable car up to Monte.

– Cable car ride with great views.
– Enjoy a specialty coffee at Land Food and Coffee
– Visit Monte Palace Tropical Gardens & Igreja do Monte.
– HIGHLIGHT: Take the Monte sledges downhill and don’t miss the souvenir photo at the end of the ride. It is worth the price!
– Return by taxi or car service (always ask for meter).

– Take the second cable car that leaves from Monte.
– Return via cable car or taxi.

– From Reid’s Gardens: Walk via Estrada Monumental to the Lido pools.
– For a longer stroll, continue to Ponta Gorda, Doca do Cavacas and the pathway by the ocean along Praia Formosa and you can reach all the way to the Câmara de Lobos bay.
– From Insular: Start at Lido by taxi, then walk.

Itineraries With a Car

– MB Tours: mb-tours.pt
– Hit The Road: hittheroadmadeira.com
– Mountain Expeditions: mex.pt

– Fantastic walks for all levels of fitness, ages, and time requirements (from less than an hour to full day walks).
– We highly recommend hiring a tour guide for these walks, especially to help you avoid the crowded areas as well as to highlight some of the less signaled paths.
– Exploring the Levadas will offer you views and contact with nature that are impressive. Try not to miss at least one of them.
– Our more adventurous guests usually do the Pico do Areiro-Pico Ruivo walk (there are some shorter and longer versions). Arrange for a driver to take you to the starting point nad pick you up later to avoid the roundtrip.
– We are also fans of the Levada do Alecrim / Lagoa do Vento that has a good number of steps, and it is great for travelers with a good fitness level, but depending on when you go it can get crowded.
– Try to avoid the times of large groups, remember to take food and water, proper clothing, avoid getting out of the main path, share your itinerary with us or someone you trust if going alone and verify on the official website if the hikes are open before doing them: https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/notice-to-walkers-and-list-of-walks/
– SAFETY TIP: One of the most common accidents in Madeira involves walking off the main path and falling or getting lost in the forest. The levadas are safe and friendly, but please don’t go off path where most accidents happen.

Fantastic walks for all levels of fitness, ages, and time requirements (from less than an hour to full day walks). We highly recommend hiring a tour guide for these walks, especially to help you avoid the crowded areas as well as to highlight some of the less signaled paths. Exploring the Levadas will offer you views and contact with nature that are impressive. Try not to miss at least one of them.
Our more adventurous guests usually do the Pico do Areiro-Pico Ruivo walk (there are some shorter and longer versions). Arrange for a driver to take you to the starting point nad pick you up later to avoid the roundtrip.
We are also fans of the Levada do Alecrim / Lagoa do Vento that has a good number of steps, and it is great for travelers with a good fitness level, but depending on when you go it can get crowded.
Try to avoid the times of large groups, remember to take food and water, proper clothing, avoid getting out of the main path, share your itinerary with us or someone you trust if going alone and verify on the official website if the hikes are open before doing them: https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/notice-to-walkers-and-list-of-walks/
SAFETY TIP: One of the most common accidents in Madeira involves walking off the main path and falling or getting lost in the forest. The levadas are safe and friendly, but please don’t go off path where most accidents happen.

– Amazing viewpoint on a cliff by the ocean that you shouldn’t miss including a glass platform.
– Very easy to visit by yourself with a car.

– Mountain summit reachable by car at 1,818 meters above sea-level. Offers fantastic views of the island and the ocean and it is a unique spot to watch the sunrise over the sea.
– We highly recommend an organized breakfast to watch the sunrise, absorb the incredible views and take some amazing pictures. You can even do it by yourself but watch out for the crowds and be mindful of the weather.
– For an exclusive, high-end sunrise experience with warm breakfast and champagne, contact the concierge at Savoy Palace (concierge.palace@savoysignature.com). They organize a high-end sunrise experience that is very special.
– Remember to dress appropriately for the changing weather. On the mountain top, it can be windy or colder than in town.

– Quaint fishing village in a bay next to Funchal. It is very picturesque.
– Walk along the bay and absorb the beautiful views of the small fishing boats on the bay.
– There is also a nice stroll along Praia Formosa in Funchal all the way to the Camara de Lobos bay. Just follow the path along the coast and enjoy the views until you reach the harbor.

– Take the cable car down for incredible ocean and cliff views.
– Enjoy the pebbles beach and the simple restaurant by the ocean.

– Quaint old seaside village for a short stroll by the ocean and beautiful sights. Very easy to visit by yourself.
– Park your car and walk towards the pier on the left. You can still peak the beginning of an old “Camino Real” at the base of the pier.

– Waterfall by the ocean that hits the road. Ideal for a “car wash”.
– Instagramers love it but be careful that with the water every now and then also fall small rocks. Better they hit a car than your head!
– SAFETY TIP: Please avoid the cliffside walls. It is another slippery area prone to accidents and falls.

– Sandy man-made beaches that are very family friendly and marina on Madeira’s sunny side.
– Don’t miss the Calhau Beach Club in front of the Saccharum hotel for a drink, a snack, swimming in the ocean or to watch the sunset! They offer sun beds.

– Head up the center of the island and watch the fantastic panorama of the green mountains and valleys on your way up to the Paul da Serra.
– You could stop in Serra d’Agua for a poncha in one of the traditional roadside taverns.

– A small rural village with a beautiful beach of black sand and amazing natural pools that are usually not as crowded as the pools in Porto Moniz.
– If you prefer a more natural and relaxed experience, visit the ocean pools in Seixal, instead of Porto Moniz.

– Large natural ocean pools that are part of a municipal seaside complex at the western end of the island with a small entry fee.
– Worth stopping by even if only to see them and take some pictures.
– Offers a more organized ocean pool experience usually with larger crowds.

– Dry rocky landscape at the far northeast end of the island with a beautiful walk enjoying amazing views of the ocean on both sides.
– Bring some water. The hike has no shade and can be windy.
– Check out the kayak tours, that can be a fun activity, as well as the small pebbles beach.

Where to Eat & Drink

Check out our curated list of the restaurants that we like all around the island:

Restaurant List

We’ve included only the restaurants that we usually go to and not necessarily the most “touristy” or “instagramable” ones. We like places where the food is good.

Must-try Local Dishes

Feel free to research them online. These are some of the highlights of the local/traditional cuisine in Madeira that you don’t want to miss:

Espetada de Carne Bolo do Caco com Manteiga e Alho
Milho Frito Milho com Atum
Lapas Grelhadas Bife de Atum à Madeirense
Peixe Espada Preto Sopa de Trigo
Pudim de Maracujá Bolo de Mel
Queijadas Vinho Madeira
And have lots of Poncha de Maracujá and Pescador!!

Bonus Tip: Locals like Carne de Vinha e Alhos. We’re not fans

Experiences Not to Miss

If you have a chance, don’t miss the opportunity to see the island from the sea. It’s a highly recommended experience. Some tours may give you the chance to see sea mammals, to swim in the crystal-clear ocean waters and/or enjoy the sunset. There are options for all budgets from group catamarans to private yachts, leaving mainly from Funchal or Marina Quinta do Lorde
Consider these alternatives:
Rota dos Cetáceos: www.rota-dos-cetaceos.pt
Sea La Vie: www.sealaviemadeira.com
Luxury Yacht Charter: https://luxurychartermadeira.com/
Happy Hour Madeira: www.happyhourmadeira.com

Our ocean water temperature is normally above 20 degrees Celsius all the way up to 26 from August to October.
There are great sea accesses in the Funchal area where you can jump in the ocean waters from a platform. The best ones free of charge are in Lido. If you are up for paying a small fee, there are great municipal pool complexes in Funchal: Lido, Ponta Gorda, Barreirinha and Doca do Cavacas. For a cool beach club experience with sunbeds, towels, and a nice bar and restaurant, consider Next Hotel in Funchal and Calhau Beach Club in Calheta. Both offer day passes for non-hotel guests.
You can check out the pebble beaches like Praia Formosa in Funchal and multiple others around the island. However, entering and exiting the water on pebbles or “calhau” as it is called in Portuguese is not for everybody.
SAFETY TIP: Be mindful that the sea on the North coast can have strong currents. For your own safety, only use the protected areas like the sandy beach in Seixal or the natural pools. We advise you not to go to the water on deserted beaches on the North coast since the waters can be very treacherous. The South coast (from Funchal to Calheta) has more gentle waters.

Funchal has the largest spa in Portugal, located at the Savoy Palace hotel. Enjoy some relaxation time in the impressive Laurea spa whether you book a massage, a treatment or just spend time in the interior pool, sauna and steam room. Contact the spa for availability and prices: https://www.savoysignature.com/savoypalacehotel/pt/spa/laurea-spa/

There are many wineries of Vinho Madeira and other types of wine on the island that offer tours. You can consider group tours, private tours, and more exclusive experiences in the following wineries: Blandy Wine Lodge, Quinta do Barbusano and Terras do Avo. Check them out online to see which one is to your liking.

Airport Transfers and Transportation

Strongly Recommended:

– madeira-airport-transfers.com

– Mr. Sergio, our private driver with Mercedes van: +351 919 912 420 (WhatsApp)

Least Preferred:

– Uber/Bolt: sometimes 15-20 min wait.

– Aerobus: inexpensive but more than double the time with many stops.

– Taxis: always available, but expensive and inconsistent service.

– Why Not Car Rental: special deal for our guests.

– Better than taxis, but wait times vary.

– Available at multiple taxi stands downtown

– Always request the meter.

Companies & Websites We Recommend

Weather & What to Pack

– Prepare to dress for multiple weather situations during the day. We have been able to experience the four seasons during the same day as you visit different parts of the island.
– Keep a light jacket handy and be aware that rain, clouds, and sun come and go in an instant. We have amenable and very variable weather almost all year-round.
– In Funchal, the usual weather cycle is a sunny morning followed by some clouds later in the day. Enjoy the sunny mornings as much as you can. Don’t leave it for later!

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