This article explores everything you need to know before going to Madeira. To help you understand, we have organized the article into the most frequently asked topics, including the best destinations, people, food, costs, safety, and how to travel in Madeira.
Known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic,” Madeira is one of the best destinations in Portugal. It has unique natural landscapes, levadas, natural pools, and some of the most impressive waterfalls in Portugal. Therefore, it is naturally a destination much appreciated by foreigners and locals.
In addition to tourist destinations and attractions, Madeira also allows us to try delicious local food and be in an almost tropical environment without leaving Portugal or Europe.
We want to make your next trip to Madeira an unforgettable experience! To do this, we will answer the question of what to know before visiting Madeira.
What to know about Madeira and the Madeirans
Where is Madeira
Madeira is the name of the main island of the archipelago of which it is part. In addition to the island of Madeira, the archipelago is also formed by Porto Santo and the desert islands – Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande, and Bugio.
The island of Madeira has a total area of 742 km2, while the archipelago has 801 km2. So, Porto Santo is only 42 km2, and the desert islands (in addition to being uninhabited) are even smaller, with a total area of just 15 km2.
Madeira is situated in the North Atlantic and is part of the African plate, not the European one. It is just 700 km from the coast of Morocco and more than 1000 km from Lisbon. The Canaries are around 500 km away, while the closest island of the Azores is 900 km away!
Portugal also claims the Selvagens Islands, which are a natural reserve with no inhabitants but are not officially part of the Madeira archipelago.
About Madeirans
Madeira has a population of around 250,000 inhabitants (2023), with almost the entire population living on the island of Madeira and a large majority in Funchal or its surroundings on the south coast. The center and remaining coasts of the island are sparsely populated.
The Madeiran population is quite homogeneous, without significant cultural, linguistic, religious, or racial differences. However, a relatively large foreign community takes advantage of the island’s excellent weather and good living conditions.
What language to speak in Madeira
As in the rest of Portugal, Madeira’s official language is Portuguese. Tourism is very important for the island, and therefore, a large part of the population also speaks English and sometimes other languages such as French, Spanish, and German.
The ease of communicating in foreign languages is so great that some foreigners who have lived there for many years speak little Portuguese. We know a few cases.
Therefore, you will hardly have any problems communicating in Madeira.
However, we must note that the Madeirans have their own pronunciation, sometimes very closed and with unique expressions that are not used anywhere else.
What are Madeirans like?
Like the Portuguese in general, Madeirans are known for being very welcoming, and the island is a very peaceful and informal destination.
Therefore, if visitors are friendly, they usually do not have any major problems interacting and communicating with Madeirans. They are quite used to tourism and are very understanding and patient.
Honestly, we don’t know of any significant faux-pax in Madeira, and it’s helpful to know that there is a slight rivalry between Madeira and the Mainland and that some Madeirans don’t like people referring to the mainland as “Portugal,” as Madeira is also Portugal.
This attentive and relaxed way of being combined with the island’s semi-tropical environment makes the experience of traveling in Madeira even more pleasant.
Tourists in Madeira
Portugal is trending, and Madeira is no exception. In fact, it even became popular well before this large tourism wave in the rest of the country, and that is why the growth of tourism in Madeira has not been as notable in recent years.
In 2022, the archipelago received more than 4M tourists, of which around 520,000 came from the Mainland. The 4M visitors corresponded to almost 10M overnight stays. The average stay is almost five days.
Domestic tourists are already the third largest group of visitors, only surpassed by the United Kingdom and Germany. France and Poland complete the top five. These are particularly impressive numbers, considering that only around 250,000 people live in Madeira.
Finally, the increase in tourists in the low season months (January-March) is notable, making tourism in Madeira less and less seasonal.
Climate in Madeira
Madeira’s climate is subtropical, with hot, dry summers and wetter, cooler winters. However, the island’s orography also has an essential influence on local subclimates.
The island’s south is generally hotter, drier, and sunnier than the north. Temperatures are generally lower on the north coast, and it rains more than on the south. The mountainous interior is considerably colder due to the altitude.
One of the main characteristics of the Madeiran climate is that there are much smaller temperature variations throughout the year—these are significantly reduced at sea level. For example, in Funchal, winter is colder than summer but rarely really cold. However, in the island’s interior, at an altitude of 1500+ meters, it is perfectly normal to snow in winter.
Still, temperatures are much better than in central and northern Europe, making Madeira an ideal destination to escape the snow and cold. This is also why Madeira is increasingly becoming a holiday destination that is less and less seasonal – year-round.
When is the best time to travel to Madeira?
As we have just mentioned, Madeira is a year-round destination, with advantages in each season. As in many other places, there is a trade-off between the ideal climate and the number of tourists.
There is no wrong time to go to Madeira; enjoying it all year round is possible. Still, we have to consider that in summer the weather will probably be hotter and drier, but there will be many more people, while in winter the opposite will happen.
Our favorite time to visit Madeira is mid-season, as the temperatures are good enough and there aren’t many people. We recommend April to June and then from mid-September to early November.
Is it safe to travel to Madeira?
Yes. Madeira is a very safe destination as crime is very low and violent crime is almost non-existent.
We would say that there are more risks to your physical integrity in levadas and cascades than encountering some violent crime. Still, like anywhere else in the world, we advise you to be careful in tourist areas, especially regarding scams and pickpockets.
The only negative point that we know of and that has been complained about is at the farmers’ markets. Even there, the complaint is that the prices are too high and that the fruits that are offered to taste are sweeter (added sugar) than those sold. However, our experience there was not that!
What to visit in Madeira
Madeira is a nature destination (with a lot of history mixed in). Despite the subtropical climate, with good weather almost all year round, Madeira is not typically a beach destination.
For us, Madeira is above all, an exotic destination, but still European. In Madeira, we find some of the best hikes in Portugal, fabulous waterfalls, the stunning Laurissilva forest, and many lookouts. Without forgetting Funchal and other fabulous places on the island!
Funchal
Funchal is the largest city and capital of Madeira. There, you will find several monuments and historical buildings, the beautiful center, and other attractions spread across the city and surrounding areas. Some of the places not to be missed in Funchal are:
- São Tiago Fort – Impressive 17th-century fort built to protect the city from dangers coming from the sea. The striking yellow color makes it an icon of the city.
- Mercado dos Lavradores – The island’s best-known market. Famous for tropical vegetables and fruits and local fish. Without a doubt, it is a place not to be missed.
- Monte Cable Car – This takes us from the center of Funchal to Monte, where we have several attractions. You can also have beautiful views of the city and the Bay.
- Monte Palace Gardens – A Palace with beautiful gardens that have been restored, housing a vast collection of exotic plants and collections of tiles and areas with various Japanese and Chinese elements.
- Carreiros do Monte – One of the unique activities in Madeira is to descend from the hilltop to the center using typical wooden carts, without wheels, pushed and driven by two Madeirans dressed in traditional costumes.
Levadas and Veredas in Madeira
Despite everything else the island offers, the levadas and paths are our favorite attractions in Madeira. We love hiking and always want to experience it at every destination. Madeira has an incredible collection of trails – the levadas and the veredas.
Levadas are artificial paths that carry water from the island’s interior to settlements. Along these levadas, an access path crosses stunning locations, making them some of the best walks in Portugal. Some of the attractions not to be missed are:
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde – crosses the Laurissilva forest until reaching the green caldeirão and its waterfall;
- Levada do Rei – Follow the levada do Rei to its origin. It passed by several waterfalls, and at the end, we also entered the Laurissilva. See how to do the Levada do Rei.
- Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco—Two levadas take us to two of the most beautiful waterfalls in Madeira. Because they are close, you can combine them on the same route. See how here.
The veredas (footpaths) are the old pedestrian paths used to connect different parts of the island. They are now tourist attractions as they also allow you to explore the island’s natural side. The best-known are:
- Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço – allows you to discover the tip of São Lourenço with its impressive gorges and the natural landscape completely different from the rest of the island. Tips for walking to Ponta do São Lourenço.
- Vereda Areeiro-Pico Ruivo – Connects the three highest peaks on the island along incredible paths. If you like hiking, this trail is not to be missed in Portugal.
- Camino Real de Paul do Mar – The path to Paul do Mar always goes downhill and steeply. The views of Paul do Mar and the ocean are stupendous.
Waterfalls
One of the characteristics of Madeira is that it is blessed with countless waterfalls. The rugged geography and abundant rain in the island’s center created very tall and impressive waterfalls. While some are relatively easy to visit, others involve challenging walks. Our five favorites are:
- Angel Falls
- Caldeirão Verde Waterfall
- Deep Throat Waterfall
- Bride’s Veil Waterfall
- Risco and 25 Sources Waterfalls
Madeira Beaches
One of the things to know when planning to visit Madeira is that the island of Madeira has nearly no beaches. It has some black sand beaches, with very short strands, and two artificial white sand beaches (Calheta and Machico). The best black sand beaches are Prainha, near São Lourenço and Seixal beach in Seixal.
On the island of Madeira, we also have many stone “beaches” and coves, such as Praia Formosa and Porto da Cruz beach. But… that’s not exactly a beach or what attracts people to the island. It’s just a bonus.
If we’re talking about the archipelago, it’s a different story… Porto Santo may only have one beach, but that’s all we want! With around 7 km, it is a vast, golden, and beautiful sandy beach. The waters are warm (22-25º between June and October) and beautiful. It is no coincidence that it is on our list of the best beaches in Portugal.
Madeira Natural Pools
More popular than Madeira’s beaches are the seawater pools. The best known are those in Porto Moniz, where there are two, some more natural and others with greater human intervention. Both are stunning and offer spectacular swimming locations. It’s worth going to both.
Still on the north coast, we also have the natural pools of Seixal, next to the black sand beach. They are also quite pleasant, and given that the beach is the best on the island, it is well worth going to Seixal and doing 2 in 1, visiting the beach and the natural pools.
Other unique places not to be missed in Madeira
In addition to the places already mentioned, there are many others worth visiting that we haven’t even mentioned yet. In this sense, Madeira is an incredible destination due to the number of attractions concentrated in such a small space. Some of the most popular are:
- Cabo Girão
- Ponta de São Lourenço
- Ponta do Pargo
- Tern
- Curral das Freiras and Eira do Serrado
- São Vicente Caves
If you want to know more about these and other destinations in Madeira. See our article “What to visit in Madeira,” where we explain everything about the 30 best attractions in Madeira.
What to eat in Madeira
Madeira has a wide variety of restaurant offerings. In addition to traditional Madeiran food, we also find many restaurants serving modern and international food. There are Indian, Chinese, Brazilian, and Mozambican restaurants, as well as the typical fast-food offerings, including pizzerias and hamburgers.
So, whatever your preference, you will find it in Madeira.
In this article, we explore where to eat in Madeira and showcase some of our favorite restaurants.
About Madeiran food
Madeiran cuisine has many similarities with Portuguese cuisine, sharing many dishes, ingredients, and techniques. Portuguese food has an evident influence on Madeiran food and vice versa.
On the other hand, there are also many specificities in the archipelago’s cuisine, as ingredients and dishes are common in Madeira and do not exist (or exist in smaller quantities) on the mainland. There are typically Madeiran dishes that you will hardly find anywhere else in the world.
So we suggest you take the opportunity to try traditional Madeira food. Below, we will explore some of its main dishes, but if you want to go further, also see our article “What to eat in Madeira.”
Main dishes
Some of the main dishes we recommend trying in Madeira include:
- Black Swordfish – Perhaps the most typical fish from Madeira. There are many ways to cook it, but our favorite is simple breaded black swordfish fillets, fried banana, and sometimes also with passion fruit.
- Tuna Steaks – The Madeira sea is quite rich in tuna, which is why this has become one of Madeira’s favorites. Anyone who likes tuna will love eating in Madeira.
- Madeiran skewers– laurel stick skewers made of pieces of quality beef cut into cubes, interspersed with bacon. They are grilled over coals and served with fried corn, fries, and salad.
- Bolo do caco – is the typical bread of Madeira and is delicious. It appears everywhere, you won’t have trouble finding it. Enjoy it warm with butter and garlic. It’s addicting!
- Prego em bolo do caco – prego is a typical Portuguese dish that consists of a sandwich with beef sirloin steak seasoned with mustard and sauce for frying the meat. This dish was perfected in Madeira, and bolo do caco with butter and garlic is used instead of ordinary bread.
In addition to traditional local dishes, you will also find many traditional Portuguese dishes.
Desserts
Madeiran cuisine is much richer in terms of starters, soups, and main dishes, but there are still some typical Madeiran sweets to try, such as:
- Honey cake – made with sugar cane honey (molasses), flour, Madeira wine, oranges, walnuts, almond kernels, and various spices such as cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fennel and nutmeg. The dark color comes from sugarcane honey.
- Queijadas de Machico – There are queijadas in many Portuguese towns, but one of our favorites is Machico. With a flat and rounded shape, they are made of thin dough and filled with goat’s milk, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and flour.
- Malassadas – small balls of dough made with flour, eggs, milk, sugar, and baker’s yeast fried in oil and served with cane honey. They remind me of donuts.
- Passion Fruit Pudding – Puddings and mousses are very popular in Portugal, but Madeira’s passion fruit version is delicious. It’s more of a mousse than a pudding and uses cream, condensed milk, gelatin sheets, and, in this case, a lot of passion fruit pulp.
- Tropical fruits – Due to its location, Madeira produces some tropical fruit, which is usually delicious. Take the opportunity to indulge in fresh local fruit, including bananas, custard apples, avocados, pitangas, papayas, etc.
In addition to these Madeiran sweets, you will also find many typical Portuguese sweets and desserts. Look:
Typical drinks from Madeira
Madeira also has some very typical local drinks, such as:
- Poncha – a spirit drink made with Madeira rum to which orange, tangerine, or lemon juice and honey are added. Everything is mixed with a typical stick called “caralhinho”.
- Madeira Wine – One of the best and most popular wines in Portugal. It is a fortified wine that can be either dry or sweet. The sweetest are considered dessert wines, while the driest aperitif wines.
- Madeira Rum – is widely used to make poncha, and it is made from local sugar cane.
Is it possible to drink Madeira tap water?
Yes, as in the rest of Portugal, tap water is suitable for human consumption in Madeira! It does not need to be filtered or use domestic water treatment equipment.
How to travel in Madeira
Portugal has excellent infrastructure for tourists, and Madeira is no exception. However, unlike the mainland, visiting most attractions via public transport is difficult, so we recommend renting a car or taking guided tours. Otherwise, it may be difficult to go to some places.
Public transport in Madeira
There is plenty of public transport in Madeira, but these are very concentrated in Funchal, as well as transport between villages. Given that many of Madeira’s best attractions (walks, levadas, waterfalls, viewpoints) are in isolated and difficult-to-access locations, they are almost all challenging to reach by public transport.
Therefore, we strongly advise you to rent a car in Madeira. The alternative is to take part in tours, which are much more expensive. However, it is also easier and more relaxing.
The only viable option to get to Madeira is by plane to the international airport. There are plenty of flights from the continent and the rest of Europe. Some low-cost airlines also fly to Madeira, making the trip very cheap if purchased in advance.
Rent a car in Madeira
Renting a car in Madeira is the same as anywhere else in the world. It offers the same advantages of flexibility as we can go where we want, when we want, and stay as long as we think necessary.
In Madeira, it is also the cheapest solution due to the lack of alternatives mentioned above. However, always pay attention to the contract and the cost of insurance. We suggest you always take the deductible coverage as it gives you enormous peace of mind to make the most of your trip.
Note that cars are almost all manual in Portugal (and consequently in Madeira). If you are not used to driving manual cars, always confirm that you are booking an automatic car, as this is not common in Portugal.
Note: that renting an automatic is almost always more expensive than renting a manual.
Driving in Madeira
As in the rest of the country, driving in Madeira is not particularly complicated and follows the same rules as on the mainland. If you are used to driving in different places, Madeira will not present you with any ordeals.
There are, however, some peculiarities and things to keep in mind:
- Due to the island’s natural conditions, many roads have brutal inclines and scary (and spectacular) gorges.
- The lack of space means that many roads are quite cramped;
- Drive with some caution, as despite having improved over time, Madeirans are a little impatient when driving;
- Like almost all Portuguese cities, the historic center of Funchal is quite cramped and has few parking spaces.
- The rest of the cities are much smaller and easier to manage.
- Madeira does not have paid highways, so you needn’t worry about that. The expressways are all free.
- Just like on the mainland, there are plenty of roundabouts. Remember that those inside of the roundabouts have priority.
- You cannot turn right when the light is red.
- The speed limits are:
- Expressways and reserved lanes – 100km/h
- National roads outside localities – 90km/h
- inside localities – 50 km/h
- These limits can be reduced when there is a corresponding signage.
Currency and payments in Madeira
Like the rest of Portugal, Madeira belongs to the Eurozone and uses the Euro as its official currency. If you come from another Euro region, you don’t need to worry about exchange rates, fees, or commissions.
You do not need to bring euros even if you come from outside the eurozone. The multibanco network is vast, so you can easily find machines everywhere and withdraw money. We always advise using your bank’s exchange rate, not the network’s.
Virtually all stores, bars, and restaurants accept debit card payments, although some do not accept credit cards. So take the opportunity to make payments by card whenever possible, but always carry cash for those rare situations where you cannot do so.
Tip: Avoid using ATMs outside the Multibanco network, as they charge high withdrawal fees.
How much does it cost to travel in Madeira
Portugal is a very cheap destination, one of the cheapest in Western Europe and the EU. Madeira is a more expensive destination than the average for mainland Portugal but still much cheaper than most European island destinations.
As usual, costs are higher in high season and more touristy areas. However, it isn’t easy to define the effective cost as this depends on your style of travel and what you are looking for on this trip to Madeira.
Even so, we can mention that on our trips to Madeira, the daily costs per person vary between 70-80 Euros. We traveled as a backpacking couple, eating only one restaurant meal per day and staying in cheap accommodation, but never in hostels with shared rooms.
It is possible to reduce these values a little, particularly by traveling in low season and reducing food and accommodation costs. However, if you want to take many tours, stay in hotels, and always eat in restaurants, the prices will be much higher. It is not difficult to reach 100-200 Euros per day per person.
Accommodation Cost
Accommodation is probably the biggest expense on any trip, and here is no exception, especially in high season, when prices double or triple compared to low season.
In Madeira, we suggest you use booking.com to book your accommodation. It offers a wide variety of hotels, hostels, and even local accommodations at the best prices.
Since the island is small, most people stay in Funchal and travel to each destination. It is possible to reach any end of the island in around 1 hour from Funchal.
In Funchal, a room for two people in a cheap hotel costs 80-100 Euros, while more expensive, modern, and luxurious hotels cost much more than that. Finding accommodations for 60-80 euros is possible, but it isn’t easy in high season. Even in low season, lowering 50-60 Euros per night is difficult.
Food Cost
Although prices have increased significantly in recent years, food in Portugal and Madeira is still relatively cheap to eat in Madeira. As with everything else, tourist areas are much more expensive. In our experience:
- Breakfasts – they are inexpensive but excellent. Up to 5 Euros per person, in any pastry shop, normally much less. After all, Madeira is Portugal, and Portugal is one of the best destinations in the world for cheap and delicious breakfasts.
- Lunches and quick meals – You can easily eat for around 10 Euros per person if you eat in a small local restaurant or if you use the dish of the day/menu of the day.
- Restaurants – If you want a better, more elaborate meal, the prices are much higher and increasing lately. Still, a traditional dish or a dish of international food will cost between 15 and 25 Euros, depending on the dish and ingredients. The prices will be even higher if it is a luxury or highly regarded restaurant.
- It is possible to either buy pre-cooked food or cooking ingredients in Madeira supermarkets and make complete meals for 5-10 Euros. We usually eat one of these meals daily to lower the trip’s average cost.
Costs of renting a car
In Madeira, we strongly advise you to rent a car. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get to know the island well and enjoy all its natural wonders. Given that the other option is to go on tours, renting a car also turns out to be a sensible decision in terms of costs.
Still, expect some substantial costs:
- Rent the car – count on 200-250 Euros per week, at least. In high season, it could be 300+ euros per week.
- Mandatory Insurance – There’s no way around it. Taking out all-risk insurance may also be advisable to avoid stress during your trip.
- Paying for fuel – Fuel in Madeira is much cheaper than on the mainland. Furthermore, the island is small, so you shouldn’t spend much fuel on the trip.
- Parking – It is quite difficult and expensive to park in the center of Funchal. Not so on the rest of the island. Pay special attention to whether the hotel where you are staying has parking included or whether you can park on the street.
- There are no tolls – You don’t have to worry about this cost, which is always good. Especially because on the continent, it ends up being a relevant cost on some trips.
How to save on a trip to Madeira?
Although we don’t think Madeira is a particularly expensive destination, especially if we take into account everything it offers us, it’s worth trying to reduce costs a little. Because it’s not too complicated if you take into account some of our recommendations and particularities of the island:
- Use and abuse outdoor activities, which are mostly free in Madeira – walks, levadas, waterfalls, viewpoints, these are all things to do in Madeira that don’t cost money. And they are the best the island has to offer!
- One of the best ways to save on food is to use restaurants with daily menus. These include main dishes, drinks, coffee, and often even desserts. They are generally below 10 Euros per person.
- Even with regard to food, it is possible to save a lot if you book accommodation with a kitchen and eat one supermarket meal daily, as they are much cheaper than in restaurants.
- This can also allow you to eat breakfast at home, which is cheaper.
- Most activities in Madeira can easily be done independently. There are lots of examples of this on this site. So, rent a car and explore the island independently.
- Still, some tours and activities can be worth it. We suggest you tag them here. It’s the website we use to book tours in Portugal.
- If you are planning to stay in Funchal for several days, it might be worth not using a car on those days. Avoid rental and parking costs.
- Beyond the center of Funchal, it is hardly worth using public transport. Public transport is quite cheap in Madeira, but unfortunately, it doesn’t take us to many tourist destinations.
- There are some cheap and quality hotels in Madeira, especially in Funchal. Take advantage of booking this type of accommodation as they sometimes offer breakfast, a swimming pool, and other amenities.
- We always use booking to book accommodation in Portugal, as it offers a huge variety of accommodation and always at low prices. We advise you to do the same.
- Never accept the exchange rate suggested by ATMs, as they are always worse than the bank’s.
- To reduce the number of withdrawals you need to make, always try to pay by card.
Is it customary to tip in Madeira?
In general, it is not customary to pay tips in Portuguese restaurants. In fact, there is no tipping culture in Portugal, or at least it is very different from that in the USA. Madeira is no exception, but because it is such a tourist destination, this culture is changing, and sometimes tourists feel this need. Still, note that it is each person’s decision. The tip in Portugal is an extra, it is not supposed to be the central part of the employee’s income.
In restaurants, it is customary to round up the bill or leave a maximum tip of 1 to 2 euros. Any value above this is only given to reward extraordinary service.
It is also common to tip travel guides or tour guides, but this is mainly because the customers are foreigners and used to pay the same. Again, the tip is not supposed to be the main portion of the guide’s income.
In all other services, tipping is extremely rare.
What to take on a trip to Madeira?
Despite being relatively small, the island of Madeira has a vast diversity of attractions and destinations, offering many things to see and do. Therefore, each trip requires a particular list. Furthermore, the type of traveler you are will also greatly influence what you need to bring to Portugal.
However, the most common thing is to explore the island’s spectacular natural offerings, including forests, waterfalls, levadas, viewpoints, etc. Taking this into account, we will indicate some of the basic things that we believe any traveler to Madeira will need:
- Casual and comfortable clothing – Even in summer, don’t forget to bring some trousers and a light jacket as it can get cool at night and the island’s highest points. Wear warm clothes in winter, as sometimes it gets really cold. As we said above, it even snows in the high points in the island’s center.
- Comfortable footwear – it’s very likely that you’ll be walking a lot, so it’s essential to bring comfortable footwear, particularly sneakers. Don’t worry, Portuguese people are very informal, you can wear sneakers everywhere.
- Bring shoes specifically for hiking. The island’s interior is humid, and it can rain at any time. You will likely have to go through slippery and muddy areas.
- Sunglasses – If we haven’t been clear about this, Madeira is a sunny destination.
- Hat – for the same reasons as sunglasses.
- Sunscreen – In summer, it is absolutely mandatory, but we suggest you always take it, regardless of the time of year you go.
- Havaianas and/or Sandals – These will be useful almost every day, whether for a walk, taking a shower, going to the beach, or walking on the hot sand…
- Power Bank – While traveling, you may be without access to electricity for long periods of time, so a power bank can become your best friend.
- Travel pillow – This will be especially useful during the flight, as depending on where you are coming from, it could be quite long and overnight. See our complete article on travel pillows here.
- Small backpack – Portugal is great for short getaways, trails, tours, and so on. We strongly advise you to take a small, lightweight backpack on those days so you don’t have to carry a larger suitcase/backpack.
Best souvenirs to bring from Madeira
One of the best things about traveling is bringing a little bit of your trip back home. And who wouldn’t want to bring a little bit of Madeira with them?
Therefore, choosing souvenirs to buy is a significant issue during the trip, especially when it comes to remembering it.
Some of the best souvenirs to buy on a trip to Madeira include:
- “O Caralhinho” – the famous stick with which poncha is made
- Poncha – the well-known and already mentioned poncha. If you try and like it, you can bring it. It is available for sale at the airport if you don’t buy it beforehand.
- Madeira Rum – Produced on the island with local sugar cane, it is one of Madeira’s most typical products. It is with him that the poncha is made. So, if you buy Rum, you can also make homemade Poncha at home. It is not difficult.
- Fennel sweets – Although we haven’t discussed them before, they are very popular and typical in Madeira.
- Honey Cake – It is perhaps the most typical Madeiran dessert and has the advantage of being very durable. It can be preserved for up to a year, so you can taste a little of Madeira long after you return home.
- Madeira Wine – One of the most famous and popular wines in Portugal is produced in Madeira.
Do I need an adapter in Madeira?
Electrical sockets in Madeira are the same as those in mainland Portugal and most of the rest of continental Europe. Thus, in Madeira, type F electricity inputs (called Schuko) are used, with a voltage of 230v and a frequency of 50Hz.
Type F inputs also work with type C and type E devices.
Therefore, if you come from mainland Portugal or another country that uses these sockets, you will not need an adapter. We suggest this adapter if you come from countries with other types of sockets (such as Brazil, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom).
How to have internet in Madeira
Any Madeira accommodation should have free WIFI, so this shouldn’t be a major concern. It’s a good idea to check the signal quality in the comments before booking. Furthermore, many cafes, restaurants, shops, and some public spaces have free WIFI.
If you want to use mobile data, then any data card from an EU country works in Madeira without paying extra. If you don’t have a European data card, you can buy data cards at any telecommunications store on the island – Vodafone, Meo, or NOS.
Remember that roaming costs can be very high.
The 4/5 G networks are of good quality, and there is data throughout almost the entire island, and the quality is similar across any operator. The offers are also similar, so we advise you to buy the first one you see and not waste time on it.
Garbage and Pollution in Madeira
The island is generally relatively clean, both in cities and natural areas. There may be some exceptions and areas with some trash/pollution, but we don’t have much to criticize. The natural areas are beautiful and practically immaculate.
The quality of seawater and air is also high, but one would not expect anything else as the island is very far from other territories.
What documents do I need to enter Madeira?
As a Portuguese territory, Madeira is part of the EU and the Schengen area. Because there is freedom of movement for people within this European area, if you come from another country in the Schengen area, you do not need a passport and can use your identification document.
If you don’t come, we advise you to see which passports require a visa to enter Portugal and Madeira. Most visitors (USA, UK, Canada, Australia) do not need a visa but a ticket to leave the country.
Note: If you are going to drive, don’t forget your driving license!
Is a vaccination mandatory to enter Madeira?
No. Unless you come from an infected area, you do not need any vaccination to obtain authorization to enter Madeira. The rules are precisely the same as the rest of the country.
However, just like anywhere else in the world, it is advisable to have your tetanus vaccine up to date, especially if you will be in contact with nature. You will then not be asked about any vaccination upon entry.
Recommended Madeira travel guides
Finally, the travel guide to Madeira that we recommend is Lonely Planet, which has a lot of helpful information.
- Cover photo by radekprocyk via Depositphotos
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