6 Day Madeira Trip Itinerary with Kids – 2024

Congratulations for planning a Madeira trip itinerary with kids for your next holiday destination.

We loved every minute of our holiday and hopefully this Madeira trip itinerary will help you plan an epic trip as well.

We cannot wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful Portuguese Island. Madeira has a “something special” feel to it.

I have totally updated this post last May.

Depending on how you will get to Madeira, but if you travelling from Lisbon, you may also like to read our article Visiting Sintra in One day.

Best Time to visit Madeira

We travelled to Madeira in November and it was great. Honestly Madeira can be discovered any time of the year. You will get different highlights depending on the months you travel.

A spring – summer visit is enriched with amazing flower displays all over the island. Whereas during the autumn months, Madeira transforms into a mysterious place due to all the clouds and fog within the island. Especially around the area of the Fanal Forest.

Ideal for epic photography.

No matter what it is, a trip to Madeira will be a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Are you are wondering if travelling to Madeira in November is a good idea? Carry on reading to check out what we did on our Madeira trip itinerary with kids.

In this 7-day Madeira Trip Itinerary for families, we cover pretty much the whole island.

If this is your first time travelling to Madeira, make sure you also read – Madeira Island Travel Guide. You will find a lot of important information, maps and much more.

Madeira Trip Itinerary with Kids

We travelled with 2 and a half year twins to Madeira, so hiking in Madeira was not on our agenda.

But I have listed all the great viewpoints scattered over Madeira island that were easy reachable. Therefore, if you are looking for a comfortable trip schedule to Madeira island, whilst ticking off some of the most amazing viewpoints then this itinerary is exactly right for you.

And believe me Madeira has plenty of viewpoints, and best of all, they can be reached by car. We will cover the following on our itinerary.

• Travelling from Switzerland to Madeira
• Miradouro da Ponto do Pargo & Jardim do Mar in Madeira
• City break at Funchal and meeting Ronaldo
• Dancing clouds at Eira do Serrado
• Pico do Arieiro & picnic at Ponta de São Lourenço
• Bathing at Porto Moniz &  being impressed with Achadas de Cruz !
• Home Journey and leaving Madeira

Travelling with peace of mind – Travel Insurance with Heymond

Madeira trip itinerary with hiking & longer days

I can imagine that some of you would love to explore all the amazing and many Levadas (water trails) Madeira is famous for. Or hike along some of the epic mountain trails over the Madeira mountains to discover beautiful waterfalls.

This is why further below in the blog article, I have put together some full days trips on Madeira including some hiking trails that tick all the above things to do on Madeira.

Feel free to jump straight to the Madeira Full Day Trip Suggestions now.

Driving around Madeira

Madeira needs to be explored by car. Therefore at the airport rent a car to have the best time on the island.

Here are some of the driving distances on Madeira. Keep in mind that these are estimated times.

• Funchal to Machico = 30 mins
• Machico to Santana = 10 mins
• Funchal To Santana (via inland) = 1h05
• Funchal to Ribeira Brava = 25 mins
• Ribeira Brava to Arco da Calheta = 25 mins
• Arco da Calheta to Porto Moniz = 1h
• Santana to Sao Vicente = 50 mins
• Sao Vicente to Porto Moniz = 20 mins
• Ribeira Brava to Sao Vicente = 28 mins
• Crossing from the middle to the west side close to Porto Moniz = 50 mins

Where to stay on Madeira

As we were travelling to Madeira with kids we wanted a main base rather than changing our accommodation. Because Madeira island is a manageable size to drive around in one day, the option of having a one base accommodation is possible.

This time we found an amazing place in Calheta. Our Madeira accommodation came with uninterrupted views over the Atlantic Ocean and the sunsets where amazing.

I would recommend to stay anywhere between Camara de Lobos and Calheta.

Map of Hotels & Accommodation on Madeira

If during your Madeira trip itinerary you like to hop around the island, check out the map to find the perfect hotel or house on Madeira for you.

We loved to be close to the cliffs. These hotels and accommodations give amazing views over Madeira’s shoreline and far out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 1 / Travelling from Switzerland to Madeira

Our Madeira trip itinerary starts with a flight! We flew from Geneva to Funchal, the capital of Madeira. This was the first flight for the kids, who were 2 ½ years old at the time of travel.

The flight was only 3 ½ hours but for the children this proved to be 3 hours too long….

I think if the flight had lasted half an hour longer, the flight attendant would have given us 4 parachutes and shown us the exit!  We had a bit of an excuse as we had to leave the house at 3am for our 7am flight.

In the end it was family videos on the phones which saved us from having to jump out of the plane.

Somehow we managed and finally arrived at Funchal airport before lunch.

Thanks to a technology failure collecting the rental car took forever but finally we had the keys and headed for Calheta, situated on the south-west side of the island.

Our first impression was good, even very good. Madeira reminded us a bit of Hawaii. Think of verdant volcanic-mountains, surrounded by Azure deep waters and decorated with colourful flowers.

We arrived at our amazing Madeira accommodation with uninterrupted sea views, a nice garden for the kids to run around, but most importantly comfortable beds.

We unloaded the car made a quick shop in Calheta, ate and then bed for the whole family. I seem to recall it was before 6pm.

Extra suggestions

Before heading to your hotel on Madeira, go and visit Funchal, Madeira’s capital. And if you have enough time ride the Funchal cable car to Monte.

A visit to the Monte Palace Botanical Gardens will add some extra beauty on your first day in Madeira.

Tours from Funchal

Also a great way to start your trip to Madeira with kids is to join a dolphin and whale tour from Funchal. We recommend using Get Your Guide for your Madeira guided tours. They are great, offer quality tours and the reviews are awesome. We also book them when we travel and what we like is the fact that you can cancel quite close to the tour date.

Not that we ever want to cancel a trip, but travelling with kids you just never know.

Day 2 /  Miradouro da Ponto do Pargo & Jardim do Mar in Madeira

First full day on Madeira so let’s explore this amazing island.

We planned an easy day to get to know the island and see what’s around. Our day started at the most westerly point of the island where the viewpoint Miradouro da Ponto do Pargo is located.

Not a single car or person to be seen, only a few cows basking in the morning sun. It felt like we’re all alone on this most beautiful island.

A little stroll down to the lighthouse, a picnic and the whole family was happy.

We even tried to spot some dolphins playing in the waves below the viewpoint. According to my husband, there were many. But only he could spot them.

Travel Tip: This is also a great place to enjoy a sunset on Madeira

Praia da Calheta – Beach

The next visit was the Calheta where there is a sandy man-made beach. Great place also for the kids.

Despite the water temperature, which was very fresh, some people were brave enough to swim. Needless to say, we stayed on the beach.

Madeira has in total 27 beaches and most of them are rocky. Some of the nice beaches around Madeira are Praia de Machico on the east side of Madeira and Seixal Beach on the North West side.

You will find a great secured playground which had to be on the Madeira trip itinerary! It overlooked the beach and was in a very nice setting.

The younger children have their own section separated from the big pirate ship which is great for the older children.

Jardim do Mar

A late afternoon stroll at the promenade of Jardim do Mar made us realise how lucky we are to be able to travel Madeira out of season.

Again, it was empty, the whole promenade for us. And this made our 6 days itinerary in Madeira so special.

Jardim do Mar is a tiny village built on a steep cliff and lying below is a beautiful promenade next to the sea. You have to walk down through tiny alleys, walkways and by people’s front yards.

It is a labyrinth and we were wondering whilst walking down to the promenade if we would ever find the way back to the car. No, was the answer.

We had to do a few u-turns, ended up in local gardens and even asked a little old lady to show us the way.

It was very beautiful though and you could see people are really proud to live here because there were so many flowers and decorations around windows and doors. Small restaurants are located on the upper section of the village and ideal for dinner.

For sure not a touristy place, so if you have time, Jardim do Mar is definitely a place to add to your Madeira trip itinerary.

Day 3 / City break at Funchal & Viewpoints

A bit of a shock to enter Funchal after having not seen people for nearly 2 days.

We parked at the underground parking lot right at the Porto of Funchal by the CR7 Museum. The museum gives you a great overview of the career of the player, Cristiano Ronaldo, and showcases his remarkable achievements in football.

From the parking lot we headed up to street level and there he was, larger than life and in copper.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born and raised in Madeira.

We’re not really a football family but still, when it was our turn, we posed for some photos and happy to have learned another fact about Madeira.

Directly opposite the port is the Santa Catarina Park which offers views over most of Funchal, the port and the surrounding mountains.

Along the pathway there are many flowers and the aroma of the herb garden reached our noses before we could even see it.

To the delight of the children there is a little pond with different ducks, swans and other birds eager to be fed by the tourists. And not to forget to mention, a playground which was spotted by my little girl.

Funchal City

We left the park to get a feel of the city of Funchal and wandered through the middle of the city. The choice of which restaurant to pick is endless.

In the end we chose one where some musicians had installed themselves on the piazza outside.

This certainly amused our kids, but also the locals and other tourists.

Additionl things to do in Funchal: If you have not yet been to Funchal on your arrival day then you might want to visit some other great places within the city.

From the Téléférico Monte – Funchal cable car you will get an amazing view over the city. At the top explore the Botanical garden.

Take a one way ticket up the mountain, because for the way down we recommend the fun experience of the Madeira toboggan ride on a wicker basket.

Guided Tours from Funchal

Other great option is to join a guided tour like a dolphin and whale tour from Funchal.

Whilst cruising on a comfortable and stable catamaran, you can enjoy not only the dolphins and whales but also the beauty of Madeira’s coast.

If you use Get Your Guide you will sure have a great tour. They offer quality tours and have top reviews.

Another great thing to do from Funchal is join a day trip from Funchal to the west of the Island.

This is especially ideal if you do not feel like driving the whole day and want to sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Cabo Girao viewpoint

On the way back to our accommodation in Madeira, we stopped at the Cabo Girao – skyglass viewpoint.

To get the best views you need to head out onto a glass skywalk above a near vertical drop of 590 metres.

By making the brave step out onto the glass floor, you are rewarded with amazing views along the Madeira coast and down to the town of Camara de Lobos.

The skywalk is accessible by a cable car up the face of the cliffs from Camara de Lobos or you can drive up a winding mountain road.

Day 4 / Dancing Clouds at Eira do Serrado

Today we headed into the mountainous interior of Madeira island to an elevation of 1095m where the Eira do Serrado viewpoint is located.

We were presented with fantastic panoramic views over the picturesque parish where Curral das Freiras (Nuns Valley) lies, and the majestic mountains of the central massif that surround it.

The weather was not particularly nice. Lots of cloud and fog constantly change the panorama allowing previously hidden landscapes to come into view.

We had the impression of sitting in the front row of a famous dancing spectacle. It was absolutely great. Just looking at these mountains made me plan a hiking holiday to Madeira.

Madeira has so many hiking trails just waiting to be discovered.

Make this an easy day, stop along the road to capture some more amazing views before heading back to your hotel.

Day 5 /  Pico do Arieiro & picnic at Ponta de São Lourenço

The Pico do Arieiro viewpoint is situated on the third highest point in the centre of Madeira.

Standing at 1,862m above sea level the summit provides spectacular views over the entire island and its central mountain range.

This is also the start of an excellent hiking path that leads to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on the island. The Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike is considered as THE BEST HIKE ON MADEIRA.

I am not able to tell you yet as of which age this hike would be possible and how challenging it is. But if you are serious about it, contact Madeira Tourism who should be able to give you an answer.

Even without taking this hike to Pico Ruivo in Madeira into consideration, the landscape at Pico Arierio is beautiful, as is its’ surrounding area and should be on any Madeira trip itinerary.

Whilst up at the top, walk over to the east of the viewpoint to witness a different panorama. It can get quite windy at the top, so layer up.

Ponta de São Lourenço

We drove down through the east-central part of Madeira, where the fauna changed completely. It was like we had entered a different island.

The forest was really autumnal and large ferns which we had not seen, suddenly popped up by the side of the road.

Ponta de São Lourenço located in the eastern part of the island, put a smile on our faces when we arrived.

Nature at its best. A fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature created one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces.

The view is 360 degrees and is just outstanding. As the kids were both asleep we stopped at the parking near a picnic table and just enjoyed this beautiful scenery.

You can also hike in this area out to the most easterly point of Madeira.

One of the known hikes here is Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço. A trail of moderate difficulty of about two and a half hours, which goes along the peninsula.

Madeira is full of hiking trails. Here are some more information on some amazing hikes in Madeira .

Day 6 /Porto Moniz &  impressed with Achadas de Cruz !

I don’t think you can come to Madeira and not visit Porto Moniz.

This charming little town is perched on the dramatic north western tip of Madeira.  A region comprised of towering mountains and views over the endless deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is secluded and in earlier days was cut off from the rest of the island and survived only by fishing.

The drive from Calheta, where we stayed to Porto Moniz is a treat on its own. Lots of stops along the way to capture some epic Madeira views.

We arrived at about 10h00 and the whole area was empty yet all the restaurants were open.

We asked ourselves the question; why is everything open when nobody is here? Approximately 2 hours later the place was packed with tour busses from the cruise ships, and our question was answered.

So, I would suggest visiting Porto Moniz early in the morning or in the afternoon when the day tourists have left again.

Natural Lava Pools

Porto Moniz is famous for its natural lava sea water pools.

The pools are filled naturally by the ocean’s high tide offering a dramatic setting for swimming or paddling.

Good to know is that the pools on the far right of the town are free of charge and as nice if not nicer as the main payable pools.

On the front promenade between the two naturals pools you will also find an amazing playground and an outside fitness station which kept us occupied for a while.

The sun got really strong by the afternoon and so we decided to try out the free pools. Still quite chilly for a proper swim, but the kids had fun dipping their feet in the cold Atlantic water.

Day trip to Porto Moniz from Funchal

If you don’t want to drive across the island you can join day trips from Funchal to Porto Moniz, and the west part of Madeira.

Teleférico das Achadas de Cruz

On our way back, we made the last minute decision to check out the cable car at Achadas de Cruz which brings you down to the most beautiful secluded and unique place; Fajã da Quebrada Nova.

I am so glad we did. Seriously Don’t miss “Achadas de Cruz!” It is one of the most scenic beauty spots on the northern coast of Madeira island, not far from the famous Porto Moniz

Nobody really talked about this place in 2017 when we visited.

Different now (2023) this place is pretty much on any Madeira trip itinerary and rightly so. Probably our favourite place during our Madeira itinerary.

I really hope this area can keep its roughness and untouched nature, and will not become a victim of mass tourism.

How to access, You access the area by the very steep Achadas de Cruz cable car.

We do live in an area with lots of cable cars, but the cable car in Achadas de Cruz is exceptionally steep and small. Standing on the top and looking down the sheer cliffs to where the cable car is terminating, it becomes a rather daunting excursion.

The cable car is operated by a funny old local character who keeps repeating “be careful, be careful, don’t miss the last one up, don’t miss the last one up.

The kids wanted to go in the cabin and down, so we did. There was just about place for the 4 of us. Heck, it was steep…

At the bottom we realised that there is nobody operating the cabin to come back up. Ok, no problem we will manage.

Fajã da Quebrada Nova

Many small uninhabited houses or beach huts is probably the better description, seem to have been left for nature to reclaim.

A nice path along the narrow strip with amazing flowers left and right. Not quite sure what to make out of this deserted area, but it was beautiful in its own right. And again, we had the place to ourselves.

We found out later from a fisherman that way back this was solely a fishing village. Today, only a few local fishermen use the area.

We suddenly remembered the old man at the top saying not to miss the last cabin up!  As it was already nearly 5pm, the sun was low and the colours on the high rising cliffs stretching up from the sea became more intense as the sun sunk lower on the horizon.

It was just simply beautiful and mesmerising, but time to head back.

Riding with the very last cable car up we took one last look down to this bizarre but most importantly, very impressive unihabitated village of Fajã da Quebrada Nova.

Day 7 / Home Journey & Leaving Madeira, Conclusion

Wow, what a week this has been in Madeira with the kids!

Totally surprised and happy we found Madeira on our map and booked a trip. (2017)
One week is a great amount of time to visit Madeira with kids.

However, if you would like to be a bit more active and add all the great hiking there is to discover in Madeira to your itinerary, then I would suggest making it a good 10 day stay.

Madeira has amazing hikes far away from it all. I am looking forward to exploring these hopefully rather sooner than later.

If you have some more time on your hands, plan a stopover on the mainland of Portugal. This perfect 2 weeks in Portugal Itinerary will help you plan this ahead.

Full day Madeira trip itinerary ideas

Below I have put together some ideas of how you could also spend your days on Madeira.

These are long, full days include some hiking trails and are not really suitable for families with smaller kids.

You can change them around as you wish. I just added them in a way that would make sense how to explore the island if you have a base accommodation in or near Funchal.

It all depends on the weather as well. For example, you do not want to hike any of the trails if it is pouring rain as the trails can get super slippery and become dangerous.

Best is to rent a car on Madeira. We always use Discover Cars.

Have fun on Madeira!

Discover more of Funchal

• Arriving on Madeira during the morning hours
• Visit Funchal old town. Maybe even the CR7 Museum – Cristiano Ronaldo.
• Funchal cable car to Monte, only get a one-way ticket. Visit the Monte Palace Botanical Gardens.
• Monte toboggan basket experience from Monte back down to Funchal
• Dolphin/whale watching – trip from Funchal check timings on this. You may need to postpone this to another day.

East point of Madeira

• Sao Lourenco – sunrise hike
• Praia de Machico – head for swimming and to relax. Optional visit Garajau Partial Nature Reserve – Snorkeling and diving.
• Pico do Arieiro – sunset, and if time allows stop at Balcões Levada viewpoint.

Waterfalls and famous hiking trail Madeira

• Cascata dos Anjos, Angelsfalls – roadside stop
• Praia da Madalena do Mar – beach, swimming
• 25 Fontes 11km hike – can get very busy (alternative, Levada da Rocha Vermelha, 15km)
• Praia da Calheta – beach front apero
• Miradouro da Raposeira – sunset viewpoint

North side – Porto Moniz & Fanal Forst

• Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools – get there for sunrise.
• Mirador Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela – photography spot. Equally nice for sunrise and then do the Porto Moniz pools afterwards.
• Fanal Porest Pond – optional hiking available or just wander around the forest and make some photos. When it is foggy this place is magical.
• Poça das Lesmas – Seixal beach – black sand beaches and volcanic rock pools.
• Ribeira do Inferno – great evening walk. Or come here the next morning early for a sunrise walk.

West side – Levada hiking

• Levada Prazeres – Raposeira – hike 6.7km.
• Miradouro do Massapez – viewpoint direct access.
• Garganta Funda – short hike to lighthouse viewpoint.
• Pico Vermelho – white and red windmill.
• Miradouro Ponta da Ladeira – finish the day with an epic sunset.

Madeira Travel Guide

• Madeira – An Island with many surprises

I hope that the information provided here on our Madeira trip itinerary with kids article proves itself useful.

If I have left anything out, please ask your questions in the comments below and share your experience so other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries and stories as well.

Never forget to explore!

Thanks for sharing it!