Travel guide · Portugal
Madeira
The island of eternal spring: laurel forest, levadas and sheer cliffs in the middle of the Atlantic.
Madeira lies nearly 1,000 kilometres south-west of Lisbon in the Atlantic, closer to Africa than to Europe. The island is small but steep: from the sea to the top of Pico Ruivo it climbs 1,862 metres, through banana terraces, eucalyptus and the laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Madeira is best explored on foot. The levadas, old irrigation channels, run for more than 2,000 kilometres through the mountains, and a narrow path follows many of them. If you would rather stay in town, Funchal has its market, old town and gardens, and poncha in a small bar in the evening.
Pleasant all year round
Orange means: 18 to 28 °C by day and rain on at most 3 days in 10. For the beach it may be warmer.
January: 15 to 20 °C, rain on 1 day in 10
All months as a table
| Month | Low to high | Rain |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15 – 20 °C | 1 in 10 |
| February | 15 – 20 °C | 1 in 10 |
| March | 15 – 20 °C | 1 in 10 |
| April | 16 – 21 °C | 1 in 10 |
| May | 17 – 23 °C | 0 in 10 |
| June | 19 – 24 °C | 0 in 10 |
| July | 20 – 26 °C | 0 in 10 |
| August | 21 – 27 °C | 0 in 10 |
| September | 21 – 27 °C | 1 in 10 |
| October | 20 – 25 °C | 1 in 10 |
| November | 18 – 23 °C | 2 in 10 |
| December | 17 – 21 °C | 2 in 10 |
Getting there
From Frankfurt about 3 hrs 55 min by schedule. You land in Funchal (FNC), 14 km from the centre.
Where to stay on Madeira?
Well-known places to stay by town and how they are rated, on average out of 10.
- Funchal8.8
327 well-known places to stay
The capital: old town, market and most of the restaurants. Easy without a car.
- Machico8.9
32 well-known places to stay
The island's first settlement, close to the airport, with a sandy bay.
- Santa Cruz8.6
30 well-known places to stay
Right by the airport, handy for the first and the last night.
- Porto Moniz8.5
25 well-known places to stay
In the rugged north-west, known for its natural swimming pools.
- São Vicente8.9
22 well-known places to stay
The green north, with lava caves and a narrow valley.
- Calheta9.0
20 well-known places to stay
The sunny south-west, with a sandy beach and a marina.
- Santana8.9
19 well-known places to stay
In the north, the start of many hikes, known for its triangular houses.
- Ribeira Brava8.9
17 well-known places to stay
On the south coast, between Funchal and the west.
- Ponta do Sol9.0
16 well-known places to stay
Small and relaxed, one of the sunniest places on the island.
- Caniço9.0
16 well-known places to stay
A quiet town in the east with a promenade, a good 15 minutes to Funchal.
The best-known hotels
tripbot shows prices once your days are set.
7.3Dorisol Estrelicia Hotel★★★ · 5,049 reviews
7.9Suite Hotel Jardins Da Ajuda★★★★ · 4,751 reviews
8.7Vila Camacho Guest House★★★★ · 4,672 reviews
8.6Quinta Da Penha De Franca★★★★ · 3,747 reviews
7.7Dorisol Buganvilia Studio Hotel★★★ · 3,545 reviews
7.9Dorisol Mimosa Studio Hotel★★★ · 3,512 reviews
8.6Golden Residence Hotel★★★★ · 3,486 reviews
8.9The Views Baia - Adults Only★★★★ · 3,386 reviews
Worth seeing
Food and drink
Try espetada, beef on a laurel skewer, bolo do caco with garlic butter and the black scabbardfish, often served with banana. With it, poncha, mixed fresh from sugar-cane spirit, honey and lemon.
What travellers ask
It is pleasant to be out all year round: 18 to 28 °C by day and rain on at most 3 days in 10. The warmest month is August at about 27 °C; it rains most often in December.
From Frankfurt about 3 hrs 55 min by schedule. You land in Funchal (FNC), 14 km from the centre.
Most well-known places to stay are in Funchal (327, rated 8.8 out of 10 on average). The best rated are Calheta (9.0), Ponta do Sol (9.0), and Caniço (9.0).
Start with Madeira Island, Pico Ruivo, Pico do Areeiro, Cabo Girão, and CR7 Museum.
Hardly any natural ones. People swim in rock pools such as those in Porto Moniz or from a jetty into the sea; the light sand in Calheta and Machico was brought in. For sand, take the ferry to Porto Santo.
As of October 18, 2026. Climate: usual values from ten years, temperatures mostly from the nearest weather station (NOAA), rain from NASA POWER. Places to stay: tripbot’s hotel catalogue (LiteAPI). Places: Wikidata, OpenStreetMap and Wikivoyage. Text by tripbot’s AI, checked against its sources.
Articles: Wikivoyage: Madeira (de), Wikipedia: Madeira (de), Visit Madeira: Wandern 2026 (en).