How many days in Madeira? Itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days
How long to stay in Madeira and how to split your days between Funchal, the levadas, the north coast and the west, with ready-made plans for short and longer trips.
Madeira is small on the map, about 57 km from east to west, but the mountains make it feel much bigger. Roads climb and twist, and the best walks take half a day or more. Here is how much you can realistically see.
How long to stay
- 3 days: Funchal and one or two highlights. Good for a long weekend or a cruise-plus-stay.
- 5 days: Funchal, a mountain walk, the north coast and the west. You will see the main sights without rushing.
- 7 days: the classic first trip. Time for two or three levada walks, a day at the sea and a rest day for bad weather.
- 10 days or more: add Porto Santo, quieter walks, whale watching and lazy days in a village.
Plan one day without a fixed programme. Weather in the mountains changes quickly, and it is better to move a walk than to do it in fog.
Where to base yourself
A car makes everything easier. With one, a single base works well: Funchal or Caniço in the south-east, or Calheta and Ponta do Sol in the sunny south-west. Without a car, stay in Funchal, where buses and tours start. Our where to stay guide compares the areas.
Madeira in 3 days
Day 1: Funchal. Walk the old town and its painted doors, visit the Mercado dos Lavradores in the morning, take the cable car up to Monte and ride the toboggan back down. Dinner in the Zona Velha.
Day 2: Mountains and the north. Drive or join a tour to Pico do Arieiro for the views, continue to Ribeiro Frio and walk the short Levada dos Balcões, then on to Santana and back along the north-east coast.
Day 3: The west. Stop at the Cabo Girão skywalk, drive to Porto Moniz for the natural pools and come back over the Paul da Serra plateau, with a stop at Fanal if it is foggy and atmospheric.
Madeira in 5 days
Days 1 to 3 as above, then:
Day 4: A big levada. Choose the 25 Fontes and Risco walk from Rabaçal or Caldeirão Verde from Queimadas. Book your slot in advance, as all classified trails now need a booking and a fee.
Day 5: The east. Morning walk on the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, lunch in Machico or Caniçal, then a swim at Prainha or the Reis Magos seafront.
Madeira in 7 days
Days 1 to 5 as above, then:
Day 6: Sea and village. A whale and dolphin trip from Funchal or Calheta in the morning, an afternoon in Câmara de Lobos, and poncha at sunset.
Day 7: Your choice. Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo if you are fit and the weather is clear, visit Curral das Freiras, or spend a slow day in Funchal’s gardens.
With 10 days or more
Add two or three nights on Porto Santo for its long golden beach, a boat trip to the Desertas Islands, and some of the quieter walks of the west and north. Our levada walks guide lists the best ones by difficulty.