What to do in April in Madeira
The light is better, the days are longer, the flowers look brighter and the calendar is filled with local festivities. Welcome to April in Madeira!
The month starts off with a holiday on the 2nd of April. It’s the Dia da Autonomia, meaning “Autonomy Day”, celebrating the island’s political autonomy since 1976. Since this is a newer holiday, there aren’t a lot of traditions associated with this holiday.
However, if you’re using public transport, you should look for holiday’s timetables. Some restaurants, shops and services may likewise be closed. And then, this year Good Friday falls on April 3rd, so you should prepare yourself for a long, holiday weekend.
Get on Board with Easter Traditions, 3-5 April
In 2026, Good Friday falls on the 3rd of April and Easter Sunday falls on 5 April. And Madeira is still a very religious community where people prepare their houses to receive the Holy Spirit in the following days. I wasn’t privy to these traditions while I lived in the mainland, and the religious side still confuses me.
However, I think we call get on board with a few traditions. Eastertime is known for its sweets, namely amêndoas de Páscoa (Easter almonds and dragees), amêndoas moles (a softer version of the traditional almonds), and torrões, a sugar-based fruit sweets with a texture akin to marzipan’s.
Madeira being Madeira, you can expect a twist on all of these. Fábrica de Santo António produces over 20 tonnes of Easter Almonds yearly, with flavours such as passion fruit, anise, orange, and other tropical fruits. Apart from the traditional Fábrica de Santo António, you can also try some traditional sweets at bakeries like Sésamo and Viana.
Attend Festa do Limão in Santana, 11–12 April
Every month, I keep telling you to attend a traditional “arraial” : local festivities with food, music, and good disposition. One of the greatest ones this month is the lemon festival in the small parish of Ilha, in Santana. Despite being the island’s second smallest parish, it produces around 90 tonnes of lemons a year, which feels like an absurd amount.
Along with the lemon festival, there’s also a Festa do Despique, which is something you have to experience – no translation can truly make justice to this raucous party where people spar verses on the spot. Thing rap battle, but with an accordion, copious wine, and a thick Madeiran accent thrown in the mix.
Enjoy the Madeira Rum Festival, 14–18 April
Throughout April and May, Funchal is filled with events in the city centre. The first of these will the Madeira Rum Festival from April 14th to April 18th. This little festival brings together all the producers of aguardente, a fermented drink made from sugar cane similar to rum. It’s one of the main ingredients in poncha.
You can taste different drinks produced on the island, attend masterclasses, speedtastings and concerts at the venue. It’s a free, open-air event (you only pay for the drinks!). So, if you distilled drinks, this may be interesting for you. I’d also like to point out the traditional wicker chairs at the venue, made from vine or sugarcane waste.
Explore VivaCidade in Funchal, 16–18 April
When I said Funchal would be packed with events, I wasn’t lying. At the same time as the Rum Festival, the city council promotes the VivaCidade event, with performances and music spread across key spots in the city centre. So, if you’re coming at that time, prepare for what will look like impromptu performances all around.
See Expo Tropical, also in Funchal, 23–26 April
Expo Tropical returns from the 23rd to the 26th April. The event, which is usually at the Promenade, celebrates Madeira’s subtropical fruits (cherimoya, avocados, banana, pitaya, passion fruint, and so on). There will be small food stalls, entertainment and concerts. The proceeds go to disadvantaged communities in the Sta. Maria Maior parish.
Taste loquats and Passion Fruit
I always warn tourists that they should look for what’s on season when they go to the Farmer’s Market. Otherwise, you’ll end up buying overpriced, imported fruits from Latin America. In April, we’ll start having loquats (nêsperas, in Portuguese) and different kinds of passion fruit (maracujá).
Of course, bananas are available all year around. There’s the classic, tiny Madeira bananas, but also passion fruit banana and banana prata. With some luck, you may also be able to find the very first strawberries, blackberries and pepino melon ( known as pêla meloa or melão da terra).
Look Out for the Flowers
Apart from the fruits, you should also look out for flowers at the market. Around this time you’ll start seeing dazzling, bright proteas, either in yellow or orange. There are also larger, pink proteas, but those wither rather quickly. I also like orange caninhas da Índia, as well as a local smaller, white flowers that have a lovely perfume.
Have a Beach day in Machico
The weather in April can be Summery and delightful, or it can be stormy like a late Winter. There have been years when I was happily swimming in April, like 2024, and years when the ocean was choppy and unwelcoming, such as 2025. I hope you’re mentally prepared for this roulette.
However, the artificial sand beach in Machico tends to be calmer (it’s protected from the tides) and warmer (the climate on that part of the island is drier). So, if you’re staying for a week, I’m positive you’ll have at least one day at the beach in Machico. Towards the end of the month, the likelihood is even greater.
Hike at Ponta de São Lourenço
If you want one walk that’s high reward without being a levada, try Ponta de São Lourenço. It’s dry, dramatic, and may be windy at this time of the year, but that’s better than the unforgiving heat of the Summer months. If the weather is nice, you may even go for a swim at the end!
Surf in Seixal or Porto da Cruz
Madeira’s North Coast is cooler, choppier, and better for surfing. While most surfers prefer to come between October and March, you’ll probably still find some decent waves in April both in Seixal (Porto Moniz) and at Porto da Cruz (Machico). There are surf schools in both villages, and the infrastructure at Praia da Alagoa is excellent. (
In the picture, it’s actually São Vicente.)
Levadas: 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde
Speaking of levadas, most of them are in the clear when in comes to April. I’ve already recommended Caldeirão Verde in March, since it looks positively lush. This levada will take a whole day to complete, since it’s 8.7 kms (single way) or 17.4 km (roundtrip). It’s also a hard one, so you should be fit and not afraid of heights.
Another option is Levada das 25 Fontes (medium difficulty), which runs parallel to Levada do Risco (easier). If you need help to buy your levada tickets in Madeira, I’ve covered here how to use SIMplifica to both book and pay for your levada tickets.
Canyoning and More Adrenaline in Madeira
If you want an adrenaline day that isn’t just hiking and climbing, canyoning might just do the trick. After the rain season, the water streams aren’t dry. Yet, going into the central mountain range is usually safe and pleasant at this time of the year. If you’re looking for a reputable company, I recommend Epic Madeira.
Sunrise in the mountains, Or a late sunset reward
In the last few years, seeing the sunrise from the peaks has become quite popular. However, driving through the clouds and cold in the early mornings of January, February and March doesn’t make for the best plan. Take it from one who’s been there. In April, things start to change.
Obviously, the sun rises earlier so you’ll need to wake up early to get to Pico do Areeiro, Pico Ruivo, Bica da Cana or even the peaks around Funchal before sunrise. It will still be a little cold (do bring warm layers), but once the sun rises it’s just right for a warm cup of hot cocoa, tea, or morning coffee.
If you don’t like to get up early while on holiday, I suggest seeing the sunset from up there. It’s equally beautiful, and the logistics are simpler. Throughout April, sunset will be around 20:00-20:30, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your day.
Get on a Boat in the Late Afternoon
If you don’t want to drive, then settle for the next best thing: seeing the sunset from a boat. Boat tours tend to go longer from April onwards, allowing you to see the sunset from the sea, or go for a late afternoon swim right below Cabo Girão.
Challenge Yourself on MIUT weekend
MIUT stands for “Madeira Island Ultra-Trail” and it’s an event like any other. This ultra-trail event covers the whole island, peak to peak, coast to coast, tip to tip, leaving no stone unturned on the whole island. Most tickets are sold out, but there are still a few left if you think you’re up for the challenge.
This year, MIUT starts April 25th at midnight and ends April 26th at 08:30. Coincidentally, April 25th is also a public holiday. This time, we celebrate the end of the dictatorship in 1974. Because of its historical importance, most Portuguese respect this holiday.