3 Days in Madeira: A Realistic Itinerary
A short trip done properly — one day in Funchal, one in the mountains, one on the coast.
By Madeira.Vacations · 6 min read · Last checked 30 June 2026
Day 1 — Funchal on foot
Market, old town, cable car, Monte gardens, toboggan, promenade. No car, no driving, and a gentle recovery from the flight.
Day 2 — The mountains
Arieiro at sunrise if the forecast is clear, then either the ridge walk or a drive down to Ribeiro Frio and the Balcões levada. Finish at Eira do Serrado looking into Curral das Freiras.
Places mentioned above
Pico do Arieiro
Mountains1–2 hours, or 6–7 with the Ruivo hikeFree
Vereda do Arieiro (PR1)
Mountains6–8 hours including transport
Ribeiro Frio
North Coast1 hour, or 4–5 with the Portela walkFree
Levada dos Balcões
North Coast1 hourFree
Eira do Serrado
Mountains45 minutesFree
Curral das Freiras
MountainsHalf a day with Eira do SerradoFree
Day 3 — The north west
São Vicente, Seixal, Porto Moniz for the lava pools, then home over the Paúl da Serra plateau. Allow more driving time than the map suggests — three hours of road for what looks like an hour.
Places mentioned above
Prices, opening hours and trail access change often. We last checked this on 30 June 2026 — confirm before you set off.
