Things to do in Madeira
The unmissables
Most booked
Madeira: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Fanal Forest Jeep Tour★ 4.92 (3,853) · 7h 30m
Top rated
Madeira Jeep Safari: Porto Moniz, Seixal & Cabo Girão Day Trip★ 4.83 (1,007) · 7h
Best value
Madeira Dolphin & Whale Watching: Hybrid-Electric Catamaran★ 4.56 (2,222) · 3h
Recommended (7)
Madeira: Food & Wine Walking Tour with Market Tastings★ 4.84 (1,000) · 4h€ 93View ›
Madeira Jeep Safari: Pico do Areeiro, Santana & Rum Tasting★ 4.85 (927) · 7h€ 67View ›
Dolphin and Whale Watching Catamaran from Funchal★ 4.27 (703) · 3h€ 40View ›
Funchal Old Town Walking Tour & Wine Tasting★ 4.74 (591) · 2h€ 16.40View ›
Madeira: Waterfalls & Fanal Forest West Coast Tour★ 4.71 (522) · 8h€ 31View ›
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro Peaks & Santana Lunch Day Trip★ 4.68 (497) · 8h€ 43View ›
Madeira Whale & Dolphin Watching with Marine Biologists★ 4.52 (372) · 2h 30m€ 60View ›Top rated (10)
Madeira: Private Half-Day Tour with Skywalk & Fishing VillageYou’ll ride up winding roads above Funchal with a local guide, try or watch the Monte toboggan run, gaze out from Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint, and step onto Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk before wandering through a classic Madeiran fishing village—all with private pickup and plenty of stories along the way.
Madeira: 4x4 Open Roof Island Day Tour with Cabo Girão & Natural PoolsYou’ll ride an open-roof 4x4 across Madeira’s wild coastlines with a local guide—standing on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, getting misted by Véu da Noiva waterfall, swimming in Porto Moniz’s volcanic pools, then sipping poncha in a sunny village tavern. Expect laughter, honest food, and landscapes that linger long after you leave.
Madeira: Private Classic Car Tour with Poncha & Cabo GirãoYou’ll ride through Madeira’s west coast in a classic car with a local guide, stopping for poncha in Câmara de Lobos, tasting village life along narrow roads, standing above the Atlantic on Cabo Girão’s glass skywalk, and pausing for coffee with mountain views. It’s relaxed but full of real moments — perfect if you want to feel the island instead of just seeing it.
Madeira 4x4 Jeep Tour: Pico do Arieiro, Santana & Ponta de São LourençoYou’ll ride through Madeira’s mountains by 4x4 jeep with a local guide, climb up to Pico do Arieiro’s cloud-wrapped views, wander ancient Laurissilva forests on an easy levada walk, stop at Santana’s colorful houses for lunch if you’re hungry, taste rum in Porto da Cruz, and end at windswept Ponta de São Lourenço before heading back to your hotel—probably still grinning.
Madeira 4x4 Private Tour: Full-Day Island Adventure & Custom RoutesYou’ll spend a full day exploring Madeira by private 4x4 with a local guide who listens to what you want—whether it’s misty forests, quiet villages, or wild beaches. Expect spontaneous stops, real conversation, and time to wander or just sit quietly with the view. Pickup is included from Funchal or nearby areas, so you can relax into the adventure from the start.
Funchal West Tour: Waterfalls, Natural Pools & Cabo GirãoYou'll visit five distinct stops across Madeira's western coast — a working fishing village, a glass cliff walkway, forest trails, ocean swings and volcanic pools beneath a waterfall. Lunch is included at the main swimming stop, and the tour handles all the driving and timing, so you only have to show up and move between places. Entrance fees for Cabo Girão and the natural pools are separate, but everything else is arranged.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see the quieter, wilder side of Madeira in one day without renting a car or planning stops — the fixed route covers five different landscapes and a swim, which is what makes a full west-coast day possible in the time you have.
Madeira: Sidecar Motorcycle Tour to Cabo Girão & Câmara de LobosYou’ll feel every curve of Madeira’s west coast as you ride in a classic sidecar past cliffs, fishing villages, and ocean views. Sip coffee by Câmara de Lobos’ harbor, brave Cabo Girão’s skywalk with your local guide nearby, and watch sunlight shift across terraced hillsides. This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s feeling part of island life for an afternoon.
Madeira: Private 4x4 Jeep Tour with Custom Route & PickupYou’ll ride off-road through Madeira’s wildest corners in a private 4x4 jeep with pickup included. Taste poncha at a roadside stop, wander through misty forests, dip into volcanic pools, and let your local guide shape the day around you. Expect laughter, surprises, and stories you’ll remember long after you leave.
Madeira Canyoning: Waterfalls, Rappel & Jumps for BeginnersYou get picked up from Funchal, hike into a canyon, and spend the morning rappelling seven waterfalls, sliding down natural rock formations, and jumping into pools. All equipment—wetsuit, helmet, harness, boots—is provided, and a certified guide stays with your small group throughout. Professional photos and videos are included, and you're back in Funchal by early afternoon.Is it for me?This works well if you want the thrill of canyoning without prior training or a full day of technical climbing—the small group size and certified guides mean you get personal attention and the pace stays manageable, which is what makes a beginner feel confident instead of overwhelmed.
Madeira: Canyoning Adventure with Pickup & Free PhotosYou’ll feel nerves turn into laughter as you rappel waterfalls and leap into clear pools with expert guides in Madeira’s wild canyons. Gear is sorted for you—just bring courage—and there’s time for snacks mid-river before heading back with free photos as proof of your adventure.
Lowest price (10)
Funchal: 3D Fun Art Museum & Optical IllusionsYou'll spend an hour or two moving through 40 interactive 3D art installations, posing for photos that look digitally altered but aren't, and discovering how optical illusions actually work. Entry, taxes and access to every room are included. It's the kind of place that works just as well for a solo traveler wanting something different as it does for families or groups looking for an activity that doesn't require planning or physical effort.Is it for me?Book this if you want an indoor activity in Funchal that doesn't require physical fitness, works for mixed-age groups, and gives you something genuinely different to do—the interactive nature of the rooms is what makes it engaging for both adults and children, and the included fees mean you're not paying extra once you're inside.
Funchal Airport to Hotel Transfer Madeira: Meet & GreetYou're met at arrivals with a name sign, driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your Funchal accommodation, and dropped at your hotel reception or apartment door. The driver waits up to ten minutes past your scheduled pickup time if your flight is delayed. Parking, facility fees, and GST are included; no negotiation required.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your Funchal hotel without arranging transport or negotiating a fare—the driver is waiting with your name, the price is locked in, and the vehicle is already sorted for your needs.
Funchal Airport Transfer: Private Car & Meet-and-GreetYou get picked up at arrivals or collected from your hotel with no waiting, travel in a private air-conditioned car, and arrive at your destination with a few local tips already in your pocket. The driver handles the route and timing, leaving you to start your trip the moment you step outside the terminal.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your hotel without arranging transport yourself — the fixed price and scheduled pickup mean you know exactly what to expect before you land.
Funchal Airport - City: Private Transfer with Local DriverYou’ll step off your flight in Madeira and spot your driver waiting with your name — no hunting for taxis or figuring out buses. Enjoy a smooth ride in an air-conditioned car through Funchal or Caniço, maybe pick up some local tips from your driver along the way. It’s a gentle welcome you’ll remember long after you unpack.
Madeira: 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Hike with Hotel PickupYou get hotel pickup and a driver briefing, then hike two levada trails at your own pace through Madeira's ancient forest to reach the 25 Fontes lagoon and Risco waterfall. The roundtrip transfer handles the logistics; you handle the timing and the stops. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.Is it for me?Right for hikers who want to explore Madeira's most famous waterfalls without paying for a guide or arranging their own transport — the pickup and briefing handle the logistics, leaving you free to hike at your own rhythm and spend as long as you want at each waterfall.
Funchal: Pico do Arieiro Sunset & Stairway to Heaven HikeYou're picked up from your Funchal-area accommodation and driven to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira's third-highest peak. From there, you hike 1.2 kilometers to the Ninho da Manta viewpoint and cross the famous Stairway to Heaven ridge. You return to the summit to watch the sunset paint the sky and mountains in gold and orange for about thirty minutes, then get dropped back at your hotel. The whole evening takes around four to five hours from pickup to return.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to see Madeira's highest views at golden hour without arranging their own transport or timing — the pickup and drop-off handle the logistics, and the briefing means you know what the ridge walk involves before you start. Not suitable if you're pregnant, have cardiovascular concerns, or are uncomfortable with heights.
Madeira: Santana Typical Houses & Pico do Arieiro Full DayYou visit five distinct landscapes in one day: a wicker-making village, a peak above the clouds, a UNESCO forest with a trout farm, a village of painted triangular houses where you stop for lunch, and a dramatic eastern coastline. The driver handles all the navigation and timing, the vehicle is climate-controlled, and every entrance fee is already paid. You leave Funchal in the morning and return by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main landscapes of Madeira in one day without arranging your own transport or paying entrance fees separately — the fixed itinerary and included vehicle mean you cover six distinct stops without navigating or timing yourself.
Madeira Eco Catamaran Dolphin & Whale Watching Hybrid BoatYou board a quiet hybrid catamaran in Funchal and head offshore while land-based spotters radio in dolphin and whale locations. You watch from two decks or the bow nets, listen to certified guides explain the species and Madeira's coastal history, then cruise past Cabo Girão and traditional fishing villages on the way back. The whole experience takes 2.5 to 4 hours depending on which departure you choose, and includes onboard commentary, a professional guide, and local taxes.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins and whales from a boat designed to keep them calm—the hybrid engines and the spotters on land are what make the sightings reliable instead of random—and you're willing to spend a morning on the water without arranging your own transport or timing.
Madeira: Ponta de São Lourenço Snorkeling Trip with GuideYou’ll slip into clear Atlantic water at Ponta de São Lourenço with a local guide beside you, learning quirky facts about Madeira’s marine life as you float above colorful fish and volcanic rocks. Expect salty air, laughter over mispronounced Portuguese fish names, and that rare underwater calm that lingers long after you dry off.
Madeira East: Pico do Arieiro, Santana Houses & Rum Tasting TourYou’ll ride up to Pico do Arieiro for wild mountain air, wander through Santana’s rare triangle houses with a local guide, taste fresh-made rum in Porto da Cruz, and catch coastal views from Pico do Facho—all with hotel pickup from Funchal. Expect honest moments: wind in your face, laughter over lunch breaks, maybe even a wave from a local gardener.
