Madeira travel guide from Budapest: top 10 sights and a 4-day itinerary

Madeira is a Portuguese volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean, known as the island of eternal spring for its mild climate, with dramatic green mountains, cliffside villages and hundreds of kilometres of levadas, the old irrigation channels that double as hiking trails. It is a nature destination first and a beach destination second. The flight from Budapest takes about five hours, so it is never a day trip, but four days give you a real taste of the island. Here are the flights, the best season, the top 10 sights and a day-by-day plan.

How to get to Madeira from Budapest

Wizz Air flies direct between Budapest and Funchal (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport). The flight takes about five hours and ten minutes on the way out and a little less on the way back. The route runs a few times a week rather than daily, and the schedule changes by season, so check Wizz Air’s website for the current days. Madeira is one hour behind Budapest all year.

The airport is famous for its runway, partly built on tall pillars above the sea, which makes the landing memorable. It lies about 20 kilometres east of Funchal. Airport buses and taxis take about half an hour to the city, and most visitors pick up a rental car right at the terminal.

Best time to visit Madeira

Madeira is a year-round destination: daytime temperatures in Funchal rarely drop below the high teens even in winter. Summer, from June to September, is the driest and warmest period, ideal for hiking the high peaks and swimming in the natural pools. Spring brings the Flower Festival and blooming gardens, while autumn is still warm with fewer visitors. Winter is greener and wetter, especially in the north and in the mountains, but it is a great escape from the Hungarian cold, and the New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal Bay are world famous. Whatever the season, the weather changes quickly between the coast and the mountains, so always pack a light rain jacket.

Top 10 sights in Madeira

• Funchal old town (Zona Velha): narrow streets with painted doors, restaurants and the seafront.
• Mercado dos Lavradores: Funchal’s colourful market hall of exotic fruit, flowers and fish.
• Monte: a cable car ride above Funchal, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the famous wicker toboggan ride down.
• Cabo Girão: one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs, with a glass skywalk about 580 metres above the ocean.
• Pico do Arieiro: the island’s third highest peak, reachable by car, with spectacular sunrises above the clouds.
• Pico Ruivo: Madeira’s highest summit, reached by the classic ridge trail from Pico do Arieiro.
• Levada das 25 Fontes: the most popular levada walk, ending at a pool fed by dozens of small waterfalls.
• Porto Moniz: natural volcanic rock pools filled by the Atlantic on the north-west tip.
• Ponta de São Lourenço: a wild, rocky peninsula at the eastern end of the island with a scenic trail.
• Santana: the village of traditional triangular thatched houses on the north coast.

Madeira also has a special Hungarian connection. Empress Elisabeth, the beloved Sisi, spent the winter of 1860 to 1861 in Funchal, and Charles IV, the last King of Hungary, died in exile on the island in 1922. He is buried in the Church of Our Lady of Monte, right next to the cable car station, which many Hungarian visitors include in their trip.

Madeira in 4 days: a day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Funchal

Arrive in Funchal and start at the Mercado dos Lavradores, then wander through the old town. Take the cable car up to Monte, visit the church with the tomb of Charles IV and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and ride down on the wicker toboggan, steered by two drivers in white. Spend the evening on the seafront and try espetada, beef grilled on a bay leaf skewer.

Day 2: Sunrise on the peaks and the north-east

Drive up to Pico do Arieiro before dawn for the sunrise above the clouds. If you are a confident hiker, walk the ridge trail to Pico Ruivo and back (check first that it is open, as sections sometimes close). Continue to Santana for the triangular houses, then to Ponta de São Lourenço for an afternoon walk with ocean views on both sides.

Day 3: Levadas and the north-west coast

Head west to the Rabaçal area and walk the Levada das 25 Fontes or the Levada do Risco through the laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, drive down to Porto Moniz for a swim in the natural pools, then return along the coast past the black sand beach of Seixal. If the weather allows, stop at the misty Fanal forest with its ancient laurel trees.

Day 4: The south coast

Visit the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, where Winston Churchill came to paint, then continue to the Cabo Girão skywalk. Spend the rest of the day at a botanical garden in Funchal or on a boat trip to spot dolphins and whales, which are often seen off the south coast. Fly home in the evening or stay a night longer.

Where to stay in Madeira

Funchal is the most practical base for a first visit: it has the widest choice of accommodation and restaurants, and every part of the island can be reached in a day trip by car. The Lido area is popular for hotels with sea-view pools, while the old town is better for evenings out. If you want to focus on hiking, a second base in the north, around Santana or São Vicente, puts you closer to the trails. Calheta on the south-west coast is sunnier and quieter, with one of the island’s few sandy beaches.

What to eat in Madeira

• Espetada: chunks of beef grilled on a bay leaf skewer and hung at the table.
• Espada with banana: black scabbardfish, a deep-sea fish, often served with fried banana.
• Lapas: grilled limpets with garlic butter and lemon.
• Bolo do caco: a round garlic flatbread, served with almost everything.
• Exotic fruit: passion fruit, custard apple and the local small bananas from the market.

Getting around Madeira

A rental car is the best way to explore Madeira in four days. Fast tunnels and expressways connect the coasts, but the old mountain roads are steep and narrow, so choose a car with a decent engine and drive carefully. Buses connect Funchal with most villages but are slow for the remote trailheads. If you prefer not to drive, organised day tours and hiking transfers run from Funchal to the peaks and the levadas.

How much does a trip to Madeira cost?

Madeira uses the euro and is generally cheaper than mainland Western Europe. The flight and accommodation are the largest costs, and hotels are busiest over Christmas, New Year and the summer holidays. Car rental is reasonable, local restaurants are affordable, and most levada walks are free. Some popular trails, such as the ones at Pico do Arieiro and Rabaçal, charge a small access fee that you pay online or on site.

Tips for Madeira

• Pack layers and a rain jacket: it can be sunny in Funchal and cold and misty on the peaks.
• Bring a torch for levadas with tunnels, such as the Caldeirão Verde trail.
• Check trail status on the official Visit Madeira site before hiking.
• Start early: popular trailheads and viewpoints get crowded by mid-morning.
• Wear proper hiking shoes, many paths are narrow and slippery.

If you only have one day

With five hours of flying each way, Madeira is not possible in a day. If you only have one free day, choose a closer destination: Daytrip collects the cities each month where you can fly from Budapest in the morning and return the same evening, such as Barcelona or Rome, with a ready-made hour-by-hour itinerary. Read our one-day city guides at flightdaytrip.com/blog.

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