top of page
Faial and Santana, Madeira, Portugal | The Small Adventure Company - Adventure and Family Holidays in Europe

MADEIRA

We have gathered some useful information to help you plan and best prepare for your next adventure to Madeira Browse through the information below or visit our travel bonanza for more stories and tips!

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Madeira with its capital Funchal is considered a very safe place with a pretty much non-existing crime rate. Popular for hiking and several adventure activities, appropriate gear and local guides are strongly advised to be safe in Madeira‘s mountains with their quickly changing weather conditions. There are many medical centers with English-speaking doctors located on the island of Madeira and one on the neighbouring island Porto Santo. We recommend a travel insurance even though most travellers from Europe can claim costs through the EHIC form on return. There are no special vaccinations required and there is no record of native cases of mosquito-spread diseases. The tap water is safe to drink and of good quality.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The archipelago of Madeira is part of Portugal and hence part of the European Union and the Schengen Treaty. Travellers from Europe therefore only require their national ID card or a valid passport to enter the country (for a stay less than 90 days). When travelling from outside the EU, you will need a visa. Please make sure that your travel documents exceed a validity of at least 3 months after your scheduled departure date in that case.

SARS-COV2 INFORMATION

There are no restrictions on the entry of travellers at the airports, ports and marinas of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (updated 26/08/2022). Please keep checking with the Madeira tourist board for updates.

MONEY AND PRICE LEVEL

Madeira‘s currency is the Euro. The price level is relatively low compared within Europe. A cup of coffee usually is under €1, particularly in remote rural areas. Card payments are not that widely accepted and cash might be required for smaller payments. However ATM machines can be found all over the island. VISA and Master Card are the most widely accepted credit and debit cards.

Market, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | The Small Adventure Company - Adventure and Family Holidays in Europe

OPENING HOURS

Madeira is on a 24 hour clock as opposed to am and pm. The island maintains Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC) as summer time. Clocks are put forward 1 hour on the last Sunday of March and back 1 hour on the last Sunday of October according to the rules of the European Union.

Some shops are taking a break for “siesta“ between 13h00 to 15h00. On weekdays they are open until 19h00 after that, on Saturdays only in the morning from 9h00 to 13h00. Big shopping centres are usually open without any break from 10h00 to 22h00, 7 days a week (except for Christmas and New Year‘s Day). The opening hours of banks are Monday to Friday 8h30 to 15h00. Exchange shops are open from 9h00 to 19h00 with a lunch break between 13h00 and 14h00.

ELECTRICITY

Madeira has a European two-point plug like in continental Europe. The local current is 220 AC. Travellers from the US will require a voltage converter. Travellers from the UK and Ireland require an adapter which is best to bring as they are hard to find in Madeira.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

May 1

Labour Day

Day before Ash Wednesday

Carnival Tuesday

Friday before Easter

Good Friday

Monday after Easter

Easter Sunday

October 5

Day of the Republic

January 1

New Years Day

April 25

Liberty Day

July 1

Madeira Day

August 15

Our Lady of Assumption Day

Thursday after Trinity Sunday

Feast of Corpus Christi

June 10

Portugal Day

November 

All Saints Day

December 1

Restoration of Independence Day

December 8

Immaculate Conception Day

December 25

Christmas Day

December 26

Stephen's Day

FESTIVITIES & EVENTS

Madeira, Porto Santo

Madeira Walking Festival

January

Madeira

Carnival Festival

February

Funchal

Flower Festival

March / April

Funchal

Festas da Sé - traditional festival

Mid May - early June

Funchal

St John's Altar - Religious celebrations

Early June

Funchal

Atlantic Festival - Cultural festival

June 1 - 30

Madeira

Madeira World Classic Rallye - traditional and classic cars rallye

June

Funchal

Jazz Festival

First wekk in July

Machico

Machico Gastronomy Festival

Late July - early August

Madeira

Madeira Wine Rallye

August

Monte

Monte religious festival

August 14 and 15

Madeira

Madeira wine festival

early September

Porto Santo

Christopher Columbus festival

early September

Madeira

Christmas festival and celebrations

November / December

Fjord Mountains View | The Small Adventure Company | Travel Agency for Adventure and Family Holidays in Europe

We'd love to hear from you!

From our own experience, no two holidays are the same. Talk to us and we will create your own individual holiday just for you.

bottom of page