Which Madeira island tour suits you?

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The tool's answer turns on three things. Time decides the reach: half a day stays near Funchal, a full day reaches one end of the island, and two days see both. The side decides the scenery: the west means the cliffs, the lava pools of Porto Moniz and the Fanal forest; the east means Pico do Areeiro at 1,818 m, the laurel forest and Santana. The vehicle decides the day: a shared van is the cheapest seat, a small group gives more time at each stop, a 4x4 takes the tracks, and a private car goes where you choose.

If you are not sure which side, the tool starts you in the west, the loop most first visitors take. Sixty-eight island tours leave from Funchal, most of about 8 hours, and 45 of them include hotel pickup.

West or east

The common mistake is to try both ends of the island in one day. The roads are fast, but the stops take the time.

The west answers are the classic loop: along the south coast by Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão, over the Paul da Serra plateau or along the coast to Porto Moniz and its lava pools, and back by the north. The most reviewed van tour of the west, with waterfalls and the Fanal forest, has 3,827 reviews at 4.69; the Best of the West, 3,591 at 4.64. Porto Moniz is 56 minutes from Funchal by road and Fanal 76, so these are full days.

The east answers climb to Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 m, cross the laurel forest at Ribeiro Frio and drop to Santana and its thatched houses, returning by the east coast. The Best of the East has 3,752 reviews at 4.66, and the small-group east tour, with a short levada walk to the Balcões, 3,082 at 4.82.

The east depends on the sky: the peaks can be in cloud, so book it for a clear day and keep the west for a cloudier one. Most tours can be moved or cancelled free of charge within their window.

East coast tours typically climb to Pico do Areeiro and visit Santana, requiring clear weather for the best experience.

Van, small group, 4x4 or private

Visitors often choose the tour by the route and forget the vehicle. On a day of 8 hours, the vehicle is most of the day.

A shared van or minibus is the standard island tour, with a driver-guide and pickup at hotels in Funchal. The small-group answer, in the east, keeps the group smaller and adds a short walk.

The 4x4 answers, west to Porto Moniz and Fanal or east to Santana, go on tracks the vans do not use. The west 4WD day is the most reviewed island tour from Funchal, 4.77 from 5,647 reviews; the east 4x4 has 319 reviews at 4.74. Both exclude pregnant travellers and people with back problems.

The private answer is a Mercedes van with a local driver for your group only, 8 hours to the west and north with flexible stops and the Cabo Girão skywalk ticket included, rated 4.95 from 30 reviews. The same operator runs an east and south private day, and other operators sell private days that let you choose the stops.

Compare the private and shared prices on your dates: the private price is for the whole group.

Half a day or two days

The mistake is to book a half day and expect to see Porto Moniz. Half a day does not reach either end of the island.

The half-day answer is the Nuns Valley, 3 hours 30 minutes by van into the interior, with Câmara de Lobos and viewpoints on the way, rated 4.53 from 2,333 reviews. The valley is 21 minutes from Funchal by road, and the Eira do Serrado viewpoint looks down into it from 1,095 m. A 4-hour version adds Monte and the toboggan ride.

The two-day answer covers the villages and viewpoints of the island over 2 days, rated 4.71 from 483 reviews, and you sleep in your own accommodation between the days. Its pickup is within Funchal's centre and the main hotel area, and some narrow streets cannot be reached, so check your address.

For a stay of a week, two separate full days, one west and one east, give the same coverage with a rest day between, and let you pick the clearest day for the peaks.

What the tours include

Visitors often assume lunch and the fees are in the price. On most island tours they are not.

Most of the island tours include the driver-guide, the vehicle and pickup from a hotel in Funchal: 45 of the 68 include pickup, and a few collect from any address in Funchal, Caniço or Câmara de Lobos. Pickup outside the Funchal area often costs extra.

Lunch is usually not included: the tours stop for it, and you pay on the day. The fees at the stops are extra too: the Cabo Girão skywalk costs €5 for visitors over 12, one of the two pools at Porto Moniz €3, and a classified trail €4.50, paid on SIMplifica. The private Mercedes day is the exception among the answers, with the skywalk ticket included.

Two sights on older itineraries are closed in 2026, the São Vicente caves and the road to the Cascata dos Anjos, so check that the stops listed are open. The forest service's notices list trail closures.

Before you book

People often book the east for their first morning and wake to cloud. Keep the schedule loose.

Book the island tours early in the stay, and leave a day free to move the east to if the peaks are in cloud; most tours can be cancelled free of charge within their window. Dress in layers: Pico do Areeiro stands at 1,818 m and is much cooler than Funchal, and the north coast is wetter than the south.

Bring water, sun cream and cash for lunch and the small fees. For the Porto Moniz pools, bring swimwear and a towel.

If you would rather drive, the car decision guide weighs a hire car against the tours, and the island tours guide compares all 68. Visit Madeira lists the sights and their opening times.

Common questions

Is the west or the east of Madeira better for a first tour?

Most first visitors start with the west, for Cabo Girão, Porto Moniz and the north coast; the east needs a clear sky on Pico do Areeiro.

Can you see all of Madeira in one day?

Not well: a full day reaches one end of the island. One west day and one east day cover both.

Do island tours include lunch?

Usually not: the tours stop for lunch and you pay on the day, as you do for the skywalk and the Porto Moniz pools.