Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Funchal
You'll arrive in Madeira and get transferred to your hotel in central Funchal. This evening there's a welcome dinner with regional dishes, though if your flight comes in late, you'll get a voucher to use another day instead.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner with regional specialties (or voucher if arriving after dinner service))
- Day 2
Funchal Old Town & Wine Tasting
Walking through Funchal's old town, you'll wander narrow streets past colorful buildings and check out the famous Rua de Santa Maria with its painted doors. The market hall has exotic fruits and fresh fish if you want to browse. Grab an espresso and pastry, then tour a traditional embroidery factory to see how the craft works. You'll taste Madeira wine at a local winery and stroll through the city garden with exotic plants. Afternoon is free to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Funchal old town
- Visit to market hall
- Embroidery factory tour
- Madeira wine tasting at local winery
- City garden visit with exotic plants
Landmarks/POIs Rua de Santa Maria Funchal Market Hall Funchal City Garden - Day 3
Levada Hike & Porto Moniz
Into the highlands you'll go for a medium-difficulty levada hike on the Pául da Serra plateau (7 km, 2-3 hours) through unspoiled nature. After that, drive to Porto Moniz to swim in the natural lava pools. Lunch is a traditional prego beef sandwich. On the return through Seixal and São Vicente, you'll see dramatic cliffs and try poncha, the local drink made from sugar cane schnapps, honey, and citrus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional prego (beef sandwich))
Included Activities
- Levada hike on Paúl da Serra plateau (medium, 7 km, approximately 2-3 hours)
- Swimming in Porto Moniz lava pools
- Traditional prego lunch
- Poncha tasting in Serra d'Água
Landmarks/POIs Paúl da Serra Porto Moniz Lava Pools Seixal São Vicente Serra d'Água - Day 4
São Lourenço Peninsula Hike & Machico
You'll hike the volcanic landscape of São Lourenço peninsula with Atlantic views (easy, 8 km, about 3 hours). There's a picnic included during the walk surrounded by nature. Afterward, visit Machico, Madeira's oldest town, which has a nice avenue of plane trees and the 18th-century Fortaleza do Amparo fortress. Rest of the day is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Picnic (Picnic lunch surrounded by nature during hike)
Included Activities
- São Lourenço peninsula hike (easy, 8 km, approximately 3 hours, +180/-50 m elevation gain, approximately 50-175 m altitude)
- Picnic lunch during hike
- Visit to Machico with plane tree avenue
- Fortaleza do Amparo fortress viewing
Landmarks/POIs São Lourenço Peninsula Machico Fortaleza do Amparo - Day 5
Free Day in Funchal
This day is yours to do what you want. Stay at your hotel and relax, or explore Funchal on your own. If you're interested, there are optional activities like the botanical garden with over 2,500 exotic plants or a trip to Monte with its pilgrimage church.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Botanical garden visit with over 2,500 exotic plants
- Excursion to Monte with Nossa Senhora do Monte pilgrimage church
- Traditional basket sledge ride from Monte (not included in optional excursion)
Landmarks/POIs Funchal Botanical Garden Nossa Senhora do Monte - Day 6
Levada do Rei Hike & Santana
Today's levada hike follows the Levada do Rei through the Laurisilva forest (medium difficulty, 10 km, roughly 3.5 hours). The trail leads to the Ribeiro Bonito river in this UNESCO site. Lunch is fresh soup with sea views in Arco de São Jorge. After that, head to Santana to see the colorful thatched 'Casas de Colmo' houses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Freshly prepared soup with sea view in Arco de São Jorge)
Included Activities
- Levada do Rei hike through Laurisilva forest (medium, 10 km, approximately 3.5 hours, +/- 120 m elevation gain)
- Ribeiro Bonito river viewing
- Lunch with sea view in Arco de São Jorge
- Visit to Santana and Casas de Colmo thatched houses
Landmarks/POIs Levada do Rei Laurisilva Forest Ribeiro Bonito Arco de São Jorge Santana - Day 7
Quinta Vigia & Quinta das Cruzes Museum
Starting in the garden of Quinta Vigia, the residence of Madeira's regional president, you'll see colorful flowers and views over Funchal bay. Then visit the Quinta das Cruzes museum with period furniture, handicrafts, and a romantic garden with stone relics. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Quinta Vigia garden visit with bay views
- Quinta das Cruzes museum visit including furniture, handicrafts, and garden
Landmarks/POIs Quinta Vigia Quinta das Cruzes - Day 8
Curral das Freiras & Cabo Girão Skywalk
Driving to Curral das Freiras, you'll see the 'Valley of the Nuns' in the mountains. From the Eira do Serrado viewpoint, there are spectacular views and you'll taste local liqueur. Then head to Cabo Girão, Europe's highest cliff, where you'll walk on the glass Skywalk platform hanging over the cliff edge. Lunch is espetada, the traditional meat skewers, in Câmara de Lobos. Afternoon is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Espetada, traditional Madeira meat skewer dish, in Câmara de Lobos)
Included Activities
- Curral das Freiras valley visit
- Eira do Serrado viewpoint with liqueur tasting
- Cabo Girão Skywalk glass platform experience
- Espetada lunch in Câmara de Lobos
Landmarks/POIs Curral das Freiras Eira do Serrado Cabo Girão Skywalk Cabo Girão Câmara de Lobos - Day 9
Levada dos Tornos Hike & Farewell Dinner
An easy levada hike along the Levada dos Tornos takes you over green slopes above Funchal (6 km, about 1.5 hours). Afterward, visit the Palheiro Garden with its impressive plants and have tea and homemade cake in the pavilion. In the evening, you'll gather with other travelers for a farewell dinner at one of Funchal's nicest restaurants to reflect on your Madeira trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Atmospheric farewell dinner with group at one of Funchal's most beautiful restaurants)
Included Activities
- Levada dos Tornos hike (easy, 6 km, approximately 1.5 hours, +/- 40 m elevation gain, approximately 600 m altitude)
- Palheiro Garden visit with plant variety
- Tea and homemade cake in Palheiro Garden pavilion
- Farewell dinner at selected restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Levada dos Tornos Palheiro Garden - Day 10
Departure from Funchal
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Madeira Airport for your return flight to Germany, heading home with plenty of memories from your varied time on the island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
