Madeira, a group of Portuguese islands found off the coasts of Morocco and Portugal, is sometimes called the Hawaii of Europe. This destination features stunning views, spectacular landscapes, a humid subtropical climate, and a unique cultural heritage with delicious foods.
If you’re lucky enough to visit Madeira, consider how you can make the most of your time there. Dive into Madeira’s unique story to foster a deeper appreciation of its history and distinctive culture. Try finding out if you have family from Madeira.
Skip ahead to find what you’re looking for:
Why Visit Madeira?
Tips on Traveling in Madeira
When to Visit Madeira
Your Personal Heritage in Madeira
Heritage Sites in Madeira
Foods to Try in Madeira
Madeira’s Unparalleled Natural Landscapes
Madeira Off the Beaten Path
Final Thoughts
Why Visit Madeira?
Madeira is known for its dramatic landscapes, with steep cliffs, waterfalls, and rocky beaches. There’s no shortage of things to do in Madeira—the views, hikes, and drives alone are well worth a stop. Coupled with an ideal climate, usually around 60°–80° F (15°–26° C), it’s one of the most beautiful destinations you could visit.
More than that, Madeira has a culture unlike any other in the world. Situated off the coasts of Europe and Africa, Madeira often served as a stopping point for trade ships. As such, Madeira formed a unique culture, food, and people that you can’t find anywhere else in the world with both European and African influences.
Madeira is also an exceptionally safe place to visit. It has an impressively low crime rate (though it is wise to be mindful of safety when driving or hiking) and is ranked as having a high quality of life.
If that’s not enough, Madeira's 600 years of emigration peaked in the 1960s and 1970s, meaning there’s a chance your family’s history is tied to Madeira. If you have ancestors from Madeira, traveling there will give you a unique perspective on the lives your ancestors led.
Tips on Traveling in Madeira
Traveling abroad offers you new and fantastic experiences, but it can be tricky navigating a new place and culture. These tips from locals in Madeira will help you prepare for your trip:
- Portuguese is the primary language. Many people speak English, but it may be difficult to communicate with some people in English.
- Madeira's main island has spread-out views and villages. To see all that Madeira has to offer, plan on getting around by car. You’ll be in for stunning drives down winding roads and along cliffsides with ocean views.
- Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and is usually served from noon to 3.
- Dinner is typically eaten later in the evening, and restaurants don’t usually open for that meal until about 7 pm.
- Meals are slow, leisurely events.
- While tipping isn’t required, it’s appreciated and goes a long way to supporting local waiters.
- A range of tropical fruits are grown in Madeira, so be sure to try some. Residents recommend buying fruit at small local shops called barracas.
- Embroidery and handcrafted items are a significant industry in Madeira, so check out some handicraft shops while you’re there.
When to Visit Madeira
Madeira boasts ideal temperatures and weather year-round, so you can’t go wrong in choosing a time to visit. Temperatures are typically moderate throughout the year, with the warmest temperatures from August to September and the coolest temperatures in February. If you’re there to swim, the best time to enjoy the ocean waters is from June to October.
The island also holds some epic events and festivals. When you’re planning what to do in Madeira and when to go, consider some of the island’s seasonal events:
Flower Festival
In April or May (4 weeks after Easter), Madeira is alight with the spirit of celebration for the Festa da Flor, or Flower Festival. The festival embodies the renewal and hope that spring brings. The highlight of the festival is the flower parade, where you’ll see dancers with elaborate headpieces and bright-colored costumes decorated with flowers.
The whole city becomes an enchanted paradise for several weeks. The streets are lined with flower carpets in elaborate designs made with thousands of flowers. The city also constructs a Wall of Hope, where children place flowers from their own homes to symbolize peace.
Carnaval
Madeira is known for its big celebrations, and Carnaval is one of the best. For 2 weeks in February or March, Madeira transforms with a blast of colors, parades, and festivities. The main event is a parade where marvelous dancers fill the streets with lively costumes, color, music, and performances. There’s also a comedic parade known as Cortejo Trapalhão, as well as several smaller parades and themed costume parties.
Atlantic Festival
Throughout June, the Atlantic Festival attracts many visitors with its variety of music, cultural events, and fireworks. Every Saturday, Madeira’s skies light up with impressive fireworks exhibitions in which different countries compete by displaying their talent and showmanship with synchronized music and pyrotechnics.
Columbus Festival
For a few days in September, Madeira's neighboring island of Porto Santo takes a step back in time to feature the Columbus Festival. The festival aims to re-create the time Columbus lived for several years in Porto Santo, where he married and had a son. Performers dress in period costumes and put on a show with music and theater.
Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations
December is a month-long celebration of Christmas in Madeira, with lights, events, and fireworks. Walking the streets of Funchal, Madeira’s largest city, you’ll enjoy a fantastic Christmas ambiance. Lights, music, Christmas markets, performances, nativities, local crafts, and daily events work together to create Christmas magic. At the new year, Funchal lights the skies with one of the world’s most impressive displays of fireworks, which even set a Guinness world record in 2006.
Your Personal Heritage in Madeira
Many people have come and gone through Madeira, so individuals all around the world can often claim heritage in Madeira. If your ancestors emigrated from Madeira, you may be able to reconnect with your family’s past while visiting. Cultural identity can be a powerful force of belonging and understanding in many people’s lives, and it’s worth exploring to find your heritage.
If you connect to the FamilySearch Family Tree, a free resource that allows people around the world to share genealogy research, you may be able to find out if your ancestors were linked to Madeira. Even if you don’t have ancestors from Madeira, perhaps you have ancestors from Portugal or Africa who shared a similar cultural heritage.
More Help Finding Your Ancestors from Madeira
If you’re looking for your family from Madeira and don’t know where to turn, online resources and societies dedicated to Madeira genealogy can help. Perhaps you'll find the answers you’re looking for. In addition, FamilySearch offers one-on-one help.
- FamilySearch Madeira Islands: A guide to Madeira’s historic records
- FamilySearch Center locator: Website that locates a FamilySearch center in Madeira
- Madeira Genealogia: A society dedicated to tracing the genealogy of Madeira emigrants
- My Portuguese Gen: A guide for people around the world looking for Madeira ancestors
- Madeira Island Genealogy: A community Facebook group dedicated to working together to trace your Madeira ancestors
- Four Resources for Researching in the Madeira Islands: Tips and resources to help you with your search
- Madeira Exiles: A community dedicated to tracing a group of religious migrants from the 1800s
Madeira’s Cemeteries
Cemeteries help us remember the people who came before us, and visiting them can be an important way for you to connect with both your ancestors as well as the history of a place. If you’re looking for things to do in Madeira, visiting a cemetery may be a deeply meaningful way to spend your time.
Try searching for your family’s surnames to see if any family members have graves you can visit in Madeira. These resources will help you locate graves:
Even if you’re not looking for a specific person or name, consider taking the time to visit a cemetery. The experience takes you out of your normal busy life and gives you an opportunity to reflect on the lives of those who came before you. It can also provide a glimpse into the history of people who lived in Madeira. Here are some of the cemeteries in Madeira that may be worth your time:
Heritage Sites in Madeira
While you’re planning your itinerary of things to do in Madeira, consider exploring historic sites in the region. Madeira is home to a unique cultural history. Settlers arrived in the 15th century, led by João Gonçalves Zarco, a Portuguese explorer. The island became a port of Portugal and served as a stop for trade ships between Europe, Africa, and later America. The result is a culture unlike any other with diverse influences spanning centuries.
Immerse yourself in Madeira’s culture and story to make it come to life. Visit some of these historic sites while you’re in Madeira, and you may leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the island and its people.
Foods to Try in Madeira
Madeira’s unique cuisine reflects influences from Europe, Africa, and other regions around the world. The island has a legacy of travelers coming and going, giving it a one-of-a-kind culinary history.
Locally caught seafood is a staple among Madeira’s foods, but influences from around the world have also found their way into local fare. Imported crops such as sugarcane, potatoes, chiles, and corn made their way to the island through trade over the centuries and became integral to the island's cuisine.
Be sure to try these local dishes in Madeira to get a taste of its culinary history and variety:
- Espetada: Marinated and grilled beef skewers
- Bolo de caco: A sweet potato garlic flatbread
- Milho frito: Deep-fried polenta
- Bolo de mel: A spiced molasses cake
- Porco alentejana: Braised pork and clams
- Lapas: Local shellfish often fried in butter
- Queijada: A pastry made with local cheese
- Espada: A local fish typically fried in batter
- Picado de carne: Cubed beef in a mushroom sauce
- Bife de atum: Grilled local tuna
- Cracas: A barnacle found along Madeira’s shores
- Sopa de Trigo: Wheat and pork soup
For some helpful tips to help you navigate restaurants in Madeira, refer to Tips on Traveling in Madeira.
Madeira’s Unparalleled Natural Landscapes
If you’re visiting Madeira for purposes of searching out your heritage, you certainly can’t miss out on all its natural wonders. From beaches to waterfalls to striking cliffs and outlooks, the islands are filled with some incredibly stunning views. Some of Madeira’s best views and nature stops include the following and may have been favorite retreats for your ancestors:
Waterfalls
Madeira has an abundance of waterfalls. Seeking out the best waterfalls in the region is one of the most spectacular things you can do in Madeira. Start your search with this list:'
- Waterfall of Angels (Cascata dos Anjos): A unique waterfall that cascades off a sheer cliff and straight onto the road beneath
- Water’s Kiss: A duo of waterfalls that meet as they descend
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde: An impressive waterfall you can reach through a popular hiking path
- Levada Fajã do Rodrigues: A stunning waterfall and pool of water in the heart of a tropical forest
- Levada Nova Waterfall: A waterfall you can walk behind
- Cascada Água D’alto: An impressively tall waterfall hugging a sheer cliff
Breathtaking Views
As volcanic islands with tropical foliage, massive cliffs, and ocean views, Madeira has some of the best views you’ll find anywhere in the world. Planning out things to do in Madeira? Hunt down some of these lookouts for an unforgettable communion with nature.
- Nuns Valley (Curral das Freiras): Find your way to the highest point for a remarkable view of the dramatic landscape where nuns once found refuge from pirates in the fertile hills.
- Miradouro do Curtado: Look out over the northern coast for a view of the ocean, mountains, and nearby villages.
- Funchal Cable Car: Ride over Madeira’s largest city, Funchal, and enjoy the gradual transition to the more rural scenery of Monte.
- Cabo Girao: View a rugged landscape with cliffs and a coastal town.
- Pico Ruivo Viewpoint: Sit on top of the world at the highest point in Madeira with 360° views.
- Núcleo de Casas Típicas: Look out over a stunning landscape alongside the historic triangle houses on Santana.
- Balcões Viewpoint: Enjoy one of Madeira’s most impressive views of the mountains, which is saying something when you consider the competition.
There’s no shortage of views in Madeira, so if it’s one of your favorite things to do, check out this viewpoint guide on Madeira’s travel website for even more outstanding sights.
Hikes
With striking cliffs and sloping mountains, Madeira is the perfect place for explorers at heart. Choose between a range of hikes, from short and easy to long and strenuous, all with rewarding views and foliage to take in. Hiking is by far one of the best activities to do in Madeira.
- Fanal Forest: Take one of the hiking paths through the Fanal Forest to experience a truly enchanted forest that’s often covered in a dense fog in the mornings.
- Cais do Sardinha: Take a dip in the ocean with clear warm waters after a mild hike.
- Levada do Risco: If you’re looking for a relatively short and easy hike with rewarding views and a waterfall, Levada do Risco is a great choice.
- Levada das 25 Fontes: Enjoy a moderate hike that ends with a unique series of 25 small streams that trickle into a pool below
- Pico do Arieiro: Pico do Arieiro puts you on top of the world as you climb across the tops of mountains.
- Caldeirão do Inferno: This is another popular choice for hiking given its relatively easy trail and the amazing waterfall you'll see.
- Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal: If you’re a true adventurer, try this hike. It’s a long 18-km hike that gives you a taste of everything Madeira has to offer.
Don’t stop there! For more hiking ideas, check out Journey Era’s ultimate guide to hikes in Madeira as well as a list of hikes from Madeira’s travel website.
Beaches
Madeira is also known for its beautiful coasts and beaches. Which ones might your ancestors have walked on? These are some of the best beaches in the area:
- Porto Muniz Natural Swimming Pools: Oceanic swimming in pools created by volcanoes
- Seixal Beach: A popular beach for its soft black sand and stunning mountain backdrop
- Maiata Beach: A popular surf destination
- Alagoa Beach: Volcanic sand in a picturesque location
- Machico Beach: A beach in Machico Bay with imported sand
- Calheta Sand Beach: A man-made bay with imported sand
Madeira Off the Beaten Path
If finding hidden gems is your favorite thing to do on trips, these ideas can help you get started. Locals recommend visiting some of these lesser-known spots in Madeira:
Final Thoughts
Madeira is the destination of a lifetime and is well worth a trip. As you seek for things to do in Madeira, immerse yourself in its unparalleled natural landscapes as well as in its singular cultural heritage for a one-of-a-kind experience. And while you’re there, see what you can learn about yourself and your family’s story to add deeper meaning to your life.
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