Hello,
My family (myself, my husband and our 8 year old son) will be visiting Madeira in July for 2-3 days for a short stop before we leave on a cruise from Barcelona (my great grandparents were from the island and we wanted to visit since we will be nearby). I'm not looking to relax by the pool, I really want to see the island and learn about its history. I would love any recommendations on things to do - thank you!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5527 posts
These are some of the things I did on a recent trip and the outfitters that I used.
1) Whale watching https://www.seaborncatamaran.com/. We saw about half a dozen sperm whale the day I went out.
2) Take the cable car to the Monte Gardens. These gardens are really incredible.
3) Go on a levada walk. I did a really easy one (Paradise Valley) with Madeira Explorers. https://www.madeira-levada-walks.com/en/. This walk was very flat and we stopped for a coffee/snack break at a local bar about half way through.
4) Take a tour of the island. I enjoyed this jeep tour of the western side of the island (Porto Moniz and Skywalk) with True Spirit. https://adventuremadeira.com/en/
The group tour had 8 people in the jeep and the guide for our tour was Gil and he was very knowledgeable about the island. We stopped for about an hour and fifteen minutes at the pools in Porto Moniz and this was enough time to go for a quick swim (only 2 of us did the swim … others on the tour explored the town). It looks like they offer private tours and that might be worthwhile for three.
5) I enjoyed the tour at Blandy’s that explained how madeira wine is made, but I suspect that won’t work with an 8 year old.
Posted by
WA USA
1093 posts
Visit Funchal Old Town to see the painted doors. We stayed in this area when visiting.
https://www.patisjourneywithin.com/funchal-old-town-painted-doors/
It's by the cable car to the Monte Gardens anyways, so easy enough to see. Good place to eat too.
Posted by
Washington DC
27138 posts
My trips to Madeira were back in the 1980s or early 1990s, so my info is seriously dated, but there used to be public-bus service to a number of points around the island, which is very scenic. Because of the great variation in elevation, there's a wide variety of vegetation, including a lot of flowers. Houses are sometimes located below the road, with the family vehicle parked on the roof.
The trip to Curral das Freiras was interesting.
I'll second the recommendation for a levada walk. A few of the levadas could take you to spots that would be problematic for those with a fear of heights, so check with the outfitter or pick up a guidebook locally to be sure you make an appropriate choice for your group. I managed a couple of levada walks by using buses for access, but it definitely would be easier to go with a group, and you might see even more spectacular scenery than I found. (Photos: photos madeira levada)
I'm sure you'll love Madeira.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1676 posts
The most fun thing I did was take a Toboggan ride. Google it to see details. Your 8 year old would love it but this old woman did, too! It was the only way the rich people had of getting down the hill before cars, etc.
The market in Funchal is also very interesting. They have fruits I’ve never seen before.
And, as others mentioned, take a tour out of the city. There are many.
Have Bolo do Caco with a meal. It’s the bread they serve in a lot of restaurants and is great. Espetada is also a speciality of the island and it quite good.