A rainy day with kids in Madeira
Indoor and covered things to do with children in Madeira when it rains: museums, the aquarium, play centres, cinemas, bowling and how to find the sun on another coast.
Rain rarely lasts all day. Check the webcams: the south-west is often dry.
First, check the webcams. When it is raining in Funchal, the sunny south-west around Ponta do Sol and Calheta is often dry. If it really is wet everywhere, here are ideas that work for children.
Museums and attractions
- The Whale Museum in Caniçal: life-size whales, interactive exhibits and films. The best rainy-day choice. See Machico and Caniçal.
- The aquarium in Porto Moniz: fish and marine life from Madeiran waters, inside an old fort.
- The CR7 Museum in Funchal: a hit with young football fans. See Cristiano Ronaldo in Madeira.
- Madeira Theme Park in Santana: partly indoor pavilions about the island’s history.
Play and fun
- Indoor play centres in and around Funchal for younger children.
- Escape rooms, laser games and virtual reality venues in Funchal for older kids.
- Bowling, go-karts and arcades, in Funchal and around the island.
- Cinemas in the big shopping centres, Madeira Shopping and Forum Madeira. Children’s films are often dubbed into Portuguese; check for original-language showings.
Covered outings
- The cable car to Monte still runs in light rain, and the Monte Palace garden is magical in the mist.
- The market in Funchal is covered. See the market.
- A rum mill in Porto da Cruz or Calheta, in season.
Avoid on rainy days
Levada walks and mountain roads, which get slippery and can close, and the sea in big waves. See Madeira in the rain and the weather warnings.