How to Spend Five Days on Madeira, Portugal
Nicknamed “The Island of Eternal Spring,” Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal that’s situated northwest of Africa, is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen! Often referred to as the Hawaii of Europe, the island’s jaw-dropping mountains, waterfalls, beaches, endless flowers, and striking ocean views make it the ideal destination for travelers who are seeking spectacular views around every corner.
As a hotel lover, I initially discovered Madeira through the Belmond property, Reid’s Palace. We have stayed at two other Belmond hotels (during our trips to Mallorca and Ravello) and they’ve been some of our favorite stays to date! Social media reinforced the beauty of Madeira when both my husband and I began getting served TikTok video after TikTok video featuring the island and its diverse array of offerings. I’m so glad we were persuaded to book a June trip to Madeira because after a five-day visit, it’s quickly become one of our favorite destinations.
Built over 130 years ago, Reid’s Palace has long been a favorite vacation retreat of tourists and royalty alike. Set on a cliff overlooking the capital city of Funchal, the hotel is rich with history and provides the perfect home base for your adventures on Madeira. The pool and cliffside relaxation area is absolutely stunning and we loved soaking up sunny island days overlooking the ocean.
We also enjoyed the hotel’s daily afternoon tea served on its balcony. Finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries can be enjoyed while overlooking the city and ocean, sounds of a live piano player lingering in the background. We joked that Madeira is the perfect destination for a “luxury adventure enthusiast”. With top-notch accommodations like Reid’s Palace or the nearby Savoy Palace, and all of the hiking, swimming, biking, and curvy drives around the island, it’s the perfect vacation for someone who likes to embrace the amenities of a five-star hotel but still go outside, get dirty, and explore!
Renting a car on Madeira is a must if you plan to experience all that the island has to offer. We chose MadeiraRent and did pick-up/drop-off conveniently at the airport. I’d recommend opting for an automatic transmission as the roads are very steep! From Funchal, most areas of the island can be reached in 45 minutes to 1 hour, and they all offer something unique. You’ll encounter roadside waterfalls, winding oceanside roads, charming towns, tunnel after tunnel, and lush mountains. Not to mention…every type of weather! In true island form, the weather on Madeira was rarely what was forecasted and changed dramatically throughout the day or even by part of the island. We found the northwest area of the island to be the sunniest during our stay, but overall, the weather was very fickle! Bring layers and expect the unexpected!
We loved stopping by the municipality of São Vicente. This small town was so peaceful and had the most unbelievable backdrop of a mountain behind it. Santana was another town that was recommended, but we ran out of time to visit. It boosts colorful gingerbread-like cottages and would be a fun backdrop for photos.
We also enjoyed the drive to Seixal Beach. This afforded us so many amazing vistas and we kept pulling over at every new turn to take photos! This is a black sand beach with a small waterfall next to it. We saw many sunbathers and paddle boarders enjoying a summer day at the beach, but be forewarned, parking is limited!
Hiking or walking is a must when visiting the island. There are so many trails to choose from, all at varying difficulty levels, that you’ll be sure to find one that suits you. Driving up to Pico de Areeiro for sunrise or an afternoon hike is highly recommended, but you should make sure to check the webcam of the peak before you make the trek as it may be completely fogged over. Unfortunately, this happened to us on the day we ventured there but within hours of leaving, we saw on the webcam that it had completely cleared! Like I said, the weather likes to play tricks on this island! Nonetheless, we loved the sunny drive up to the area and could not get over how gorgeous the mountains covered in broom, a bright yellow flowering shrub, and Madeira pride, the island flower, were along the way.
We also loved the waterfall steps, small waterfall, and easy scenic walk in Riberio Frio. You can park nearby and a little path will take you up to see the falls. It’s not a strenuous hike and is ideal for someone who wants to be in nature and not break a big sweat.
Monte Palace and its botanical garden were another favorite. After all of our drives, hikes, and exploring, we were short on time so we only stopped by for a short visit, but the gardens were incredibly beautiful and serene.
My suggestion would be to take the cable car up from the marina area in Funchal, enjoy the ride and views, visit Monte Palace, and then take the daring but quintessential Madeira toboggan ride back down. We didn’t partake in this tradition but loved watching visitors have a thrill as they slid down the hills of Funchal with two “drivers” steering them through the streets!
Almost every time we travel, we try to book a boat for a day or evening on the water. We love seeing new locales from the sea, as it provides a totally unique perspective. We booked a sunset sail during our trip to Madeira and while the clouds weren’t on our side for most of the day, they ended up uncovering the sun for the final moments of the sail! We enjoyed getting to know our captain, Paolo, who grew up on Madeira. He was able to share so many interesting facts about the island! I also tried vinho verde, Portuguese “green” wine, for the first time!
The culinary scene on Madeira is thriving and we visited a mix of traditional restaurants serving up local cuisine like limpets (snails), bola do caco (flatbread), espetada (beef skewers), and poncha (the island’s signature boozy blend of aguardente de cana, which is distilled alcohol made from sugar cane juice, honey, sugar, and either orange or lemon juice) as well as more foodie-focused establishments that pride themselves on offering a gastronomic experience.
Based on where we ate, I’d most recommend Casal da Penha, a family-owned eatery offering a lovely terrace to enjoy a menu of traditional island favorites. We tried limpets, which are sea snails dressed in an herb, garlic, and olive oil mixture!
I would also recommend Desarma, one of three Michelin-starred restaurants on Madeira. Desarma was just awarded its one-star in the spring of 2024, so we were very excited to experience it. The views overlooking Funchal and the ocean were outstanding, as were the nine-courses and wine pairings!
For cocktails with a view, don’t miss the terrace at Avista. Abundant palms, fire pits, and comfortable outdoor couches offer an inviting spot to enjoy a craft cocktail with sweeping ocean views. Come for sunset and pray that Mother Nature will grant you an epic golden hour!
We also enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails on the terrace of Reid’s Palace. Whether you stay at Reid’s or only come for a visit, don’t miss a stroll through its gardens. Beautiful florals and greenery abound with pathways leading to lookout points with sweeping ocean views.
Madeira is still somewhat of an under-the-radar destination for U.S. travelers and I’m so glad we decided to book a trip to experience all that it has to offer! We will be back.
The A-Lyst is a Boston-based lifestyle blog curating the very best of style, beauty, food, and travel.
