8-Day Itinerary Madeira
1 Day
18.45 – “Easy Jet” flight from Lisbon to Funchal (Madeira) – 1h30
At the airport, we rent a Ford Fiesta car at Goldcar – around 70 Euro + insurance and airport charges around EUR 180 – 1 liter 95 petrol for 1.41 Euro.
At the airport, you can do PCR tests for free (you can rent a car and wait about 12 hours in a hotel / apartment for the result) or you can do a PCR test 72 hours before arrival. You must also register at https://madeirasafe.com/#/login 48 h to 12 h prior to arrival. Children up to 12 years old are exempt from testing for Covid. You can also take the tests for free at 34 locations in Portugal (after showing your Madeira ticket).
Transfer to Funchal and accommodation at Apartamentos Turisticos Vitoria by Petit Hotels – 2 rooms with kitchen and terrace – 34 Euro / 1 day.
2 Day
Shopping in “Pingo Doce” or in the Portuguese “Biedronka” – baguettes with ham (1x 1.99 Euro), 200 ml poncha for 2.99 Euro, 1l Brisa drink for 1.39 Euro, small Madeira wine for 3, 78 Euro, 1.5 l water for 0.57 Euro, a bottle of wine for 3.79 Euro.
We take the VR1 road to Câmara de Lobos – street parking for 1 Euro for 1 h – small fishing port with boats and drying cod, Churchill statue, Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição chapel, street with colorful graffiti on the houses. We go to the Cabo Girão Skywalk observation deck – a terrace with a glass floor on the largest cliff in Madeira (580 m, free entry). In the cafe next to the vantage point – regional poncha (EUR 3.20), passion fruit cheesecake (EUR 3.80), Brisa drink (EUR 2.20), coffee (EUR 3.10).
Continue on the VR1 road to Ribeira Brava – church, town hall and fruit market (good fruit prices – papaya for 2.99 Euro per kg, cherimoya (annona) – 3.49 Euro per kg, monstera fruit (banana-pineapple) for 2, 99 Euro per kg, small bananas 3.99 Euro per kg, avocados for 3.99 Euro per kg).
We follow the VE3 road (full of tunnels) through Calheta (sandy beach – one of the few) to the lighthouse in Ponta do Pargo – parking and scenic routes to the high cliffs.
Lunch at the Domino bar in Ponta do Pargo – black scabbard fish (espada) with bananas (EUR 9.90), tuna steak (EUR 9.90), beef steak (EUR 7.90), grilled chicken breast (EUR 6.90) – with a choice of sweet potatoes or rice and salad, a glass of wine (EUR 2.50), Brisa drink (EUR 0.60), açorda soup (olive oil with bread) for EUR 3, tomato soup ( 2.80 Euro), Bolo do Caco (typical Madeira round sweet potato bread served with garlic butter – 2.50 Euro).
Return to Funchal.
3 Day
Breakfast at the bar in “Pingo Doce” (you can eat cheap breakfast and lunch in the shop) – tuna sandwich (1.99 Euro), coffee (garoto) 0.55 Euro, orange juice 0.5 l 1.79 Euro , fresh pineapple in pieces 1.75 Euro.
We go on foot to Funchal and visit the Madeira factory “Blandy’s Wine Lodge” – at 10.30 the so-called Lodge Tour with a guide in English (7.20 Euro / adult and 5 Euro / child, about 30 minutes and tasting 2 types of Madeira at the end). A walk to the Town Square with the Jesuit Church (rich interior) and the Town Hall with an internal courtyard with a staircase, and then to the Cathedral (not very interesting, under renovation). Next to the Cathedral, there is the Bust of Józef Piłsudski.
At the bar – poncha for 2.50 Euro, bolo do caco with garlic butter (1.90 Euro), coffee (0.70 Euro).
We go to the Mercado dos Lavradores market – fruit and vegetables (watch out for intrusive sellers) and souvenir stands, and in the back there is the most interesting fish market (tuna, black scabbard fish).
Cable car ride (Telefericos do Funchal) to Monte – 11 Euro / adult and 5.50 Euro / child, about 15 minutes – great view of Funchal. On Monte we go to the church with the tomb of Charles I Habsburg. From Monte you can take a sleigh down to Funchal (30 Euro for 2 people – currently not functioning). We go by another train (Teleferico do Jardim Botanico) to the Botanical Garden – 13 Euro / adult (package – cable car and entrance to the Garden) and 4.15 Euro / child (only a cable car and separate entrance to the Garden 2 Euro). We walk around the Garden – generally not very interesting, the most interesting cactus garden.
We go back to the center of Funchal on foot and have lunch in the restaurant “Sabor Tropical” – lapas grelhada (limes) 6 Euro, poncha (2.50 Euro), tuna steak with rice (8 Euro), espetada (shashlik) 10 Euro, soup tomato (3 Euro), Nikita (ice cream and vodka) 3 Euro.
4 Day
We go to the center of Funchal and park in Parking Garage Funchal (about 1.40 Euro for 1 hour). We have breakfast at “A Arte do Bolo do Caco” – orange juice (2 Euro), bolo do caco with ham or chocolate (2.50 Euro), coffee (0.70 Euro). We go to the CR7 Museum – Cristiano Ronaldo trophies – entry 5 Euro / person.
We go by car on the VR1 road to Santa Cruz – a town with an atmospheric market (mercado), a promenade and a church. We’re going to the Peninsula of St. Lawrence (Ponta de São Lourenço) to the Miradouro Ponta do Rosto viewpoint and then to the parking lot at the end of the ER109 road – this is where the PR8 trail to Casa do Sardinha begins (approx. 3 km 1 way). From the trail, great views of the entire Peninsula.
We go to Caniçal and have lunch at the “Cabrestante” restaurant – tomato soup (3.50 Euro), bolo do caco (2.50 Euro), sardines (6 Euro), tuna steak (10.80 Euro), spaghetti bolognese ( 10 Euro), a glass of sangria (3 Euro), cream with passion fruit (3 Euro).
We go to the Prainha beach (small sandy beach) and to Machico – the promenade and the defensive fort.
5 Day
We go to “Casa das Bifanas” for breakfast – bifana normal (grilled pork sandwich) 2 Euro, bifana with bolo do caco 2.30 Euro.
We follow the VR1 road and then the VE4 road (3 km long Encuemada tunnel) to São Vicente. A small town nicely situated between the mountains and the ocean – we look at the church and go to the Miradouro Água d’alto viewpoint with a waterfall and the old road ER101 (narrow carved in the rocks – currently closed).
We are going to Porto Moniz – parking 0.80 Euro for 1 hour – we see Natural Swimming Pools in the rocks (open – water around 17 degrees C, entrance around 1.50 Euro per person).
We take the ER101 road to the steepest cable car in Madeira, Achadas da Cruz – 3 Euro per person return. At the bottom are small farm plots and a path along the ocean overlooking the cliffs.
For dinner we go to the “Domino” restaurant in Ponta do Pargo – tuna steak (9.90 Euro), espada with bananas (9.90 Euro), spaghetti bolognese (7.50 Euro), chocolate cake (3 Euro).
We return to Funchal via the VE3 road and on the way we stop at Ponta do Sol – a nice town – church, narrow streets, beach.
6 Day
Breakfast at the “Chanceller” restaurant in Funchal – tuna sandwiches (1 for 1.60 Euro), coffee (0.75 Euro), orange juice (2.75 Euro).
We take the road ER103 to Ribeiro Frio – a road winding through the national park (Parque Ecologico do Funchal). In Ribeiro Frio there is a trout farm (trout pools) and the PR11 trail Vereda dos Balcoes (approx. 1.5 km) to the viewpoint from where you can see the highest peaks of Madeira: Pico Ruivo 91862 and Pico do Arieiro.
We return to Ribeiro Frio and follow the PR10 Levada do Furado trail – through the laurel forest along the canal (levada). Them we continue along the ER103 road and then VE1 to Santana – we see A-shaped houses with thatched roofs around the Town Hall (more as an open-air museum than authentic houses).
We continue our journey to the Miradouro do Beira da Quinta viewpoint (also known as Miradouro das Cabanas) – a view of the entire northern coast of Madeira and we return via ER101 and VE1 to Faial. We eat dinner at the “A Chave” restaurant – tomato soup with egg (3,50 Euro), espetada (11 Euro), tuna steak (11 Euro), grilled chicken (9 Euro), glass of wine (2 Euro), coffee (0,90 Euro).
We return to Funchal via VE1 and VR1 – on the way we stop in Porto da Cruz – sugar cane vodka distillery (Branca), beach and seaside promenade.
7 Day
We go to Funchal and have breakfast in “Casa do Bolo do Caco” – bolo do caco with ham or cheese or with chocolate (2.50 Euro).
We take the VE3 road to Prazeres and then the ER210 and ER110 road to the parking lot, from which the PR 6 trail starts. We walk about 2 km to the Rabaçal hostel – there is a cafe – coffee (garoto) 1.20 Euro, poncha 3, 20 Euro, Brisa drink 2.20 Euro, lemon cake 3.60 Euro, banana cake 3.10 Euro. We walk about 1 km via the Levada to Risco to the Risco waterfall viewpoint.
Then we walk about 2 km Levada das 25 Fontes to the 25 Fontes waterfall – you go along a narrow sidewalk built by the canals (levadas) supplying water. We return to the hostel in Rabaçal and take the minibus to the parking lot (2 Euro per person).
We go back to Funchal – we manage to buy take-out sushi at the restaurant (around 40 Euro) – on weekends restaurants close at 5pm (weekdays at 6pm) – no take-out sales after 5pm on weekends.
8 Day
Breakfast at the “Chanceller” restaurant in Funchal – tuna sandwiches, coffee with milk (Chinesa) 1.25 Euro.
We go to the Miradouro Pico do Barcelos viewpoint – view of Funchal and then along the ER107 (VE6) road to Curral das Freiras or the Valley of the Nuns. Walk around the town – azulejos decorated church and Chestnut Museum.
In the cafe – chestnut cakes (3.50 Euro), cheesecake with passion fruit, poncha. We go back through the tunnel and go to the Eira do Serrado viewpoint – a view of the mountains and the Valley of the Nuns.
We go back to Funchal and take the VR1 road to Caniço to the Christ Statue (Cristo Rei) and the Garajau Peninsula (Ponta do Garajau) – nice views of the coast and the Ocean.
We go to Funchal and have lunch at the “Jardim da Carreira” restaurant – for 11 Euro a set (snack, dish and dessert) for example ham with pineapple, banana espada and chocolate mousse, poncha, glass of wine (3 Euro). We walk around the old part of Funchal (Zona Velha) – Santa Maria street with graffiti on the doors of the houses (Arte de Portas Abertas), Capela do Corpo Santo chapel, Fort de São Tiago (now a museum but closed).
We go to the airport by car – we return the car.
21.25 – Easy Jet flight to Porto – 1h40 (tickets to Porto are cheaper than to Lisbon).
Practical information
General info
Please check all Covid requirements and restrictions on http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/useful-info/corona-virus-(covid-19)/information-to-visitors-(covid-19) prior to arrival.
All passengers who carry a negative PCR test for COVID-19, carried out within 72 hours prior to boarding, can proceed to their destination. You can do test at the airport for free (wait about 12 hours for the result). The test can also be done for free in Portugal at 33 indicated points (after showing a ticket to Madeira). You must also register 48 h to 12 h prior to boarding at https://madeirasafe.com/#/login
Masks must be worn everywhere except in the woods, beaches and restaurants. Restrictions apply until February 21, 2021 (may be extended): no movement during the week after 7 p.m. and at weekend after 6 p.m., restaurants are closed during the week at 6 p.m. and at weekends at 5 p.m. (during the week you can order takeaways until 10 p.m. but at weekends nothing works). The prohibition of movement does not apply to the transfer from the airport to the hotel and at the airport (after passing security control) restaurants and shops are open.
Transport
The best way to get to Madeira is by “Easy Jet” from Lisbon or Porto – prices from around 20 or 30 euro one way. You can also fly by “Easy Jet” from Berlin or directly from Poland (often travel agencies only sell flights without a hotel).
It is best to rent a car on site through rentalcars.com – insurance may be an additional cost (necessary due to the narrow, winding roads inside the island).
Accommodation
It is best to rent an apartment in Funchal via booking.com – prices around 25-30 Euro per day.
Prices
Prices in stores are similar to prices in Poland. For dinner in a restaurant with soup, dessert and drinks (wine) we will pay about 50-60 Euro for 4 people (a dish, for example, fish with potatoes and salad costs 9-10 Euro). For breakfast the best is bolo do caco sandwiches for 2.50 Euro. Coffee is cheap on site – it is best to order garoto (espresso with milk) for less than 1 Euro, and alcoholic drinks for about 2.50 – 3 Euro (e.g. a poncha or a glass of wine). It is best to buy fruit not at fairs, but in Pingo Doce stores.
