Madeira Road Trip
Summary
Why travel to Madeira
Madeira, famously called Pearl of the Atlantic by the locals is a volcanic island that offers a warm and subtropical climate all year long. Tourists usually visit the island for hiking which has become hugely popular over the years, the astonishing landscapes and obviously the summery weather you can get any time of the year. Road trip lovers won’t be disappointed by the roads in Madeira. They’re just crazy and twisty everywhere which makes it fun to drive around and explore the island.
When is the best time to visit Madeira
Because of the weather being consistently warm and tropical all year round there is no specific time to visit if you care about the weather. If possible, best to coincide your trip with Funchal’s Rio style Carnival, one of the best in the world and the biggest party in the capital city of Madeira. It takes place annually forty days before Easter. Another event that might interest you is Madeira’s Flower Festival which will take place between the 1st and 24th October 2021. December is also a great time to visit especially for New Year’s Eve as Madeira is well known for their fireworks displays that are said to be the best in the world.
How many days do you need in Madeira
Spending around five days in Madeira should give you enough time to drive around, explore major sights and enjoy what the island has to offer. We spent three days when we visited which was a good amount of time but we could have spent an extra couple of days to explore the middle of the island.
How to travel around Madeira
Renting a car is by far the best option. Having your own car makes things a lot easier and you will get to see a lot more. Also note that the majority of the roads in Madeira are great for driving and offer stunning views of the coastline all the way. Make sure you check the road conditions before heading anywhere on the island.
You will have a wide choice of hotels and Airbnbs across the island. Get in touch for my recommendations on where to stay.
Things to do before you go
Sort out your car rental before you leave. The official Madeira tourism website has a useful list of car rental companies you can use.
Make sure your passport is valid and check your visa requirements as new entry requirements have applied in Portugal since 1 January 2021.
Covid-19 update – can I travel to Madeira, Portugal?
From Monday 17 May 2021, there are no restrictions on travelling to Portugal, including Madeira from England and Scotland. This means people from both countries are allowed to visit Portugal for a holiday as long as they have a negative PCR result within the previous 72 hours.
If you are travelling from any other non-EU/EEA country or a EU/EEA country with a COVID-19 incidence rate of 150 cases or more per 100,000 inhabitants then travelling to Portugal is only allowed for essential purposes.
You must complete an online passenger locater form before your arrival to Portugal so local public health authorities can trace you in case you are exposed to COVID-19 during your trip.
Check the Official Website for Portuguese Immigration for further information on entry requirements and COVD-19.
3 things to know when driving in Madeira
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You must be a confident driver if you want to attempt to be behind the wheels in Madeira – the roads are steep, narrow and extremely twisty
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There is a motorway called The Via Rapida that links Machico east of the island to Ribeira Da Vaca on the west via the airport and Funchal. Using the motorway can help you save a lot of time as the other roads on the islands are not so direct
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Watch out for debris on the road after rock falls and intense wind and rain
Best Madeira road trip itinerary – 4 days
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Funchal
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Cape Girão
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Pico Fernandes
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Ponta Da Pargo
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Porto Moniz
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Sao Vicente
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Pico de Arieiro
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Santana
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Porto da Cruz
France
A two-week trip going through France from the Loire region to Dordogne as well as the Pyrenees.
