The ultimate one week Madeira road trip itinerary

A one week Madeira road trip is an absolute must for the adventurous travelers out there! The Portuguese island nestled in the Atlantic Ocean is an absolute gem waiting to be explored! With one of the most stunning landscapes in Europe such as impressive mountain peaks, deep valleys, lush forests, terraced farmlands and steep cliffs dropping into the ocean, this destination is a paradise for the outdoor lovers.

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Madeira is through a road trip, where the steep winding roads and breathtaking views will leave you in awe. Join me as I take you on a journey through Madeira. I will be sharing the best stops to make along the way, where to eat and stay, and the hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. This Madeira itinerary is made for those who plan renting a car and who love hiking impressive mountains, chasing awesome waterfalls and being surrounded by beautiful lush nature. So buckle up and let’s hit the road!

Table of Content

• One week Madeira road trip itinerary
  • The best time to go on a Madeira road trip
  • Where to stay during one week in Madeira
  • Where to eat and drink
  • How to travel around Madeira
  • Need to know & tools to plan a Madeira road trip
  • Madeira Road Trip Itinerary
  • Watch my entire Madeira road trip on YouTube
  • Pin this one week Madeira road trip itinerary

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One week Madeira road trip itinerary

Madeira is a sub-tropical paradise situated about 520 kms off the coast of Morocco. The “flower island” is the top quarter of an entire volcanic system and is formed by lava and rocks. Its cliffs rise from the ocean from a depth of 4000 meters! No wonder this island has such an incredible landscape!

Madeira sure put a spell on me as soon as I arrived. It made me climb mountains and cliffs I never would’ve dared imagine climbing. I conquered my fear of heights, drove the wickedest roads and I met so many nice people! I can truly say my stay at Madeira was simply wonderful for many different reasons! So of course I need to share this one week Madeira itinerary with you!

The best time to go on a Madeira road trip

Madeira has a very mild climate all year round with an average day temperature of 19°C in January and 26°C in August. The wettest months are February and December, the driest July and August. I went the last week of May since I really wanted to see some flowers. All mountains were covered with yellow broom flowers, which created a nice contrast with the blue sky. If you want to attend the flower festival, you should go at the beginning of May. But then it’s more crowded.

Chances of large gushing waterfalls are bigger at the first part of the year, since summers can be dry. Hikers should avoid the warmest months.

Luckily Madeira is not yet overrun with tourists.But some places and hikes on the island are very popular to visit. Then it is important to know when to go. If you want to know how to avoid the crowds in Madeira, I suggest to read my How to escape the crowds in Madeira guide.

Where to stay during one week in Madeira

For this Madeira road trip I advise to stay at the South part of the island. The weather is better there and it is easier to drive around. I stayed at Sao Martinho because this area was situated near the Via Rapida and Funchal. That way I was able to reach the “highway” quickly without having to drive through the mountains or small village streets.
I stayed at the hotel Duas Torres. The room was actually a small apartment with a kitchen. So I could choose whether to eat out or cook my own meals. It was located across the Forum shopping center with a giant supermarket. So that made it easy to buy food to cook or for a picnic the next day. the hotel had its own parking lot, so I never had to look for parking space.

It was also easy to take the bus to the center of Funchal, since the bus stop was right in front of the hotel. I had a rental car, but I wasn’t keen on searching for a parking spot in Funchal. So that’s why I preferred to take the bus. It only took 10 minutes to reach the city center. If you do decide to go by car, like I did one night with a new friend and you park your car in one of the parking garages, please notice the opening hours. We stood in front of a closed garage gate and were lucky to encounter some locals who rescued us. (funny memory though!)

I stayed for seven days which made it possible to do different hikes and drive around the island. But I’m sure you can easily spend 2 weeks there. There are countless hikes to do and many different villages to explore.

Where to eat and drink

In the old town of Funchal are a lot of charming restaurants. My favorite was the Cidade Velha Restaurant with a nice terrace near the São Tiago Fort. You should definitely try their Espada Tropical which is a white fish served with vegetables and fruit! Absolutely delicious! They had great Madeira wine (both sweet and dry) and the desserts were very tasty as well.

Another restaurant where the staff was super friendly is Santa Maria Restaurant in the Rua Santa Maria. They offer local dishes and even sushi! You can find great cocktails at cheap prices at the Flair Spot Bar in the same street.

How to travel around Madeira

If you really want to enjoy Madeira’s nature, there are two important things you should remember: hike and rent a car to go on a road trip! Do not book bus tours. I think they are simply awful, taking you from one place to another with 30/40 other people. It is impossible to enjoy the sounds and beauty of the lush nature when hiking in such big loud groups of people. I simply rented a car, woke up early and started hiking 2 hours before those troops arrived. Also a car gives you the ultimate freedom to go wherever you want to go! That is the reason why I love road trips so much! Taxis are expensive to do tours with and public transport is slow and doesn’t cover the complete island. 

Need to know & tools to plan a Madeira road trip

Driving

This Madeira road trip itinerary wouldn’t be complete without some personal advice. Driving in Madeira is no joke. There are some very steep (roads with a gradient of 45%!), winding and narrow roads. Make sure to rent a car with a good engine and ideally an automatic.

Keep your eyes open for signs. Sometimes they are broken or bend and when you miss a turn, you can end up somewhere you don’t want to be. I encountered a situation that got me sweating. Because I obviously took the wrong turn and found myself on a road as wide as my car, with no safety on the side of the road and nothing but the edge of the mountain on one side and a steep cliff dropping into the ocean on the other side. There was no other solution than to keep driving until I found a spot that was a little wider so I could turn in like over 20 moves (1st gear, reverse, 1st gear, reverse…) constantly thinking; “Please make sure to set the right gear so you don’t fall into the abyss!”.

If you’re coming from the South of the island, driving via Monte to reach Pico do Arieiro isn’t a good idea either if you don’t like super steep and narrow roads… instead drive via Camacha. It’s less steep and a more quiet drive.
Also good to know is that the ramps of the highway are extremely short. Since you have no priority, you’ll need to wait until you can drive onto the highway and start from first gear to enter (often on a slope).

Hiking

If you suffer from fear of heights and vertigo, you’ll probably need to do some research to know which walks you can do. I’m afraid of heights as well, but somehow I managed to get over it and just go. If heights make you dizzy and you don’t feel secure, don’t take the risk and avoid hikes that are known for their challenging paths. I used the Rother Madeira Walking guide – 70 walks. It is a very detailed hiking guide and it contains hikes of all kinds of difficulty!

Madeira has two types of hikes; vereda hiking trails, which are trails through the mountains offering epic views, and levada trails. On Madeira, you will find over 3 000 km of irrigation channels, most of them have an accessible path next to them. These levada paths guide you around the island and often lead to incredible views and waterfalls. Discover my favorite hikes in my blog post about Madeira’s 5 most epic hikes!

I was lucky with the weather, but it can be very unpredictable since this is an island. You can have all seasons in one day! Be careful if you are planning hikes on rainy cloudy days. Paths can be slippery and dangerous. So always check the weather in advance. The island’s webcams can be of great help! It is important to always wear decent hiking boots and take a headlight or flash light (levada hikes often come with tunnels), sunscreen and a waterproof wind jacket.

If you don’t feel at ease to go hiking on your own you can always book a hiking tour. I definitely recommend the sunrise hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.

Madeira Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – Vereda do Arieiro, the most epic hike of Madeira

To start your first complete day of your one week in Madeira you will be driving to Pico do Arieiro. Which is no joke! The roads are steeper than steep! So be prepared to curse and sweat a lot. I drove via Monte which was just horrible, since I had a manual car and I was not used to driving in the mountains yet. Make sure to arrive early and park your car at the parking lot at the Miradouro do Arieiro. The view up there will give you a first impression of what to expect in the following hours! Another advise; go to the toilet here, because you won’t be able to go during the walk.

The Vereda do Arieiro is the most challenging hike of Madeira, leading you from Pico do Arieiro (1818 m) to Pico Ruivo (1862 m) (and back) with a height difference of 320 meters (1542 m – 1862 m). The walk takes you above the clouds and you’ll pass incredible sights! Make sure to bring your flash light, because you’ll have to walk through some very dark tunnels that will take you to the other side of the mountains. A good physical condition is needed because the paths can be very demanding and the stairs very steep. You basically walk up and down the mountains; which makes it so hard. But the views are so worth it! If you suffer from vertigo and it makes you feel weak in the knees, don’t do this hike.

The most impressive parts of this hike are the Ninho da Manta viewpoint and the “stairway to heaven“.

After this hike I drove back to the hotel, because I was exhausted but very satisfied. Enjoy your evening with taking a long hot shower and a nice meal. I often cooked my own food because my room had a fully equipped kitchen and the supermarket was across the street at the Forum Shopping Centre.

Day 2 – Caldeirão Verde, the most beautiful levada hike

The second hike on this Madeira road trip starts at two authentic Madeiran houses at Queimadas. The parking lot at Queimadas isn’t big so arrive early. This levada hike is perfect for those who love waterfall chasing! Not only is the end point of the walk a “cauldron” with a massive waterfall, also on your way you’ll encounter some nice waterfalls and streams. The path isn’t difficult when it comes to steepness, so you won’t have to climb mountains. But if you’re afraid of heights, some parts of the path can be quite frightening.

This hike is a levada walk so this means the path is only about 40-50 cm wide with the abyss right next to you. Most of the time you don’t really see it because of the vegetation and trees. But other times you’ll walk right next to the rocks on one side and the abyss on your other side with only a loose cable to keep you from falling (at some parts the cable is broken, which makes you wonder if someone actually fell down). Tunnels are also part of the hike, one being very long, dark and scary so don’t forget to bring a flash light! I even brought two, because I couldn’t bear the thought that I would end up in the pitch dark without a light!

If you continue the path after reaching the Caldeirão Verde, you will reach the Cadeirão do Inferno waterfall. I regret not doing this, but it was already so crowded when I was there. Which is the reason why I decided to not go.

The hike is only 13 kilometers, but I spent quite some time at the waterfall to take pictures and fully enjoy my lunch there. So I got back around 4 pm. Which was perfect to drive back at ease and have enough time to spend an evening at Funchal.

Day 3 – Levada das 25 Fontes / Levada do Risco, the most popular hike

Since these are probably the most popular hikes of Madeira, you really need to make sure to arrive very early! By that I mean before 8.00 am. There is enough parking space, but around 10.00 am busses packed with tourists doing guided tours arrive and then all the joy of hiking will disappear! Especially because these are levada hikes and when I returned I had to pass all these groups that had to sit on the levada to let me through in the opposite direction. I can imagine it’s even worse to walk behind such a group (which didn’t happen to me), because then you’re stuck!

When you arrive early enough you’ll have the 30 m high 25 Fontes waterfall all to yourself! After this easy hike you can go to the Risco waterfall. You can’t reach the foot of the waterfall but the view from the “terrace” is breath taking!

After these hikes you could opt to drive to Fanal, the beautiful Laurisilva forest!

Day 4 – Exploring the East during this one week Madeira road trip

First stop of day four is Rocha do Navio. Finding the cable car isn’t easy. When you arrive at the roundabout right before entering Santana, you need to take the right turn. Then follow the road until you reach a T junction. Turn left here and then take the next road right (there’s a sign). You can park your car at the small parking lot. When arriving early you’ll only find locals who are visiting their plantations. On my way down in the cable car I even got invited at a friendly man’s house to see his plantation and taste his own brewed drink! This was such a nice experience!

After you’re back up you can visit the traditional houses in Santana. From there I actually wanted to drive further north, but it started to rain, so I decided to drive to the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço. Someone I met earlier during my stay had told me that this was the sunniest place of Madeira and it turned out he was right! I was able to do the complete hike on the Sao Lourenço peninsula in the burning sun, while the rest of Madeira was covered in rain!

The hike itself is not that difficult, only the last climb up is quite steep, but the view worth the trouble! Keep in mind this part of the island is very windy and there are no trees. So take enough sunscreen and a jacket depending on the weather conditions! It actually looks totally different from the rest of Madeira and it felt as if I arrived on a different planet.

Day 5 – Pico Ruivo – Balcões

The drive to Achada do Teixera to start your hike to Pico Ruivo is easier than the way up to Pico do Arieiro. The walk isn’t as demanding and way shorter but the views on the way and on top are amazing. The most difficult part is the steep climb to the top at the end. I ate my lunch there enjoying the sights.

Afterwards I decided to spend my afternoon driving back via Parque Natural do Ribeiro Frio. That way I could do the short hike to Balcões and see what this area looked like. Balcões is a hidden gem nestled deep in the heart of Madeira’s stunning laurel forest. As you hike the trail, the thick canopy of trees provides a welcome respite from the sun, and the sound of chirping birds and rustling leaves fills the air.

The trail gradually opens up, revealing a stunning vista of the valley below, with the towering peaks of Madeira rising up in the distance. The pièce de résistance of the hike is the wooden balcony perched on the edge of the cliff, offering panoramic views of the valley and the mountains beyond. From this vantage point, you can see the lush greenery of the valley, and the rolling hills that stretch off into the horizon.

Driving back to Funchal, I didn’t drive via Monte anymore because I really wanted to avoid the narrow steeper than steep streets. So I drove in the direction of Camacha which was way more pleasant and less steep.

Day 6 – Continue your Madeira itinerary by driving to Cabo Girão, Veu da Noiva, Porto Moniz & Garganta Funda

This is a more relaxed day. Just a short drive from Sao Martinho you’ll find Cabo Girão. This is the highest cape of Europe at a staggering height of 580 m. But it’s even more famous for its suspended glass platform. The glass platform of Cabo Girão is a breathtaking engineering feat that allows visitors to experience the sheer thrill of walking on air. Suspended over the edge of the cliff, the glass platform provides an unobstructed view of the ocean below, making it seem as though you are floating on a sea of blue. The sensation of standing on the platform is both exhilarating and terrifying, as you feel the strength of the wind and the vastness of the ocean beneath you. As you peer down through the clear glass, you can see the waves crashing against the rocks.

After this thrilling experience I drove North via the VE4 to a viewpoint to see the Veu da Noiva, meaning “Bride’s Veil” in Portuguese, a spectacular waterfall nestled in the cliffs of Madeira’s rugged landscape that drops into the ocean. Then I continued passing the black beach of Seixal and Porto Moniz, where you can swim in the ocean.

To return you can continue the road at the West Coast to Garganta Funda, another impressive waterfall. It only takes about 600 m of hiking to reach the waterfall. From there you can return to Funchal via the South coast.

Day 7 – Funchal

Funchal isn’t big but a must visit during your one week in Madeira! The first thing I visited was the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ Market). There you’ll find locals selling their fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers and, of course, souvenirs. After that I wandered around the old town and had lunch. You’ll find a lot of restaurants and bars at the Rua Santa Maria, Rua D Carlos I and the Largo do Corpo Santo. You can take the cable car to the Tropical Garden at Monte, visit the Botanical Garden or just go shopping at the more modern part of Funchal near the cathedral.

Other fun things to do in Madeira:

Dolphin & whale watching & Full day wine tour

Watch my entire Madeira road trip on YouTube

Pin this one week Madeira road trip itinerary

That’s it! I hope this one week Madeira road trip itinerary inspired you to start packing your bags and leave! I really tried to cover everything you need to know. Do not hesitate to leave your comments or questions down below! That way I can add more information if necessary!
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