Lisbon and the levadas of Madeira

The Baixa, Alfama and Belém in Lisbon, with a full day in Sintra, then Madeira: the Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal, the wicker toboggan ride down from Monte, the trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo above 1,800 m and the 25 Fontes levada.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Lisbon → Madeira · 7–9 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

PortugalLisbon
Days
3–4
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 130–200 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
PortugalMadeira
Days
4–5
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 116 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For anyone who wants to pair the Portuguese capital with an island of mountains, forest and trails beside irrigation channels.

Not for anyone looking for sandy beaches: Madeira has only a few small ones, and the one at Calheta is artificial, with sand brought from Morocco; the long beach is on Porto Santo, 71 km away by boat.

The strategy

Lisbon comes first, and the flight to Funchal leaves Humberto Delgado airport, 7 km from the centre, taking about 1h45. On Madeira, stay in Funchal throughout and rent a car for the Rabaçal and Porto Moniz day. Book the Pico do Arieiro trail as soon as your dates are fixed, arrange a taxi back from Achada do Teixeira and keep a spare day, because bad weather closes the mountain and the fee is not refunded if you cancel. Strong wind delays landings and take-offs at Madeira airport, so avoid a tight connection on the day you fly home from Funchal, direct or via Lisbon. April to June and September to October fall in the best season at both stops.

What you will see

Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon. Commissioned by Manuel I in 1501 with the tax on pepper and finished almost a century later, it's the masterpiece of the Manueline style and a World Heritage Site since 1983.
Pico do Arieiro, Madeira. The third-highest peak on the island, at 1,818 m, about 18 km by road from Funchal, with a viewpoint, a café and an Air Force radar station.