Madeira is a gorgeous Atlantic island, with forests, towns, beaches and mountains, meaning there’s something for everyone! Whether you want an active holiday with walking, canyoning and lots of adventure, or a relaxing foodie holiday, Madeira is the place to go.
I’ve long wanted to visit this picturesque island, and it did not disappoint. In fact, I’ve left my 5 days exploring desperate to book another trip.
So if you’re planning your first time trip to Madeira, here is your ultimate guide…
This post is written in collaboration with Jet2
Table of Contents
Travelling to Madeira – is the flight scary?
Something that has put me off from travelling to Madeira is people telling me how scary the flight was. However, it wasn’t too bad at all. Yes, it was a little bumpy but I always felt completely safe.
You can get flights to Madeira with Jet2 with flights from most major UK airports. It’s around a 4-hour flight and a 20-minute drive from the airport to the city of Funchal.
I always love to fly with Jet2 because you get such generous luggage capacity and they always have great in-flight food options!
Where to stay in Funchal, Madeira
We stayed at Next at Savoy Signature in Funchal, which is a modern and stylish boutique hotel, with some stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean.
The rooms are so spacious, with big comfortable beds, indoor and outdoor seating areas, desk and gorgeous bathroom area. I felt so comfortable here, and had a very good nights sleep!
The hotel itself is stunning. The pool and restaurant area are straight out of a Wes Anderson film, and the food served is delicious. On the top floor, you’ll find the adults only pool and bar area, and from Wednesday – Sunday there’s a DJ on an evening.
I can’t recommend this hotel enough. It’s right near the port, and is about a 20 minute walk to the cable cars, and a 10/15 minute walk into the Old Town of Funchal. There’s also a whole host of cafes, bars and restaurants behind the hotel as well.
You can read my full review of Next at Savoy Signature here
Things to do in Madeira
Madeira has activities for everyone – whether you’re looking for an active holiday in Madeira, a foodie holiday or a cultural holiday. Here are some things not to miss when you visit this gorgeous island.
Traditional Madeiran Toboggan ride in Monte
The village of Monte sits above Funchal, and has one of the most unique activities I’ve seen.
Wicker toboggans, which sit 3-4 adults, being steered down the narrow streets by two men dressed in white with straw boaters. You slide down the streets and across roads for about 10 minutes, and take in the views. You can’t help but laugh at the sheer novelty of it.
Madeiran Toboggan’s date back to as far as the 19th Century, and were originally used as a means of transport for locals to get down to the city of Funchal quickly. Nowadays, it is a tourist attraction, where you ride the 2km from Monte to Livramento.
Funchal Cable Cars
As you drive into Funchal, you will notice the cable cars going up the mountain. There are two cable car journeys – one from Funchal to Monte, and the other from Monte to the Botanical Gardens.
Both journey’s are about 10 minutes each way, and give you some of the most stunning views.
Funchal to Monte give you incredible views over the city and the port – the blue of the sky and sea complimented by the bright orange roofs. It really is stunning.
Monte to the Botanical Gardens were even more gorgeous to me, with a breathtaking view over the Vale da Ribeira de João Gomes. This view is unforgettable and really was awe inspiring.
Madeira Botanical Gardens
Madeira Botanical Garden has over 2000 exotic plants from all over the world, and is truly spectacular. With bright plants, luscious trees, gorgeous planting and the most incredible smells, the botanical gardens are well worth a visit.
Monte Palace Tropical Gardens
Whilst you’re on your cable car tour, make sure to visit the Tropical Gardens where as well as seeing incredible tropical plants, you’ll also see peacocks, flamingo’s and more!
The tropical garden’s look absolutely stunning, and a must visit on your trip to Madeira.
Levada Walks
One thing Madeira is known for is the Levada Walks, which follow the levada’s that bring water from the north of the island to the south.
There’s over 2400km of Levada’s, with 99% of them being accessible by foot, these are some incredible walks with some of the most scenic views.
Whilst I was there, I did two of the beginner friendly levada’s; Levada do Rei and the Vereda dos Balcões.
Levada do Rei is a 10km, which gives you stunning views over São Jorge and Santana. Walk around the mountain, through tunnels formed by the diverse vegetation and behind waterfalls.
Vereda dos Balcões is a short 3km levada walk that takes you to one of the most incredible views I think I’ve ever witnessed. With breathtaking mountain views, the wildlife here is at the forefront, with birds coming so close, they may even land on your hand!
You can find out about more of the Levada walks here.
Madeiran Wine Tasting
One of the biggest exports from Madeira is Madeira Wine – a sweet dessert wine.
To get a true understanding of this wine, I definitely recommend going on a wine tasting. We went on a tour and tasting at Blandy’s who are one of the original founders of Madeiran wine.
On the tour, you are taken through the wine distillery, where you learn about the grapes used, the process of making Madieran wine and seeing the huge barrels that it’s kept in. Then you’re taken through the museum, which shares the history of Blandy’s and Madeiran wine. Finally you head to the tasting rooms, where you taste two of the wines.
Off-road tour of the island
If you’re wanting to get a real feel for the island of Madeira, you need to head on an off-road tour. We went on a tour of Madeira with Adventure Land, which was so much fun, and explored the north of the island.
Our tour took us to the highest point you can get to by car, Pico Do Ariero, before heading to the Vereda dos Balcões. We then did some off-roading on our way to lunch at Quinta do Furao in Santana. We then did a rum tasting before heading to our final spot, Prainha do Canical, where you can see the northest and southest points of Madeira at the same time.
This was such a brilliant day, and a perfect way to explore more of the island.
Funchal Walking Tour
There’s nothing better than doing a city walking tour, and I loved getting to see more of Funchal on our tour.
Some must see things to do in Funchal from our walking tour; the cathedral, Mercado dos Lavradores, the Municiple Gardens, City Hall, Fabricas to Antonio and Uaucacau for the most amazing chocolates.
Where to eat in Madeira?
Madeira is a foodie’s paradise, with some incredible restuarants.
KAMPO by Chef Julio Pereira
We had an incredible tasting menu here, where we got to sample some of the best dishes on the menu. I tried food I don’t usually like, and I absolutely loved everything. The meal was so full of flavour, and I was so full aftewards! My meal was;
- Tuna Tartar
- Sardine, eggplant and passionfruit
- Oxtail ravioli with truffle and a foie gras mousse
- Black rice with octopus and prawn
- Sirloin Steak
- White chocolate, black olive and passionfruit
Ja Fui Jaquet
Based in the heart of the Old Town of Funchal, Ja Fui Jaquet has a homely feel and has food packed with flavour. It had a really relaxed feel about it, and it was a lovely evening out. My meal was;
- Smoked game chorizo hot dog
- Seafood and Shellfish Rice
- Chocolate Mousse
Horta
I think my favourite meal of the trip was Horta, with flavoursome food, incredible service and a relaxed atmosphere. Out of all of the restaurants we ate at, Horta has incredible vegetarian options, and a wide variety of options too. For my meal, I ate;
- Aubergine with lebanese couscous
- Braised lentils with courgette spaghetti and parmesan foam
- Honey cake and Apricot
AUDAX
Audax offers a truly gastromic experience, offering elevated Madeiran cusine, with a five course tasting menu. We also had a wine flight, which complimented each course of the meal. The flavourings of this meal were incredible, and it is a true experience eating here. Here is what we ate;
- Amose Bouche
- Red Porgy, chesnut and passionfruit
- Madeiran ramen with shrimp noodle
- Fish, Crab and Seaweed
- Oxtail stew and pea
- Banana pudding, tangerine and pork crackling
Full reviews for each restuarant coming soon…
How to spend 4 days in Madeira
And now it’s time for a full 4 day itinery in Madeira, to help you fit as much in as possible. This is based on flights from Manchester Airport with Jet2 which have some brilliant flight times, where you can make the most of your afternoon when you land, and your morning before you head back home.
Your first afternoon in Madeira
After landing in Funchal with Jet2holidays, the first place you want to head to is Monte for the toboggan ride. It’s the perfect way to start your trip, and really get into the Madeiran Spirit.
After checking into your hotel, and unpacking and relaxing, it’s time for dinner.
The perfect meal for your first night is KAMPO.
Day one in Madeira
For your first morning, I can’t recommend enough heading to the cable cars and botanical gadens. It’s a brilliant way to see the city, the gardens, and get into the holiday feel.
For lunch, head back to the hotel before either relaxing by the pool, or exploring the old town.
Ready for dinner? Go to the heart of the Old Town for a meal at Ja Fui Jaquet.
Day two in Madeira
Madeira is known for its Levada Walks, so for your second full day, it’s time to get exploring.
I spent the morning walking Levada do Rei. For lunch, either take a picnic, or have a meal at the cafe at the start of the walk.
In the afternoon, either relax or, like me, head into the old town to the incredible Photography Museum and learn about the history of film photography in Madeira. It’s a brilliant museum, and well worth the 3 euro entry!
Have the most increible dinner at Horta.
Day three in Madeira
For your final full day, book into an island tour. Get to see as much of the island as you possibly can with the off road tours, learn about the island from your guide and see some incredible views!
For your last dinner, make it special and have the tasting experience at AUDAX.
Making the most of your final morning in Madeira
I’m all about making the most of any trip, so before your flight home why not take a walking tour of Funchal with wine tasting. It’s a lovely way to spend your final few hours on this beautiful island.
And there you have it, my ultimate guide to 4 days in Madeira. I fell in love with the island and cannot wait to book another holiday here. Wanting more Madeira inspo? Click here to find your next package holidays to Madeira and get more European travel inspo here.
