Island · Levadas · Flowers · Atlantic
The floating garden of the Atlantic. Year-round mild weather, dramatic volcanic landscapes, world-famous levada walks, and some of the most spectacular ocean views on the planet.
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Written by people who actually live here. Updated regularly.
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Read Guide →Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000km southwest of mainland Portugal. Known as the "island of eternal spring," it combines dramatic volcanic mountains, ancient laurel forests, terraced vineyards and a mild year-round climate that makes it one of Europe's most extraordinary destinations.
Madeira is genuinely worth visiting year-round. Spring (March–May) is the most beautiful season — wildflowers blanket the levada trails and temperatures are perfectly mild (18–22°C). Summer is warm and busy (24–28°C). The Atlantic Festival in June features spectacular fireworks over Funchal Bay. New Year's Eve in Madeira is world-famous — one of the most impressive firework displays on Earth, but book a year ahead. Winter is mild (17–20°C) and excellent for walking with fewer visitors.
A rental car gives you the most freedom to explore Madeira's dramatic mountain roads and remote villages. The island's road network is extensive with tunnels connecting most areas quickly. Car hire costs €25–50/day. Public buses serve most towns and villages but are slow and infrequent in rural areas. Funchal has a good local bus network. Taxis and Uber are available in Funchal and main tourist areas. The Monte cable car connects Funchal to Monte village and the famous toboggan ride.
Funchal is the capital and the best base — most restaurants, shops and attractions are here or easily reached from here. The Hotel Zone (Lido area) has the highest concentration of hotels and a seafront promenade. The Old Town (Zona Velha) is more atmospheric with converted wine lodges and excellent restaurants. Calheta on the west coast has the island's best sandy beach and newer resort hotels. Santana in the north is quieter and authentic — ideal for walkers wanting to explore the wilder side of the island.
Madeira Airport (FNC) in Funchal receives direct flights from most European cities. From London it's 3.5 hours. From Lisbon it's 1h45min with TAP, several flights daily. EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and TUI all fly direct from the UK. Note that Madeira Airport is notoriously windy — occasional flight diversions to Porto Santo island do happen. The airport is 22km from Funchal; taxis cost €25–35, a public bus costs €2.
5–7 days is the ideal length. 3 days covers Funchal, Monte Palace, Cabo Girão and one levada walk. 5 days adds Pico do Arieiro, Santana's traditional A-frame houses, and Porto Moniz natural rock pools. A full week lets you complete the famous PR1 ridge walk (Arieiro to Ruivo), explore the southwest coast and fully decompress on Madeira's own clock. Many visitors extend their stay — the island has a habit of getting under your skin.
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