Best Things To Do In Madeira

Madeira is an island owned by Portugal, situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. I visited the island in September and it has to be my favorite destination so far. The island is beautiful, green and full of amazing nature. If you like the outdoors, then you'll love Madeira. Here's the best things to do in Madeira if you're thinking of heading to the Portuguese island.

1. Hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo 

This is the most popular hiking route on the island of Madeira and there's no question as to why. The route is made up of steep staircases and narrow paths that overlook sheer drops. I'd be lying if I said the hike was easy, but it was worth the incredible mountain views. We hiked the route ourselves but booked transfers with a company called Pico Transfers who picked us up from our hotel and dropped us off at Pico do Arieiro for sunrise. They then picked us up from Pico Ruivo 5 hours later. I couldn't recommend them enough.

2. Levada das 25 Fontes

The island of Madeira is full of 'Levadas', small channels that carry water from one place to another and they make beautiful walking trails. The most popular Levada walk on Madeira is the 25 Fontes walk and features many beautiful waterfalls. We booked this as a group tour and would recommend doing so because the paths can be very narrow and wet. The tour also included transfers from Funchal and our guide gave us lots of insights to the Levadas in Madeira.

3. Whale and Dolphin watching

Madeira is home to many species of dolphins and whales. We booked a boat tour which allowed to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. The tour we booked even offered the opportunity to swim with the dolphins, but this could only be done with a certain type of dolphin which didn't make an appearance on our trip. We did however see many types of whale, including beautiful Sperm Whales.

4. Farmers Market: Mercado dos Lavradores

This market can be found near the centre of Funchal and displays a beautiful range of fresh fruit, vegetables and plants. It's lovely to explore and see all the beautiful colours and fresh fruits on display. Some of the sellers even offered out some fruit for us to try.

5. Cable car from Funchal

From Funchal you can board the 'Teleferico do Funchal' which is a cable car that runs from Funchal to Monte and the journey takes around 15 minutes one-way. Riding the cable car is a great way to see the city of Funchal from a different perspective where you can enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the city and the ocean. The cable car is also a convenient way to get to Monte.

6. Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Once you arrive in Monte after your ride on the cable car, you must explore the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. The gardens are full of colourful and tropical plants, alongside ponds and waterfalls. There are secret pathways, Koi fish and many elements inspired by a Japanese garden. This was one of my favourite attractions in Funchal and I would definitely recommend it.