A list of the attractions we loved for kids in Madeira:
- Whale and dolphin watching cruise | Busca de Golfinhos e Baleias
- Amazing jeep tours around the island | Madeira 4×4 Tours
- The cable car in Funchal | Teleférico Funchal-Monte
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden (Funchal) | Jardim Monte Palace Madeira
- The cliff and glass skywalk at Cabo Girão | Cabo Girão Skywalk
- Cristiano Ronaldo Museum in Funchal | Museu CR7
- Washing the car under the Anjos waterfall | Cascata dos Anjos
- A stroll along the promenade and through Funchal’s old town | Funchal
- A walk in Fanal Forest | Fanal
- The park and Santana’s traditional triangular thatched-roof houses | Casas Típicas de Santana
- Funchal’s famous farmers market | Mercado dos Lavradores
- Walking trails along the island’s levada water channels | Levada
- Madeira Story Centre in Funchal | Madeira Story Centre
- The sea pools and aquarium in Porto Moniz on the west side of the island | Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz
- An immersive 3D art museum in Funchal | 3D Fun art museum
- The playground in Garajau (15 minutes from Funchal) | Parque Infantil do Garajau
- Santa Catarina Park in Funchal | Santa Catarina Park
- Climbing above the clouds to Pico do Arieiro | Pico do Arieiro
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Is Madeira a Good Destination for Kids?
The answer is absolutely yes! Madeira once had the image of an island meant mostly for adults—retirees or couples looking to escape the pressures of the mainland and unwind by the ocean. That peace and calm are definitely still here in abundance, but who says kids can’t enjoy them too? Over the past few decades, the island has increasingly turned toward traveling families, and more and more attractions for children have opened up.
One of Madeira’s biggest advantages is its size. You don’t waste much time on the road, and kids don’t end up stuck on overly long drives. Even the drives themselves are part of the experience, with winding roads, spectacular views, and tunnels that cut into the mountainside and emerge high above.
Madeira’s weather is another major plus. The island enjoys pleasant, comfortable weather year-round. The less populated north is windier and rainier, and that’s where you’ll find the forests and much of the island’s unique vegetation. Funchal and the south are sunnier and pleasant throughout the year. Summer can get a little warm, but evenings and nights are always comfortable.
Beyond the attractions and sights, staying in Madeira’s hotels and resorts is wonderful too. Madeira is an excellent vacation island, helped along by its warm weather throughout the year. The southern part of the island, where the capital city of Funchal is located, gets more sunshine and is also home to most of the island’s hotels and resorts. Here too, the island’s compact size works well for families traveling with children. You can stay at one of the resorts in the hotel strip west of Funchal (the São Martinho area), head out for day trips around the island, and sometimes simply spend a day or two at the hotel by the pool, venturing only into the city center, which is just a 5- to 10-minute drive from the resort area.
Click here for information on where to stay in Madeira and Funchal…
Click here for a list of excellent hotels in Madeira…
What should you know about attractions for kids in Madeira?
First of all, attractions for kids in Madeira aren’t necessarily just for kids. Many of Madeira’s most popular activities for adults are also a great fit for children. The island’s many walking trails, for example, can be very engaging for kids as well. Of course, not the longest routes or the ones with a high difficulty level, but there are plenty of shorter walks that work well for families. And it goes the other way too—who says adults won’t enjoy a whale-watching cruise? In short, with its wonderful weather and so much to do, Madeira is absolutely worth visiting with the whole family for an unforgettable trip.
One very popular Madeira activity we didn’t recommend is the wicker toboggan ride down after taking the cable car up in Funchal. It can be a little scary for children, and it’s also relatively expensive. That means it’s not necessarily the best choice as a family activity and tends to suit couples and adults better.
Click here for the complete guide to Madeira Island…
The best attractions for kids in Madeira: list, details, and information
1. Whale-watching cruise | Observação de Baleias e Golfinhos
Whale watching is one of the main reasons many travelers come to Madeira. Like the Azores, which also lie in the heart of the Atlantic, Madeira sits along the route of many whales traveling north to south across the ocean and back again. Some whale species can also be found around the island year-round. The best time for whale watching in Madeira is spring and early summer, from March to June, as well as late summer and fall, in August and September. Dolphins, meanwhile, can always be found in large numbers around the island, and they love swimming alongside the boats. Note that in Portuguese, dolphins are called Golfinhos.
The two main places to join a whale-watching cruise in Madeira are Funchal and the town of Caniçal on the eastern side of the island. Caniçal is also home to a whale museum that presents the history and relationship between the island’s residents and these great marine mammals. An added bonus of boarding a cruise in Caniçal is the stunning scenery around the São Lourenço peninsula.
Click here to buy tickets for a wonderful whale and dolphin watching cruise…
2. Amazing jeep tours in Madeira | Madeira 4×4 Tours
Jeep tours are one of the best ways to experience the distinctive and captivating nature of Madeira. Several companies offer different tours around the island. Most are based in Funchal, and in some cases you’ll be picked up at your hotel and taken by bus to the point where the jeep tour begins.
It’s worth booking these tours in advance, especially if you want the most convenient times.
Click here for a great jeep tour in Madeira…
3. The cable car in Funchal | Teleférico Funchal-Monte
Funchal’s cable car departs right from the heart of the old town, in Jardim do Almirante Reis. It climbs up the mountain to Monte, where Funchal’s lush gardens are located.
The cable car is one of Funchal’s main attractions, so there is almost always a line. You should expect some waiting time either way, but buying tickets online can help shorten it. Keep in mind that because of the elevation difference of about 600 meters, it can feel cool once you reach the top. On cloudy days or days that aren’t especially warm, it’s worth bringing a light layer.
Another important thing to know is that there are two gardens at the top. The first is Monte Palace Garden | Jardim Monte Palace Madeira. To reach the second, the Botanical Garden | Jardim Botânico, you need to take another cable car for an additional fee. If you have the time, it’s well worth visiting the botanical garden too and turning it into nearly half a day exploring two of Funchal’s most popular attractions. The cable car to the botanical garden is located about 250 meters to the right of the first cable car’s upper station.
You can buy a combined ticket for both cable cars.
Click here for the full guide on where to stay in Madeira…
4. Monte Palace Tropical Garden | Jardim Monte Palace Madeira
Monte Palace Tropical Garden is the attraction reached by Funchal’s cable car.
These are the most famous gardens in Funchal. They’re large enough to wander through for several hours. Alongside the lush vegetation and a wide variety of trees and plants, you’ll also find sculptures, garden pavilions, bridges, fish ponds, and more. There are even flamingos, and one section of the garden is designed in an Oriental style with pagodas.
Even younger children will enjoy these gardens—maybe not for a very long visit, but certainly for a lovely walk outdoors.
Click here for information on where to stay in Madeira and Funchal…
Click here for a list of 12 excellent hotels in Madeira…
5. The cliff and glass skywalk at Cabo Girão | Cabo Girão Skywalk
Cabo Girão is the island’s highest cliff dropping straight into the sea. At the top is a viewpoint with a glass skywalk. The viewpoint itself, perched 589 meters above the water, isn’t very large, and it can get crowded, sometimes with a bit of a wait. Still, it’s absolutely worth coming here to step out onto the glass above the drop and take in the beautiful views.
Of course, if you or your kids are afraid of heights, this may not be the right stop. That said, despite its height, the glass platform usually doesn’t feel especially frightening and is very enjoyable for those who are comfortable with heights.
If the skywalk isn’t enough, there’s also a small cable car nearby that goes down to the fajã below. These fajãs are strips of land caught between the cliff and the sea, and in some of them the fertile soil is farmed for the crops typical of the island.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo Museum in Funchal—for kids who love soccer | Museu CR7
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in 1985 in Funchal, the capital of Madeira. Ronaldo, who became Portugal’s greatest soccer player and one of the greatest players in the history of the game, never forgot where he came from and established his museum in his hometown. His status in Portugal is almost godlike, and in Madeira it’s hard to overstate just how admired he is. Proof of that is the fact that the island’s airport was named after him not only during his lifetime, but more or less in the middle of his career.
The museum is very easy to reach, at the western end of Funchal’s promenade, directly opposite the cruise ship pier. Inside, more than 150 trophies won by the player are on display, along with many highlights from Ronaldo’s long career. Not everyone agrees he’s the greatest player of all time—the competition with Messi is stiff—but everyone agrees he was one of the most dedicated professionals in the world, always training at full intensity and always pushing for more goals, trophies, and titles.
Outside the museum there’s a bronze statue of Ronaldo, and you can come by for a photo even when the museum itself is closed.
Click here for more information and the museum’s opening hours…
7. Washing the car under the Anjos waterfall | Cascata dos Anjos
About midway between Funchal and Calheta on the western side of the island, you’ll find another of Madeira’s wonderful waterfalls. This one comes with a twist.
Because the waterfall spills directly onto the road carved between the cliff and the sea, it creates a perfect chance to wash your car Madeira-style. It’s a great excuse to veer slightly off the main route and get a free car wash…
Naturally, this is a fantastic experience for kids too—just remember to close the windows first…
Check Out Our Best Car Rental Deals in Portugal…
8. A walk through Funchal’s old town and along the promenade | Funchal, Avenida do Mar
Funchal’s old town and promenade make a wonderful area for exploring on foot. The paved sidewalks, lush greenery, and narrow streets make it a lovely place to wander. Kids can enjoy this kind of outing too, especially since it usually includes lunch or dinner—and if they behave nicely, maybe ice cream for dessert.
Funchal’s old town begins a little above Praça do Povo and the promenade that runs along the waterfront and marina. As in many Catholic cities, the cathedral is at its center. Just a little farther west is the farmers market | Mercado dos Lavradores, another place children usually enjoy, with its colorful fruit and interesting souvenir shops. One street below the market begins one of the city’s most central and interesting streets—Rua de Santa Maria, lined with dozens of restaurants and cafés and famous for the painted doors along the way.
Click here for a list of 20 wonderful attractions in Funchal, the capital of Madeira…
9. A walk in Fanal Forest
Above the village of Ribeira da Janela, the one known for its beach and the narrow rock formations rising from the water, dense forests begin to take over, along with trails that run beside water channels and streams—the levadas. The most important and best-known site along the way is Fanal Forest, one of the last remaining traces of the subtropical laurel forests that once covered different parts of the earth for ages. The forest’s laurel trees are hundreds of years old and unique to Madeira.
Next to the parking area where people stop to see Fanal Forest, there’s a clearing with several ancient trees scattered around, their trunks huge and dramatic. This is the spot featured in many of Madeira’s most famous photos, with the forest wrapped in mist. There isn’t always fog here, but you have a better chance of seeing it in the morning, when it adds even more mystery to the place. Even if you arrive later and the mist is gone, children will still enjoy running between the trees and climbing onto the lower trunks.
Although Fanal Forest is in the island’s northwest, you can still reach it from Funchal in about an hour’s drive through the mountains.
Click here for a list of the most popular attractions on Madeira Island…
10. The park and Santana’s traditional triangular thatched-roof houses | Casas Típicas de Santana
Santana is a small town-village in the northeast of the island, best known for its traditional houses with triangular thatched roofs. The north of the island is very rainy, and this distinctive roof design was meant to protect against the frequent rain. The village and its houses are among the most beloved sights on the green island. The houses are in the center of town near Santana’s town hall, and there’s a large parking lot across from it. A visit to Santana usually starts with these houses and continues on to Madeira’s theme park.
Madeira Theme Park | Parque Temático da Madeira tells the story of the island. Here too, you can see several houses with triangular thatched roofs. The park also has water pools, gardens—including a wonderful hedge maze for kids—and many other interesting plants typical of Madeira. Among them, you can see willow branches used to weave Madeira’s wicker baskets. Beyond that, there are also many cabins representing different villages on the island, where artisans create tools and objects typical of Madeira using traditional methods.
Click here for more information about Madeira Theme Park…
11. Funchal’s famous farmers market | Mercado dos Lavradores
Mercado dos Lavradores is one of the most colorful and famous sights in the capital, Funchal. Kids tend to enjoy the market’s color and abundance too. There are souvenir shops as well as a few quick-food stalls, and because the market is right in the city center, it’s easy to stop by even without planning around it.
At the market, you’ll find unusual tropical fruits that are hard to come by almost anywhere else in Europe. Almost every tourist ends up buying some exotic fruit here, but keep in mind that in most cases you’ll find the same fruits in the island’s supermarkets for much less.
Click here for a complete guide on where to stay in Madeira and Funchal…
12. Levada walks—the trails that follow Madeira’s water channels | Levadas
Madeira has hundreds of hiking trails, and they’re one of the island’s most popular activities. Levada walks follow narrow water channels built on the island beginning in the early settlement period in the 15th century. These channels were mainly used to transport irrigation water. There are trails of every length and difficulty level. We selected a few relatively easy and short ones that can also suit children—not the very youngest, perhaps, but even with small kids you can always walk just part of the route and turn back if needed.
In any case, when heading out on Madeira’s walking trails, comfortable shoes—preferably non-slip ones—are essential.
Here are several popular routes in Madeira:
1. Levada dos Balcões
Marked PR11 – located in Ribeiro Frio, a stopping point in the eastern part of Madeira’s mountains. At the site itself there’s a restaurant, a convenience shop, and a small fish farm. All around are dense forests, streams, and water channels that make for a lovely walk. Ribeiro Frio is easiest to reach from Funchal in the south, though it’s also accessible from Santana in the north. The route takes about 40 minutes and passes through humid forest filled with ferns.
2. Levada do Alecrim
A short trail not far from the Risco route and the famous 25 Fontes waterfall. This is a 3-km trail with lovely views.
3. Queimadas route | Parque Florestal das Queimadas
An easy, short circular trail of 2 km. It’s in the north of the island near Santana, the town known for its triangular thatched-roof houses. In fact, it’s a small park from which walking trails depart. Even if you’re not planning to hike much, the little park among the trees and vegetation is very beautiful.
4. Levada do Rei
Marked PR18 – a long route in the north of the island with an easy-to-moderate difficulty level. This is a relatively long walk through intensely green nature. It isn’t suitable for little kids simply because of the length, but it works well for older children and certainly for teenagers.
5. The São Lourenço Peninsula trail in the east of the island | Vereda da Ponta do São Lourenço
A stunningly beautiful trail, but with no shade. For that reason, it’s better not to do it in summer, and it’s also not suited to small children. The route is more or less circular. It differs from most Madeira trails mainly because it doesn’t pass through greenery; instead, it follows barren volcanic rock with cliffs dropping sharply into the sea. You can also just drive there for the views and walk a short section, mainly to experience something a little different.
Click here for a list of hotels with magnificent views in Madeira…
13. Madeira Story Centre
Madeira Story Centre is located in the capital city of Funchal. As in other cities in Portugal and elsewhere, Madeira has created a modern museum that tells the island’s history through immersive exhibition rooms. The museum isn’t large, and the displays are highly visual. It suits both younger and older visitors and offers a wonderful way to learn about the island in about an hour—from its geological uniqueness to the history of settlement, and on to the food and culture of island residents.
The museum also has a large souvenir shop and a garden featuring plants typical of the island.
14. The sea pools and aquarium in Porto Moniz on the west side of the island | Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz
The small village of Porto Moniz sits at the northernmost tip of Madeira, on the western side of the island. But as always in Madeira, everything is close by, and even though Porto Moniz is on the far side of the island, you can still get there from Funchal in about an hour.
Beyond the beautiful scenery along the way, the main reason to come to Porto Moniz is its natural sea pools: Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz. Madeira has several natural sea pools, but the ones in Porto Moniz are especially large. Even though the rough ocean lies just beyond them and the waves crash nearby, the pools themselves are relatively calm. Their appearance is unique too, with black volcanic rocks left in the middle as a reminder that the water and everything around it are natural and crystal clear.
Entry to the pools requires a fee, and the complex has changing rooms and a snack bar, so it’s easy to spend a few hours here with the kids. Just remember that this is still ocean water, and although it warms up a bit inside the pools, it can still feel a little cool.
A short walk from the pools, you’ll also find the aquarium | Piscinas Naturais do Aquário, housed inside a renovated 18th-century fort that was turned into an exhibition center for Madeira’s marine life. It’s not a large place, but it has several aquariums beautifully integrated into the old building, with more than 100 fish species typical of Madeira.
Next to the aquarium there are also natural sea pools that are deeper and suitable for diving. The center also offers guided diving options in these pools, and it’s best to arrange those in advance.
Click here for more information about the aquarium in Porto Moniz…
15. An immersive 3D art museum
This is a museum dedicated entirely to fun, and it’s located in the island’s main city—Funchal. The exhibition rooms are filled with dozens of designs and images that create complete visual illusions. All you need to do is get your phones ready and photograph family members striking poses that the murals and sets make look impossible.
The museum is an entertaining experience for the whole family, and an hour to an hour and a half is plenty for a visit.
Click here for more information and the opening hours of the 3D museum in Madeira…
16. The playground in Garajau (15 minutes from Funchal) | Parque Infantil do Garajau
If you absolutely need a playground for small children, this is the place in Madeira. It’s not right in the city center, but it’s only about a 15-minute drive away. This relatively new park sits beside a huge volcanic cliff, and naturally the road there—and the surrounding area as well—offers wonderful ocean views.
The park has easy parking and several play structures that younger children will enjoy. We added it to the list just in case you really need it.
17. Santa Catarina Park in Funchal
You could say this is the main park in central Funchal. It’s near the casino and the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, between Funchal’s promenade and the western hotel zone.
The park isn’t large, but it’s spacious enough to enjoy a bit more greenery in the middle of the city, along with a few fountains and ornamental ponds. There are also walking paths, some with the mosaic paving typical of Portugal. It’s a quiet, pleasant place for a stroll, and there are also several food stands in and around the park.
18. Climbing above the clouds to Pico do Arieiro
You can reach Madeira’s second-highest peak, at 1,810 meters above sea level, in just half an hour from Funchal, a thoroughly modern city. That contrast between a coastal city and a mountain towering above the clouds with almost unreal views is Madeira at its very best.
Pico do Arieiro’s great advantage over the island’s other peaks is that you can drive almost all the way to the top. That’s exactly why it’s such a good place to visit with kids. You don’t have to walk far at all to reach the summit.
The peak rising above the clouds is one of Madeira’s iconic images, if not the island’s most iconic of all. In fact, the experience begins on the winding road up, when you cross the cloud line and suddenly emerge into sunshine. It’s wonderful for the whole family. With slightly older children, you can also continue onto at least part of the trail that starts at the summit. At the top there’s also a small convenience shop and café, so there’s no need to stress too much about water and snacks the way you might on other trails around the island.
There are usually clouds almost every morning; on other days, it’s best to ask the hotel staff.
Click here for information on where to stay in Madeira and Funchal…
Click here for a list of 12 top-rated hotels in Madeira…
