Welcome to Madeira
A volcanic island in the Atlantic with dramatic mountains, ancient forests, and some of Europe's best hiking. This guide will help you explore it properly.
741 km²
Island area
1,862m
Highest peak (Pico Ruivo)
~2h
Flight from Lisbon
Year-round
Hiking season
300+
Sunny days / year
9 regions
In this guide
What brings you to Madeira?
I want to hike
Levada walks, mountain ridges, coastal paths — Madeira has over 1,400km of waymarked trails at every difficulty level.
Browse trailsI want scenic drives
The island's roads are extraordinary. Each route winds through villages, passes cliffs, and opens onto unforgettable viewpoints.
See routesI want a full itinerary
Not sure where to start? Our curated multi-day plans take the guesswork out — from 3-day tasters to full two-week adventures.
View itinerariesI'm exploring with family
Easy walks, accessible viewpoints, and gentle coastal routes. Madeira is highly family-friendly once you know where to go.
Easy optionsHow madeira.guide is structured
Hub pages give you the overview
Pages like Hikes, Viewpoints, and Routes list everything in that category with filters and quick facts. Start here to get your bearings.
Collections narrow it down
Not sure which hike? Try Levada Walks or Low-Risk Hikes. Collections are pre-filtered for a specific purpose or traveler type.
Detail pages go deep
Every hike, viewpoint, and route has its own page with stops, timing, difficulty, seasonality, and cross-links to related content.
When to Go tells you the season
Each entity page shows a 12-month viability strip. The When to Go section flips it — showing what's best for a given month.
Planning covers the logistics
Flights, car hire, accommodation, and practical tips live in the Planning section. Read it after you've chosen your activities.
Ready to plan your trip?
Our curated itineraries take the guesswork out of planning. Pick a length and focus, and you'll have a solid base to customise from.