I spent a week in Madeira, and it was a phenomenal experience. Here are 10 fun things to do when you visit the island!

1. Explore the black sand beaches

The volcanic rock is broken down by the water into fine, dark sand. It’s fun to look at, walk on, and play with. The beach I went to in Seixal, Madeira wasn’t very big, but it also was surprisingly vacant during a weekday afternoon.

2. Get lost in the Fanal Forest

The Fanal Forest is a rather well-known spot for hiking in a mist-covered landscape. Because of the mysterious fog, it can be quite disorienting to walk amongst the 600 year old trees. Yes, there are paths in and around, or you could just walk anywhere and hope for the best!

3. Catch a cable car (and then a sled)

See the beautiful sites of Funchal by riding a cable car, then take a wicker sled to get back down. Read about my experience here.

4. Walk around Funchal

Funchal is a very walkable small city. The Rua de Santa Maria is a fun little street with painted doors and lots of yummy restaurants. Don’t miss The Workers Market that sells flowers, fruit, vegetables, wine, etc. You can also walk along the ocean on Avenida do Mar, viewing various sculptures and memorials along the way.

5. Hike peak to peak

Pico do Ariero is quite an experience! Although I didn’t make it all the way to Pico do Ruivo, you can read about my trek here.

6. Swim in the natural pools in Porto Maniz

Porto Moniz is a pretty popular coastal town in Madeira. They have places where you can swim in natural pools alongside the ocean coast. The location and shape of the rock creates a natural barrier from the crashing waves. The sea water trickles in at a manageable pace and creates a unique atmosphere for swimming.

7. Walk along one of the many levadas

The levadas of Madeira are essentially engineered channels for water to flow. As early as the 15th century, they were created to bring water from the higher elevations to irrigate the fields and support day-to-day life. Now, the levadas can be found all around the island, and offer an excellent pathway to explore nature. What was originally intended for water transportation now provides an elaborate network of walking trails around the island.

8. Rappel off a waterfall

Click here to read about my experiences canyoning in Madeira!

9. Feed a tortoise at the Turtle Museum

While strolling about in Porto Maniz, I came across a tortoise.

Yes – a tortoise.

He (she?) was in a small enclosure outside of the Turtle Museum, and the gentleman caring for her held out some lettuce, insisting I take it.

I then proceeded to feed a tortoise, which was way more fun than I would ever have imagined.

Afterwards, I went into the museum and enjoyed looking at the many turtles/tortoises they had on display. A great deal for only 3 euros!

10. Drive along the northern coast

As soon as I landed in Madeira, I picked up a rental car. Although it’s possible to take public transport or tour buses, having my own set of wheels made exploring the island a lot easier. The northern part of the island is cooler and slightly rainier than the south where Funchal is located. I spent one whole day cruising along the coast, stopping at overlooks to admire the seaside towns and clusters of waterfalls. I was also able to hit up Porto Moniz and Seixal (see above) for some fun activities.

Although there are many more experiences you could have in Madeira, these were some of my favorites! Happy exploring. 🙂