Madeira Itinerary 4 days – A Complete Guide to the Best Short Madeira Road Trip
Are you planning a holiday in Madeira and wondering what you should be doing, where you should go and what you should see? Today we are sharing our itinerary for a four-day Madeira road trip. The itinerary is realistic and flexible and will help you get the most from your short trip to Madeira.
Madeira is often called the island of eternal spring, which is a testament to the friendly locals, the outdoor adventure opportunities, and the fantastic weather. No matter what season you go in, you’ll have a great time. Just pack and dress appropriately!
This Madeira travel guide will help you discover the hidden gems of this island and provide more information about things to do in Madeira that can be easily missed if you don’t know about them. It includes exploring the capital, going on one of its famous Levada walks, driving the coastline and hiking, or exploring the mountains.
Madeira Without a Car and How to get around Madeira
It is possible to see the island without a car. We found that there are tours to everything we describe on this Madeira itinerary. They are also quite affordable compared to other places we have travelled to. Therefore if you do not want to drive in Madeira, you could do a combination of tours and buses to see the places described on this Madeira road trip itinerary. We describe options underneath each day’s suggestion.
We rented a scooter to get around and found this the most adventurous way. However, we were fortunate with the weather (it did not rain once), and we had ridden scooters before. Due to the drivers going extremely fast on the highways and the tunnels being windy – unless you are confident on a scooter already!
Accommodation for your Madeira Road Trip
We recommend spending one full day and then staying in Funchal because it is a beautiful base to explore the island’s more rugged and natural parts. This way, you don’t have to worry about moving from place to place 4 days in Madeira are not very long.
We stayed in self-catered accommodation in the Old Town, but there are plenty of options, depending on budget and needs!
Car Hire for a Madeira Road Trip
If you’re visiting Madeira for the first time, a road trip is a perfect way to see this beautiful island. Follow these tips to get the most out of your journey and not make mistakes.
Driving is a great way to see this island. There are many options available to rent a car in Madeira. Car rental agencies typically have rental depots at the airport and throughout the city centre. The best tip we can give is to book as early as possible because the island can get very busy and all cars can get booked up. Also, get a small car because some corners are incredibly tight, and the roads can be narrow. It will do the job!
Madeira Road Trip Itinerary
Day One – Explore Funchal
For the first day of your Madeira road trip, you should explore Funchal and see its beautiful Old Town. Funchal is a city built upon the sea. It’s the capital and most important city of Madeira.
Funchal has brought a cosmopolitan character to the island. You can witness its history throughout the city centre, boasting stunning architecture and plenty of landmarks. While it’s well-known for being Cristiano Ronaldo’s hometown (visit the CR7 Museum), Funchal also offers another side to the city, with an old town packed with shopping streets and museums.
There are favourite things to do in Funchal, including the Botanic Gardens, Madeira Wine, Santa Catarina Park, street art and Funchal’s Farmer’s Market. You can also ride the impressive cable car up to Monte, go on a toboggan ride and try Poncha made from sugar cane. There are many restaurants you can choose from
The good news is that you will not need a car to explore Funchal. It is incredibly compact and walkable. We would recommend picking up your vehicle on day one, though, so that you can beat the crowds and start early the following day.
Are you interested in visiting Funchal? Read 23 Best Things to do in Funchal Madeira Island, Portugal.
Day Two – Levada Walk, Cabo Girao and Camara de Lobos
You definitely should have one of the many Levada walks on your Madeira itinerary. The levadas of Madeira are rocky paths used for carrying water from the mountains to the villages below. They’re primarily used for hiking, with well-established trails passing by waterfalls and crossing bridges as they wind their way around sheer cliffs and water-splashed rocks.
We recommend the Levada dos 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall walk because you get to see two beautiful yet very different waterfalls close together. There is also the opportunity to go on a tour to complete this walk, and it is only an hour away from Funchal, so if you begin early, there is plenty of time to make a couple of stops on your way back. Don’t worry, there will be no more hiking today.
Are you interested in this Levada walk? Read our Ultimate Guide to the Levada dos 25 Fontes and Risco Waterfall walk here.
On the way back, you can stop at Cabo Girao, a striking landmark at the southernmost point of Madeira that is a true-to-form natural wonder. This site is a must-see on your Madeira road trip with a rocky headland and a magnificent viewing platform over an ocean bay with views beyond the Atlantic Ocean!
After, head over to Camara de Lobos. This small fishing village is located next to the neighbouring city of Machico and is famous as one of Churchill’s favourite locations. The British politician used to visit the destination to paint fishing nets, boats, and fishermen.
You should stop by for a coffee or a beer to enjoy the harbour and admire this cute spot for relaxing after your hike. The good news is it is only a short drive from Funchal, so you can return to your accommodation quite quickly.
Day Three – Drive the Northern Coastline
Driving around Madeira island is an exciting experience, and you can get around in no time.
The North Coast is a place you must visit on your Madeira road trip. You should explore many excellent stops to some outstanding locations for day three. We recommend visiting Bridal Veil Falls (Veu da Noiva Waterfall), Sexual beach and natural pools, Riberia de Janela, Porto Moniz Natural Pools and Garganta Funda Viewpoint.
Bridal Veil Falls can be described as a stunning waterfall that flows from the coast’s cliffs, and there are two important views of the waterfall. Most visitors travel toward Miradouro do Véu da Noiva and enjoy a beautiful perspective of the falls.
After, you should make your way to Seixal to see Sexual Beach, where you can watch people take a surf lesson and experience black volcanic sand. After that, you can visit the less famous Seixal Natural Pools, which seem like a hidden gem compared to the more popular ones at Porto Moniz.
If you continue to drive to the west, you’ll come to Ribeira of Janela. The most popular attraction here is the rock off the black beach.
It’s worth stopping to snap a quick picture or two. Many people go to the black beach for the famous postcard shot on the rock. It is also possible to climb the steps into the cave to get a different viewpoint from the rock, which is what we did. The small cave is quite a spectacular entrance to the beach!
Your final stop of the day is the excellent Garganta Funda View Point, on the west of Madeira. You will have to park and walk down the dirt path to the ocean to see the spectacular falls (only 5-minutes), but we promise it is worth it. It is not a car park, but there’s no space for many vehicles on the side of the road. Madeira is well-known for its impressive falls, and you’ve already seen some beautiful ones today on the drive.
However, there is something special about this one. Not many people visit, and it doesn’t require much time, so we think it is worth a stop on your Madeira road trip itinerary.
After you should make your way back to Funchal, if you still have the energy, stop at as many viewpoints as possible! Just lookout for the brown signs with Miradouro on them and discover the island’s beauty for yourself before enjoying another night in the city!
Day Four – Hike or Explore the Mountains
We have put together two options for day four, depending on whether you want to hike or just enjoy the mountain scenery. You do not need a car for the latter as you can go by tour, taxi, and bus from Funchal. You can also book a tour for the hike or a transfer from Funchal if you don’t want to do it out and back.
It is possible to do both of these in one day. However, we recommend choosing one unless you have lots of energy left from your Madeira road trip! It is also worth checking Visit Madeira to see if the path for the hike is open, as they sometimes have to close this walk as it can get quite dangerous.
If you want to hike, you can head off on your Madeira road trip to climb the island’s highest point. The views from the top are breathtaking, so it’s worth the drive, even if you’re not much of a hiker. Go for a hike above the clouds at Madeira’s highest point. You can hike from Pico do Arieiro (1817m) to Pico Ruivo (1862m), connecting two of Madeira’s highest mountains.
Alternatively, you can visit Curral das Freiras, a scenic location in Madeira. Known as “Nuns Valley”, it is located between the mountains of Santa Bárbara and São Lázaro in Ribeiro Frio. It has two viewpoints from the side of the mountains, Rocha Eira does Serrado and Rocha Paredão viewpoints, which are great spots to take in the stunning views of this valley. When you are in the village, you can relax in one of the many bars. We recommend trying the chestnut soup. It was amazing.
Final Thoughts on our Madeira Road Trip
Travelling to Madeira is a beautiful opportunity to visit a European island that feels like another planet. If you have more time on the island, we recommend reading our guide to the Best Things to do in Madeira. You could spend a long time here and not see everything, so we have created a short Madeira road trip itinerary for those who want to see the best of the island with little time.
After all, some of us don’t have the luxury of time that others do. Of course, most people will recommend spending at least a week there. However, we understand that not everyone has a week to spare. Let us know if you have further recommendations in the comments or if you have enjoyed your Madeira road trip!
Photo Credits: averagelives.com