17 BEST Things to do in Madeira Island, Portugal

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Are you visiting the gorgeous island of Madeira in Portugal for the very first time? Well then, keep this experience-based list of the best things to do in Madeira Island, Portugal handy for your trip.

During my trip to Madeira, earlier this year, I fell totally and completely in love with this cute island. I wasn’t expecting it, but it was truly love at first sight. Right from my window seat in the plane – as soon as I flew into Madeira, and gawked at the stunning blue-green waters and tree-clad mountains.

After checking into our comfortable Airbnb, I immediately headed off to start exploring the island.

Here’s my take on the Best Things to do on Madeira Island

Madeira Island is simply breathtaking. You would not want to sit in your room at all and keep exploring the island. There’s so much to see and do in Madeira that it is surely overwhelming for a first time visitor.

Here are some must do Madeira activities and top attractions on the island –

Try the Toboggan Ride

How does sliding off a hill in a wicker basket sound to you? Of course escorted by handsome runners called “Carreiros“? It gets better and better now doesn’t it?

This century old Madeira attraction drives tourists in hoards as they queue up for the famous downhill sled ride from Monte to Funchal. It is surely a must add to your Madeira itinerary – no matter your age, travel style or inclination. It is a fun , safe ride for everyone who wants to try it.

My friend and I had a blast whilst at it. The only drawback is that the queues can be long and the rides can be super slow on rush days (which is all days from what I hear). Fret not though the lines move fast and our Carreiros were very efficient.

Enjoy an evening out at Purple Fridays

Purple Fridays is a dance party hosted every Friday in the beautiful rooftop of Estalagem da Ponta do Sol hotel. It is THE best party in town for expats, visitors and locals – hands down.

Tickets are limited and sell out fast so booking in advance is highly recommended, especially if you are like us and only have one Friday in town. I had to play my “DJ card” to get myself and my friends in on this sold out event.

The views from the hotel rooftop are absolutely magnificent, and just for the setting, this made it to top of my list of things to do in Madeira with friends.

Visit the Mystical Fanal Forest

Want to visit a magical forest full of laurel trees looming in the mist? This is the famous Fanal forest of Madeira Island for you.

This UNESCO world heritage site of Portugal is a definite addition to any Madeira trip. It is best witnessed in fog and we were lucky to get lots of mist on the day we visited.

The whole forest looked like it has popped out of a fairytale and the frog pond with hundreds of croaking frogs was a delight to watch.

You can wander around the forest , play with the cows, take tons of photos and more. There are so many things do in Fanal forest of Madeira itself that you can easily spend one full day exploring its mystical depths.

Hike Vereda do Areeiro

Hiking PR1 Vereda do Areeiro was surely one of the highlights of my Madeira trip.

Considered as one of the most stunning hikes of Madeira, this was our first (and only) proper hike on the island – even though Madeira is flcoked with tons of amazing treks.

With breathtaking views and a awe-inspiring landscape, my friends and I, were often found gaping at the scenery.

Good hiking boots and waterproof layers are a must for this hike. It can get windy or even rain so a waterproof cover with a thermal layer is ideal.

We spotted several red-legged partridges enroute and almost all along the “Stairway to heaven” bits of the hike. These cuties kept us utterly entertained throughout.

Tip – You would want to document every part of this gorgeous hike. I even made a ton of Insta stories and shared my adventures from this stunning hike. I always add subtitles to video to ensure my audience can understand my accent and enjoy the useful information shared in the snippets.

Take a Refreshing Dip at Piscinas Naturais do Seixal

Taking a dip in one of the many natural pools in Madeira is one of the most popular things to do on Madeira Island for families, group of friends or even couples and solo travelers.

This is surely the top attraction in Madeira – though there are plenty to keep you occupied for a good 2 weeks. If you go out exploring just natural pools there are a few popular and off beat options in the village of Seixal and Porto Moniz.

From our research, we knew that Seixal is quieter, so we headed there.

We went on a windy cool day so taking a dip seemed out of the question. However, once I saw my friends get in and few others, I gathered the courage to take a dip. Of course, after a while, I didn’t want to come out of the water.

It was super refreshing to take a dip, followed by a hearty meal in the cafe.

With massive cliffs offering picture perfect backdrops, these pools are ideal for a nice swim. Be careful of the rocks or wear underwater slippers while going in.

Taste the Local Cuisine

When in Madeira, taste the local cuisine. Madeira is known for exotic tropical foods, the famous local bread ‘bolo do caco‘ and fried maize, alongside meat and seafood galore.

Take a Quiet Walk around the Gardens in Funchal

Funchal is beautiful and taking a walk in one of the gardens is just what the doctor ordered.

With cafes, ducks in the pond, mountains as the backdrop and beautiful flora and fauna, this garden walk was a great start to the day for us. With so many cool things to do in Funchal, we decided to make it our base for our Madeira adventures.

Gawk at the Painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria

Street art in Rua De Santa Maria in Funchal was absolutely captivating. I could not stop taking photos at every nook and corner. Lovely for a walk and a nice brunch on a sunny day.

Visit the Pebble Beach in Funchal

Pebble and black rock beach in Funchal city center with the lighthouse was the only beach we visited in Madeira. Personally, I prefer white sand beaches and somewhere more private and quiet. So this was not my favorite beach by far.

However, it is worth a visit for an hour.

Check out the Farmers’ Market

Farmers market in Madeira was full of organic fruits and souvenirs.

We bought some gifts and the unique (And popular) ‘Banana-pineapple’ fruit of Madeira from the Monstera deliciosa plant.

Enjoy Forest Walks at Ribeiro Frio

Forest walks and birding trails in Ribeiro Frio are top things to do in Madeira for nature lovers.

This lovely forest with a waterfall makes for a nice canopy for birding and an easy hike.

Have a drink with the Locals

Madeiran locals are friendly kind and helpful. We met quite a few people who were amazing to talk to and we even had a drink or two with a few.

This always helps us understand the culture, the place and the people better.

Sip Cocktails at Revolucion Cocktail Bar

Revelucion turned out to be one of our favorite hangouts in Madeira. I stumbled upon it after reading several google reviews and turns out I hit the jackpot.

I mean, after spending days finding the best bars in different cities like Prague, Bandung, Cartagena, Lisbon and more, I kind of awareded myself the “barspert” tag – and rightly so.

Even my friends were impressed by my skills as it seems I truly found the best cocktail bar in Madeira.

Revolucion is owned by a lovely couple and the lady makes magic cocktails – which are out of this world.

Drive the scenic route around Serra de Agua

Madeira is full of scenic driving routes and the one with views of Serra de Agua is just iconic.

We spent half a day just driving around to witness the magical landscapes of Madeira.

Take a photo at the Famous Swing of Ribeira da Janela

One of my friends who stays in Madeira, told me about this “Instagrammable swing” over Ribeira Da Janela since it happened to be on our way. We made a quick stop, took some photos, enjoyed some mountain air and were back on the road.

Watch a Traditional Dance

In the Funchal city center you can often catch a traditional dance and even join in the fun.

Walk around Old Town (Funchal’s Historic Center)

One of my favorite things do in Funchal was walking around the historic center aka Old Town.

With so many lovely cafes, restaurants and quirky street art, it is easy to spend several hours just walking around and taking photos. This is exactly what I did in the Funchal old town and would recommend everyone to take a quick stop on your Funchal trip.

So this was my list of 17 amazing things to do in Madeira Island in Portugal. Add them to your Madeira itineray and if you have more time, you can try more hikes and natural pools.

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Jo has been putting pen to paper from an early age when she started her "Dear Diary" and letters to her pen friends across the globe.
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.