Mountains1–2 hours, or 6–7 with the Ruivo hikeFree
Pico do Arieiro
Madeira's third-highest peak, and the only one you can drive to.
Written in Funchal · Rechecked each season
The guide to Madeira's best.
We have stood at every viewpoint, walked every levada and eaten our way through Funchal. This is what is genuinely worth your time — and what it takes to get there.
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A few homes we run ourselves, at the direct rate. Check your dates.
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The best of the island
Seven ways to spend a day here
Ridge viewpoints above the cloud, levadas through laurel forest, lava pools, Funchal, the old villages and Porto Santo — the best of each, in one place.
Viewpoints & PeaksRidge lines above the cloud, glass skywalks and the miradouros worth the drive.
Levadas & TrailsIrrigation channels through laurel forest, and the harder mountain routes beside them.
Beaches & Natural PoolsBlack sand, lava pools and the sheltered spots that actually work for swimming.
FunchalOld town, market, cable car, Monte and the gardens above the city.
Villages & TownsFishing harbours, thatched houses and the places people actually live.
Nature & WildlifeLaurisilva, lava caves, sea stacks and the islands offshore.
Porto SantoNine kilometres of golden sand, a ferry ride from Funchal.The shortlist
The six we'd never let you miss
If you do nothing else on Madeira, do these — with how long to allow, what it costs and where to leave the car.
Mountains2 hours from Achada do Teixeira; 4+ from Arieiro
Pico Ruivo
The island's highest point at 1,862 m, and only reachable on foot.
South Coast30 minutesFree
Cabo Girão Skywalk
A glass floor 580 m above the Atlantic, ten minutes from Câmara de Lobos.
West4–5 hours
Levada das 25 Fontes
The island's most famous walk: laurel forest, a levada and a spring-fed lagoon.
North Coast5 hours
Caldeirão Verde
Levada do Caldeirão Verde: tunnels, ferns and a waterfall in a hidden bowl.
East3 hours
Ponta de São Lourenço
A dry, treeless peninsula of red and ochre cliffs at the island's eastern tip.
Best days out
The trips worth booking ahead
Dolphins at dawn, a guided levada, a 4x4 up to the ridge. We only list operators we'd put our own guests on — most with free cancellation.
2.5 hours Calheta Marina
Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour
A marine-biologist-led catamaran trip into the deep Atlantic, where pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident year round. Rated 4.9 from over 1,200 reviews.
from €74
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3 hours Funchal Marina
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
Sail the south coast at golden hour from Funchal marina — a relaxed catamaran cruise with a swim stop and the chance of dolphins along the way.
from €40
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Full day Island-wide pickup
West Madeira 4x4 Jeep Safari
Porto Moniz lava pools, Seixal's black sand, the Fanal laurel forest and the Cabo Girão cliff skywalk, in a small open 4x4 with a local driver.
from €55
Check availabilityBest of each coast
Thirty kilometres, four kinds of weather
North, south, mountain or sea — the best of each side of the island, and the hour of day it's at its best.
Beaches & Natural PoolsBlack sand, lava pools and the sheltered spots that actually work for swimming.
Mountains & ViewpointsRidge lines above the cloud, glass skywalks and the miradouros worth the drive.
Levada Walks & HikingThe irrigation channels that double as the world's most civilised footpaths.
Food & RestaurantsEspetada, scabbard fish, bolo do caco and where locals actually eat.
FunchalThe capital: old town, market, cable car, Monte and the promenade.Family ActivitiesShort walks, calm swimming and the things that keep everyone happy.Or stay with us
Wake up closer to it
A handful of homes we manage ourselves, at the direct rate — no platform commission, no call centre.
Avenida do Infante, Funchal
Palace Vista · Luxury 2BR opposite Savoy Palace
Three private balconies, steps from the seafront
4 guests 2 bedrooms
€275 / night
View stay
Santa Luzia, Funchal
Funchal modern 3 bedroom bay view apartment
Large balcony with a full Funchal bay view
6 guests 3 bedrooms
€125 / night
View stayWhy book direct with us
We are a small team living on the island. No platform fees, no call centre, and the person answering your message has been inside the house.
Best rate, direct
The same homes cost less here than on the big platforms — we don't pay their commission.
A real person
Message us and you get an answer from Funchal, usually within a couple of hours.
Local planning help
Tell us your dates and we'll say which coast, which trails, and which day to keep free for weather.
Flexible cancellation
Clear terms up front, with free cancellation windows on every property.
"We booked direct after reading their Funchal guide, and it turned out the guide was written by the same people who then told us exactly which levada to do on the rainy day. Casa do Mar itself was better than the photos."
"Travelling with a two-year-old and a seven-year-old. The fenced garden made the week. Marta met us at the house and had already put milk and bread in the fridge."
"Stayed a month in Ponta do Sol and worked every day without a single dropped call. They arranged a jeep tour for our last weekend that we'd never have found ourselves."
The written guide
Read this before you rent the car
Itineraries, walks, weather and the mistakes visitors make — written on the island and rechecked every season.
Things to Do
The Best Things to Do in Madeira
The fifteen experiences we'd put on a first trip, in the order that makes sense once you understand the island's weather.
9 min read
Things to Do
Best Things to Do in Funchal
How to spend two or three days in the capital without a car, and what to skip.
7 min read
Itineraries
3 Days in Madeira: A Realistic Itinerary
A short trip done properly — one day in Funchal, one in the mountains, one on the coast.
6 min read
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New places we've walked and rated, seasonal timings, and the guides we've just rewritten. A few times a year, never more.