Portugal / Madeira / Madeira (Funchal)Madeira (Funchal)
Levada Walks, Cliffs and Flowers on an Atlantic Island
A subtropical Atlantic island of cliffs, laurel forest and flowers, under two hours by air from Lisbon or Porto, with Funchal on its south coast as the base. Walk the levadas, irrigation channels with paths beside them (25 Fontes, Caldeirão Verde), or the high trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo; ride the cable car up to Monte and come down in a wicker toboggan; stand on the Cabo Girão glass skywalk; swim in the Porto Moniz lava pools; and shop the Mercado dos Lavradores. Mild all year, about 18-25 °C. The main trails charge non-residents a small fee and close after storms or fires. The airport, its runway built out over the sea below the mountains, stops landings in strong winds, which can delay or divert flights. The New Year's Eve fireworks over the bay are among the world's biggest.
Highlights
- Levada walks through laurel forest
- Sunrise on Pico do Arieiro
- Monte cable car and toboggan ride
- Cabo Girão skywalk
- Porto Moniz lava pools
- Funchal's farmers' market
Things to do
- Cable car to Monte and the wicker toboggan ride downMorning · 3h
- Levada walk: 25 Fontes or Caldeirão VerdeMorning · 6h
- Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo summit trailMorning · 6h
- Mercado dos Lavradores and the old townAfternoon · 2h
- West coast drive: Cabo Girão skywalk and Porto Moniz poolsMorning · 7h
- Madeira wine lodge tastingEvening · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – October
Worth knowing
Wildfire Season
From July to September hot, dry winds spread wildfires in the forests of the centre and north, the Algarve hills (Monchique) and Madeira, as in 2017, 2024 and 2025. Follow the civil-protection text alerts, obey road and trail closures, never light a fire or barbecue outdoors, and check before a hike. Travel insurance should cover cancellations.
Worth knowing
Wind at Madeira Airport
Madeira's airport, on a runway built out over the sea below the mountains, has strict wind limits: on gusty days flights circle, divert to Porto Santo or the Canaries, or return to Lisbon, most often from autumn to spring. Keep a spare day before a flight home or a connection.
Heads up
Madeira's Trails: Fee and Closures
Madeira's best-known trails (Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo and the main levadas) charge non-residents a small fee, paid online before the walk, and close after storms, rockfalls or fires. Check the regional government's trail status page the day before, start early for parking, and take a jacket: the peaks are cold and often in cloud.
Heads up
Atlantic Storms: Flights and Boats Cancelled
From November to March Atlantic storms bring days of rain and wind to Madeira and the Azores: flights are delayed, whale-watching and boat trips cancelled, and mountain roads and trails closed. Winters are mild, but keep a spare day before your flight home.
- Carnival in Madeira — Funchal's samba-style allegorical parade on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday and a comic "trapalhão" parade on the Tuesday, with costumes and music through the old town.
- Madeira Flower Festival — Held in the weeks after Easter: the Wall of Hope, where children each place a flower, flower carpets in the streets and a Sunday parade of floats down Funchal's main avenue. Dates are set each year; flights and hotels fill.
- Madeira Wine Festival — Late summer harvest celebrations in Funchal and the north-coast village of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos: grape treading, folk music and wine tastings.
- New Year's Eve fireworks, Madeira · 31 Dec — Fireworks fired from all round Funchal's amphitheatre of hills and from ships in the bay at midnight, among the largest displays in the world, after weeks of Christmas lights in the city. Cruise ships fill the harbour and rooms sell out months ahead.