Does Madeira have sandy beaches?+
Barely. The coastline is rocky and the natural beaches have black volcanic shingle. The two sandy beaches in Machico and Calheta are artificial, with sand shipped in from Morocco. Anyone wanting real sand needs to take the ferry to Porto Santo, which has six miles of golden beach.
Do I need a car on Madeira?+
Pretty much. Buses reliably serve only the south coast, with just a few runs a day to the north and the mountains. Without a car you can manage Funchal and its surroundings, but you'll depend on organised tours for the rest of the island. Expect tunnels, hairpin bends and gradients of up to 25 percent.
When is the weather best on Madeira?+
April to June, plus September and October. It's dry, 20–25°C, and the mountains tend to be cloud-free. The difference between months is small — only seven degrees separate January and August. The north of the island is cooler year-round and gets three times as much rain as the south.
What are levadas?+
Channels that carry water from the rainy north to the dry southern slopes, dug since the 15th century. There are more than 2,500 kilometres of them, and a maintained path runs alongside most. Thanks to the gradient they're nearly level, so you can cross a mountainous island without much climbing.
Do you have to pay for the hiking trails?+
Yes, since 2021. The marked PR trails cost three euros per person per day; the ticket is bought online or from a machine at the trailhead and checked on the path itself. There's no charge for freely accessible viewpoints or routes outside the official network.
Is swimming in the ocean possible?+
Yes, but it's colder than you'd expect: the warmest months are September and October, when the water reaches 23°C, dropping to 18°C in winter. Swimming mostly happens in built sea pools and on platforms with ladders, since entry from the shore is often rocky and the surf strong.
Is the flight into Madeira really that demanding?+
The landing is among the toughest in Europe: the runway sits on pillars above the sea, and crosswinds sweep down from the mountains. Arrivals can be bumpy, and in strong gusts flights are diverted to Porto Santo or the Canaries. Pilots need a special qualification to fly into Madeira, so safety isn't the issue.
How many days are enough for Madeira?+
Five to seven days. In three days you can cover the mountains, one levada and Funchal, but not the north or the eastern peninsula. A week lets you add Porto Santo or two longer hikes. Distances are short, but the terrain means everything takes twice as long as the map suggests.
