10 Tips you MUST know before coming to Madeira
1. Pack layers
Tourists often come to Madeira expecting sun all year round. Maybe it’s because Madeira is being sold as the “Hawaii in Europe”. However, the weather in Madeira can change in a heartbeat: it could be sunny in the morning and midsty in the afternoon. Or vice-versa.
Besides changing around the day, you also need to take into consideration how temperature shifts as you go to higher altitudes. Although the weather may be 20ºC for Funchal, that’s certainly near the ocean. If you go to Monte, it will be cooler.
Adding to that, weather predictions can’t be always trusted either. Ever since I moved to Madeira, I’ve noticed that both the temperatures and the hourly rain predictions tend to be off – and it’s even worse in Porto Santo. So, you need to take all of this into consideration when you pack.
My biggest tip is to pack layers for different types of weather. Do not based yourself on weather predictions and don’t be caught off guard if it drizzles. At any given time, you’ll probably need a t-shirt, a sweater, and a rain jacket. If you’re hiking, here’s my “must” packing list for Madeira.
2. Check the webcams
As said, the weather in Madeira changes quickly. But it also changes a lot from place to place. I can’t tell you how many times we left sunny Funchal to encounter a windy Caniço, or left a rainy airport to then reach a sunny Ponta do Sol. There are a number of microclimates on the island.
So how are you supposed to manage this on your holidays? Simple. Check the webcams. There are webcams throughout the island, allowing you to see what the weather is like all around. Then, decide where to go. That’s why it’s so important to remain flexible about what to do and where to go.
3. Mind the tourist traps
Madeira is a highly touristic place and, of course, it’s not immune to tourist traps. The most well-known one is Mercado dos Lavradores, although that’s a double edged sword. On one hand, no visit to Funchal is complete without going to the Farmer’s Market. On another hand, you need to mind the prices to avoid being scammed.
One of my best tips before coming to Madeira is to check what’s in season. Things are in season are likely cheaper and sourced locally. Other tropical fruits may be imported from South America, which is a scam in itself. If you’re looking for more info, check my other article about tourist traps in Madeira.
4. Do not come for pastéis de nata
Madeira is not Portugal. I mean, it is, but is has its own identity. Pastéis de Nata (also known as Pastéis de Belém) are traditional from Lisbon. Although you can find them throughout the country – and Madeira now has a chain store Nata 7 – this isn’t the place to try them or look for a workshop to learn how to make them.
There’s so much local cuisine to uncover. Look for bolo do caco (a flatbread with sweet potato), pão de casa (also with sweet potato), bolo de noiva (a sweet bread), milho frito (fried cornmeal), poncha (the local cocktail), tomato soup, tuna or scabbard fish, lapas (limpets), espetada (beef skewers) or picado (a shareable dish).
If you have a sweet tooth, you have the aforementioned tropical fruits and honey cake, which is actually prepared with sugar cane syrup and not bee honey. Then you have multiple cookies, bolo preto, and bolo Fidalfédia. You can find these are local cafés, smaller supermarkets and bakeries.
5. Respect the environment
I say “respect the environment” because I don’t want to write a heading saying “bring a rubbish bag”. But seriously, do! So many people go on hikes and leave toilet paper and toiletteries behind. In fact, I’ve covered this before on the 7 commandements to be a respectful tourist in Madeira.
If you’re going on hikes, pack some wipes, a bag, and make sure not to leave anything behind. If you’re on the beach, don’t leave bottles on the rocks. If you’re making a picnic at the mountains, make sure napkins are not flying with the wind. In other words, leave nature just like you found it.
6. Consider renting a car
Another tip if you’re coming to Madeira is renting a car. Although the island looks small on the map, public transportation is lacking. If you want to go outside of Funchal – and I really urge you to go – renting a car is the best way to discover other parts of the island. That said, traffic has really gotten out of control these last few years.
So what’s my advice? Plan your route really well so that you only need to rent the car for a couple of days. In my itinerary, you only need to rent a car for 2 to 3 days to enjoy your week. Besides, I also give you some alternatives for daytrips using public transportation or recognised tour guides.
If you don’t drive, you need to be a little more careful planning your days. You’ll need to spend some money to get the best tours (don’t get on a bus with 50 other people) – but hey, renting a car costs money too. Just spend some time exploring your options and, extra tip, book early!
7. Embrace the festivals
No matter the time of the year, chances are there will be an arraial (let’s say, local celebrations or festivals) on the island. In March, there was the cherimoya festival in Faial. In April, we’ll have Festa do Limão in Santana. And that’s only an example! Every month, I do a roundup of things to do and there’s always one.
These festivities are an opportunity to look into local culture for real. There will be music, there will be food, there will be proper bolo do caco (not the tourist traps you’ll find in Funchal!), there’s food (usually sandwiches and espetadas), and drinks. Poncha is nonnegotiable, but be careful if you’re going to drive afterward.
8. Remember that Uber works too
When you come to Madeira, you’ll see local taxis everywhere. They are bright yellow with a blue stripe, and called “abelhinhas” (little bees) by locals. Taxis are a very convenient way to move around: you can take a bus to a smaller town and then use a taxi to get to the levada, for example.
But another tip you must know before coming to Madeira is that Uber works too. Well, Bolt works better. But the point is these types of apps work here, and cars must be signalled as TVDE. And this is a very good tip because trips from the airport to Funchal (or elsewhere on the island) are significantly cheaper using TVDE than a taxi.
One thing, though, is that Uber and Bolt tend to work better if you’re making a trip within Funchal or departing from Funchal. In smaller towns, there may not be Ubers available or you may have longer wait times. But it’s worth a try! I’ve covered this subject a little better on my article “Does Uber work in Madeira?”.
9. Take tours early on your Trip
As I’ve said before, there are several Madeiras within Madeira. The South and North coasts look very different from one another. And because different people like different things, it’s impossible to predict what will resonate with you better. Therefore, I’d recommend taking trips early on your trip.
In my one week itinerary, I suggest a slow first day to get acclimated. Then, you can start exploring the island. Doing this earlier on your trip allows you to decide where you want to spend your last day on the island – or even go back to your favourite spots.
10. Do not use google maps blindly
And never, never use Apple Maps. You may be used to following Google Maps almost blindly when you travel. Well, not in Madeira. There are two problems with these maps: first, some of directions are wrong. When I first moved, Google Maps took me into a one-direction street… on the wrong direction.
But that’s not the worst part. Google Maps often looks for the “quickest” road. It will suggest you to turn on veredas, go through streets with 30ºC inclination, and so on, simplt because it saves you a few meters. It doesn’t take into account how hard it is to drive in some of those settings. It gets worse in rural areas, but it has let me down in Funchal too.
The golden tip for those coming to Madeira is to stick to main roads: Via Rápida, Via Expresso and roads marked as ER. Use your good sense and follow the locals. If you can, look up your route for the next day at night with street view. And of course, drive slowly and carefully.