Madeira

1. Levada Hike

2. Poncha

3. Lunch

4. Tasting at Blandys

5. The top sights

6. More excursion tips for Funchal

7. Funchal on foot with Audioguide

8. Cruiseportguide Funchal

9. Book shore excursions

    9.1 Meine Landausflüge

    9.2 Get Your Guide

    9.3 Viator

Madeira is a green oasis in the middle of the Atlantic. While the Portuguese island enjoys spring-like weather all year round, it is also possible to experience all four seasons in a single day. The island has a population of approximately 250,000, with over 100,000 living in the capital, Funchal.

Funchal is very easy to explore on foot and on your own, as there is so much to discover. However, excursions into Madeira’s stunning landscape are also highly recommended. Since cruise ships in Funchal usually have very long port stays, you can easily combine an island tour with a stroll through the city.

Madeira and the Levadas are inseparable. Levadas are man-made irrigation channels designed to carry water from the high-rainfall regions in the north to the drier regions in the south to supply the fields. Today, hiking along the 2,000-kilometer network of Levadas has become extremely popular and is a significant source of tourism income for the island.

Our hike was truly beautiful and very informative; you learn a great deal about the local agriculture and Madeira’s diverse natural environment.

After the hike, we stopped at a bar for some refreshments; we were told we had to try Poncha, the traditional drink of Madeira. Poncha typically consists of aguardente (a spirit made from fresh sugar cane juice), honey, and local lemons. Despite the honey, the lemons make the Poncha quite sour, but it tastes truly delicious. However, it seems to only taste right on Madeira—we took a bottle home with us, but somehow it wasn't quite as good as it was on holiday.

For those who enjoy staying active, Baja Bikes is a great choice. Here, you can book guided city tours with local guides.

We had lunch at the home of a former sea captain who purchased a property on Madeira where he now offers riding lessons. He only operates the restaurant for his riding students and TUI tour groups. We were served homemade bread, garlic potatoes, salad, and espetadas—a dish typical of Madeira. These meat skewers were grilled over an open fire and were absolutely delicious, as was everything else served.

Throughout the meal, the "Commandante" shared funny stories, and we must have raised a toast with him at least 20 times! After lunch, we took a stroll across his estate to see the animals; it was a truly wonderful experience.

During our first visit to Funchal, we happened to stumble upon Blandy’s, the famous Madeira wine producers. Back then, we didn't have enough time for a tour, but this time we wanted to learn everything about how Madeira wine is made. The guided tour is very informative, and of course, the tasting at the end is a must. Naturally, we picked up two more bottles so we can enjoy a little piece of Madeira at home every now and then.

Madeira is an extremely popular travel destination. In addition to the cruise ships docking here, Funchal attracts many day-trippers and holidaymakers staying on the island. As a result, long queues can form at the top attractions, or tickets may only be available for specific time slots. For the following sights, we recommend booking skip-the-line tickets or fixed time slots in advance:

Staus 2026

Madeira can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.

AOYO gives you the opportunity to explore Funchal on your own and at your own pace, without having to miss out on the in-depth knowledge of experienced tour guides. Your city tour with the audioguide includes 18 stations covering Funchal's most important sights.

All you need to do is download the AOYO app to your smartphone and enter your download code after purchasing the audioguide. From that point on, you can use the guide offline and with unlimited access.

Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

Would you like to never miss a post and be instantly notified whenever I publish new content? If so, feel free to sign up for the newsletter.