How long does it take to drive around Madeira? That’s ultimately up to you.

It can be done in under four hours if that’s what you want- but you really should take the whole day to leave time for plenty of stops. Madeira is a truly beautiful and unique place that you should take time to explore.

I’ll walk you through the best route to take, the stops you need to make, and a few other tips that’ll make your experience even more incredible.

How Long Does it Take To Drive Around Madeira?

Driving around Madeira can take a few hours, a whole day, a few days or even a week if you really milk it.

But for this post I’ll be walking you through the best way to cover as much as possible in one day. Seem ambitious?

My friend and I began our journey after sleeping on some rocks by the water in Funchal. Yes, rocks. And yes, somehow, on purpose. So if you’re reading this from a well-rested, well-caffeinated place, I congratulate you for already being one step ahead.

If you choose to stop at all the stops I suggest, you’ll probably want to give yourself at least 10 hours.

Of course, you can pick and choose certain stops, which will allow you to be in less of a rush and take your time.

I’ll try to give you advice on which spots are not be missed. Then you can plan your route, listening to me as much- or, perhaps as little- as you like.

The Best Route to Take Around Madeira

In this map, I’ve outlined all the best stops along your journey.

Some are geared towards quick, take in the view, snap a few pictures sort of stops. Others are more lengthy. Broadly, I’ve marked these longer stops with letters in the map above you, whereas the shorter stops are merely marked with a pin.

Just as a quick note- I have the route going counter-clockwise around the island, which in my opinion is the better way to go. The reason for this is to maximize daylight for the earlier stops, which will only really matter if you’re visiting in the winter months.

However, there are advantages to going the other direction as well. If daylight isn’t an issue, I really wouldn’t say that one is better than the other.

Now I’ll go through each one of these stops, telling you how long you might need and what to do at each.

A- Funchal

I won’t go too deep into Funchal here, as this article is specifically meant for a day trip away from Funchal.

However, it’s worth saying that it’s a beautiful town that you should be spending some time in. Or, perhaps, sleep outside in.

Read here for the best things to do in Funchal.

B- Ponta de São Lourenço

Driving east out of Funchal, you’ll be treated with steep, swerving roads and beautiful views of the South Coast. I wouldn’t stop anywhere, though. By far the best scenery in Madeira is on the North Coast of the island.

Once you arrive at Ponta de São Lourenco, park and walk to the hiking trail. It’s a beautiful area that surprisingly reminded me of some of the scenery in Ireland and Scotland, a testament to how naturally diverse this island is.

You can spend a good 30-45 minutes here, walking around, soaking in the views and taking pictures.

Viewpoint- Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto

This is one of, if not the best view you’ll get in Madeira.

Everything about it is incredible. The color of the sea, the shape of the cliffs, the crashing waves.

Enough with my description, this works better-

It’s a shame that it comes so early- I personally prefer when you build up to the best spots. This is one of the pros of taking the clockwise route around the island.

The issue with that is you risk the sun setting before you get here. But if you have a long summers day- and are confident you can stick to plan- it’s certainly an option.

Viewpoints- Miradouro do Guindaste & São Cristovão

Your next stop is another viewpoint (Miradouro do Guindaste) where you’ll get your first view of the sheer, vast northern cliffs of Madeira.

Once you arrive at the cliffs, the roads will take you away from the coast and through tunnels. I’d therefore definitely recommend stopping at this viewpoint, as you’ll have a bit of a drive afterwards.

Once you enter the tunnels, it’s a good 30 minutes (at least) until you reemerge on the other side of the cliffs.

Here, you’ll take a detour off the main road and pay a visit to the Miradouro de São Cristovão, another one of my favorites.

There’s also a go-kart track you’ll spot on the way to the viewpoint. I didn’t check it out, but it seemed mildly tempting.

For those of you who have more time, perhaps.

Viewpoint- São Vicente

Here, the landscape changes. There’s no specific viewpoint, although I highly recommend you drive into the valley that you’ll find here.

It’s absolutely stunning. I road through here in December and it was so incredibly green- I found it to be reminiscent of some areas in Hawaii. I can only imagine what it’s like in the summer.

After driving through the valley you’ll come out and drive under an incredibly beautiful waterfall right before you enter a tunnel that takes you to the next stop.

C- Seixal

If you’re a beach person, you’ll probably want to spend a good chunk of time here. Seixal is the only natural sand beach on the entire island due to its eastern-facing direction, the only such beach on the island.

The direction also allows you to have a constant view of the sheer green cliffs of the north coast cascading into the ocean.

Adding to the wild beauty of this place is the black sand the beach possesses, a product of the volcanic activity on the island.

Viewpoint- Miradouro Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela

The next viewpoint will take you to a rocky beach and show off the wild side of the island.

You’ll almost always see waves here, but depending on the day you go you may see absolutely massive ones.

Another characteristic feature of this spot are the two domineering islets right off the shore. The larger one has an opening resembling a window, hence the name Janela (window in Portuguese).

D- Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools

This is an ideal spot to stop for a longer period, especially if you’re traveling with a larger family.

It’s certainly a unique experience- the “pools” were formed over millennia by volcanic activity, and give you the ability to swim in calm, clear waters without sacrificing the natural aspect of the experience.

There are two pools to choose from: one is free and more natural; the other costs €3/person but has more amenities, including steps into the pools and more space to lay down and relax- certainly a better option if you have young children.

Bring snorkels! There’s plenty to see in these pools.

Viewpoint- Miradouro da Fonte do Bispo

From Porto Moniz, I recommend heading up into the mountains. You can continue driving closer to the coast, but going up into the mountains will give you a shocking change of scenery that’s well worth it.

You ascend so steeply that the elevation causes the nature to change quickly and dramatically.

In a few minutes, you go from coastal, volcanic beach to what honestly felt like a North American forest. So strange!

I listed a specific point to stop here but it’s not all that necessary. Just drive the road and stop (or don’t) wherever you see fit.

Viewpoint- Miradouro da Raposeira

This viewpoint takes you a bit off the route and I only recommend stopping here if the sun is setting.

Due to the shape of the island and the massive mountains, there aren’t too many great spots to watch the sunset- but this is one of them.

E- Ponta do Sol

The last (or, perhaps first) stop on your journey will be Ponta do Sol. It’s a charming little town with nice beaches that you should walk through and explore.

If it’s nighttime by the time you get here, that’s ok.

When I went, it was night and still vibrant, with food stands and markets in the town and by the beach.

Go down to the beach, walk out onto the pier and relax after a long day of adventure. You might be treated to some absolutely massive waves crashing against the rocks here as well.

Then head on back to Funchal and get a good nights sleep.

Or do what we did- upgrade from the more uneven seaside rocks to the deluxe flat stones of a public park.

A Few More Tips

Leave Early

This is an important one. Especially if you’re visiting during the winter months.

Much of the northern coast of the island loses the sun pretty early in the day due to the steep cliffs and since you’ll be spending the bulk of your time here, the earlier you can leave the better.

Rent a Scooter

Because why not, right? It makes the experience better in every aspect, in my opinion. You’re outside, fully one with the surroundings, and don’t have to worry about parking and narrow roads.

If you need more convincing, read this.

Obviously this isn’t feasible if you have a larger family, in which case a car will still suit you just fine.

But- Drive Carefully

I love how this follows a paragraph about why you should be riding a motorcycle, and yes, I’m fully aware of the irony.

That being said, regardless of which mode of transportation you choose, just exercise caution. The steep roads, especially on your way back, require your attention at all times.

Now that you know how long it takes to drive around Madeira and the spots to hit up, go and enjoy! I was shocked by how much there was to see in such short time- especially on what is really quite a small island.