What part of Madeira is best?

The Best Areas Where to Stay in Madeira

What is the best area to stay in Funchal? I would recommend staying around the city centre/Old Town area, and the eastern side of the city. Funchal is only a small city, so staying in its heart isn’t like staying in Rome or London, and you will have all the benefits of the city on your doorstep, as well as easy access all over the island.

Then, Is Madeira too touristy? Yes, Madeira is a popular destination and indeed some of the main tourist attractions can get quite busy. But for the biggest part, Madeira is still very quiet and undiscovered. Or at least not visited by the big groups of cruise ship passengersu2026

What is the best time of year to visit Madeira? The best time to go to Madeira may well be the spring. During March, April and May and especially towards the end of the season you’re looking at shorts and T-shirt weather, though there is the risk of heavy rain now and again. The foliage you will pass while walking is especially vivid in spring.

FAQ

How many days do you need in Madeira?

If you can, we would recommend you to stay at least 10 days! If you’re looking for a more relaxing trip, you may want to extend your stay so you can still see all the sights on this Madeira itinerary, while also having some downtime to lounge by the pool.

Do We Need a car in Madeira? Madeira is totally doable without a car, so if like me you don’t drive, you’re going to be pleased with how decent the bus system is for seeing plenty of the island. For the bits that are harder to achieve by bus, there are plenty of minibus private tours, but more on that later…

How long does it take to drive around Madeira Island? It takes approximately 4 hours to drive without stops around Madeira. But note that there are shortcuts and several other main roads on the island to cut your driving time and help reach your point of interest faster.

Which is better Madeira or Azores? Madeira has much more tourism and infrastructure, whereas Azores offer more of a rugged nature experience. The Azores are also more spread out and require flying for traveling between islands. Azores have rainier and slightly cooler weather than Madeira.

Is 4 days enough on Madeira?

It’s a small island, which means spending 4 days in Madeira will give you a feel for what this Portuguese archipelago is all about while allowing you to see more than just the capital city of Funchal.

Is there a ferry from mainland Portugal to Madeira? There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between Madeira Islands and Portugal operated by 1 ferry company – Porto Santo Line. The Funchal to Porto Santo ferry crossing operates weekly with a scheduled sailing duration from about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is Madeira beautiful?

Definitely, Madeira is a beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic, 400km north of Tenerife. Because it’s the top of a shield volcano, which rises 6000 metres from the bottom of the ocean (1865 metres of which is above sea level), this Portuguese outpost has a unique landscape.

What do I need to drive in Madeira? Madeirans drive on the right-hand side of the road, and all cars have the steering column on the left. Seat belts are required at all times. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seats. The speed limit within cities and villages is 40-50 km/h, whereas on motorways it is 90 km/h.

Do I need a car in Funchal?

To Funchal, by car, should be less than an hour. There is public transport to the capital and other towns, but it is not very frequent. Because you are staying in that area, and also because Madeira as so much to offer, good sightseeing all around the island, i do recommend you rent a car.

Do you have to quarantine in Madeira?

There are no restrictions on the entry of travellers at the airports, ports and marinas of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with the only recommendation being the registration on Madeira Safe, available at www.madeirasafe.com.

Which is better Algarve or Madeira? Both the Algarve & Madeira are just as nice but in different ways. As mentioned previously, there are no real beaches in Madeira. If you want to sunbath and relax, I would choose the Algarve as you will have lovely beaches with a better chance of good sun bathing weather.

What is better Madeira or Canary Islands? The Canary Islands are probably a safer bet if your top priority is hot weather but that of course can’t be guaranteed and the weather in Madeira is generally good too. Madeira is much more beautiful though with lots of things to do.

Are there sandy beaches on Madeira?

Madeira is a mountainous volcanic island, that has a wonderful year-round climate, a lush interior, bags of Portuguese charm, but unfortunately no natural sandy beaches.

Is Funchal worth visiting? The answer is yes, Funchal is the vibrant capital of Madeira with several historic monuments, an abundance of colorful and exotic flora is apparent in the parks and gardens, amazing viewpoints, and its nearby beaches and swimming pools.

What clothes to wear in Madeira in April?

What to Wear in Madeira

• Throughout Madeira dress is casual.
• Shorts, t-shirts and camisoles are perfectly acceptable; team with a sunhat, sunglasses and beach bag for a perfect daytime look.
• Jeans are very popular everywhere but in the hottest months may be too uncomfortable; opt instead for lightweight natural fabrics.

How long do you need to visit Funchal? I think 3 days is ideal for a first trip and second everything said in post 4 above. If you stayed in Funchal you could do maybe a day’s walking, a half day whale-watching, a half day of museums and a day’s bus tour. If you like it you can always come back some day! 6.

How much does the ferry cost from Portugal to Madeira?

Ferry to Madeira – ticket prices

Prices of tickets for tourists and non-residents are unfortunately not as attractive: 85 euro per adult, 42.50 per child between 4 and 11 years- old. Children under 4 travel free of charge. A two-person cabin costs 187.05 euro/person, and a four-person cabin 124.80 euro/person.

Can you go to Madeira by boat? Getting to Madeira by boat

The major port is Funchal, now almost exclusively used by cruise ships and pleasure craft. It used to be the main container port for the Island, but a modern commercial port has been built in Caniçal especially for commercial traffic.

Can you take a boat to Madeira?

There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between Madeira Islands and Portugal operated by 1 ferry company – Porto Santo Line. The Funchal to Porto Santo ferry crossing operates weekly with a scheduled sailing duration from about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is Funchal pretty? Scenically it is incredibly beautiful and wild. Yes it is Portuguese but there is a flavour of something more tropical and exotic as well.

Can you drive around Madeira in a day?

Since Madeira is such a small island, you can get around the island in a day. That’s the reason why most of the tourists stay in Funchal and do day trips from there.

Is there a ferry from Portugal to Madeira? There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between Madeira Islands and Portugal operated by 1 ferry company – Porto Santo Line. The Funchal to Porto Santo ferry crossing operates weekly with a scheduled sailing duration from about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Are there any toll roads in Madeira? Hiring a car for our holiday in Madeira, are there an road charges just like in France. No there aren’t.