ViewpointsFree
Pico do Arieiro Sunrise
Pico do Arieiro
A mountaintop above the clouds, famous for sunrise and the start of a dramatic ridge trail.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- No booking needed
Open-air; sunrise draws crowds
Things to do in Madeira
9 places, 6 of them free. A subtropical island of levada walks, dramatic peaks and flower-filled valleys.
Hidden GemsFree
Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Queimadas
A walk along a water channel through laurel forest to a waterfall, with a few tunnels.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- No booking needed
Open-air; best in dry weather
Beaches~£3
Porto Moniz Natural Pools
Porto Moniz
Seawater pools formed in volcanic rock at the island’s north-western tip.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00 in season
Viewpoints~£2
Cabo Girão Skywalk
Câmara de Lobos
A glass-floored platform on one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00
Hidden GemsFree
Ponta de São Lourenço Walk
Caniçal
A dry, dramatic peninsula with orange cliffs, sea stacks and clear water.
- Suggested time: 3h 30m
- No booking needed
Open-air; check heat before setting off
Hidden GemsFree
Santana Triangular Houses
Santana
Thatched, triangular cottages painted in red and blue, a symbol of the island.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
Open-air; small paid park nearby
Hidden GemsFree
Fanal Laurel Forest
Fanal
Ancient twisted laurel trees wreathed in mist on a high plateau, dreamlike in fog.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
Open-air; visibility varies with cloud
Local FavouritesFree
Câmara de Lobos Fishing Village
Câmara de Lobos
A picturesque harbour of brightly painted boats where Churchill once painted.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
Open-air; restaurants open lunchtime and evening
Day Trips~£40
Dolphin and Whale Watching
Funchal Marina
Boat trips to spot resident dolphins and, seasonally, whales in the deep channel.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- Booking recommended
Trips daily in season
Planning Madeira?