You drive through a waterfall. You stand above the clouds at 1,818 metres as the sun rises over the Atlantic. You swim in pools carved from lava with the ocean breaking around you. That is Madeira in seven days — and this is the itinerary that gets you there without missing anything worth seeing.
Built by locals who live on this island, this guide covers four full-day routes across the island’s main zones, one legendary levada walk, one day on the ocean, and one hidden valley most tourists never find. Every restaurant, every poncha stop, every sunset viewpoint is a real local recommendation.
Beyond Madeira has 400+ five-star reviews. We’ve helped thousands of visitors plan their perfect Madeira week — with hand-picked local partners, honest advice, and no deposit required. You only pay on the day.
🗓️ Your 7 Days at a Glance
- Day 1Funchal on foot — Old Town, cable car, Monte Palace, toboggan ride, sunset
- Day 2West & North Coast — Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Seixal, Porto Moniz volcanic pools
- Day 3East Madeira — Pico do Arieiro sunrise above clouds, Santana, Ponta de São Lourenço
- Day 4Southwest Coast — Calheta, Jardim do Mar, Ponta do Pargo, Achadas da Cruz
- Day 5Ancient Forests & Levadas — Fanal, 25 Fontes or Caldeirão Verde full day hike
- Day 6Ocean Day — whale & dolphin watching, snorkel, sailing or canyoning
- Day 7Hidden Madeira — Curral das Freiras, Poço dos Chefes secret lagoon, final Funchal
Before You Start Planning
A few things to read before the itinerary begins — they’ll save you time, money and surprises on the island.
📚 More useful guides for your trip
Funchal — Culture, Cable Cars & 150-Year-Old Traditions
Start where Madeira’s personality lives: the island’s colourful, layered, completely walkable capital.
Most visitors land, drop their bags, and immediately drive somewhere else. That’s a mistake. Funchal is genuinely worth a full day — and it’s the only day you don’t need a car at all. The old town has some of the best street art in Portugal. The market is one of the finest in Europe. And the toboggan ride down from Monte is something you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.
Morning: Market, Old Town & Cathedral
9:00 AM — Mercado dos Lavradores
Start at the 1940 farmers’ market before the cruise-ship crowds arrive. Ground floor: exotic fruits (monstera deliciosa, passion fruit, anona), flowers, local cheese. Basement: fresh fish, including the dramatic black scabbardfish (espada) hauled up nightly from depths of 800 metres. This is real Funchal, not a postcard version of it.
10:30 AM — Zona Velha & Rua de Santa Maria
Walk down into the Old Town. The painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria are an ongoing street art project where every door on the street has been transformed by a different artist. It’s an open-air gallery on a human scale — completely free, never crowded at this hour, and genuinely beautiful. Follow the street to Forte de São Tiago (the yellow 17th-century fortress) and São Tiago beach just beyond.
12:00 PM — Sé Cathedral
Madeira’s 16th-century cathedral has one of the most beautiful carved wooden ceilings in Portugal — Manueline style inlaid with ivory. Takes 20 minutes and is free to enter. Worth it.
Lunch: Where to Eat in Funchal
Funchal restaurants all offer a prato do dia (dish of the day) at lunch — typically a full meal with soup, main, bread and drink for €8–12. Far better value than the same restaurant at dinner.
Afternoon: Monte & the Toboggan
2:30 PM — Cable Car to Monte
The teleférico climbs 560 metres in 15 minutes with panoramic views over the city, the marina and the Atlantic. One of the most beautiful urban cable car rides in the world.
🚡 Cable Car Funchal–Monte
- One-way: Adult €14.50 | Child 7–14 years: 50% discount
- Return: Adult €20.00 | Child 7–14 years: 50% discount
- Children up to 6 years: Free
3:00 PM — Monte Palace Tropical Garden
One of Madeira’s finest gardens — oriental design, koi ponds, azulejo panels tracing Portuguese history, and plants from five continents. Give yourself at least an hour.
🌺 Monte Palace Garden
- Hours: 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00)
- Adult: €15.00 | Children up to 14: Free
4:30 PM — Toboggan Ride
The carreiros do Monte have been steering wicker toboggans down these cobblestone streets for over 150 years. Two men in white linen uniforms and straw hats push and steer the sled 2 km downhill. It’s faster than it looks, genuinely thrilling, and completely unique to Madeira. Tourists ride it, locals are proud of it.
🛷 Toboggan Prices
- 1 person: €27.50
- 2 people: €35.00
- 3 people: €52.50
- Hours: 09:00–18:00 Monday to Saturday
West & North Coast — Cliffs, Waterfalls & Volcanic Pools
Madeira’s most dramatic coastline. Drive through waterfalls, swim in lava rock pools, stop at Europe’s highest sea cliff.
The west and north coasts are where Madeira stops being polite. Vertical cliffs plunge into the Atlantic. Waterfalls fall directly onto the road and you drive through them. Black volcanic sand beaches sit at the bottom of green mountain amphitheatres. And at the end of the road, natural pools carved from lava by ten thousand years of ocean have been turned into the island’s most visited swimming destination.
Morning Route
Câmara de Lobos — 9:00 AM
The fishing village where Winston Churchill once sat and painted the harbour. Brightly coloured boats, working fishermen, stone walls and the kind of atmosphere that has mostly disappeared from Mediterranean Europe. Try a poncha de maracujá (passion fruit poncha) at one of the tabernas on the waterfront — this village invented its own version.
Cabo Girão — 10:00 AM
At 580 metres, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The glass-floor skywalk platform extends over the edge and looking straight down through the glass to where the ocean meets the volcanic rock is one of those moments that stays with you. Free access. Take your time.
Drive North: Véu da Noiva — 11:30 AM
Continue west along the south coast, then cut north. Stop at the Véu da Noiva (“Bride’s Veil”) viewpoint — a coastal waterfall that cascades down a cliff directly into the ocean. Named for the way water sprays into fine mist on the wind.
Afternoon: Seixal & Porto Moniz
Seixal Beach — 1:30 PM
One of the finest beaches in Europe on a volcanic island where most beaches are pebble. Black volcanic sand, a natural waterfall at one end of the bay falling directly into the sea, and a mountain amphitheatre of green cliffs above. Go for a swim if the ocean allows.
Poças das Lesmas — 2:15 PM
A few minutes from Seixal Beach: two volcanic rock pools with the most photographed feature on the north coast — a natural lava arch over the main pool. Turquoise water against black basalt against green mountains. When the Atlantic is rough, waves wash over the rocks and into the pools. Entry €2.50/person.
Porto Moniz Volcanic Pools — 3:00 PM
The largest and most developed volcanic pool complex on the island. Natural lava basins filled by the Atlantic, with a full facility complex: restaurant, bar, lockers, lifeguard, and a diving board that launches you directly into the open ocean. Entry €3/adult, free under 3.
🚙 Don’t Want to Drive?
The West & North Coast Jeep Tour covers all highlights — Câmara de Lobos, Cabo Girão, Véu da Noiva, Seixal, Porto Moniz — with a local guide and pick-up included. From €62/person. Mini-van option from €40/person.
East Madeira — Sunrise Above the Clouds & Volcanic Horizons
Set your alarm. This is the day you stand above the Atlantic at 1,818 metres and watch the sun come up.
The East is about altitude, drama and geological extremes. You start the day above the clouds on Madeira’s third highest peak. You end it on a peninsula where the island tapers to a narrow volcanic ridge between two seas — an otherworldly landscape unlike anything else on the island.
Very Early Morning: Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro (1,818m) — Leave Funchal by 5:30 AM
Drive up in darkness. Arrive before sunrise. Stand on the summit as the sun rises over a sea of clouds stretching to the horizon. The peaks of Pico Ruivo and the central range emerge from the mist below you. It is, without exaggeration, one of the great sunrise experiences in Europe.
Morning: Ribeiro Frio & Balcões
Ribeiro Frio & Levada dos Balcões — 8:30 AM
Descend from Arieiro and stop at Ribeiro Frio, a cool forested village at 880 metres. The Levada dos Balcões is the perfect short walk: flat, 3 km return, ending at a viewpoint over the central mountain range that is one of the most-photographed views in Madeira. Allow 1.5 hours at a comfortable pace. Trout restaurant in the village if you need breakfast.
Midday: Santana
Santana — Triangular Houses
The most photographed houses in Madeira: triangular thatched-roof casas típicas painted in bold colours. Built with steep roofs to handle mountain rainfall. They look like something from a fairy tale and they’re completely real — some are still lived in.
Afternoon: East Coast & Ponta de São Lourenço
Miradouro do Guindaste — 2:30 PM
One of the most dramatic viewpoints on the entire island. The northeast coast seen from height: mountains dropping into ocean, impossible cliffs, villages clinging to terraces below.
Ponta de São Lourenço — 3:30 PM *(optional if energy allows)*
The island’s easternmost peninsula is where Madeira becomes an entirely different landscape: arid, volcanic, bare ridges between two seas, rust and ochre tones where the rest of the island is relentlessly green. The PR8 trail follows the ridge for 8 km return (3–4 hours). Do the first 2 km for the view if you’re short on energy after the day.
Ponta de São Lourenço was confirmed by Lucasfilm as a filming location for the series. The peninsula’s arid, volcanic landscape was used to portray an alien planet — the dramatic contrast with the rest of green Madeira made it an ideal choice.
🎬 Confirmed Lucasfilm filming location
🌄 Don’t Want to Drive in the Dark?
The Arieiro Sunrise Transfer gets you to the summit before first light — no rental car, no mountain roads at 5am. The East Jeep Tour and Mini-Van Tour cover all other Day 3 highlights from mid-morning: Balcões, Santana, Guindaste, Ponta de São Lourenço.
Southwest Coast — Sandy Beaches, Sunsets & the Edge of the Island
The sunniest stretch of Madeira. Yellow sand, banana plantations, the westernmost lighthouse, and a cable car that drops 400 metres down a cliff.
The southwest is the most unhurried part of the island. Villages where surf culture meets traditional Madeiran life. One of only two sandy beaches on the island. A lighthouse at the westernmost point where the Atlantic stretches to the horizon in every direction. And Achadas da Cruz — a cable car that farmers still use to reach their land on terraces below near-vertical cliffs.
Morning
Calheta Beach — 9:30 AM
One of only two yellow-sand beaches on Madeira. The sand was imported from Morocco in 2004 and the beach is sheltered by two breakwaters, making the sea unusually calm by Madeiran standards. PADI dive centre on site, water sports available, full facilities. Good for a morning swim before the day gets moving.
Jardim do Mar & Paúl do Mar — 11:00 AM
Continue west along the coast. Jardim do Mar and Paúl do Mar are small surfing villages built at the base of vertiginous cliffs, connected by a coastal road that was only completed in the early 2000s. The surf breaks here are some of the best on the island. Walk the seafront, have a coffee, feel the pace drop significantly.
Afternoon
Ponta do Pargo — 2:30 PM
The westernmost point of Madeira. A lighthouse on a headland above sheer cliffs, with the Atlantic stretching to the horizon in every direction. One of the island’s finest sunset spots — arrive in the afternoon and stay as long as you want. Almost no other tourists come this far west.
Achadas da Cruz — 4:00 PM
A cable car descends 400 metres down near-vertical cliffs to tiny agricultural terraces below. Farmers still use it to tend their land. The view from the top before descent is extraordinary — cliffs, ocean, nothing else. Slightly terrifying. Completely worth it.
🌅 Southwest Jeep Tour
The Southwest 4×4 tour covers Anjos Falls, the coastal route, Ponta do Pargo and the best viewpoints on this side of the island — with local knowledge that no GPS can provide.
Ancient Forests & Levadas — The Madeira That Doesn’t Look Real
The most magical day of the week. Laurel trees 600 years old. A waterfall pouring into a turquoise lagoon. Tunnels carved by hand a century ago.
Madeira has 1,400 kilometres of levadas — irrigation channels carved into the mountains over 500 years, now turned into some of Europe’s finest walking trails. They run through UNESCO laurel forests that once covered all of southern Europe, past waterfalls, through hand-carved tunnels, and along sheer cliff edges with views that don’t look real. Today is levada day.
Start the Day: Fanal Forest — 8:00 AM
Before the levada, drive to Fanal in the Paúl da Serra plateau. Ancient laurel trees, some over 600 years old, twist into impossible shapes. On misty mornings — which is most mornings at altitude — the fog wraps around the gnarled trunks and the whole forest feels like another time, another world. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free to visit. Allow 45 minutes.
Choose Your Levada — Pick One
Don’t try to do two. Each trail below is a full experience on its own. Choose based on your fitness level and what you want to see.
🥾 Levada Walks & Hiking Transfers
Beyond Madeira offers guided walks with local experts (pick-up included) and self-guided transfers for those who prefer to hike independently. All operators are certified. You only pay on the day.
On the Water — Whales, Dolphins & the Atlantic
Madeira sits in one of the richest marine corridors in the Atlantic. Go and see what lives there.
The waters around Madeira are home to over 20 species of cetacean year-round. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are sighted on almost every trip. Sperm whales, blue whales and fin whales appear seasonally. On most days, you’ll be in the water alongside dolphins within an hour of leaving the marina.
Day 6 is yours to design. Choose one experience, or combine two if you have the energy — whale watching in the morning and an afternoon canyoning, or a full-day boat trip.
🌊 Browse All Ocean & Adventure Experiences
Whale watching, sailing, snorkelling, canyoning, buggies and more — all with selected local partners. You only pay on the day.
Last Day — One More Levada or the Valley of the Nuns
How do you want to end a week in Madeira? Still in the mountains, or slow and quiet in a hidden valley? Both are right.
By Day 7 you know what kind of traveller you are. Some people arrive at the last day wanting one more proper hike — a levada they didn’t get to on Day 5, one final morning in the mountains before the flight. Others are ready to slow down completely: a dramatic viewpoint, a village at the bottom of a caldera, a poncha in the sun, and nothing else on the agenda. This day gives you both options. Choose the one that fits how your week went.
Option A — One More Levada
Madeira has over 1,400 km of levada trails. You walked one on Day 5. There are others worth your last morning — some completely different in character, some easier on tired legs, some with ocean views instead of mountain views.
🥾 Levada Walks for Day 7
Self-guided transfers or guided walks with local experts — pick-up from your Funchal hotel included. You only pay on the day.
Option B — Nuns’ Valley & Relax
Curral das Freiras translates as “Valley of the Nuns” — named after the nuns of Santa Clara convent who fled Funchal in the 16th century to hide here from pirate raids. The valley was so effectively hidden by the surrounding peaks that it remained almost unknown until a road was finally carved down in the 1950s. Today it is still one of the most quietly dramatic places on the island.
Eira do Serrado Viewpoint — 9:30 AM
Stop at the pass before descending. The view from here — straight down into the caldera, vertical peaks on every side, the village a cluster of white dots 600 metres below — is one of the most striking geographical views in the Atlantic islands. There is genuinely nowhere else on Madeira that looks like this.
Descend to the Village
The road down is a series of tight switchbacks carved into the caldera wall. In the village, slow down completely. Try the local specialties: licor de medronho (arbutus berry spirit, strong and herbal), bolo de mel (dark molasses cake), and anything made with chestnuts — the valley has been famous for them for centuries, and they appear in everything from bread to liqueur to soup.
Afternoon — No Agenda
That’s the point. Return to Funchal whenever you feel like it. Walk the Jardim Municipal. Sit at the marina. Browse the Zona Velha one last time without a plan. After seven days of mountains, waterfalls and volcanic coastline, an afternoon with nothing scheduled is exactly right.
🏔️ Nuns’ Valley Jeep Tour
The Nuns’ Valley + Pico do Arieiro half-day tour combines the caldera with the mountain peaks — with a local guide and pick-up included from your Funchal hotel.
Evening: Last Night in Funchal
However you spent the day, the last evening is the same: Funchal, dinner, and a final poncha. If you haven’t had espetada yet — beef skewers on laurel wood over open charcoal, hung from an iron hook at the table — this is the night to fix that. It’s the definitive Madeiran dish and you won’t find it like this anywhere else.
📋 Planning Your Week
When to Visit
| Season | Weather | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Spring (Mar–May) | Mild, wildflowers, waterfalls at peak | Moderate | ✅ Highly recommended |
| ☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug) | Warm, more sun, less cloud | High — book early | ⚠️ Hot for hiking |
| 🍂 Autumn (Sep–Oct) | Excellent — warm sea, stable weather | Lower | ✅ Highly recommended |
| ❄️ Winter (Nov–Feb) | Cool mountains, lush green, snow possible at altitude | Fewest crowds | ✅ Good for culture & coast |
Getting Around
Rental car is the most flexible option for Days 2–5. Small cars handle the narrow roads better than SUVs. Book in advance for summer — supply gets tight. Beyond Madeira car rental: no deposit, no credit card block, from €25/day →
Guided tours and transfers cover every zone if you prefer not to drive. West Tour, East Tour, Southwest Tour, levada transfers — all available with pick-up from Funchal hotels. See all experiences at beyondmadeira.com/experiences.
Budget Guide (Per Couple, 7 Days)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €350–500 | €600–900 | €1,200+ |
| Car rental (6 days) | €150–200 | €250–350 | €400+ |
| Food & drink | €280–380 | €450–650 | €900+ |
| Activities & entry | €150–250 | €300–500 | €700+ |
| Total (couple) | €930–1,330 | €1,600–2,400 | €3,200+ |
🗺️ Free Interactive Map — All 7 Days in One Place
Every viewpoint, restaurant, beach, levada trailhead and activity from this guide is pinned on our interactive offline map. Download before you go — signal in the mountains is unreliable.
⭐ Ready to Book? Browse All Experiences
Every activity in this guide is bookable through Beyond Madeira — with selected local partners, honest prices and no upfront payment. You only pay on the day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Beyond Madeira has 400+ five-star reviews. Built by locals, trusted by travellers from over 50 countries. No deposit. No hidden fees. You only pay on the day.
Prices and trail access correct at time of writing — February 2026. Always verify current trail status at visitmadeira.com and check operator details before your visit.
