In a nutshell
- Planning to explore beyond your hotel during your Madeira vacation? Great call — there’s a seriously impressive amount to discover on this island.
- From island tours and levada hikes to whale watching boat trips, we share 11 top picks for the best Madeira excursions in this article.
- For each day trip, we tell you whether it’s better to book a guided tour or go on your own — plus our honest personal recommendations.
- If you’re planning to join guided tours, Funchal is the best base on Madeira. You’ll also find many lovely boutique hotels in Madeira there.
Day Trip to the West of Madeira
An island tour is a great way to kick off your vacation and get to know Madeira properly.
We especially love a loop through the western part of the island — and it’s totally doable with a rental car.
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If you’d rather not drive yourself, book a guided day trip from Funchal. You’ll hit all the major highlights in the west:
- Cabo Girão viewpoint
- Village of Ponta do Sol
- Fanal Enchanted Forest
- Ribeira da Janela
- Lava pools of Porto Moniz
Book the guided day trip to western Madeira
Read our tips for a road trip on Madeira
Hike to Pico Ruivo
Attention hikers! One of the most popular Madeira excursion destinations is Pico do Arieiro, the third-highest mountain on the island.
From there, the hike to Madeira’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo, begins — and it’s an absolute standout. The views across Madeira’s mountain landscapes are breathtaking, and the trail is seriously varied.
If you don’t have much hiking experience, we’d suggest booking a guided tour for this trail. Otherwise, you can do it just fine on your own.
Book the guided hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
Book a transfer to Pico Arieiro (return from Achada do Teixeira)
Read our guide to the Pico Ruivo hike as well
Hiking Excursion to Rabaçal
Rabaçal is a popular hiking area on Madeira. This is where the Levada das 25 Fontes hike and the trail to the Risco Waterfall begin — and you can easily combine both.
For this day trip, we recommend going independently and booking a transfer from Funchal. It makes more sense than driving a rental car, since the start and end points of the hikes are different.
Hiking with a guide is also worth considering — you’ll learn so much more about Madeira’s landscape along the way.
Book the guided hike: Levada das 25 Fontes
Read our tips for hiking on Madeira
Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Ponta de São Lourenço is a peninsula in the east of Madeira with stunning sea cliffs and lush green scenery.
The peninsula is accessible via a hiking trail: the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço.
At 7.4 kilometers round trip with a well-maintained path, it’s perfectly suited for beginner hikers — though some sections are still quite a workout.
Since you can get here easily by both rental car and bus, this is one Madeira excursion you can do completely on your own.
Read our tips on Ponta de São Lourenço
Hiking Excursion to Levada do Caldeirão Verde
One of the most beautiful levada hikes on Madeira is the trail along the Caldeirão Verde.
By the way: Levadas are irrigation channels that carry water from the island’s rainy highlands to its drier corners. There are countless levadas on Madeira, and some of the most scenic trails on the island run right alongside them.
If you’re a beginner hiker, we’d suggest booking a guided tour for the Caldeirão Verde hike. That said, you can absolutely do this Madeira tour on your own too.
The trail is 17.4 kilometers in total, but you can also take a shortcut and hike just part of the route.
Book the guided hike: Caldeirão Verde
Book the transfer for the Caldeirão Verde hike
Day Trip to Santana
Santana is one of the most beautiful places on Madeira, and a big part of that is down to its charming little triangular houses.
These traditional homes are a genuine highlight of any Madeira trip and make for fantastic photo opportunities. You can even step inside some of them — they’ve been converted into souvenir shops.
Beyond the thatched-roof houses, Santana also has a lovely viewpoint: the Miradouro Rocha do Navio. You can take the cable car down to the sea from there, or simply soak in the view.
The best way to visit Santana is on your own — either by rental car or bus (line 56).
Day Trip to Monte
Monte is a neighborhood in Funchal perched about 500 meters above the old town. It’s home to some of the most beautiful sights in Funchal.
You can easily do the trip to Monte on your own. From the historic center, take the cable car up the mountain — it’s worth booking tickets online in advance at the cable car’s website.
Once you’re up in Monte, visit the Tropical Garden (admission €18), and if you’re into Madeira’s flora, continue on to the Botanical Garden (admission €10) as well.
The top highlight in Monte, though, is the wicker toboggan ride. You get to whiz down the mountain in this iconic, traditional mode of transport. A ride costs €35 for two people.
Day Trip to Nuns' Valley
Nuns’ Valley is a valley near Funchal and makes for a wonderful half-day outing from the capital. A lovely path leads you down into the valley — and into the village of Curral das Freiras.
You can easily get to Nuns’ Valley on your own by bus. Take bus line 81 from Funchal to the Eira do Serrado parking lot.
At the parking lot you’ll find a viewpoint, and this is also where the short hike begins. Since you’re walking downhill the whole way, it’s easy going and takes about one hour.
At the end of the path, you’ll arrive in the village of Curral das Freiras. From there, hop on the bus back to your hotel in Funchal.
Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran
Boat trips are a popular activity on Madeira — no surprise, given that the island sits right in the middle of the Atlantic. There are especially great options for whale watching, since you can spot whales around Madeira year-round.
Note: Unfortunately, there’s never a guarantee you’ll spot a whale on a tour. Your best odds are from September through November.
Also read our tips on the best time to visit Madeira
Most whale watching tours depart from Funchal. What’s really cool is that you also get to see Madeira from the water — the island looks completely different from out at sea.
Book a whale watching tour by catamaran
Day Trip from Madeira to Porto Santo
Porto Santo is a favorite for a day trip from Madeira. The island has a 9-kilometer-long sandy beach where you can enjoy a perfect beach day.
Also read our tips for beautiful beaches on Madeira
You can either book a guided tour to Porto Santo or head over independently by ferry. On a guided tour, you don’t have to worry about getting around yourself, and you’ll have a guide with you on Porto Santo.
Book a guided day trip to Porto Santo
Alternatively, take the ferry from Funchal and explore Porto Santo at your own pace. The crossing takes two and a half hours, and there’s usually one ferry in the morning with a return sailing in the evening.
Book ferry tickets to Porto Santo
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Day Trip to the Ilhas Desertas
The Ilhas Desertas are an uninhabited archipelago southeast of Madeira. Volcanic in origin, the rugged, dry landscape is seriously impressive.
They’re a protected nature reserve, but you can still explore them by boat. Day trips to the Ilhas Desertas run from Funchal.
On the excursion, you cruise past the islands, make a swimming stop, and go ashore on Deserta Grande.
