The island of Madeira, tucked away in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the northwest coast of Africa, is an absolute gem that you should consider for your next adventure. We’d heard about its lush landscapes and unique blend of Portuguese culture, and placed the island high on our bucket list. However, due to its remote location and our busy travel itinerary, it hadn’t made our list… until now. What we discovered was an island with stunning natural beauty, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that far exceeded our expectations! This guide covered 5 places in Madeira you just can not miss when you visit! We will continue to post more detailed Madeira guides, including a few hidden gems, and our full road trip, so make sure to subscribe (see here) to stay up to date with our latest free travel guides.
5 places you must visit when you travel to Madeira
PR1 Hike – Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruvio
The bucket list PR1 hike is likely the reason you first started looking into Madeira. Videos and photos from this iconic trail started popping up on Instagram over the past few years, causing popularity in Madeira to boom. This hike is seriously incredible, and it’s worth all of the hype and more! We will post a full guide to this hike in the future, however make sure you allocate time on your Madeira trip to do this hike!
Seixal Black Sand Beach
The black sand beach in Seixal is truly unique. Picture a wide beach of dark sand merging with clear, warm blue waters. The beach is flanked on the right by mountains and lush greenery, with the small Seixal town sits behind on the hill. Its an incredible scene, right up there with one of the most picturesque in Madeira. While we will share a few more details in a guide in future about Seixal Beach, add this spot to your summer hit list, and your Madeira road trip. See our Black Sand Beach guide here!
Sao Vicente Chapel (Capelinha de Nossa Senhora de Fátima)
This is one of the ‘lesser known’ but do not miss locations in Madeira. The small town of Sao Vicente sits in a lush green valley. Located on the edge of the town, a few 100m up on a hill is the Sao Vicente Chapel (Capelinha de Nossa Senhora de Fátima). The small white chapel is itself picturesque, however the real highlight is the stunning panoramic views of Sao Vicente, the valley and the coastline. This was one of our favourite places in Madeira. See our guide and more info here!
PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
Located on the eastern point of Madeira is one of the best hikes of the island.. PR8. This moderate difficulty trail winds long striking cliffs offering a beautiful contrast between orange cliffs and blue waters. The views are truly spectacular, making it a must do hike on Madeira. Add this to your road trip and make sure you bring you camera! See our PR8 hike guide here.
Funchal Old Town
The capital of Madeira is Funchal, the thriving city that crawls it’s way up the side of the hills. Home to a picturesque little old town, a plethora of seafood restaurants, a bustling food market, cable cars up the mountain and so much more! A common ‘base’ for those visiting Madeira, if you’re not staying in Funchal, make sure you spend some time exploring the town (however we recommend you stay here!).
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