Madeira
Madeira suits families who want outdoor days, boat trips and time around Funchal, with a pool at the accommodation as a useful backup.
- Best forFamilies · Walkers & hikers · Wildlife & nature
- In May22°C · 7 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~11h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguagePortuguese
- Local time09:29same time as the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+351
Why go
Madeira rises steeply from the Atlantic in tiers of terraced farmland, laurel forest and volcanic peaks, so compact that you can breakfast by the sea and be walking through cloud forest by lunch. Funchal, the capital, spreads across a natural amphitheatre of hillside, its harbour full of yachts and its markets stacked with tropical fruit. Sandy beaches include Calheta, Machico and Seixal, alongside waterfalls, viewpoints and a mild climate; each beach has its own access and sea conditions.
It suits a week rather than a long weekend, since distances between sights are short but the roads wind constantly. Base in or near Funchal for restaurants, markets and the cable car, then hire a car for a few days to reach the north coast and the levada walks. Spring brings wildflowers, autumn is quiet, and midsummer is busiest without ever feeling overrun. Travellers wanting long flat beach days should look elsewhere.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Green, terraced, gently adventurous
From our guides
It does have sandy beaches: Calheta and Machico have imported sand, while Seixal has natural black sand. These beaches have different sea conditions, so choose the actual bay as carefully as the hotel. Levada routes also vary greatly in exposure and difficulty; select a suitable walk and check current trail status before taking children. Madeira's official sandy-beach guide helps you compare the options.
Featured in Ten family holiday destinations in Europe, from toddlers to teens
Things to do
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Funchal's Zona Velha
The old town's narrow streets are lined with painted door panels by local artists, and fill with outdoor restaurant tables once the evening cools.
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Monte cable car
A ten-minute ride above Funchal's rooftops to the hillside village of Monte, with sweeping views back down over the bay.
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Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's covered market is stacked with passion fruit, custard apples and orchids, with a fish hall downstairs where black scabbardfish is the local catch.
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Pico do Arieiro
One of Madeira's highest points, often above the cloud line, with a short but exposed ridge walk towards Pico Ruivo for the sure-footed.
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Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Terraced gardens above Funchal mix Japanese koi ponds, azulejo tile panels and dense subtropical planting across a steep hillside.
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Câmara de Lobos
A small fishing village of brightly coloured boats a short drive from Funchal, known for grilled espetada skewers and cliffside views.
Getting there
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Fly to
Funchal (FNC)
Nearest airport to Madeira, about 20km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Funchal
About 25 to 30 minutes by taxi, transfer or hire car west along the coast motorway from Funchal airport (FNC).
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On the ground
Getting around
Funchal itself is walkable if steep, with a cable car up to Monte for the toboggan run; Porto Moniz and the north coast are a drive or a coach excursion away.
Public transport: Decent by island standards: town buses in Funchal and regional services to most villages, but journeys are slow and timetables thin at weekends.
Flights
Los Angeles Madeira, Portugal
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Roughly 11h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 18°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest in July and August; wettest in October, with rain on about 13 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May22° · rain 7 daysMild with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2015–2024 at Funchal (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — July and August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Big pool-and-terrace hotels around Funchal, aparthotels for families, plus quintas and rural houses inland. Beach resorts in the Canaries sense do not exist here.
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Best base overall
Funchal seafront and Lido
The Lido and Sao Martinho strip has the hotels with pools, sea platforms and lifts down to the water, plus buses everywhere. It is a hotel district rather than an old town, so evenings are resort-flavoured.
Find stays in Funchal seafront and Lido -
Best for couples
Funchal Zona Velha
The old town's painted doors, cable car and market are on your doorstep, with the best restaurants a short walk away. Streets are steep and cobbled, and the noise carries on weekend nights.
Find stays in Funchal Zona Velha -
Best value
Canico de Baixo
Fifteen minutes east of Funchal, with family-sized apartments, a sheltered swimming platform and lower prices. You will rely on buses or a car for museums and the toboggan run.
Find stays in Canico de Baixo -
Quietest
Calheta
The west coast's imported-sand beach makes this the closest Madeira gets to a bucket-and-spade base, with reliable sunshine. It is around forty minutes from Funchal on the motorway.
Find stays in Calheta
Worth knowing before you book: Christmas and New Year sell out a year ahead for the fireworks, with long minimum stays, and the Flower Festival in spring tightens the city considerably.
Search everything else in Funchal by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Funchal airport has a short runway on a cliffside platform; flights can be delayed or diverted to Porto Santo in strong crosswinds.
- With kids
- There are few sandy beaches, so families base themselves near the lava pools at Porto Moniz or Doca do Cavacas for safe swimming.
- Driving
- Roads are steep, narrow and full of switchbacks; an automatic hire car and a head for hairpin bends make the driving far less stressful.
- Pack this
- Weather changes quickly between coast and mountain, so bring layers even in summer, especially for anything above 1,000 metres.
- Timing
- December's flower festival and New Year fireworks over Funchal harbour are worth planning a trip around if dates allow.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Madeira's levada walks
Portugal · 13km away →
Tenerife
Canary Islands · 497km away →
Siam Park
Tenerife, Canary Islands · 521km away →
Playa Blanca
Lanzarote, Canary Islands · 527km away →
Fuerteventura
Canary Islands · 561km away →
Taghazout
Morocco · 732km away →Elsewhere in Portugal
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Madeira?
For warm, mostly dry days, July and August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 18°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest in July and August; wettest in October, with rain on about 13 days.
How long should I spend in Madeira?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Madeira?
About 25 to 30 minutes by taxi, transfer or hire car west along the coast motorway from Funchal airport (FNC).
Do I need a car in Madeira?
No. Decent by island standards: town buses in Funchal and regional services to most villages, but journeys are slow and timetables thin at weekends.
What currency and language are used in Madeira?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Portuguese. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Madeira best for?
Best for families, walkers & hikers and wildlife & nature. In a phrase: green, terraced, gently adventurous.