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The view east from Cabo Girão along the south coast towards Câmara de Lobos and Funchal, with the sun high over the Atlantic

Madeira itineraries for 3, 5, 7 and 10 days

Five days is the sweet spot for Madeira: one day in Funchal and one day each for the peaks, the north coast, the east and the south-west. Every plan below starts from Funchal and has a note for travelling with or without a car.

By Michael Martinez, born and raised in Madeira · Updated

  • 3days

    Funchal and two big days out: the west and north coast, then the peaks and the east. Tight, but it shows you the island.

  • 5days

    Enough to enjoy Madeira properly, and the length I suggest most often. Funchal and the sea, the peaks, the north coast, the east and the south-west, one area a day.

  • 7days

    The five-day plan plus Nuns Valley and Monte, and a levada walk in the west with the sandy beach at Calheta.

  • 10days

    Time for the island’s big walks, the full PR1 and Caldeirão Verde, and a slow day to swap with one lost to fog.

Relief map of Madeira with the 3-day route drawn from Funchal Funchal Monte Cabo Girão Porto Moniz Seixal São Vicente Pico do Arieiro Santana São Lourenço

Three days in Madeira

Funchal and two big days out: the west and north coast, then the peaks and the east. Tight, but it shows you the island.

  1. Funchal

    FunchalMonte

    The Old Town and the Mercado dos Lavradores in the morning, the cable car up to Monte after lunch.

    With a car
    Leave the car parked today; Funchal is easier on foot.
    Without
    All on foot plus the cable car.

  2. West and north coast

    FunchalCabo GirãoPorto MonizSeixalSão Vicente

    Cabo Girão early, then the lava pools at Porto Moniz, the black beach at Seixal and back through São Vicente.

    With a car
    The longest drive of the trip. Reach Porto Moniz before the tour coaches.
    Without
    A full-day west tour from Funchal covers this loop.

  3. Peaks and the east

    FunchalPico do ArieiroRibeiro FrioSantanaSão Lourenço

    Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, the forest at Ribeiro Frio, the A-frame houses of Santana, and the São Lourenço headland if you still have legs.

    With a car
    Leave Funchal about an hour before sunrise. Walking the PR1 or PR8 needs a SIMplifica booking.
    Without
    Sunrise tours pick up in Funchal; an east-side tour covers Santana and São Lourenço.
Relief map of Madeira with the 5-day route drawn from Funchal Funchal Câmara de Lobos Cabo Girão Ponta do Sol Porto Moniz Fanal Seixal São Vicente Pico do Arieiro Santana Machico São Lourenço

Five days in Madeira

Enough to enjoy Madeira properly, and the length I suggest most often. Funchal and the sea, the peaks, the north coast, the east and the south-west, one area a day.

  1. Funchal and the sea

    Funchal

    Market, Old Town and cathedral in the morning. Whale and dolphin watching from the marina in the afternoon.

    With a car
    No driving today.
    Without
    Boats leave from Funchal marina.

  2. Above the clouds

    FunchalPico do ArieiroRibeiro FrioSantana

    Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, a short walk towards Pedra Rija if the trail is open, then Ribeiro Frio and Santana.

    With a car
    Book the PR1 slot on SIMplifica before you go. Fog changes by the hour; check the webcam.
    Without
    A sunrise tour with transfer is the easiest way up.

  3. North coast

    FunchalSão VicenteSeixalPorto MonizFanal

    São Vicente, the beach at Seixal, a swim in Porto Moniz and the laurel forest at Fanal on the way back.

    With a car
    The day the car pays for itself.
    Without
    Take a north-coast tour; Fanal is rarely included.

  4. The east

    FunchalSão LourençoMachico

    Walk the São Lourenço headland in the morning, lunch and a slow afternoon in Machico.

    With a car
    Park early at Baía d'Abra; the PR8 needs a SIMplifica booking.
    Without
    Buses run from Funchal to Caniçal and Machico.

  5. South-west

    FunchalCâmara de LobosCabo GirãoPonta do Sol

    Câmara de Lobos harbour, the Cabo Girão skywalk and a last sunset in Ponta do Sol.

    With a car
    Short drives, long lunch.
    Without
    Câmara de Lobos is a short bus or taxi ride from Funchal.
Relief map of Madeira with the 7-day route drawn from Funchal Funchal Monte Câmara de Lobos Cabo Girão Ponta do Sol Calheta Rabaçal Porto Moniz Fanal Seixal São Vicente Nuns Valley Pico do Arieiro Santana Machico São Lourenço

Seven days in Madeira

The five-day plan plus Nuns Valley and Monte, and a levada walk in the west with the sandy beach at Calheta.

Days 1 to 5: follow the five-day plan, then add:

  1. Nuns Valley and Monte

    FunchalNuns ValleyMonte

    The viewpoint over Curral das Freiras and the village below, then the gardens and the cable car at Monte.

    With a car
    A short drive with steep bends.
    Without
    Tours and buses run to Curral das Freiras.

  2. Levadas in the west

    FunchalRabaçalCalheta

    The PR6 levada walk from Rabaçal, then the sandy beach at Calheta.

    With a car
    Book the PR6 slot on SIMplifica and start early.
    Without
    Join a guided levada walk with pick-up.
Relief map of Madeira with the 10-day route drawn from Funchal Funchal Monte Câmara de Lobos Cabo Girão Ponta do Sol Calheta Rabaçal Porto Moniz Fanal Seixal São Vicente Nuns Valley Pico do Arieiro Pico Ruivo Queimadas Santana Machico São Lourenço

Ten days in Madeira

Time for the island’s big walks, the full PR1 and Caldeirão Verde, and a slow day to swap with one lost to fog.

Days 1 to 7: follow the seven-day plan, then add:

  1. The full PR1

    FunchalPico do ArieiroPico Ruivo

    Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, the island's classic summit walk.

    With a car
    One way only beyond Pedra Rija: arrange a taxi back from Achada do Teixeira.
    Without
    Guided hikes handle the transport at both ends.

  2. Caldeirão Verde

    FunchalQueimadasSantana

    The PR9 levada from Queimadas through tunnels to the green cauldron waterfall.

    With a car
    Bring a head torch for the tunnels.
    Without
    Guided walks include transport.

  3. A slow day

    Funchal

    Gardens, a long lunch and a swim at the Lido. Keep one day free for weather.

    With a car
    Use it to swap with a day lost to fog.
    Without
    Use it to swap with a day lost to fog.

Three rules that make any plan work

The order of the days matters less than these.

  1. Let the weather choose the mountain day

    Put Pico do Arieiro on the clearest morning, not on day two because the plan says so. Swap days freely; they all start from Funchal.

  2. Book the trails before you fly

    The PR1, PR6, PR8 and PR9 in these plans all need a SIMplifica slot. How to book a trail.

  3. Decide on the car early

    If you are hiring one, automatics go first. Our car hire guide covers the deposit and the roads; getting around covers the alternatives.

Questions about planning a Madeira itinerary

How many days do you need in Madeira?

Five days covers the essentials: Funchal, the sunrise at Pico do Arieiro, the north coast, the east and the south-west. Three days is enough for a first look if you hire a car. With seven days or more you can add the levada walks and keep a day free for bad weather.

Is 3 days enough for Madeira?

For a first visit with a car, yes, if you accept long days. Spend one day in Funchal, one on the west and north coast, and one on the peaks and the east. Without a car, three days is better spent on Funchal and two guided day tours.

Where should I stay for these itineraries?

They are drawn from a Funchal base, and they work just as well from Caniço, which is about 18 minutes away. For a week or longer, two or three nights in the west or on the north coast cut the driving on the far days.

Can I follow these itineraries without a car?

Yes. Each day has a note for travelling without a car, usually a day tour with pick-up in Funchal or a bus. The north coast and the far west are the days where a tour makes the most sense, because buses there are few.

Want these days fitted to your trip?

These itineraries are a starting point. Tell us your dates, your group and whether you will have a car, and we plan every day by hand, with a plan B for the weather. A personal plan from our family is €149 for up to 5 days (€199 for 6 to 8), ready in 48 hours.

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Not sure about the car?

Answer six questions about your trip and get an honest answer, with what the car costs against day tours.

Do I need a car?

On a coastal day, stop in Ribeira Brava or explore Jardim do Mar before finishing in Paúl do Mar. For a west-coast walking day, read the Calheta Beach guide to combine Rabaçal with a swim and the villages further west.

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