Madeira Walking Tours: 14 Routes Worth the Morning

1.Funchal: Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,233 reviews · 2 hours · from $19Our pick

Spend two hours walking central Funchal with a Madeiran Heritage guide such as Annabelle, Elias, Elea, or Hannah. Visit the Farmers’ Market, a 19th-century sweet factory, old fortifications, the Cathedral, Jesuits’ Church, and a traditional wine lodge. The small groups, archive images, and student-support mission add real value.

“It was wonderful! My guide was very knowledgeable and super sweet! It was a great introduction to the city and the history! I would highly recommend if it's your first time in Madeira!”

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2.Madeira: Enjoy a Guided Levada Walk in the Rabaçal Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,197 reviews · 8 hours · from $50

Join Lido Tours for an eight-hour guided walk from Funchal to Madeira’s Rabaçal Valley. Follow the Risco and 25 Fontes levadas, spot native plants, pass an 800-meter water tunnel, and return by hotel transfer. Guides such as Sara and Ruby explain the island’s flora, wildlife, and irrigation system in several languages.

“lovely walking tour. beautiful views and everything was prompt and walked at a good pace. great if you don't want to hire a car and still experience the famous walks”

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3.Funchal: East Madeira Island Guided Tour & Laurissilva Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,194 reviews · 7 hours · from $35

From Funchal, spend seven hours exploring eastern Madeira with an English, Portuguese, French, or Spanish-speaking guide. You’ll visit Pico do Areeiro, walk a short levada route at Ribeiro Frio, see Santana’s thatched houses, taste sugarcane rum in Porto da Cruz, and finish at Ponta do Rosto. Guides such as Bruna, Guilherme, Diego, and William are known for lively commentary.

“Diogo was such an amazing tour guide, very attentive and knowledgeable! We got to spend a good amount of time at all the different spots, and were given some options for things to do at each location. Even with the weather not being the best it was so much fun and for a whole day out very good value for money! Would highly recommend especially if you’re not driving in Funchal, a great way to see the East of the island.”

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4.Madeira East Island Tour and Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 800 reviews · 8 hours · from $64

Spend about eight hours touring Madeira’s east by minibus, with stops at Pico do Arieiro, Ribeiro Frio, Santana, Faial, Porto da Cruz, Machico, and São Lourenço viewpoints. Guides such as Lucy, Carlos, Tony, and Gamma are known for lively local detail. Shared tours include a three-course lunch with drinks, while private tours do not.

“Excellent trip with a wonderful group of people. Our guide Michael was very knowledgeable and made the trip a real pleasure. The meal was delicious. Would recommend this trip if you visit Madeira.”

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5.Taste Funchal: food, wine and cultural tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 680 reviews · 4 hours · from $109

Walk Funchal’s old center with guides such as Ana, Elda, or Darleen, stopping for Madeira wine, poncha, pastries, market produce, local dishes, and coffee. The four-hour tour includes food and drinks, offers vegetarian, gluten-free, and nonalcoholic choices, and works well as an early-trip introduction to Madeira.

“We really enjoyed our walking tour with Elda. She was really informative with a personal touch of her experiences of Madeira and its food and wine. The lunch was delicious with visits to other places for wine tasting, poncha (local rum based drink) , pastel de nata and coffee and the local biscuit shop. Thoroughly recommend this tour.”

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6.Madeira: Food and Wine Walking Tour in Funchal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 469 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $111

Walk through Funchal with an English-speaking guide such as Matt, Roberto, Isabel, or Ana, stopping at eight venues for 11 food tastings and six drinks. You’ll try Madeira wine, bolo do caco, marinated pork, poncha, seasonal fruit, chocolate, honey cake, scabbard fish, tuna, and more. Expect a relaxed 3.5-hour route for up to 10 people.

“Matt was our guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. We enjoyed our time and loved the food and drinks. It was great to hear some of the history of Funchal as well. We would definitely recommend this tour to others. Thank you for a fantastic experience.”

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7.From Funchal: Madeira Peaks Mountain Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 380 reviews · 8 hours · from $50

Join a guided mountain walk from Funchal to Madeira’s highest summit, Pico Ruivo. The roughly 10-kilometer route includes steep steps, metal stairs, rock formations, old heather forest, and views across the island. Guides such as Sara, Charlotte, and Rubi have led the walk, with alternative routes used when weather closes the peaks.

“Before the trip I received lots of reminders about the kind of footwear and clothing to wear and to bring lunch, this was great and ensured I was prepared. We were picked up at the time specified from our hotel and felt safe with our driver who was excellent. Sara our guide was really nice and friendly and gave us lots of information along the way. The views during the walk are stunning. The walk is pretty hard work in the heat, it’s 10km and a lot of up and down on uneven ground so be prepared to sweat and bring plenty of water. It’s an amazing day and well…”

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8.Madeira: Santana Jeep Safari and Referta Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 239 reviews · 8 hours · from $72

Spend a full day crossing eastern Madeira by Jeep, from Pico do Areeiro’s 1,818-meter summit to Santana, a short levada walk, Porto da Cruz, and Ponta de São Lourenço. Guides such as Pedro, Gil, Miguel, and Victor add local stories, safe off-road driving, and flexible stops. Funchal pickup is available.

“Miguel was a brilliant guide, passionate and enthusiastic to share so much information about everything we passed. A well balanced trip with gentle walk and beautiful view points. Didn’t realise we would stop at a restaurant for lunch in Sentana, maybe I miss read. Sentana itself seemed only a tourist trap and lacked charm. Miguel puts a lot into his work and it shows. Recommend”

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9.Levada Walk and Caldeirao Verde Waterfalls: Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 205 reviews · 7 hours · from $46

Follow Madeira’s Caldeirão Verde levada from Queimadas Forest Park on a guided 4.5-hour walk. Expect forest paths, cliffside sections, low tunnels, waterfalls, and views toward Santana and São Jorge. Guides such as Alvaro and Philip add local insight. Bring food, water, sturdy shoes, and a torch.

“We got exactly what we paid for (except a hotel pick up). Alvaro was a great and funny guide who offered loads of information. We would have preferred a self guided tour, but this tour actually pleasantly surprised us.”

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10.Madeira Island: Caldeirão Verde Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 159 reviews · 7 hours · from $54

Walk 13 kilometers through Madeira’s Laurissilva Forest with a multilingual mountain guide, passing four basalt tunnels before reaching Caldeirão Verde waterfall. Pickup, transport, insurance, and a 30-minute stop are included. Bring sturdy shoes, food, water, and rain gear. The hike takes about 4.5 hours.

“The trip was so beautiful! Our guide, Ruben, and our driver, Carlos, did an amazing job. The guide knew so much about the forest and the Island, gave us planty of time for pictures and many stops to enjoy the nature. The walk was not hurried at all and we stopped for coffee/break before and after the walk. We spent almost 40 minutes at the waterfall and it was stunning! The members of the group that did not have raincoats or flashlights received the equipment from the organizers. The guide was very patient with everybody. Make sure to have hiking shoes or good sneakers, water and a raincoat. I would…”

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11.Serra de Água Valley Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 154 reviews · 4 hours · from $38

Walk 5km beside Madeira’s historic levada in the Serra de Água Valley with a multilingual guide such as Ruby, Patricia, or Natalia. Expect a mostly flat trail, green fields, worked plantations, mountain views, native plants, and a café stop near the end. Pickup is available from selected hotels in Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, and Caniço.

“super walk and competant and open minded, sympathetic guide.”

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12.Madeira: Rabaçal 25 Fountains Levada Walk & Cabo Girão

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 117 reviews · from $67

Join a small group of up to eight for an eight-hour Madeira outing led in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Walk the famous 25 Fontes levada, pass through an 800-meter volcanic tunnel, stop for lunch at Paul da Serra, ride off-road toward the coast, and visit Cabo Girão. Guides such as Julia, Ruben, Pedro, and Luis are known for friendly local insight.

“Our guide for the day was Pedro who combined the right level of information with local and historical information. The pace was comfortable and timing was good for eacg part of the journey.”

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13.Madeira: Paradise Valley Levada Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 74 reviews · 4 hours · from $38

Join Lido Tours for a four-hour guided walk along Madeira’s century-old Levada da Serra do Faial. You’ll follow an easy, mostly flat route of about 5 km from Vale do Paraíso toward Rochão, with forest, gardens, terraces, Camacha views, and a possible café stop. Pickup is available from selected hotels.

“It was nice and easy walk. The guide told a lot about Madeira. There was a stop at a small cafe where besides snacks we could buy fruits from a local farmer.”

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14.Câmara de Lobos/Sky Walk (Cabo Girão) : Private Tuk Tuk Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 72 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $64Top rated

Ride from central Funchal in a private tuk tuk with an English- or Portuguese-speaking guide. Visit Câmara de Lobos, stop at Cabo Girão Sky Walk, pass Monumental Street, and pause at viewpoints for photos. Guides such as Carla, Virgilio, Fredy, Andrea, and Ines are praised for friendly commentary and flexible timing.

“We had an amazing time on the tuk tuk, we found Carla very friendly & informative. What a fabulous way to see Madeira. We enjoyed it so much we booked another tour for a few days later 😁😁”

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