Madeira is Portugal's volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, famous for its dramatic mountain peaks, laurel forests, centuries-old levada irrigation channels, and year-round mild climate. The main island rises steeply from the sea to Pico Ruivo at 1,862 metres, creating a landscape of terraced vineyards, sub-tropical gardens, and coastal cliffs that draw hikers, botanists, and cruise passengers alike.
Local currency: Euro (€).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Madeira.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- €20–€35/night (~$23–$41) dorm bed in Funchal
- Budget
- €45–€65/night (~$52–$75) guesthouse or quinta room
- Midrange
- €70–€140/night (~$81–$162) 3–4 star hotel, many with sea views
- Luxury
- €200–€1,000+/night (~$232–$1,160+) 5-star resort; Reid's Palace suites start around €1,000 (~$1,160)
Food
- Street
- €2–€5 (~$2–$6) bolo do caco with garlic butter or a pastel de nata and coffee
- Local
- €10–€15 (~$12–$17) prato do dia at a tasca — espetada skewer or fish with a drink
- Midrange
- €18–€30 (~$21–$35) sit-down restaurant meal, grilled scabbardfish (espada) with banana
- Fine
- €70–€150+ (~$81–$174+) tasting menu at a Funchal fine-dining restaurant
Transport
- Bus
- €1.95–€2.90 (~$2–$3) Horários do Funchal urban bus or intercity rural bus
- Taxi
- €6–€15 (~$7–$17) short journey within Funchal by taxi or rideshare
- Airport
- €25–€35 (~$29–$41) Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira Airport to central Funchal by taxi
- Daytrip
- €35–€55/day (~$41–$64) car rental for a full day including fuel, essential for reaching the north coast
Activities
- Museum
- €3–€6 (~$3–$7) small museums and historic sites in Funchal
- Sites
- Free (many levada trailheads, viewpoints and the Ponta de São Lourenço reserve)
- Tour
- €25–€45 (~$29–$52) guided levada walk or Funchal bay boat trip
- Excursion
- €45–€70 (~$52–$81) whale and dolphin watching, canyoning or jeep tour of the interior
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Madeira costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
€455 (~$528) for 7 days (guesthouse, market food, free levadas and viewpoints, public bus)
Midrange traveller
€980 (~$1,137) for 7 days (3-star hotel, restaurant lunches and dinners, one guided tour, rental car for part of the trip)
Luxury traveller
€3,150+ (~$3,654+) for 7 days (5-star resort, fine dining, private guide and driver)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Visit in April–June or late September–October for pleasant weather without July–August or Christmas-period price surges
Eat the prato do dia (around €10–€12 / ~$12–$14) at a local tasca rather than ordering à la carte in tourist restaurants
Rent a car for the whole trip instead of booking individual tours — reaching the north coast independently is far cheaper and more flexible
Book Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira Airport transfers by shared shuttle or public bus (Aerobus) rather than a private taxi
Self-cater breakfast and some lunches using bolo do caco, cheese and fruit from Mercado dos Lavradores
Book levada guided walks directly with small local operators rather than through hotel concierge markups
Drink the local Madeira wine and poncha at neighborhood bars rather than tourist-strip lounges — prices can be half as much
Travel with hiking poles and a headlamp already packed to avoid overpriced rental gear at trailheads
Stay outside central Funchal in towns like Câmara de Lobos or Ribeira Brava for lower accommodation rates with easy bus access
Buy a Horários do Funchal multi-day bus pass if staying in Funchal and relying on public transport
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Cabo Girão Skywalk viewpoint
Standing on the glass platform above one of Europe's highest sea cliffs costs nothing to view; only paid parking applies nearby
Ponta de São Lourenço trail
A dramatic, arid coastal walk to Madeira's easternmost tip through volcanic scenery — no entry fee
Levada do Furado / Levada dos Balcões
Two of Madeira's most rewarding levada walks are free and require no permit
Funchal Old Town painted doors (Zona Velha)
Hundreds of artist-painted doors line the old town's narrow streets, free to wander
Mercado dos Lavradores exterior and stalls
Browsing the flower, fruit and fish market in Funchal costs nothing beyond what visitors choose to buy
Praça do Povo and Funchal marina promenade
Free waterfront walk past the marina, cruise terminal and public art
Miradouro do Pico do Arieiro at sunrise
One of Madeira's most spectacular free viewpoints, often above the cloud line
Câmara de Lobos fishing harbor
A picturesque working harbor once painted by Winston Churchill — free to visit
Santana traditional A-frame houses
Viewing the colorful triangular thatched houses in the village exterior is free
Ponta do Sol boardwalk and Poças coastal pools
A scenic seafront walk on the south coast with no admission charge