In a nutshell
- Planning an independent road trip around Madeira? Perfect — this article gives you our complete suggested itinerary for one week on the island, based on personal experience.
- Our top tip: Book your rental car well in advance and stay in one place — Funchal is the ideal base for the whole trip.
- You’ll find everything you need here: the full route, our hotel picks, and honest advice on what’s worth your time — including how to do it all without a car.
How Much Time Should You Plan for a Road Trip on Madeira?
At least one week. For us, the island is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe and has a seriously impressive amount to offer.
Seven days is enough to cover the top highlights on Madeira at a comfortable pace. If you want to take your Madeira trip more slowly and soak it all in, aim for at least ten days on the island.
How to Get Around on Your Madeira Road Trip?
We definitely recommend renting a car.
A rental car gives you the most flexibility and gets you anywhere quickly. Book in advance and you can often find great deals — prices jump once you’re on the island.
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
That said, you can absolutely do a Madeira road trip using buses and guided tours. In that case, we strongly recommend staying in Funchal, since most day trips on Madeira depart from there.
At the end of this article, we’ll share our tips on how to explore Madeira without a car.
1-Week Madeira Itinerary for Self-Drivers
Here’s our full route for one week on Madeira, broken down day by day. For simplicity, we’ll assume you’re staying overnight in Funchal throughout — it’s hands-down the best base for a Madeira road trip.
Our hotel recommendations in Funchal for a Madeira road trip by car
Three House Hotel: Apart-hotel in the center of Funchal with free parking.
Apartamentos Turisticos Atlantida: Budget-friendly accommodation in Funchal with affordable private parking.
Arts In Hotel Conde Carvalhal: Stylish hotel in Funchal with free parking.
For our tips on where to stay overnight on Madeira:
Your 7-day Madeira schedule at a glance
- Day 1: Arrival and the old town of Funchal
- Day 2: Road trip through the western part of the island
- Day 3: Pico do Arieiro hike and Botanical Garden
- Day 4: Day trip to Monte and the Christ Statue
- Day 5: Ponta de São Lourenço, Machico, and Santana
- Day 6: Levada das 25 Fontes and Praia do Seixal
- Day 7: Levada dos Balcões and departure
Day 1: Arrival and the Old Town of Funchal
Arrival at the airport in Santa Cruz
Madeira’s airport is in the town of Santa Cruz in the south of the island, just a short drive from Funchal. After landing, pick up your rental car and head to your accommodation.
Note: Remember that you’ll need a credit card to pick up your rental car.
Sightseeing in Funchal
If you land in the morning or around noon, you’ll have plenty of time to explore central Funchal in the afternoon. The highlights are all close together and totally walkable.
Highlights in the center of Funchal
- Rua Santa Maria: Charming street in the historic center.
- Mercado dos Lavradores: Market hall packed with fresh, local produce.
- Funchal Cathedral: Madeira’s oldest church.
- Fortress São Tiago: Old fortress with a striking yellow facade.
- CR7 Museum: Museum dedicated to soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rua Santa Maria has a huge selection of restaurants for a great dinner. For drinks, we love the bar Rei da Poncha — it’s the perfect spot to try a traditional Poncha.
Read our article with all the tips on Funchal
Day 2: Road Trip Through the Western Part of the Island
Day two is all about the western side of the island. Set off early to make the most of it.
The morning: Skywalk Cabo Girão, Ponta do Sol, and Ponta do Pargo
Your first stop is the Skywalk at Cabo Girão — probably the most famous viewpoint on Madeira. It has a glass floor that lets you look straight down 580 meters. Admission is 3 euros and parking is free.
From there, drive on to the small village of Ponta do Sol, which sits tucked between cliffs by the sea and looks absolutely charming. There’s also a lovely pebbly beach here.
From Ponta do Sol, take the coastal road ER101 — it hugs the shoreline the whole way. Along the route, you’ll pass a cool old bridge and the Cascata dos Anjos waterfall.
Note: You can drive the entire southern coast of Madeira on the highway. It’s fast, but you’ll spend a lot of time in tunnels. We’d recommend taking the country road detours every now and then — they’re so much more scenic.
Around noon you’ll reach Ponta do Pargo. Grab an affordable lunch at the traditional Portuguese restaurant Domino and take a short detour to the lighthouse viewpoint (Farol da Ponta do Pargo).
The afternoon: Porto Moniz and Fanal
Next up is Porto Moniz, where you’ll take a well-earned swim break in the lava pools. You have two natural pool areas to choose from — a private area for 3 euros, or free public pools.
See all our tips for the natural pools on Madeira
After your swim, head to Fanal. On the way, stop in Ribeira da Janela for a quick photo stop by the sea — it’s worth it.
From Ribeira da Janela, it’s only about 30 minutes to the fairy-tale forest of Fanal. Park in the large lot and wander through the sprawling grounds with mystical, moss-draped trees and sweeping views (weather permitting).
See all our tips for the Fanal cloud forest
Day 3: Pico do Arieiro Hike and Botanical Garden
The morning: Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo hike
On Day 3, you’re up early to tackle the highest peak on Madeira. Aim to leave Funchal around 7 AM so you can start hiking by 8 AM.
There’s a large parking lot at Pico do Arieiro. If it’s full, just park along the roadside behind the other cars — it’s a common workaround.
The hike goes out to Pico Ruivo and back to Pico do Arieiro. Budget five to eight hours for the round trip. The trail is 10.6 kilometers long with about 1,000 meters of elevation gain and loss.
To all tips for the Pico do Arieiro hike:
The afternoon: Botanical Garden
If you still have energy afterward, stop by the Botanical Garden of Funchal on your way back into town. Admission is 10 euros — and note that it closes at 6 PM.
Local tip: Near the Botanical Garden you’ll find the Restaurante Alta Vista. Depending on how late it is after your visit to the Jardim Botânico, stop in for a coffee or stay for dinner — both are great options.
Day 4: Day Trip to Monte and the Christ Statue
The morning: Day trip to Monte
Day four is a slightly more relaxed one. Start by riding the cable car from Funchal up to the Monte neighborhood.
Note: If cruise ships are docked that day, head up first thing in the morning — otherwise you’ll face long lines everywhere. Alternatively, swap this day with another in your itinerary and visit Monte when no cruise passengers are around.
Once you’re up in Monte, kick things off with the Tropical Garden. The entrance is right next to the cable car station. Admission is 18 euros.
From the Tropical Garden, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the starting point of the famous wicker toboggan ride. These wicker sleds were once an important mode of transportation for getting down from the mountain into central Funchal — today they’re one of the most popular things to do on the island.
A ride costs 35 euros for two people and you’ll zoom down the hill for about ten minutes. It’s a total blast!
From the end station, you can either walk back to Funchal or hop on a bus.
The afternoon: Christ Statue and Praia do Garajau
Around noon you’ll be back in Funchal for a relaxed lunch. Afterward, drive to the Christ Statue of Madeira. Entry is free, and behind the statue there’s a small path leading down the cliff.
From the statue, gondolas run down to Garajau beach — one of the most beautiful beaches on Madeira.
Alternatively, drive your car partway down the road and walk the last stretch.
At Praia do Garajau you can go swimming, soak up the sun, or grab a coffee at the beach bar.
Day 5: Ponta de São Lourenço, Machico, and Santana
The morning: Hiking at Ponta de São Lourenço
Another early start on Day 5 — aim to leave by 8 AM. Drive to the Baia d’Abra parking lot in Caniçal, about a 30-minute drive from Funchal.
The trailhead for the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço starts right at the parking lot — and it’s one of the most beautiful hikes on Madeira. The trail takes you across the dramatic cliff landscape of São Lourenço.
It’s totally manageable for beginner hikers. The whole thing takes about three hours.
Also read our tips for the Ponta de São Lourenço hike
Midday: Prainha and Caniçal
Back at the Baia d’Abra parking lot, drive to Prainha — a black sand beach just five minutes away. Stop for a quick photo; it’s really striking.
For lunch, head to Caniçal. We recommend Restaurant O Recante — it’s where we had the best fish of our entire trip to Madeira.
Also read our tips for eating on Madeira
The afternoon: Machico and Santana
From Caniçal, drive to the neighboring town of Machico — the former capital of Madeira. Take a short sightseeing break and stroll through the beautiful historic center.
Then continue on to Santana, one of the most beautiful towns on Madeira. Santana is famous for its traditional thatched-roof cottages — some of them are open to explore inside, housing little souvenir shops.
Another standout in Santana is the Rocha do Navio viewpoint.
Day 6: Levada das 25 Fontes and Praia do Seixal
The morning: Levada das 25 Fontes
Day six features one of the most beautiful levada hikes on Madeira — the Levada das 25 Fontes. The trail starts in Rabaçal on the Paul da Serra plateau.
We recommend combining it with the hike to the Risco waterfall, which runs right alongside it. Both trails together are about 10 kilometers.
Note: The start and end points of the 25 Fontes hike are not the same. From the end, you’ll still need to walk about 2 kilometers back along the road to your car — factor that into your planning.
The afternoon: Praia do Seixal
After the hike, it’s time to relax. Head to Praia do Seixal in the north of the island. For us, this is the most beautiful beach on Madeira — black sand, emerald water, and stunning green sea cliffs all around.
Day 7: Levada dos Balcões and Departure
Day 7 is your departure day. If you’re not on an early flight, squeeze in a detour to the Levada dos Balcões. Drive from Funchal to Casa do Ribeiro Frio and park there.
This is where the short, easy trail begins — just 1.3 kilometers each way. Once you’re back at the car, head straight to the airport and drop off your rental car there.
Madeira Road Trip by Bus
You can cover all the highlights from our Madeira travel itinerary without a rental car too. Just make sure to give yourself seven full days.
Day 1
Your arrival day works almost exactly as described in the self-drive itinerary. From the airport, take the bus transfer for 6.50 euros to Funchal. The old town of Funchal is easy to explore on foot in the afternoon.
Day 2
Book a guided tour through western Madeira. You’ll hit all the major highlights that are part of our road trip route.
Guided tour through western Madeira
Day 3
For the Pico do Arieiro hike, you can easily book a transfer or guided tour from Funchal.
Guided hiking tour from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo
Transfer to the Pico Ruivo hike
If you have time in the afternoon, take the bus (lines 29, 31) to the Botanical Garden, or ask your transfer driver to drop you off at the garden entrance.
Day 4
In the morning, take the cable car up to Monte — no car needed. In the afternoon, you can take the bus (lines 136, 155) to the Christ Statue. From there, get down to Praia do Garajau by gondola or on foot.
Day 5
Take an early morning bus from the SAM provider (line 113) to Baia d’Abra. The bus stops right at the start of the Ponta de São Lourenço hike.
When you finish hiking around noon, take the same bus back — but get off in Machico and take some time to stroll through the old quarter.
Bonus tip: On the way back from Baia d’Abra, you can also walk to Prainha beach, take a swim, and then catch the bus to Machico from there.
Day 6
For the Levada das 25 Fontes hike, book a transfer or a guided hike.
Guided hike: Levada das 25 Fontes
Transfer: Levada das 25 Fontes hike
Day 7
In the morning, take bus line 56 to Ribeiro Frio. Get off there and hike to the Balcões viewpoint. Then catch the next bus and continue on to Santana to see the little cottages. From Santana, take the last bus back to Funchal.
Note: Check in advance when and how often bus line 56 runs — it’s very infrequent and you don’t want to get stranded.
For more tips on getting around, also read our travel tips for Madeira
Frequently Asked Questions About a Madeira Road Trip
Is a road trip around Madeira expensive?
Not at all. If you book your rental car early and don’t eat out at fancy restaurants every night, a Madeira road trip can be really affordable.
Are there toll fees on Madeira?
No. All roads on Madeira are free of charge.
When is the best time to visit Madeira for a road trip?
You can visit Madeira year-round — the climate is always mild.
The sweet spots are spring (April – June) and fall (September – October), when rainfall is low and temperatures aren’t too high.
