Five days in Madeira: Funchal, gardens and walking
A Funchal base with a garden day and outdoor choices that can move with the weather.
Portugal · Published planning example
- Duration
- 5 days
- Travel style
- Mid Range
Day-by-day itinerary
Open a day to read the plan and its spending notes.
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Day 1Arrive in Funchal
FunchalChoose the Aerobus stop for the centre, Lido or your actual hotel area, or compare a vehicle quote. Leave your bags and enjoy a short waterfront walk. Check the mountain forecast before deciding which of the next days is best for hiking.
€145.00 for one whole private room, €46.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €10.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €210.00
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Day 2Monte Palace and a planned return
FunchalVisit Monte Palace with the €18 standard adult garden ticket, keeping the cable car or bus journey separate. Allow time for slopes within the grounds. Plan the return by bus or another suitable option instead of assuming a steep walk down is the easy part of the outing.
€145.00 for one whole private room, €46.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €10.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €210.00
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Day 3A booked Madeira mountain walk
FunchalChoose a currently open route that suits your fitness and weather. The full PR1 product is €10.50 with a one-way section from Pedra Rija towards Pico Ruivo; the shorter €4.50 return option is different. Reserve the time slot and arrange transport at both ends. Swap with a city day if conditions do not fit.
€145.00 for one whole private room, €46.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €10.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €210.00
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Day 4A suitable levada walk or another city day
FunchalUse the official trail status and route description to choose a levada outing with the distance, tunnels and return you can manage. Reserve the required PR time slot and fee, and arrange the actual trailhead transfer. A Funchal museum or slower garden day is a useful alternative when the route is unsuitable.
€145.00 for one whole private room, €46.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €10.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €210.00
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Day 5Leave Funchal with time for the airport
FunchalCheck the Aerobus stop and timetable for your hotel area or confirm the booked transfer. Add waiting and the airline's arrival margin. Keep any last walk near the room; a distant mountain or north-coast outing does not fit comfortably before departure today.
No overnight stay; €46.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €10.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €65.00
Arrange the nights
Book four nights in Funchal. The arrival and departure days stay light, with three full days for Monte Palace and suitable walks. Swap their order according to trail status and the mountain forecast.
Plan the main outings
PR trails need the applicable SIMplifica booking and time slot. Full PR1 is a different product from the short Pedra Rija return, and its one-way section requires an exit plan. Arrange transport at both ends; ordinary regional buses do not automatically serve every trailhead. A garden or city day remains useful when a walk is unsuitable.
Use the official planning information for the actual date and connection or access conditions.
If you have fewer days
For four days, choose one suitable walk and the garden rather than trying to do both outdoor days. This plan does not promise an extra north-coast swimming-pool excursion on departure day.
Guides for the stops
Funchal. Each guide explains the local arrival and visits so you can choose the parts that suit your trip.
Build the budget from nights and days
The day figures add up to €905.00 for one traveller before paid visits and extra journeys. A private-room line buys the whole room; divide only that part when sharing. These are chosen spending allowances, not available room offers or measured averages. Replace the stay amount with the full booking cost, including taxes and cleaning.
Add paid visits, excursions, intercity or inter-island tickets and airport journeys. The day notes separate accommodation, meals, local travel and small extras. The final day has no extra overnight allowance. The city budget cards are an alternative plan, so do not add them on top of this subtotal.
Journeys between stops
How to get from one stop to the next. Journey times are approximate; use the ticket and timetable links to choose a departure for your travel date.
Stay in the same city and use the day-by-day plan below for local outings.
If you have fewer days
For four days, choose one suitable walk and the garden rather than trying to do both outdoor days. This plan does not promise an extra north-coast swimming-pool excursion on departure day.
Make this trip cheaper
Compare your room and daily spending choices in the cost calculator. Check each journey fare, including local transfers, and count tickets covered by a pass only once.
Make the itinerary fit your trip
Change the days in each city, leave out stops, and update the estimate without changing the published itinerary.