Part of our complete guide: Activities and tours on Madeira
Madeira is 57 km long and 22 km wide. That sounds like one day. It is not: the roads are twisty, the mountains sit in the middle, and the north coast is reached only through tunnels or over 1,400 metres. So there is no “island tour” — there is west and east, and wanting both means two days.
The west route (from about €36)
Cabo Girão · Ribeira Brava · Ponta do Sol or Calheta · Paúl da Serra · Fanal · Porto Moniz and the lava pools · Seixal · São Vicente. The more spectacular of the two: sea cliff, cloud forest, high plateau, swimming in volcanic rock.
The east route (from about €36)
Terreiro da Luta · Pico do Arieiro · Ribeiro Frio with the Balcões path · Santana and its thatched houses · Faial and the Guindaste glass walkway · Porto da Cruz · Ponta de São Lourenço. Culturally the denser route, with high mountains at the start and the bare peninsula at the end.
Two days (from about €70)
There are 32 multi-day trips, mostly west and east with a night in the north. Worth it if you have no car and still want the whole island — otherwise not really.
Formats
| Format | from | Group size |
|---|---|---|
| Coach | €33 | 20–40 |
| Minibus / van | €36–48 | 8–16 |
| Jeep | €67 | 6–8 |
| Private Mercedes tour | from €110 per group | yours |
What to watch for
- Stops are short. Reckon on 15 to 30 minutes each. If you want to linger anywhere, a hire car serves you better.
- Pickup is included from Funchal and Caniço on nearly all tours, from Calheta or Machico often not.
- Lunch usually is not in the price, though a stop is scheduled (€10–20 there).
- Weather: rain in Funchal does not cancel the tour — the north or west may be clear.
Book it or drive it yourself?
This is the category where a hire car wins most clearly. Every stop is public, free or nearly so, and with a car you decide whether Fanal is worth 20 minutes or two hours.
Book a round tour if you would rather not drive mountain roads, if you are only here two or three days, or as a first day — to see where everything is, then drive the rest of the week deliberately. That is the most sensible use of this category.
Common questions
Can you drive round Madeira in one day?
No. The island is 57 km long and 22 wide, but the roads are twisty, the mountains sit in the middle, and the north coast is reached only through tunnels or over 1,400 metres. So there is no single island tour — there is west and east, and wanting both means two days.
What does the west route cover, and what does the east route cover?
West, from about €36: Cabo Girão, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol or Calheta, Paúl da Serra, Fanal, Porto Moniz and the lava pools, Seixal, São Vicente. East, from about €36: Terreiro da Luta, Pico do Arieiro, Ribeiro Frio with the Balcões path, Santana and its thatched houses, Faial, Porto da Cruz, Ponta de São Lourenço.
How long does an island tour stop at each place?
Fifteen to thirty minutes. If you want to linger anywhere, a hire car serves you better. Pickup from Funchal and Caniço is included on nearly all tours, from Calheta or Machico often not. Lunch is usually not in the price, though a stop is scheduled — reckon €10–20 there.
Is an island tour cancelled if it rains?
No. Rain in Funchal says nothing about the north or west — on Madeira rain is usually a location problem, not a day problem. Formats run from a coach of 20–40 people at €33, through minibus and jeep, up to a private Mercedes tour from €110 per group.
👉 See all island tours on GetYourGuide (Affiliate link)
Next: Jeep and 4WD tours · Cabo Girão and viewpoints · Car hire and getting there
