Madeira · Things to do

Things to Do in Madeira

Q: Do I need to book activities in advance in Madeira?

For whale watching, canyoning and jeep tours, book 1–3 days ahead in peak season (June–September) – boats and small-group tours sell out. Classified PR hiking trails need a separate paid SIMplifica booking with a timed entry slot.

Q: What is the single best activity for a first visit?

A half-day boat trip from Funchal marina – whale and dolphin sightings are close to guaranteed year-round, and it needs no fitness or hiking gear.

Q: Is Madeira good for adventure sports?

Yes – canyoning, coasteering and via ferrata are all run commercially under licensed operators, mostly in the north and east of the island where the ravines and cliffs suit them.

Q: Can I do a jeep tour if I get carsick on hairpin roads?

Madeira's roads are genuinely switchback-heavy. Sit in the front seat, take medication in advance if you're prone to it, and consider the tunnel-heavy modern roads (used by most operators) over the old cliff roads.

Peaks, boat days, levada walks and jeep tours – the sights and activities worth booking on Madeira, with real prices and which operator to pick.

Updated September 2026

Big-ticket day trip: West coast jeep tour, ~€64–70
Most-booked boat trip: Whale & dolphin watching, ~€35–54
Book ahead: PR trails need a paid SIMplifica slot
Free and unbookable: Cabo Girão skywalk, Monte gardens view

On the water for whales and the coastline, adventure sports for canyoning and coasteering, or a jeep tour if you want the west coast and Fanal Forest done for you in a day.

Jagged volcanic peaks rising above a sea of cloud, seen from Pico do Arieiro in Madeira

Start here · The guide

Things to Do in Madeira: Peaks, Levadas & the Best Days Out (2026)

Madeira is mountains, levadas and big Atlantic views packed onto one island. Here's what's worth your time – the peaks, the walks, Funchal and the coast – and how to fit it together.

Read the guide

How most visitors spend a day out

A typical trip mixes one paid activity with free sightseeing on the same coast. Book whale and dolphin watching or the Santa Maria de Colombo cruise from Funchal marina in the morning, then use the afternoon for the free Cabo Girão skywalk or a walk through Monte. If you would rather cover the whole island in one go, a west coast jeep tour or east coast tour does the driving for you.

Adventure sports need a licensed operator

Canyoning and coasteering are run under Madeira's RNAAT tourism licence – always check the operator holds one before paying. Canyoning starts around Level 1 for beginners; coasteering at the Caniçal cliffs needs no experience but does need a swim test.

The one thing that catches people out

The classic PR-numbered levada trails (Caldeirão Verde, the Pico do Arieiro–Ruivo ridge) now require a paid time-slot booking through the government SIMplifica portal, not a walk-up. Book that before the boat trips and jeep tours, since slots for the popular routes go first.

In Funchal