Hiking in Madeira, planned by a local
Madeira has 42 official walks, from flat levadas in the laurel forest to the ridge between the highest peaks. Since 2026 most need a booking. Pick the walks that suit you, book them, and go early.
The 2026 rules in one minute
How to book, step by step →- 38walks need a timed booking on SIMplifica, children included
- €4.50per walk on most trails, or €9 for several in one day
- 8:00the PR1 gate opens at Pico do Arieiro, one way past Pedra Rija
- 4council walks with no booking and no fee
5 trails were closed when we checked. A booking does not mean the trail is open: check the official status on the day.
Choose your walk by what you want to see
The walks most guides agree on, grouped by landscape. The number shows how many of the 13 guides we read recommend each one.
-
Above the clouds
Paths between the highest peaks, often over a sea of cloud. Check the summit weather the evening before.
-
Levadas through the forest
Gentler paths beside the old water channels, under laurel forest, with a viewpoint or a waterfall at the end.
-
Sea cliffs
Bare volcanic headland with the Atlantic on both sides. There is no shade, so start early.
-
Forest in the fog
Centuries-old til trees on the edge of the Paul da Serra plateau, at their best when the mist comes in.
Free hiking planner
Too many trails, not enough days?
Answer three questions and we pick your hikes, put them in the order that works and give you a plan B for cloudy days, with the trail fees added up.
Plan my hikes- 1Your dates
- 2How much you walk
- 3Car, children, or neither
- Your hikes, day by day, with a plan B
Every trail on one map
Each dot is the start of a classified walk. The map groups them by area and lets you filter by difficulty, or show only the 4 walks you can do without a booking.
Open the trail mapEvery hiking guide, in the order you need it
From choosing the walks to the day you walk them.
-
1Choose
- The best hikes in Madeira
The trails 13 hiking guides agree on, with what walkers say about each.
- Hiking trails map
All 42 classified walks by area, with time, difficulty and fee.
- Free hiking planner
Your hikes picked and put in order for your dates.
- The best hikes in Madeira
-
2Book
- Book on SIMplifica
The booking step by step, with the Portuguese form translated.
- Trail fee calculator
The cheapest way to pay for several walks.
- Hiking by bus
Which trailheads you can reach from Funchal without a car.
- Book on SIMplifica
-
3Walk
- Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
The PR1 day, from the dawn bus to the taxi back.
- Ponta de São Lourenço
The PR8: parking, the bus and where to swim after.
- Camping in Madeira
The licence and the official campsites, and how full they get.
- Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
Rather have the whole week planned?
Hikes are one part of the trip. Our family plans your days by hand around the weather, with the walks, the beaches and where to eat. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.
Questions about hiking in Madeira
Do you have to book hikes in Madeira?
Yes, for the 38 classified PR walks: each needs a timed slot on SIMplifica, children and residents included, and most cost €4.50. Only the 4 council walks (PR3, PR3.1, PR4, PR23) need no booking. Our booking guide shows each step.
What is the easiest well-known hike in Madeira?
The PR11 to the Balcões viewpoint: about 1 h 30 there and back on a flat levada path from Ribeiro Frio, graded easy, with a view over the north-east valleys at the end. Buses from Funchal stop at the start.
Can you go hiking in Madeira without a car?
Yes, on some of the best-known walks. Buses from Funchal reach Ponta de São Lourenço (PR8) and Ribeiro Frio (PR11), and the Pico do Arieiro bus reaches the start of the PR1 before sunrise. For Rabaçal and Fanal you need a car, a taxi or a tour.