Best time to visit
Madeira is a year-round destination – thanks to its mild climate and spring-like temperatures, even in winter.
Madeira round trips: Funchal, Pico do Arieiro and fairy forest
Wild Madeira – Levadas, clifftops and laurel forests
Cliffs like film sets, roads like serpentines through the jungle, waterfalls as if time stood still – Madeira is pure force of nature. Your hire car round trip becomes an expedition through volcanic rock, cloud forest and coastal vibes you'll never forget. Whether it's a levada hike, canyoning or sundowners high above Funchal – on Madeira, action with views awaits. A Madeira trip means getting out of everyday life and into a nature cinema without pause. You want real bucket-list moments – then a round trip around Madeira is your match. It's flexible, wild and intense – like a road trip through another world.
Tips and info for your Madeira trip
Currency
In Madeira, you'll pay with the euro (EUR).
Flight time
A direct flight takes around 4.5 hours.
Language
The official language is Portuguese. But you'll also get by well with English.
What are the must-sees in Madeira?
Madeira is full of highlights, but these must-sees belong on your bucket list.
Hiking on Madeira: Levadas, peaks and laurel forests
Hiking on Madeira feels like an adventure between sky and rainforest. Rugged peaks, dense laurel forests and waterfalls that plunge over rocks out of nowhere -- the island offers spectacular routes for every level. Whether you're taking a relaxed stroll along the levadas such as the Levada do Alecrim or tackling the challenging hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, the island's highest peak, it's not about the kilometres -- it's about the sense of wonder. The Rabaçal region is particularly popular, with highlights such as the 25 Fontes. Mist hangs over the Fanal Forest, Madeira's most famous laurel woodland -- mysterious, still and almost otherworldly. A hiking trip to Madeira lets you leave everything else behind.
Funchal to Porto Moniz: Madeira's urban highlights
Funchal is the heart of the island, where colonial facades meet palm trees and street art sits alongside azulejos. Let the Jardim Botânico draw you into a sea of colour, then raise a glass of poncha to the good life. Further west, Porto Moniz surprises you with lava pools where the Atlantic bubbles and froths. Somewhere between Camacha and Ponta do Sol, grand old manor houses stand beside banana plantations, while colourful thatched cottages in Santana whisper stories from the past. Madeira lives in its towns -- wild, diverse and full of contrasts.
Madeira's beaches: Black sand and natural pools
A beach trip to Madeira? Yes please! Even though the island is better known for its dramatic cliffs and natural pools, there are some spots that deliver a proper holiday feel. Seixal Beach has pure social-media-worthy appeal: black lava sand and perfect waves for chilling or surfing. At Calheta Beach you'll find pale sand that was specially imported -- one of the few genuine sandy beaches on the island. And in the west, Paul do Mar awaits -- a real hotspot for surfers. For the ultimate island paradise, take the ferry across to Porto Santo, where kilometres of white sandy beach, turquoise water and a total lack of hustle add up to pure relaxation.
Explorer mode on: From Skywalk to whale watching
Adrenaline or explorer mode -- on Madeira, you can have both. Paragliding at Cabo Girão delivers breathtaking views, while whale watching brings you face to face with dolphins and whales in the open ocean. Snorkelling in the crystal-clear Atlantic is a genuine highlight, with a fascinating underwater world of wrecks, caves and colourful fish to discover. Take the cable car up to Monte and come back down via the legendary wicker toboggan ride -- sightseeing doesn't get more fun than this. Madeira also draws international surf professionals and beginners alike to its world-class surf spots. And for those who seek a real thrill, the famous Skywalk at Cabo Girão is not to be missed -- standing on a glass platform 580 metres above the Atlantic is a true bucket-list moment.
