Madeira has long been one of Germany's favourite holiday destinations — and for good reason. The island offers something rare: a warm, green, dramatically beautiful escape that feels completely unlike the rest of Europe. No flat beaches, no crowded resorts, no baking heat in August. Just mountains, ocean, and flowers everywhere.

Germans make up one of the largest groups of visitors to Madeira every year. Direct flights operate from Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Stuttgart, with journey times of around 3.5 hours. This guide is written specifically with German travellers in mind — covering where to stay, what to do, and the things most guidebooks don't tell you.

When to Visit — Das Beste Reisewetter

Madeira's nickname is "The Island of Eternal Spring" — and it earns it. Average temperatures in Funchal range from 16°C in winter to 24°C in summer, with sea temperatures between 18°C and 23°C. There is no bad time to visit.

German tourists tend to avoid July and August, when Central Europe is also at its hottest. This means April–June and October–November offer excellent value — and the island at its most beautiful.

Where to Stay — Unterkunft auf Madeira

Funchal is the island's capital and the natural base for most visitors. It's a proper city — with good restaurants, excellent public transport, and enough to keep you busy for a week. But Madeira is small enough (57km long, 22km wide) that you can reach any point on the island within 90 minutes from Funchal.

Best Neighbourhoods in Funchal

Zona Velha (Old Town) is the most atmospheric area — cobbled streets, painted doors, and the best restaurants on the island. Walking distance from the seafront and the cable car to Monte. This is where most visitors choose to stay, and rightly so.

São Gonçalo is a quieter residential neighbourhood above Funchal, with stunning panoramic views over the city and bay. A genuine local area — fewer tourists, better value, and 10 minutes from the centre by taxi or bus.

Lido / Hotel Zone is the more modern seafront area with pools and easy beach access. More resort-like, but convenient for families.

Staying Outside Funchal

For a quieter, more rural experience, consider basing yourself in the north or west of the island. The north coast villages — Santana, São Jorge, Ponta Delgada — are lush, green and dramatically beautiful. The west around Calheta has Madeira's only real sandy beach.

If you want total seclusion with luxury, Ribeira Brava on the south coast and Ponta Delgada in the north offer villa experiences with private pools — ideal for families or groups.

Levada Walks — The Reason Most Germans Come

Madeira's levada network is one of the island's greatest treasures — and one of the main reasons German visitors return again and again. Levadas are narrow irrigation channels, built over five centuries to carry water from the wet mountains to the dry south. They now form a 2,500km network of hiking trails that wind through some of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe.

The trails are mostly flat (the levadas maintain constant gradient) and well-marked. Most are suitable for regular walkers — you don't need mountaineering experience.

Top 5 Levada Walks for First-Time Visitors

• Levada do Caldeirão Verde — The most dramatic walk on the island. Four tunnels, towering laurisilva forest, ending at a 100m waterfall in a natural amphitheatre. 13km round trip from Queimadas. Allow 5–6 hours.
• Levada das 25 Fontes — Extremely popular, and deservedly so. Ends at a beautiful lake fed by 25 springs cascading down a rock face. Start from Rabaçal. 8km round trip, 3–4 hours.
• PR1 Vereda do Areeiro — High mountain ridge walk between Pico do Areeiro (1818m) and Pico Ruivo (1861m). Not a levada — this is proper mountain hiking, with vertical drops and iron steps. One of the most spectacular walks in Portugal.
• Levada do Furado — Long, atmospheric walk through the laurisilva from Ribeiro Frio to Portela. 11km one way, usually done with a taxi pickup at the end. 4 hours.
• Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho (Ponta do Sol) — A gentler walk through terraced banana plantations and small villages on the south coast. Great for beginners and families.

Eating and Drinking — Essen und Trinken

Madeiran food is simple, generous and extraordinarily fresh. The island is surrounded by deep ocean — the fish and seafood are some of the best in the world. Here's what to order:

• Espada (Scabbardfish) — Madeira's most iconic dish. A deep-water black fish found only in Madeiran waters, served fried with banana and passion fruit. Sounds strange, tastes extraordinary.
• Lapas (Limpets) — Grilled on a hot stone with garlic and lemon butter. Order them as a starter everywhere.
• Espetada — Beef skewers grilled over laurel wood. The traditional preparation is a full skewer hung vertically over the fire. Usually served with milho frito (fried cornmeal cubes).
• Bolo do Caco — Flat bread made with sweet potato, served warm with garlic butter. The island's greatest contribution to carbohydrate civilisation.
• Poncha — Madeira's local spirit: aguardente (sugar cane brandy) mixed with honey and lemon. Every bar makes it slightly differently. Start carefully — it's stronger than it tastes.

Best Areas for Restaurants in Funchal

The Zona Velha (Old Town) has the highest concentration of good restaurants. Rua de Santa Maria is the main street — walk the length of it and look at menus before deciding. For seafood, the Lido area and the port waterfront have excellent options. Avoid restaurants with laminated picture menus near the cable car — these are tourist traps.

Getting Around — Mobilität auf Madeira

Renting a car is strongly recommended for exploring Madeira beyond Funchal. The island's road network is excellent — a tunnel system means you can cross the island in under an hour. Parking in Funchal is sometimes challenging but manageable.

Taxis and Uber are both available in Funchal and reasonably priced. For levada walks, many operators run minibus transfers to the trailheads — this is often the easiest option as some starting points have limited parking.

Public buses (run by Horários do Funchal and Rodoeste) connect all main villages but can be infrequent. For independent explorers, a car or campervan gives you freedom to stop at viewpoints spontaneously and reach the most remote corners of the island.

Day Trips and Must-See Spots

• Monte Palace Tropical Garden — Extraordinary botanical garden above Funchal, reachable by cable car. Allow 2–3 hours. Come back down via the famous wicker toboggan (Carreiros do Monte) — a genuinely unique Madeiran experience.
• Cabo Girão — One of the highest sea cliffs in Europe (589m). Glass walkway over the edge. 30 minutes from Funchal.
• Porto Moniz — Natural lava rock pools on the northwest coast. Perfect for swimming. The drive there via the north coast is spectacular.
• Santana — Village of traditional A-frame thatched houses (palheiros). North coast, surrounded by banana plantations and terraced fields.
• Pico do Areeiro — Drive to 1,818m altitude. Above the clouds on clear days. Sunrise from here is one of the most memorable things you'll do on Madeira.
• Funchal Farmers' Market (Mercado dos Lavradores) — Go on Friday or Saturday morning. Passion fruit, exotic flowers, fresh fish, local cheeses, homemade poncha. One of the best markets in Portugal.

Practical Information — Praktische Tipps

Finding the Right Accommodation

Madeira has accommodation for every budget — from five-star hotels in Funchal to simple quintas (farm stays) in the mountains. The key decision is whether you want to be in Funchal (most convenient, best restaurants) or somewhere quieter.

For families or groups, renting an apartment or villa directly from local owners is usually better value than a hotel — and you get a kitchen, more space, and a more authentic experience. All the apartments on madeira.rentals are verified by our local team and contact is directly with the owner, with no platform fees.

Camping Rules on Madeira — What You Need to Know

Madeira is not a typical wild camping destination. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and much of its land is protected natural park. Unregulated wild camping — pitching a tent anywhere you like — is not permitted and can result in fines.

However, this doesn't mean you can't sleep in nature. There are four official campsites run by the regional government, and campervan travellers have a much wider range of options including designated parking areas, miradouros (viewpoints) with overnight-friendly policies, and private quinta farms that welcome van guests.

Official Campsites on Madeira

These four campsites are run by the Madeira Regional Government and offer facilities including toilets, showers and electricity. Prices are very reasonable — typically €5–10 per person per night.

Best Van Overnight Spots

Beyond the official campsites, campervan travellers have access to a wider network of overnight spots. These are places where sleeping in your van is generally accepted — viewpoints, trailhead car parks, and quiet coastal areas.

We share a personal curated list of our favourite van spots with every booking — locations we've discovered over years of living on the island that don't appear in any guidebook. Here are a few we can mention publicly:

• Fanal — Ancient laurisilva forest in Paul da Serra. The twisted til trees here are hundreds of years old and look prehistoric in the morning mist. The car park is large and overnight stays are common.
• Pico do Arieiro area — At 1,818m, the views from the top are above the clouds. The car park is open 24 hours and the sunrise from here is one of the most spectacular things you'll see on Madeira.
• Miradouro da Boca da Corrida — A dramatic viewpoint looking down into Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns). Quiet, accessible by van, and extraordinarily beautiful at dawn.
• Calheta beach area — The south coast around Calheta has Madeira's only sandy beach (the sand is imported, but real). Quiet overnight spots nearby.

Best Season for Camping on Madeira

The beauty of Madeira is that camping is possible year-round. The island has one of the most stable climates in the world — temperatures rarely drop below 15°C even in winter, and snow only falls above 1,500m altitude.

• April–June: The best overall season. Wildflowers everywhere, green landscape, fewer crowds than summer, comfortable temperatures.
• September–October: Harvest season. The mountains are golden, the sea is warm from summer, and the island is quieter than August.
• July–August: Peak season. More crowded and slightly more expensive, but the weather is guaranteed and the sea is at its warmest.
• November–March: Off season but still beautiful. Some campsites close, but the north coast levada walks are at their most dramatic with waterfalls in full flow.