Madeira, a popular destination for travelers, has a low crime rate and is considered one of the safest countries in the world. Schengen zone citizens can travel visa-free to Madeira, while non-EU/EEA and UK citizens can enter Portugal without a visa and stay. Visitors must register on madeirasafe.com before entering and leaving Madeira, which can be completed 48 to 12 hours prior to boarding.
The island’s capital, Funchal, is extremely safe for visitors due to its lack of venomous or dangerous animals, snakes, and spiders. Many tourists visiting Madeira will be based in Funchal, which is not affected by fires and is therefore safe to travel to.
Before traveling, it is important to read all the advice in this guide and consider hepatitis A vaccination for most travelers. It is recommended for travelers who will be doing higher risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities.
In conclusion, Madeira with its capital Funchal is considered a very safe place with a relatively low crime rate. However, it is essential to be cautious and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
📹 4 Days in Madeira, Portugal Island | WOW “The Hawaii of Europe”
Join us for 4 days in Madeira, an island in Portugal, which is a 2 hours flight from Lisbon. We visit Funchal, the islands capital, the …
Is Madeira, Portugal safe?
Madeira Island, the largest of the two, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality. It is also considered one of the safest destinations in Europe. To plan a safe trip, read on for island safety tips. Portugal is considered one of the safest countries for travelers, according to the Global Peace Index.
Is walking in Madeira safe?
To ensure a safe and successful hiking experience, it’s crucial to be prepared and knowledgeable about the terrain. Even well-marked Madeira hiking trails can be dangerous due to changing weather and cliff side paths. Be cautious and enjoy the richness of Madeira’s nature.
Is Madeira cheap or expensive?
Madeira is a relatively affordable island compared to the Canary Islands and other popular Mediterranean islands. A typical meal in a local restaurant in a village costs around 12 euros, while a more trendy or international restaurant in the capital costs closer to 20 euros. To fully enjoy Madeira, a travel budget of around €100 per person per day is recommended, which includes accommodation, meals, activities, car rental, and tours to explore the island.
Do I need a visa for Madeira?
EU and Schengen citizens can enter Portugal without a visa and stay for up to 90 days for tourism, business trips, or visiting family or friends. Non-EU and Schengen citizens may face varying entry requirements depending on their nationality. To enter Portugal, ensure your passport remains valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Madeira. If your nationality requires a visa, apply for it well in advance.
Certain non-EU citizens may also need to obtain a visa or residence permit and secure health insurance coverage. The entry requirements vary depending on your nationality and the purpose of your stay in Portugal.
Is Madeira good for tourists?
The views of Madeira are its selling point, offering a dramatic coastline and mountainous scenery that is unlike anywhere else. The island’s tropical climate is known for severe weather, and the past week and the coming weeks are predicted to be particularly windy. During our stay, we noticed that most of the time, from the ground, it was cloudy, which is likely due to the island’s climate. The weather forecast for the past week and the coming weeks is particularly windy, and the strong gust of wind that we experienced during our trip was not just a windy day but a recurring pattern.
Where not to stay in Madeira?
Travellers should not avoid specific areas due to crime, but it is important to take basic precautions and keep an eye on valuables. Hiking safety in Madeira is popular due to its adventurous trails, mountain cliffs, waterfalls, and levadas. However, accidents can happen anywhere, and in 2023, a person died while hiking the Levada das 25 Fontes, a small cliff path. Another tourist died while taking photos at the famous Cascata dos Anjos waterfall, possibly due to standing on traffic barriers along the edge before falling 30 meters down the cliffs.
Why is Madeira so cheap?
The average living standard in Portugal is lower than in mainland areas, but the local government provides generous subsidies from tourist industry revenues and the Portuguese national budget, making it an ideal destination for affordable living.
Is it safe to swim in the ocean in Madeira?
The Lido Bathing Complex in Funchal offers a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for less experienced swimmers. The complex is located in the center of the island and is supervised by lifeguards. The sunny south coast of Funchal is known for its biodiversity and mild water temperature, making it an ideal spot for swimming all year round. The complex also features three saltwater swimming pools, two for children and one for adults.
Access to the sea is available through various paths and stairs, and the complex is open year-round. Guests can enjoy the services of the complex while taking necessary precautions and monitoring sea conditions. The complex is conveniently located just a few minutes away from Funchal’s center.
Is it safe to travel to Madeira right now?
Madeira has reported 110 new COVID-19 cases, 31 recoveries, and two more deaths in the last 24 hours. The city remains on the safe travel corridor list, allowing travelers returning to England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Germany to avoid self-isolation. The first phase of vaccination is expected on December 31, 2020, with 50, 000 people vaccinated. Restrictions on flights from the UK remain in place, with only Portuguese nationals and foreign citizens with legal residency in Portugal allowed to enter Portugal.
Passengers must present a negative laboratory test upon arrival or take a test at the airport and remain isolated. Portugal has also imposed new restrictions on flights from the UK, allowing only Portuguese nationals and foreign citizens with legal residency to enter Portugal. Citizens without proof of the negative test result will be redirected to perform the test at the airport upon arrival and remain in isolation.
Can you use euros in Madeira?
The euro is a widely accepted currency in EU countries that have adopted it, including many overseas territories like the Azores, Canaries, Ceuta and Melilla, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City use the euro as their national currency, while Kosovo and Montenegro use it as their de facto currency.
When traveling, many people rely on debit/credit cards for day-to-day expenses. As long as payments are made in the euro and within the EU, they should not be charged more than any other electronically processed payment in euros.
What is the best month to visit Madeira?
Madeira, a popular destination for outdoor activities, offers warm and dry temperatures from July to October. The peak tourist season offers a lively atmosphere with plenty of events and activities. The island’s natural beauty is a sight to behold, with over 10 hours of sunshine in October and November, and temperatures in the low 20s. Visitors can enjoy walking along the island in shorts and t-shirts from February to October.
📹 How to Plan a Trip to Madeira: The Hawaii of Europe?!
In this video I share with you HOW To Plan a Trip to Madeira: The Hawaii of Europe?! Madeira is known as the Hawaii of Europe …
I really appreciate the manner in which your reviews are done, not over the top with just enough information to interest viewers. Clean and efficient narrative coupled with a relaxing cadence ensures no frustration or viewer fatigue. Madeira is definitely on our visit list in the near future. I hear June is a good time to visit with the best chance of sunshine, moderate climate and not too busy like July and August. Continue making lovely docu-tourism material.
I usually don’t press like or comment, but since you asked nicely, I did it. Also, I’m Portuguese and all my family on my mother’s side is from Madeira. I go to Madeira at least once a year, usually more, and used to be there for 2 months every summer when I was younger. As a half-Madeira native, I appreciate your article. Good job in showcasing what Madeira has to offer
I love your travel website what draws me to you guys is your refreshing authenticity, informative outlook and simplicity. Please keep your unique selling point when you venture out to full time travel vloggers. There is soo many copy cats out there in the content creation world recycling the same look.
Another great article! I love the idea of renting a Smart – I had one for 10 years. We visited Madeira back in the late 80s. Stayed at the Casino Park. It was the week before Christmas and warm enough to swim in the gorgeous outdoor pool! We met Roy Barraclough in the bar. When he discovered that I wasn’t feeling well, he bought me a Fernet-Branca, telling me it would settle my stomach. How thoughtful. A nice memory. 🙂
I did my first Levada walk on Madeira in 1993. Back then there were quite a few trekks that actually were dangerous. I remember one levada where the concrete you walked on was very narrow and in bad condition. No guard rails and if you put one foot wrong you could easily tumble down 100 meters and end up dead. That and being an avid bird watcher was a bad combo for me but “fortunately” there aren’t that many birds on Madeira. I am going there again in 2 weeks to visit my mother who turns 80. Doesn’t stop here from taking long levada walks several times a week!
Woah congratulations on going full time! I’m so excited to see what’s to come. Your articles are so well put together, I appreciate that you show us the aesthetic beautiful shots but also the real life ones so that if we make the trip ourselves we won’t leave feeling disappointed! Also this may be a random request but I’d really love it if you included what dates you were away for, I know near the end you mentioned October but I think it would be super useful so others can know what to expect if they go the same time in the future (applying the effects of global warming too of course… XD)
The Madeira Islands and the Azore Islands are those hidden gems we only hear about and do not visit. Harriet and I have been. All the places you mentioned in your vlog but you didn’t go to were all stunning. The article was beautifully made and very informative. The tone was just right . Thank you for the hard work you put into it. Sending you much love😍 from Richmond, Va. Harriet, Jim and Yuki
I went to Madeira quite a while ago and loved the island a lot. I did most of the places on the article although I always avoid market places. It is a beautiful island. I was making a decision on whether to do Lisbon and Algarve or Lisbon and Madeira so I decided to go for the latter and I’m glad I did
That was an enjoyable article. We had 3 weeks in Madeira in 2019 and had and an air b n b. Strangely enough it was an apartment right above the Espaco restaurant you showed in Rua de Carreira. Sometimes when we ate there it was at a table literally just outside the front door! They did great food there! We’re hoping to go back in April/May.
Hey! This was a fantastic article! Thank you so much 🥰Madeira Island is the birthplace of my father. I was there at the age of 2 but of course I don’t remember anything. Now I will soon be 60 and would really like to visit this wonderful place even though my father passed away in 2019 I know he would have liked me to go to see his homeland.. I have been to Maui and I must say that it does resemble it in many ways especially that mountaintop sunrise. Breathtakingly beautiful! My only concern is that we will probably have to go with an Air Bnb rather than a hotel. My husband has fatal fish and seafood allergies so restaurants are not safe for him. We are big into hiking and cycling though with all those hills cycling would definitely be a challenge!LOL
Of a quality I have come to expect from your filming and editing, Thank you, good photography and narration and I really did enjoy the holiday with you. Viewing the walks I assume most are open only to those able to walk the walk, which for those coping with managing a wheelchair companion makes them inaccessible In many instances ifnot able to walk them . Remembering, to give an odd comment about accessibility might help those hindered by such problems. and act as An informing source, Well done. it certainly shows off many of the good features of Maderia and certainly makes me consider the place for a holiday,
Hey guys great article fun fact about Madera I watch the whole article before I commented is that their electrical Supply it’s all a hundred percent renewable no fossil fuels needed no gas water Hydro Sun wind look into it pretty amazing how they engineered their electrical supply pretty amazing only country and the world has a hundred percent renewable
:virtualhug: Amazing! This island remind me a nice and funny friend from Funchai – relocated to Kalmar the same time in 1982. We studied Swedish Language for Immigrant Progam together for 9 months. So This Island is listed on my tour planing in 2024. Lots of Charter flights from STOCKHOLM Thanks a lot for wonderful NATURE BEAUTY from Madeira… Best Wishes from STOCKHOLM – SWDEN:yougotthis: 💚💚💚
Such an amazing article, as usual! I’m sort of a quiet consumer of your website but you do deserve a lot more recognition for your travel vlogs and tips. I hope you make it to South America soon, Argentina’s breathtaking scenere will be waiting for you (Cataratas del Iguazú, Glaciar Perito Moreno, los Valles Calchaquíes, etc, etc!)
Just chanced onto your website and really enjoyed this vid. We were on Madeira filming for our tiny website and fell in love with the island. Travelling full time for YouTube sounds an absolute dream. We loved the Porto Moniz area, beautiful. Thanks for the vid, we’ve subscribed for inspiration as where to travel to next.
Great article I recently spent 3 full days in Madeira in early March. Monte palace gardens were spectacular yes! I took a bus to Porto Moniz worth visiting but you might want to drive there as the bus took almost 4 hours each way! Epic waves I saw that day some of the biggest I’ve ever seen and the tidal pools you could swim in looked really nice!
I am from Sweden and spent about 9 months in 2014 in Madeira. I did not experience ANY corruption. Imo prices were low and very low compared to prices in Sweden. Also, there is very little crime in Madeira, even less then in Sweden and much less then in for example Gran Canaria, where You actually may have to look out for bad people attacking You. Further the islanders are VERY friendly to visitors and non-islanders. This fact alone creates a very nice athmosphere to bask in while You are there. Madeira also have maybe the best weather in the world with warm winters and MANY hours sun all year round and still moderate high temperatures in the summer and believe, based on my own as well as others experience that Madeira is one of the safest places You can live in. Friends in Madeira told me also that the healthcare there is pretty good. Btw Bon´t miss the “artificial ” SAND beach in Machico, the largest city in Madeira after Funchal. Imo it is a nice beach with a good athmosphere and beautiful as most places in Madeira are. And yeah, the sand is real, it is not artificial.
I think you captured the atmosphere very well. Madeira was already on our wishlist. There are tons of articles on Madeira by other travelers as wel as local guides. For more in depth reviews on things you could not possibly cover, I recommend hit the road Madeira youtube website. Other great articles are by The traveling foxes.
Suitcase monkey never disappoints in getting you excited to visit a new place! I do have one more question about this destination.. do they have nice beaches? I was expecting the destination to be somewhat similar to Canary Islands but I actually spent lots of time in the sea when I visited. Madeira looked like a different type of trip here 🙂
I have done several trips following your itinerary, incl Santorini and Malta. Madeira will be next in the list for me and thanks for these amazing articles (using iPhone only!). Last year, I visited Faroe Islands and I was wishing that you had a similar article on Faroe Islands so that I could follow your itinerary!
I love your articles. They are so informative and helpful. If I might suggest one thing … at the beginning of your articles, could you point out on a map where it is that you are. That would be very helpful. I know I could do this myself, but when your into the article, I don’t want to take the time to do it. Thank you for your wonderful content.
That cable car and garden entrance ticket seemed a bit pricey. Your GPS looks like the GPS maps you often see here, I guess it is a mountainous country thing. I am looking forward to Finland as it is somewhere I have always been interested in. One day I will see a Suitcase Monkey vid from Taiwan mind, I am sure!
I want a bespoke tour of the history of embroidery in Madeira and the tiles in Lisbon. My friend recommended GetMyGuide who she used in Russia. I contacted them and they say no such thing. Can you help please? P.s. love your wit esp about Bournemouth. I’m from Australia, will be in Portugal this Sept. Thanks
No… The Hawaii of Europe is Azores. A group of islands from Portugal. Madeira has no vulcanic activity therefore the vegetation is nowhere near similar Hawaii. Azores in another hand has 2 or 3 active vulcanos that bring minerals to the surface allowing to have super dense and green small florests. Also the beaches in Madeira sucks 😂They have no sand… Visit Azores guys, trust me because I lived there 6 years