FREE | Top things to do in Madeira, Portugal
The places listed below are all within the same area except for Monte which you can take the bus or cable car from Funchal.
Here is the list of the places to see that I recommend. I visited these places in 1 day for reference.
This is the mainstreet where we explored Old Town Funchal/Madeira and its surrounding areas.
Adventure:
Whale and Dolphin Sightseeing Tour booked here:
Be prepared to get wet and ready to jump in open water! Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat! Tour takes about 4 hours. Docking area is close to old town Funchal so be sure to walk around after before heading back to the hotel!
4x4 Tour of Madeira Island
Booked here: https://getyourguide.tp.st/9SNJTptR The tour includes pick-up and drop off in Funchal.
Off roading around the locations listed below and the tour takes about 8 hours so be sure to bring snacks to munch on, swimsuit, towel and sunscreen!
Guided Hike Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruvio
Guided Hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo included pick up and drop off using think link: https://getyourguide.tp.st/9SNJTptR Note: Be sure to bring snacks, sunscreen and be prepared to dress for all weather since the peak of Pico Ariero is cold and windy whereas the hike to Pico Ruivo was steamy and humid!
Here is my IG post about the Pico to Pico:
Toboggan Ride from Monte to Livramento:
There is a cable car from Funchal to Monte that costs around €15 however we did not use it as we already saw the best view of the island during the pico to pico hike. One thing to keep in mind: If you're interested in riding the Toboggan, it is located all the way to Monte. The Toboggan ride will take you to Livramento which is the halfway point from Monte to Funchal. Two options here: either take the taxi from Livramento since there are no buses and take the cable car from Monte to Funchal OR take the bus from Livramento to Funchal. As you can see, we took the bus from Livramento to Funchal.
Here is a step-by-step guide posted on my IG:
Here are the prices taken in August 2023 so you have something to refer to:
Food & Drinks
In Funchal, you have a lot of options! From sushi, Spanish food to Portugese food! One of my requirements when going to a restaurant is the quality of food vs the price.
Here is the list of high quality food with reasonable prices:
A must try Portugese restaurant! Definitely try the octopus with Portugese rice! We went here 2x just because of how flavourful and reasonably priced the dishes are!
Hotel & Lodging
Since it was our first time in Madeira, we opted in staying in the main city of Funchal for ease of access.
There are plenty of options in Funchal however, this is where I stayed and really enjoyed the amenities: it has a tennis court, 2 outdoor pool, 1 indoor/outdoor pool, 1 indoor pool and the breakfast was top-notch!
Madeira has a wide range of accommodation options, from budget hostels to luxury hotels. If you're on a budget, it's best to stay in Funchal, the capital city. If you're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, you can stay in one of the smaller towns or villages on the island.
Happy exploring!
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