Trip highlights
- 1Monte cable car and toboggan ride
- 2Levada walks
- 3Madeira wine lodges
- 4Cabo Girão skywalk
- 5Funchal old town
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Funchal Old Town
Tuesday, May 4
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Madeira Airport (FNC)
Madeira International Airport
A scenic, cliffside runway landing followed by a roughly 20-minute drive into Funchal.
Sit on the left side of the plane on approach for the best views of Funchal's coastline.
☀️ Afternoon
Funchal Old Town (Zona Velha)
Zona Velha, Funchal
Cobbled lanes lined with colourfully painted door art, traditional taverns, and the lively Mercado dos Lavradores fresh produce market.
Visit the Mercado dos Lavradores in the morning when the flower and fruit stalls are at their freshest.
🌙 Evening
Dinner of espetada and poncha
Zona Velha, Funchal
A traditional Madeiran dinner of skewered beef espetada and poncha, the island's potent honey-rum-and-lemon cocktail.
Poncha is deceptively strong — pace yourself, especially after a travel day.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Portuguese · $8
Market café lunch
Madeiran · $14
Old town dinner
Madeiran · $35
Monte Cable Car & Toboggan Ride
Wednesday, May 5
Est. spend
$140
per person
🌅 Morning
Monte cable car
Cable Car Station, Funchal
A scenic gondola ride climbing steeply from Funchal's seafront to the hillside village of Monte, with sweeping views over the city and harbour.
Go early to avoid queues, especially when cruise ships are in port.
☀️ Afternoon
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens & wicker toboggan ride
Monte, Funchal
Explore the lush Monte Palace gardens, then ride the famous carros de cesto — wicker toboggans steered by two white-clad 'carreiros' down the steep streets back toward Funchal.
The toboggan ride only covers part of the descent — arrange a taxi or bus for the rest of the way down.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with harbour views
Funchal Marina
A relaxed dinner at one of Funchal's marina-front restaurants after an active day.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Portuguese · $8
Monte village café lunch
Madeiran · $15
Marina dinner
Madeiran seafood · $30
Levada Walk & Cabo Girão Skywalk
Thursday, May 6
Est. spend
$165
per person
🌅 Morning
Levada do Rei or Levada das 25 Fontes walk
Levada trail, Madeira interior
A guided walk along one of Madeira's centuries-old irrigation channels, winding through laurel forest, tunnels, and waterfalls in the island's lush interior.
Wear proper hiking shoes — levada paths can be narrow, wet, and occasionally exposed.
☀️ Afternoon
Cabo Girão skywalk
Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos
A glass-floored viewing platform suspended above one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, with banana terraces visible far below.
Visit Câmara de Lobos fishing village just below for a classic Madeiran lunch stop.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Funchal
Funchal
A well-earned dinner back in Funchal after a full day of hiking and sightseeing.
🍽️ Meals
Early breakfast before the hike
Portuguese · $8
Câmara de Lobos lunch
Madeiran seafood · $18
Funchal dinner
Madeiran · $32
Madeira Wine Lodges & Departure
Friday, May 7
Est. spend
$120
per person
🌅 Morning
Blandy's Wine Lodge tour and tasting
Blandy's Wine Lodge, Funchal
A tour through one of Funchal's historic Madeira wine lodges, learning the unique heating and fortification process that gives the wine its long shelf life.
Try a dry Sercial alongside a sweet Malmsey to taste the full range of Madeira wine styles.
☀️ Afternoon
Final souvenir shopping
Funchal city centre
Pick up Madeira wine, embroidery, and passion fruit liqueur before heading to the airport.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Madeira Airport
Madeira International Airport
Allow at least 2 hours before an international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Portuguese · $8
City centre lunch
Madeiran · $16
Airport food
International · $16
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
April-June and September-October bring warm, settled subtropical weather (20-25°C) ideal for hiking and sightseeing.
🛂 Visas
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal and part of the Schengen Area and EU — Schengen visa rules apply exactly as in mainland Portugal, with no separate visa needed beyond standard Schengen requirements.
💱 Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafés and taxis.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 112
ambulance: 112
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Book the Monte toboggan ride and wine lodge tours in advance during peak cruise-ship season.
- Levada walks vary widely in difficulty — choose a route matching your fitness and check current trail conditions, as some close after heavy rain.
- Madeira wine ranges from dry to very sweet — ask for a tasting flight to find your preference before buying a bottle.
- Câmara de Lobos, the fishing village below Cabo Girão, has some of the best-value fresh fish on the island.
- Funchal's flower festival (if visiting in spring) transforms the city centre with elaborate floral displays and parades.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Funchal, Madeira, Portugal without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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