Self-Launched Madeira Discovery – Budget Adventure

Fly into Funchal Airport (FNC) — plenty of direct flights from UK airports with TAP Air Portugal, easyJet and Jet2. From the airport, take the public Aerobus (SAM bus line 2A or 2B) to central Funchal for around €4 (~£3.50) — no need to pre-book an expensive transfer. Check into your guesthouse or boutique hostel in central Funchal. Spend the evening exploring the Old Town (Zona Velha), grab a poncha cocktail at a local bar and pick up some fresh pastries from a pastelaria. The famous painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria are worth a wander after dark.

🚌Public Aerobus from Funchal Airport to city centre (~£3.50 one way)

🛏Stay at a central Funchal guesthouse or hostel such as Funchal Design Hostel or Residencial Colombo (approx. £25–40/night)

• →Arrive at Funchal Airport (FNC) and take the public Aerobus to central Funchal (~£3.50)
• →Check in to budget accommodation in central Funchal
• →Wander the Old Town (Zona Velha) and Rua de Santa Maria painted doors
• →Try a poncha cocktail at a local bar — a Madeiran staple made with aguardiente de cana

Take the iconic Funchal cable car up to Monte (around €16 return, bookable on the spot or via GetYourGuide) and explore the Monte Palace Tropical Garden independently (entrance ~€12). After, enjoy the legendary toboggan ride back down in a wicker basket sled (~€30 — touristy but brilliant fun). Grab lunch in Monte before hopping on the public bus (Horários do Funchal route 29 or taxi, ~£5) to the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. Walk the harbourfront, discover the espada (black scabbard) fishing heritage and stop into a local taberna for poncha and petiscos. Head back to Funchal on the bus for dinner — try Tasca do Mel or similar local restaurants in the Old Town.

🚌Cable car to Monte; public bus or taxi to Câmara de Lobos and back (~£5–8 total)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel (same as Day 1)

• →Funchal cable car up to Monte (~£14 return, book via GetYourGuide or on the spot)
• →Monte Palace Tropical Garden self-guided visit (~£10 entrance)
• →Monte toboggan wicker sled ride back downhill (~£26)
• →Bus or taxi to Câmara de Lobos fishing village (~£4–5)
• →Walk the harbour and try poncha at a local taberna

Hire a rental car for the day (from ~£30–40/day from Funchal — companies like Rodavante or Sixt are well priced) or join a shared minibus day tour of eastern Madeira via GetYourGuide (~£35–45 per person). Head to the Ribeira Frio area for the short but spectacular walk to the Balcões Viewpoint through the ancient Laurissilva Forest (UNESCO World Heritage site, free to walk). Continue to Santana to see the traditional A-frame thatched houses and grab a picnic of local bread, cheese and chouriço from a local shop. Stop at the Engenhos do Norte rum distillery in Porto da Cruz for a self-guided tour and tasting (~£5–8). Finish in the historic town of Machico, exploring the seafront and church before heading back to Funchal.

🚌Rental car (~£30–40/day) or shared minibus day tour (~£35–45 via GetYourGuide)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel

• →Drive or join a shared day tour to eastern Madeira (GetYourGuide, ~£35–45 if no car)
• →Balcões Viewpoint walk through Laurissilva Forest, Ribeira Frio (free)
• →Santana A-frame houses — wander and grab a picnic lunch (~£8)
• →Engenhos do Norte rum distillery visit and tasting, Porto da Cruz (~£5–8)
• →Explore Machico historic centre and seafront (free)

Book the Porto Santo Line ferry from Funchal harbour in advance — it departs around 8am and takes about 2.5 hours each way (return ticket ~£50–60, book at portosantoline.pt). On arrival in Vila Baleira, hire a bicycle (~£10–15/day) or take a local taxi tour (~£20–25 shared) to explore the island. Visit the Casa Colombo Museum, said to be the former home of Christopher Columbus (entrance ~£3), and spend a couple of hours on Porto Santo's famous 9km golden sandy beach — one of the finest in the Atlantic. Grab lunch at a beachside café (~£12–15) before catching the late afternoon ferry back to Funchal.

🚌Porto Santo Line ferry return (~£50–60); local bicycle hire or taxi on Porto Santo (~£10–20)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel

• →Porto Santo Line ferry from Funchal (return ~£50–60, book at portosantoline.pt)
• →Casa Colombo Museum visit, Vila Baleira (~£3 entrance)
• →Explore Porto Santo's 9km golden beach (free)
• →Hire a bicycle or join a local taxi tour of the island (~£10–20)
• →Lunch at a beachside café (~£12–15)

Hire a car again or join a shared western Madeira day tour via GetYourGuide (~£35–45). First stop is the Cabo Girão Skywalk — a glass-floored cliff platform 580m above the sea with dizzying views (entrance ~£1.50, or free with some tour bookings). Continue west to the Ethnographic Museum of Madeira in Ribeira Brava (~£4 entrance) for a window into island life and crafts. Stop at Porto Moniz for its famous natural lava rock swimming pools (€3 entrance) — a swim here is unmissable. For the afternoon, head to Quinta do Barbusano winery in São Vicente for a self-guided estate tour and six-wine tasting (~£15–20, bookable direct via quintadobarbusano.pt).

🚌Rental car (~£30–40/day) or shared day tour via GetYourGuide (~£35–45)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel

• →Cabo Girão Skywalk glass platform (~£1.50 entrance)
• →Ethnographic Museum of Madeira, Ribeira Brava (~£4 entrance)
• →Porto Moniz natural lava rock sea pools swim (~£2.50 entrance)
• →Quinta do Barbusano winery tour and six-wine tasting (~£15–20, book direct)

Spend the morning exploring Funchal on foot — it's very walkable. Take in Santa Catarina Park, stroll along Avenida Arriaga, visit Funchal Cathedral (Sé do Funchal, free entry) and lose yourself in the famous Mercado dos Lavradores farmers' market (free to browse, buy some exotic fruit). Head into the Old Town (Zona Velha) along Rua de Santa Maria. For lunch, try Restaurante O Regional or similar traditional Madeiran spots for espetada (beef skewers) or açorda (~£12–18). In the afternoon, visit the Quinta das Cruzes Museum (~£4 entrance) for its collection of decorative arts and island history. For the evening, book a dinner-and-folk-show experience at a restaurant such as Restaurante O Folgado or Xarabanda — these typically cost ~£25–35 per person including dinner and live folklore performance.

🚌On foot all day (free)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel

• →Santa Catarina Park, Avenida Arriaga and Funchal Cathedral (free)
• →Mercado dos Lavradores farmers' market — browse and sample exotic fruit (~£5)
• →Lunch at a traditional Madeiran restaurant (~£12–18)
• →Quinta das Cruzes Museum visit (~£4 entrance)
• →Dinner with live Madeiran folk dancing and singing performance (~£25–35)

Take the public bus from Funchal to Machio/Caniçal (Horários do Funchal routes cover this corridor, ~£3–4) or arrange a taxi. Walk the beautiful Levada do Caniçal, a 5km aqueduct-side trail that hugs the hillside through tunnels and alongside the water channel — allow 2–2.5 hours at a relaxed pace. The path is well-marked and easy to follow independently; download the AllTrails map in advance. After the walk, stop at the Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint for panoramic views of both north and south coasts. Head into Caniçal village for a fish lunch at a local café (~£10–14). Round off the afternoon with a visit to the Whaling Museum (Museu da Baleia, ~£5 entrance) to learn about the island's whaling heritage and modern conservation efforts. Return to Funchal for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

🚌Public bus or taxi to/from Caniçal (~£6–8 return)

🛏Funchal guesthouse/hostel

• →Bus or taxi to Caniçal (~£3–4 each way)
• →Levada do Caniçal 5km self-guided walk (~2 hours, free — download AllTrails map)
• →Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint (free)
• →Lunch at a local café in Caniçal (~£10–14)
• →Whaling Museum (Museu da Baleia) guided visit (~£5 entrance)
• →Farewell dinner at a Funchal restaurant (~£15–20)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Funchal — head to a local pastelaria for a bica (espresso) and pastel de nata for under £3. Check out of your accommodation and take the public Aerobus from central Funchal back to Funchal Airport (~£3.50). If your flight is late afternoon, store your bags at the airport and spend a final hour or two on the seafront promenade or at the Lido sea pool complex. Safe travels!

🚌Public Aerobus to Funchal Airport (~£3.50)

🛏Check out

• →Final breakfast at a local pastelaria (~£3–5)
• →Public Aerobus from central Funchal to airport (~£3.50)
• →Optional: Lido sea pool complex if time allows (~£3 entrance)