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
Plan it in five decisions
The full planning guide-
How many days
Five is the length I suggest most often.
Itineraries for 3 to 10 days -
Where to stay
One base in Funchal or on the sunny south coast works for most trips.
Where to stay -
Car or no car
Deposits, cover and manual or automatic, explained.
Honest car hire guide -
Walks first
Pick your hikes before the rest: each one needs a timed slot.
How to book -
A spare day
Keep one day free and swap it in when cloud closes the mountains.
Weather month by month
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.
"See tours" links are affiliate links.
- 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.
Check my trip - Free tool
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.
Book a trail - 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 hikes 13 guides agree on
Ranked by how many published guides pick them, with what walkers on Reddit say about each one.
See the ranking
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.
How 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 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.
Where 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.
Do 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.
When is the best time to visit?
Any month works. Funchal stays between about 14 °C and 27 °C all year; October to December bring the most rainy days. The mountains are colder and often in cloud, whatever the season.
Do 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.