Madeira is an easy choice for anyone who enjoys exploring the great outdoors, culture and food. It has breathtaking landscapes that are the most accessible of anywhere I’ve been. The local people are still warm and helpful, despite the ratcheting of tension from the exponential rise in tourism.
Here are some helpful travel tips to ensure you get the most from your visit. Especially if you are nomading and are staying longer than the 4-day average.
1. Don’t rent a car
At least for most of the time. With just buses and the odd taxi/ ride-share, you can reach so many incredible places. Sure, you can’t reach everywhere, but where you do go … you’re not anchored by a car. Access one-way walks, avoid parking mayhem and relax. Enjoy the scenery while someone else drives.
2. Learn a bit of Portuguese
Portuguese is classed as ‘easy’ to learn. Sure, compared to Chinese or Arabic. But the accent is tough, really tough. However, if you persevere and try as much Portuguese as you can brave, you will be rewarded with a warm smile here or appreciative nod there. It feels good.
3. Tuck into snack bars
For the very best food memory bang for your buck, you can’t beat snack bars. This is where the locals eat, where you’ll find great-value and great-tasting food. Whether it’s seafood in a roll or the incredible bolo do caco … don’t waste money on fancy less-authentic places.
4. Get wise
To avoid ATM charges and have the convenience of a payment card, get something like a Wise card. Load it up with money (we load on both GBP and NZD), and it’ll work out which is the better exchange rate when you use it. Our cash withdrawals have been zero fee, and it’s always worked wherever multibanco cards are accepted (most places).
5. Funchal is the best base
Especially without a car. There are so many things you can do in and around the city, but it’s also the heart of the transport system. Here you have by far the most eating options, supermarkets, amenities and infrastructure.
6. But not São Martinho!
To the west of Funchal is the hotel district of São Martinho. It’s a soulless collection of hotels, holiday apartment complexes and all the over-priced could-be-anywhere cafes and boutiques. You could be on the Algarve or a Costa. Madeira really isn’t a beach destination, so stay somewhere with a bit more soul.
7. Beat the crowds
Get a bus as early as you can for the more popular walks like PR1 Vereda do Areeiro (book this one at least 2 days before), PR8 São Lourenço, PR11 Vereda Dos Balcões etc. There are plenty that leave around 7–8am that will get you to trailheads before the crowds really pick up.
8. Add-on walks
Not being anchored by a car, we were free to extend popular trails and create longer point-to-point hikes. PR3 Vereda dos Burros after PR1 Vereda do Areeiro, or PR10 Levada do Furado after PR11 Vereda dos Balcōes for example. Many of these easily overlooked walks were among our favourites – the walks down to Sāo Vicente, Curral das Freiras and Câmara dos Lobos in particular.
9. Be prepared!
This should go without saying but don’t forget to pack good footwear and weather-appropriate clothes. Even easy-grade walks become treacherous after a bit of rain – and it can rain a lot more than you or the forecast would expect. Whether walking a levada or some steep cobbles in Funchal … I’ve seen plenty of folks wearing the wrong shoes take a spill.
10. See less, see more
Madeira has so much to offer in such a small space. The temptation to see everything is a powerful one. But resist. You’ll get much more from your time by exploring fewer places in more depth than by cramming in as much as you can. And just a few hundred metres from crowded tourist hotspots you’ll find peaceful havens and warm welcomes. Don’t be in a hurry to get caught-up in the scrum of over-tourism that’s crushing Madeira.
