A tour of Madeira in 7 to 10 days: an island 57 km long that you loop from Funchal along the south coast, the lava pools of Porto Moniz, the north coast at Seixal and Santana, then the peaks around Pico do Arieiro. Distances are short but the roads climb steeply, and most trails now have to be booked online, entry time slot included.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
April to June and September to October. The coast stays mild all year, but in winter snow can close the mountain roads: on 3 March 2026, those to Pico do Arieiro, Paul da Serra and Achada do Teixeira.
🚗 37 km · 45 min of driving from Funchal
Leave the VR1 expressway and its tunnels: the old road runs through Câmara de Lobos and Cabo Girão, narrow and steep.
🚗 39 km · 45 min of driving from Calheta
ER101 via Prazeres and Ponta do Pargo, winding across the western plateau. Narrow villages, steep climbs.
🚗 39 km · 50 min of driving from Porto Moniz
Detour via the ER209 and the Fanal forest, then the VE2 expressway beneath the cliffs, exposed to rockfalls.
🚗 34 km · 40 min of driving from Seixal
Expressway through tunnels to São Vicente, then the north coast via Ponta Delgada and São Jorge.
🚗 54 km · 1h10 of driving from Santana
ER103 via Ribeiro Frio and Poiso, ER202 up to Pico do Arieiro, then down via Santo da Serra.
🚗 22 km · 20 min of driving from Machico
In a week: Funchal (2 nights), Calheta, Porto Moniz or Seixal, then Santana (2 nights), with Pico do Arieiro on the way back. Do Ponta de São Lourenço on the last morning, close to the airport.
| Small car, average | ≈ €23 a day (Kayak airport, Sept. 2026) |
|---|---|
| All categories, August | ≈ €32 a day |
| All categories, January | ≈ €13 a day |
| SUV, average | ≈ €43 a day |
| Regional tax, on top | €2 a day, ten days maximum |
| Vehicle | Small and with a reasonably punchy engine: narrow lanes, very steep ramps. An automatic is recommended, though dearer. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | At Madeira airport in Santa Cruz: desks on level 0, in the arrivals hall. It is a loop, so you return it to the same place. |
| Rental tax | Since 1 June 2026: €2 per car per day, ten days maximum, paid to the rental company. |
| Age and card | At least 21, often with two years' driving experience; a bank card in the driver's name, cash not accepted. |
| Electric | Regional law requires rental companies to have 10% zero-emission cars; ultra-fast charging at Garajau, in Caniço. |
⚠️ Hill starts on very steep slopes, often in a narrow village: if a manual gearbox worries you, book an automatic early.
Any European Union licence is valid. Keep on board: ID, licence, insurance and vehicle registration document. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
Give way to the right at unmarked junctions; give way when entering a roundabout.
Portuguese highway code. On the VR1 expressway and the other expressways, follow the signs.
0.2 g/l during the probationary period (first 3 years of holding a licence). Fines of €250 to €1,250 above 0.5.
The VR1 and the expressways are free for everyone, residents and visitors alike.
Winding, steep minor roads: go down in first or second gear to spare the brakes.
All official trails (PR) must be booked on SIMplifica, with an entry time slot. Without a booking you may be fined.
Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00, Saturday 08:00-14:00; white lines are free, yellow lines no parking. iPark Driver app.
On 20 August 2026, a rockfall closed the VE2 at Seixal and injured four people; it reopened the next day.
For all occupants. Phones at the wheel only with a hands-free kit.
≈ €1.98 per litre of unleaded 95, €2.08 for diesel
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Today's price: DGEG (Portuguese government) →
⛽ 225 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €30 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Prices are set weekly in the Region, week of 21 September 2026: diesel at its highest level ever in Madeira.
| Roads and expressways | No tolls on the island |
|---|---|
| Rental tax | €2 a day, ten days maximum, since 1 June 2026 |
| Official trail (PR) | €4.50 per person; €9 for a day pass covering several trails, excluding PR1 |
| PR1, Pico do Arieiro | €4.50 to Pedra Rija; €10.50 through to Pico Ruivo |
| Children | Trails free up to age 12, but booking still required |
| Pico do Arieiro car park | Paid at the summit since October 2024 |
| Cabo Girão viewpoint | Admission charged for non-residents since March 2023 |
| Parking in town | Blue lines are paid on weekdays and Saturday mornings |
| PR1, Pedra Rija-Pico Ruivo | One way towards Ruivo only; occasional closures for works (Sept. 2026) |
|---|---|
| ER202, Poiso-Pico do Arieiro | Barrier closed when it snows, in winter |
| ER105 and ER209, Paul da Serra | Closed by snow, as on 3 March 2026 |
| ER218 to Achada do Teixeira | Closed by snow: no access to the Pico Ruivo trail |
| VE2 at Seixal | Rockfalls; closed on 20 August 2026, reopened the next day |
| Any trail, by decision of the IFCN | Depending on the weather: check the trail status in the morning |
Allow 7 to 10 days. This loop of 6 stages and 9 nights starts and ends in Funchal, via Calheta, Porto Moniz, Seixal, Santana and Machico. The island is only 57 km long, but the winding roads and the hikes take time. In 7 days, keep Funchal, Calheta, the north coast and Santana.
Car only: about €230 for a small car at €23 a day (Kayak average), plus €20 of regional tax (€2 a day, ten days maximum). Add about €30 of petrol at September 2026 prices for roughly 250 km, and €4.50 per booked trail (€10.50 for the full PR1).
Not to drive up to the viewpoint, but the summit car park is paid. The PR1 trail must be booked on SIMplifica for a time slot: €4.50 to Pedra Rija, €10.50 through to Pico Ruivo, one way only. You come down via Achada do Teixeira, so plan how to get back to the car.
Automatic, if hill starts worry you. Minor roads and villages are full of very steep ramps, often in narrow streets, and the tourist office advises calm driving in the mountains. Automatics cost more and go quickly in summer: book one early.
No: the VR1 and the expressways are free. But since 1 June 2026, a tax of €2 a day, ten days maximum, is added to every car rental. Once there, also budget €4.50 per official trail, the Pico do Arieiro car park and admission to Cabo Girão.
Yes. Regional law requires rental companies to have 10% zero-emission cars in their fleet. Since January 2026, an Iberdrola and BP Pulse ultra-fast charging station (up to 300 kW, card payment) has been operating at Garajau, in Caniço, between the airport and Funchal.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/madeira · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
