Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Trail
Mountain ridge trek above the clouds
One of the grandest alpine day-treks on earth: carved tunnels, metal staircases and razor ridges connecting Madeira's highest summits.
Central Mountain MassifEpic viewHike
Madeira, Portugal
Ideal: 4–7 daysBest: Apr–Jun, Sep–NovPrice: Moderate
In 60 seconds
Madeira in 60 seconds
Rising abruptly from the deep North Atlantic, Madeira is an emerald volcanic stronghold of sheer ocean sea cliffs, primordial laurel forests and terraced banana plantations. Funchal pairs colonial squares and fortified wine lodges with cable cars soaring into the clouds, while narrow stone irrigation channels called levadas guide hikers through cloud-capped mountain massifs like Pico do Arieiro and down to natural basalt pools at Porto Moniz.
Coast
Best for
- Nature
- Hiking
- Islands
- Wine
Known for
- Levada trail walks
- Pico do Arieiro to Ruivo ridge
- Monte cable car & toboggans
- Blandy's Madeira wine
- Porto Moniz lava pools
Skip if
You suffer from acute vertigo on narrow mountain cliff paths, or visit primarily in search of wide natural stretches of golden sand beaches.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Madeira fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Blandy's Wine Lodge
Moderate200-year-old fortified wine cellars & tastings
Seven generations of the Blandy family have matured rich Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey Madeira in these aromatic oak canteiros.
Funchal CentreBook aheadHistoric
Funchal Cable Car & Monte Palace
ModeratePanoramic aerial tramway to tropical palace gardens
Glide high over tiled rooftops into tropical gardens of giant tree ferns, koi ponds and ancient Portuguese tile collections.
MonteCable carGardens
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Local
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
Taberna Ruel
ModerateRegional espetada & scabbardfish in the Old Town
Garlic-and-bay-leaf beef skewers grilled over laurel wood and served on traditional hanging iron stands.
Zona Velha, FunchalEspetadaLocal
Adega da Quinta
ModerateRustic mountain country house · Bolo do caco
Warm bolo do caco flatbread slathered in garlic butter alongside generous timber skewers of beef espetada.
Estreito de Câmara de LobosMountain ViewTraditional
Coffee & fika
Mornings, and the slow hour between things.
Golden Gate Grand Café
ModerateHistoric terrace on the corner of Avenida Arriaga
Known since 1841 as 'the corner of the world', the classic meeting point for strong coffee and honey cake (bolo de mel).
Funchal CentreCoffeeHistoric
UauCacau
InexpensiveArtisan chocolate maker with island fruits
Handmade bonbons filled with Madeira wine, passion fruit, pitanga, and Poncha liqueur.
Zona Velha, FunchalChocolateLocal
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Vila do Peixe
ExpensiveFresh charcoal-grilled fish with harbour views
Select fresh black scabbardfish or red snapper directly from the display counter to be grilled whole over hot coals.
Câmara de LobosFresh fishSeafood
Il Gallo d'Oro
Very expensiveTwo-Michelin-starred Atlantic cuisine
Chef Benoît Sinthon showcases island seafood, aromatic herbs from his own garden and Madeira wine reductions with supreme technique.
The Cliff Bay, FunchalBook aheadFine dining
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Lush laurel forest levada walk through tunnels
Walk narrow stone aqueducts through dark tunnels carved into sheer vertical cliffs, emerging at a soaring 100-metre plunge waterfall.
Queimadas / SantanaHikeUNESCO
Porto Moniz Lava Pools
InexpensiveVolcanic basalt tidal pools washed by Atlantic waves
Crystal-clear seawater pools sculpted by ancient molten lava where crashing ocean breakers continually refresh the swimming water.
Porto MonizOceanSwimming
Ponta de São Lourenço
Arid volcanic peninsula with striking sea cliffs
A stark, wind-sculpted landscape of reddish volcanic strata and wave-pounded sea stacks completely different from the green interior.
CaniçalCoastHike
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Taberna da Poncha
InexpensiveLegendary roadside poncha bar
Fresh sugarcane aguardente, lemon and bee honey whipped to order with a traditional wooden caralhinho whisk; peanut shells on the floor.
Serra de ÁguaLocalPeanuts
Castanheiro Rooftop Bar
ModerateRooftop lounge overlooking Funchal bay
Signature rum cocktails and chilled Portuguese wines with panoramic sunset views over the harbour and mountain amphitheatre.
São Pedro, FunchalCocktailsRooftop
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Funchal Old Town & Marina
Cobbled alleys, painted doors, cathedral and harbour
The walkable capital filled with wine lodges, market halls and lively laneway dining.
Monte Hills
Cool mountain retreat, palatial gardens and famous wicker sledges
Climbing 600 metres above the bay, Monte offers tranquil botanical gardens and breezy mountain air.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Funchal Old Town & Lido
ModerateCentral restaurants, public ocean pools and transport hubs
Best base if you want evening restaurant variety and convenient access to island tours.
ConvenientDining
Ponta do Sol & South Coast
ModerateSunniest coastal village with clifftop hotels
The sunniest pocket on the island, great for independent travellers renting a car for hiking.
RelaxedSun
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport (FNC) is 25 minutes east of Funchal by aerobus or taxi.
- Getting around
- Renting a car provides complete freedom for levadas and viewpoints, though local buses (SAM, Rodoeste) link key towns.
- Levada safety
- Always carry a reliable headlamp for tunnel sections, wear hiking shoes with good grip on wet stones, and check weather conditions.
- Wicker sledges
- The famous Monte toboggans (Carreiros do Monte) slide down steep tarmac roads in wicker sleds steered by two drivers in straw hats.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1419
Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira discover Madeira, finding it uninhabited and covered in thick forest.
- 1665
English merchants establish fortified wine lodges in Funchal, developing the unique heating and aging process that made Madeira wine famous worldwide.
- 1999
The ancient Laurissilva (laurel forest) of Madeira is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the largest surviving primary laurel forest.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns)
Cavernous volcanic amphitheatre & chestnut village
A dramatic isolated mountain hollow where nuns from Santa Clara convent took refuge from French pirate raids in 1566.
25 min by car from FunchalHistoryMountains
Santana
Traditional A-frame thatched houses & north coast cliffs
Preserved triangular thatched cottages painted in bright red and blue trim amid dramatic coastal green slopes.
45 min by carArchitectureHeritage