Madeira is one of Europe's jewels, offering travelers a tropical getaway on a verdant island full of magic. If you're planning a trip to the island of flowers, here's the perfect itinerary for visiting Madeira in 7 days and discovering all the treasures and must-do's on this Portuguese island. We've also answered all the most frequently asked questions about organizing a unique Madeira tour.

Madeira tour: 7 days to visit the island of flowers

Madeira one-week tour: complete guide

Madeira is one of those still untouched destinations in Europe where local culture and omnipresent nature blend. If you'd like to organize a Madeira tour that allows you to visit the island in 7 days, we've created a one-week Madeira tour for you to take full advantage of the island's must-sees. Visiting Madeira in 7 days is more than enough time to enjoy the island's main attractions and return home with unforgettable memories.

Day 1 in Madeira: explore Funchal

Driving time: 25 minutes from the airport

the botanical garden in Funchal 1st stop Madeira tour
On arrival at Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo airport, you have 2 options for getting to Funchal, the first stop on your Madeira tour. You can take public transport with bus 103, which runs directly to the city center, or rent a car. We strongly advise you to rent a car so you can move easily from one point of the island to another.

Once you've arrived in Funchal, Madeira's capital, you'll be able to soak up the vibrant culture amidst the omnipresent nature. Among the things to do on this first day of your Madeira tour, we recommend starting with the Mercado dos Lavadores. This vibrant market is famous on the island. You can enjoy stalls selling exotic fruits and flowers, as well as local dishes that will delight your taste buds.

Once you've had your lunch in the heart of the market, head for the Funchal cable car, to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the blue ocean. After enjoying this extraordinary landscape, head for the botanical garden. With over 2,000 exotic plants from every continent, you can stroll through lush gardens and refresh yourself away from the hustle and bustle of central Funchal.

If you still want to enjoy the city before returning to your hotel, head for the Palais de São Lourenço. During your visit, you'll learn a little more about the island's heritage, perfect for history and culture buffs. Once you've finished your tour and freshened up at your hotel, head for the historic center of Funchal. Stroll through Funchal's cobbled streets, between restaurants, bars and artisanal stores to enjoy your first evening on the island.

Must-sees in Funchal on your trip to Madeira

If you don't want to miss a thing and enjoy the best things to do in Funchal, we highly recommend adding the following must-do activities in Madeira to your list:

  • Pick up a cable car and visit the Botanical Garden: enjoy breathtaking views and a colorful oasis.
  • Take a "sledge" wicker basket down from Monte: this unusual activity to do in Funchal promises plenty of laughs. From the Monte area, sit in a rolling sledge made from wicker and ride down the hill to the old town.
  • Watch whales and dolphins: Madeira lies in the path of many marine mammals. On a boat tour, you can admire these magnificent cetaceans playing with the ocean waves.

Where to sleep in Funchal, Madeira?

On your first night in Madeira, we recommend booking a hotel close to Funchal so you can take full advantage of this colorful city. Altough we have quite a few favorite Maderia hotels, we recommend you book one of the following for your first stop on this Madeira tour:

  • Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel ( 4star): about a 5-minute drive from Funchal city center, this ocean-view resort is the perfect home base to start your Madeira visit.
  • Sé Boutique Hotel (4 stars): right in the heart of Funchal, this small boutique hotel with colorful decor is perfect if you want as much of the hustle and bustle of the island capital's downtown as possible.

Day 2 in Madeira: discover the desert beaches of São Lourenço

Driving time: 40-minute drive from Funcha
circuit madère les plages de São Lourenço
Once you've packed your bags, take a gentle drive to São Lourenço, about a 40-minute drive from the capital. At the extreme west of the island, you can discover the 5.5 mile long hike at Pointe de Saint-Laurent. This peninsula has a very different climate from the rest of the island, and you'll discover desert beaches and other breathtaking landscapes. This area is particularly popular with tourists, so we recommend setting off in the early hours of the morning to get the most out of the place. Once your hike is over, you can enjoy a little idleness on the beach of Prainha do Caniçal. Boat departures for dolphin-watching are also available.

Where to sleep at Punto de Sao Lourenço in Madeira?

If you decide to stay close to Punto de Sao Lourenço for the night, we recommend booking the Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina hotel, which is a real gem on the island. This 5-star hotel in Machico features large, naturally decorated rooms with ocean or garden views. The establishment also boasts a spa, swimming pool, restaurant and other top-of-the-range facilities. You'll also be ideally located for exploring the bustling center of this small town on the west side of the island.

Day 3 in Madeira: hiking in the Levadas

Driving time: 40-minute drive from São Lourenço.
hiking in the Levadas on a Madeira tour
For the third leg of your week-long Madeira tour, head for the north of the island near Santana and Sao Jorge. You can enjoy your first nature activity on a hike along the PR18 Levada do Rei trail, one of the most beautiful hikes on the island. Levadas are irrigation canals that criss-cross Madeira Island and are real tourist attractions in their own right. This 5.5 mile round-trip hike is relatively easy and perfectly maintained. You'll hike through the heart of the forest laurissilva and along the ruisseau Bonito. At the end of the route, you'll be able to admire the source of the stream's water flowing down a wall over 100 meters high. We advise you to set off relatively early so you can enjoy the hike without rushing.

If you'd like more details on this hike, feel free to consult the route details and the hike map before you set off.

What are the best Levadas hikes in Madeira?

The PR18 Levada do Rei hike is among our favorite hikes to do on the island during a 7-day Madeira tour, but there are also other hikes that surround the levadas and offer scenic views of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. If you'd like to do another hike on your third day visiting Madeira, we recommend the following hikes:

  • LEVADA DAS 25 FONTES (PR6) (5.3 mile round trip - departure from Rabaçal): one of the most scenic hikes on the island, where you can admire water springs and cascades amid lush vegetation.
  • LEVADA DOS CEDROS (PR14) (4.5 mile one way - departure Fanal arrival Curral Falso): hike through one of the island's oldest forests and along the oldest irrigation canals built on the island.
  • LEVADA DO MOINHO (PR7) (6.5 mile one way - departure Ribeira da Cruz arrival Junqueira): less well known by tourists, this hiking trail crosses a wild and mystical forest.

Where to sleep near the Levada do Rei trail in Madeira?

if you decide to head to the north of the island to discover the Levada do Rei trail, we recommend booking a hotel in the towns of Sanatana or Sao Jorge. Among our favorite hotels in this part of the island, we recommend booking a room at the following:

  • Hotel Quinta Do Furao - Santana ( 4-star): this value-for-money hotel is ideally located for the hiking trail. It also features a restaurant with a terrace and ocean view for a perfect sunset dinner.
  • O Colmo ( 3 stars): in the heart of Santana, O Colmo is a hotel with typical island charm. The staff are friendly and you'll be just a few minutes' drive from the start of the hike.

Day 4 in Madeira: climb the island's peaks

Driving time: 50-minute drive from Santana
Hiking an island peak on a Madeira tour
On your third day visiting Madeira, take to the road to reach the island's most beautiful peaks. Our favorite peak on the island is the Pico do Areeiro also nicknamed the Steps to Paradise. The 3rd highest point on the island (at around 5,965 ft above sea level), this peak offers a breathtaking view of the Madeiran mountain range. It's also one of the island's most easily accessible peaks, and its spectacular view (at sunrise and sunset) attracts many photographers every year to capture the magical moment when the gates of paradise open at the top of the Pico do Areeiro steps. It takes around 3 hours to reach the summit. We recommend setting off early in the morning to be able to make other visits during the day and also to enjoy the view without too many tourists.

What other peaks to visit on a week-long Madeira tour?

Madeira is an incredible island if you want to enjoy nature and iconic hiking trails. If you want to make the most of the island's peaks, we recommend organizing a hike to one of the following summits:

  • Pico Ruivo: Madeira's highest peak (6,105 ft), this summit offers breathtaking views of the island and neighboring peaks. For the more adventurous it's possible to combine its ascent with that of Pico do Areeiro for twice the magic.
  • Pico das Torres: Madeira's 2nd highest peak (6,072 ft), the landscape during your ascent will be volcanic. The ascent and descent is around 7.5 miles and offers magnificent views of the mountains blending with the clouds

Day 5 in Madeira: swim in the natural pools of Porto Moniz

Driving time: 1 hour's drive from Santana
Natural swimming pool on a Madeira 1 week tour
On day 5 of your Madeira tour, leave the hiking behind and explore Madeira's magnificent natural pools carved out of lava. This stage of your Madeira tour is perfect for relaxing and refreshing after 4 days exploring the island's heights. There are two types of natural pools: the free and wild natural pools, where the sea mingles with volcanic rocks creating natural pools to swim in, and managed pools, more suitable for families with facilities such as changing rooms, paid access and lifeguards for safe swimming. Each offers a unique swimming experience in crystal-clear waters surrounded by impressive volcanic landscapes.

So you can enjoy a lazy day taking in the beauty of these natural pools and the sunshine to fill up on vitamin D.

Where to stay in Porto Moniz on your trip to Madeira?

If you decide to stop for a day in Porto Moniz during your Madeira tour, we recommend booking a night in one of the following hotels:

  • Aqua Natura Bay (4 stars): just 5 minutes from the natural pools, the Aqua Natura Bay hotel is perfect if you want to be close to the city's attractions while enjoying the peace and serenity of a fully-equipped hotel.
  • Aqua Natura Madeira Hotel (4 stars): a 2-minute drive from the natural pools and 8 from Laje beach, this small 25-room hotel is perfect if you want a budget night's stay while being close to the attractions.

Day 6 in Madeira: discover the village of Curral das Freiras in the heart of the mountains

Driving time: 1 hour's drive from Porto Moniz
the village Curral das Freiras to visit in Madeira
On your sixth day visiting Madeira, you'll head back into the island's mountains to Curral das Freiras, a village perched high above the sea. One of the must-do activities in Curral das Freiras is undoubtedly a visit to the surrounding viewpoints. The Belvedere d'Eira do Serrado, perched at an altitude of 3,592 meters, offers a breathtaking view of the village and its verdant surroundings. For the adventurous, you can combine a visit to this typical Madeiran village with a hike along one of the nearby levada trails we mentioned earlier in the tour. In particular, you'll be able to enjoy exceptional viewpoints such as Boca da Corrida and Boca dos Namorados.

Once you've finished exploring, you can take the road to Funchal, which is about a 30-minute drive from the village of Curral das Freiras .

Day 7 in Madeira: Return to Funchal and relax

Funchal to visit in Madeira in 7 days
On your last day in Funchal before flying back to France, take advantage of this day to do the things you didn't necessarily have time to do on your first day. Whether it's a boat trip to admire the whales, a buggy session in the island's wilderness or take advantage of other natural pools like the one at Doca do Cavacas just a 13-minute drive from Funchal city center. This final day marks the end of your week-long Madeira tour, so make the most of it to fill up on sunshine and unforgettable experiences before your return home.

Visit Madeira in 7 days: our answers to all your questions

The must-see island coast to visit Madeira in 7 days
Organizing a Madeira tour on your own can be tricky because you don't necessarily know where to start. To help you create the perfect Madeira tour, we've compiled all the most frequently asked questions about this Portuguese island in this section. You'll find all the answers from our experts specializing in travel and unforgettable experiences.

How long will it take to visit Madeira?

To enjoy all the magic and beauty of Madeira Island, we advise you to plan a vacation lasting between 7 and 10 days. This interval is perfect for exploring both the capital, Funchal, but also enjoying the island's wide choice of hiking, lush nature and sumptuous beaches. Some guidebooks even go so far as to recommend 10 to 15 days for deeper immersion. This is especially recommended for hiking fans who want to be able to enjoy the incredible trails the island has to offer, while also enjoying a few lazy days on the beach once the exploration is over.

What's the most beautiful part of Madeira?

It's hard to choose which part of the island is to be favored, since Madeira has varied landscapes each more beautiful than the next. That's why a Madeira tour-type trip is the best way to enjoy the whole island. For nature lovers, the north-west of the island is the area to focus on, with its lush forests and wilderness hiking trails. The west coast is ideal for enjoying beautiful beaches and natural pools such as those at Porto Moniz. Finally, the south of the island is perfect if you want to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the island's capital while still being able to easily access all of the island's attractions.

When is the best time to visit Madeira?

One of Madeira's nicknames is the island of eternal spring, which is easily explained by its mild, sunny temperatures present all year round. The months of March to October are recommended to take advantage of the island's maximum sunshine and mild temperatures. The best time to visit the island, however, is in spring.

To give you a better idea of the temperatures on the island when planning a Madeira tour, here's a table summarizing the monthly averages recorded on the island:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July. August Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Temperature 66° 64° 64° 66° 68° 70° 74° 75° 75° 74° 72° 68°

How to get to Madeira

If you want to visit Madeira for 7 days, you'll need to take a plane to reach the island on the Atlantic Ocean. The best cities to fly into would be Lisbon or Porto, then you'll take a second flight to Madeira Christiano Ronaldo airport near Funchal. The estimated flight from Lisbon to Maderia is about 2 hours. In terms of trans atlantic travel time, here are some major US airports and approximate flight times to travel from:

  • New York to Lisbon: 6h45 direct
  • Atlanta to Lisbon: 9h45 direct
  • Los Angeles to Lisbon: 12h30 direct

Gift your loved ones a memorable trip to Madeira Island

If one of your loved ones is an unconditional lover of vibrant nature and hiking, Madeira is surely among his or her favorite destinations to visit. If you'd like to help them realize one of their most treasured dreams, why not offer them an undated plane ticket so they can book their flight to the island of flowers on the dates that suit them best. This way, they have the freedom to book their trip and will be thinking of you while enjoying the spectacular views of Maderia!

You now have the perfect itinerary to organize your own week-long Madeira tour. If you'd like more information or other travel ideas for organizing a trip to Madeira or any other region of Portugal, please feel free to consult our travel guides :