Things to do in Madeira with kids

Madeira is a tropical island whose proximity to Europe makes it an ideal holiday destination. However, we cannot deny that one of the biggest concerns for adults travelling with children are the activities they can or cannot do on arrival.

When you arrive in Madeira you will realise that this destination is carefully designed for the fun of travellers. From the varied catalogue available, here is a list of fun suggestions that I recommend you analyse according to the particular tastes of your family and, of course, the age of the children you will be travelling with.

If you are wondering what is the best alternative to see dolphins in Madeira, the answer that many will give you is the same: book a catamaran cruise with whale watching to observe the marine life of the archipelago of Madeira.

This type of experience is highly recommended for those visiting Madeira as a family, because you will be able to see dolphins, fin whales, sperm whales and other cetaceans up close, while admiring the mountainous landscape and cliffs. You can also enjoy a snorkelling stop.

Another ideal option is to book a diving experience at the Madeira Aquarium, where you can dive into the aquarium's largest tank and snorkel among moray eels, rays and sharks. Moreover, it is a very safe activity, as you will be accompanied by an expert monitor and you will have a previous experience of baptism of water. Of course, the minimum age is 10 years old.

Useful information

• Duration: This type of tour usually takes from 2.5 to 3 hours.
• Timetable: You will find morning and afternoon tours.
• Pricerange: From €30 per adult ticket.

Make the most of your holiday by hiking through the island's green mountains. To do so, book a hiking tour in Madeira. This is a thrilling activity for children, as they have the opportunity to hike through vast green spaces, many of which resemble ancient enchanted forests.

Here are a number of outstanding routes to do with the youngest members of the family:

• Um Caminho para Todos A short route that offers wonderful views of the famous Casas Das Queimadas, charming traditional Madeiran buildings.
• Levada do Alecrim This route starts in the Rabacal area and is highly recommended for children, as it is accessible and you will be able to see many of the island's endemic species, including flora and fauna. At the end of the trail, the reward is the beautiful Dona Beja waterfall and lagoon.
• Vereda dos Balcones A short trail in the heart of Madeira, ideal for families and from where you can get panoramic views of some of the highest mountains: Pico do Areeiro and Pico do Gato.
• Levada de Furado This is one of Madeira's most famous hiking trails. It is ideal for families, as the trail starts next to the Trout Park, where children can spend time trying to find trout of different sizes.

Some useful information

• Duration: 7-9 hours.
• Timetable: Early in the morning.
• Price range: From €42 per adult ticket.

And if you think a hiking tour might be a bit tiring and you have adventurous children, I recommend you to book a 4x4 tour in Madeira, where you will explore the landscape of the island while living a great and intrepid adventure. They will love it!

This experience lasts approximately 4 hours where you will discover several places of interest such as Boca dos Namorados, the Valley of the Nuns or Cabo Girao, together with a professional guide. These excursions include the transfer to and from Funchal or Caniço, as well as the accompaniment of a professional guide and insurance.

You can also choose to do the excursion in a 4x4 vehicle through the north of Madeira and the Porto Moniz Pools, whose landscape will dazzle you.

Useful information

• Duration: From 4 h.
• Time: Early in the morning.
• Price range: From €74 per adult ticket.

One of the traditional ways to go down the Monte Mountain in Funchal is on board of giant basket carts or also called wicker sledges. The ride is fun, exciting and full of adrenaline, which is why children love the experience.

The Basket Cart is one of Madeira's most famous attractions that makes use of the activity of the drivers, called carreiros, to make the spinning movements, slow down and brake using their own boots as a tool.

The clothing of the carreiros do Monte has remained the same since its implementation in the 17th century. They all wear a white suit consisting of shirt and trousers, a straw hat and their sturdy boots. You can book the trips at the stands that you can find in the central streets of Funchal.

Useful information about Funchal

• Duration: The descent down the hill from Monte only takes 10 minutes to complete.
• Opening hours: The Carrerios offer the service from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm.
• Price range: From €25 per passenger. Groups of up to three people pay around €45.

If you want to experience Madeira from above, but paragliding is not your thing, the best option is to take the Funchal Cable Car. As well as being a cheaper alternative, it is suitable for families of all types.

The structure has 39 cabins of 8 seats each and rises some 560 metres in the air. The entire trip takes on average about 20 minutes, during which you will cover more than 3,000 metres of distance. From the heights it is possible to enjoy the city from a perspective where the houses and labyrinthine streets of Funchal look like living architectural models.

Upon reaching the top, I recommend that parents take advantage of the trip to visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden where you will find an extensive collection of exotic plants and flowers from different continents, as well as amazing creatures such as black swans, peacocks, chickens and koi fish.

Useful information

• Duration: I recommend spending at least 3 hours visiting the Garden.
• Opening hours: Open to the public from 9am. The last trip back to Funchal departs at 17:45.
• Price range: Adults pay approximately €13 to take the cable car, while children from 7 to 14 pay approximately €7. Children under the age of 4 get in for free.
• Address: The cable car station is located in the heart of Madeira on Av. do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirense.

A day trip to the northern part of Madeira is essential to get to know the island and its natural wonders. Here you will also find one of the best attractions for the whole family to enjoy: the Madeira Aquarium. It is an impressive and enchanting tour in equal proportions, taking the group of travellers through gigantic pools where the marine biodiversity of the Madeira archipelago can be appreciated. The aquarium is home to at least 90 different marine species living in 12 large display tanks.

To reach this area of the island, it is best to book an organised excursion from Funchal. Those designed to explore the western part of the island usually include a visit to the lava pools of Porto Moniz and also to the aquarium.

Another option is to rent a car in Funchal city and travel northwest. Unfortunately, there are no direct public transport links between the two destinations.

Useful information

• Duration: You can cover it in about 1 hour.
• Opening hours: Open to the public from 10am to 6pm.
• Price range: The adult ticket costs around €8 per participant, while children from 5 to 17 years old pay around €4.
• Address: At the fort of São João Baptista in Porto Moniz.

What child doesn't enjoy a fun afternoon amidst pools and slides? Despite its small size, the island of Madeira has its own water park, called Aquaparque Madeira in Portuguese .

The park is located in the town of Santa Cruz, in the coastal area of Gaula, 1 hour and 30 minutes from Funchal. If you are staying in Funchal you will have to take bus 77 and 113 or hire a car to get there more comfortably.

Useful Information

• Duration: As long as you want.
• Opening hours: Open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. In August the opening hours are extended until 7pm.
• Price range: Adults pay about €10 and children about €7. Children under 4 years old have free access to the facilities accompanied by an adult.
• Address: The park is located at Rua Ribeira da Boaventura 9100-138, Bairro de Santa Cruz.

As you can see, there is no shortage of things to see, do and enjoy in Madeira. And any trip should include in its itinerary a visit to see and enjoy the ocean waters that surround the island. Filled with natural and man-made beaches, I recommend taking into account those that are most suitable to visit with children. Here is a list of my favourites.

• Doca do Cavacas natural swimming pool in Funchal.
• Prainha Caniçal Beach.
• Seixal Beach and Spa.
• Machico Beach.
• Calheta Beach.

If you decide to embark on this adventure, I recommend you check out the fun Madeira jeep safaris, an excursion that takes travellers through numerous highlights. Many local companies offer tailored tours with child-friendly attractions where children can swim in complete safety.

Plus, you'll be accompanied by an expert guide every step of the way.

Some useful information

• Duration: Madeira Jeep Safaris usually take about 6 to 8 hours to complete. I recommend reserving a day for this experience.
• Time: Tours depart from Funchal between 8 and 9am in the morning.
• Price range: Approximately €50 to €60.

No matter what time of year you visit Madeira, a tour of Santa Catarina Park is one of the best things to do with the whole family. Located in the heart of Funchal, the park covers some 36,000 square metres and offers stunning views of the bay.

Head to this area of the city for activities such as a family picnic, cycling, feeding the ducks or enjoying the children's play area.

If any members of the family wish to join in, Acro Yoga classes are offered every Friday afternoon at Santa Catarina. This practice combines the principles of yoga with acrobatic techniques encouraging connection and play between participants.

Useful information

• Opening hours: Open to the public Monday to Friday from 6am to 7pm.
• Price range: Free for all audiences.
• Address: The Park is located in the heart of Funchal, at Av. Sá Carneiro 3.

Visit the Câmara de Lobos from Funchal aboard the Tren Verde da Madeira, a charming little transport with a capacity of approximately 20 passengers. It offers tourists a tour of the hills and an easy and scenic way to get to the top of Cabo Girao.

At Cabo Girao you will find thehighest cliffin Europe and a lookout point with a glass platform. Due to its location and design, the views from the top of the mountain are, to say the least, breathtaking. Câmara de Lobos is a charming fishing village that I recommend you visit during your holiday, even if you are in Madeira for 7 days or less. It is only an 11 minute drive from the centre of Funchal, so it is easy to organise a short trip.

The Madeira Green Train has good reviews on the web environment. When organising your visit just bear in mind that the train runs punctually several times a day at the following times: the first at 11.30am; the second at 1.30pm; the third at 3.00pm and the last at 4.30pm.

Useful information

• Duration: Book 2 to 3 hours for this experience. The train ride to the top of the cliff takes 1 hour to complete.
• Timetable: Tours start at 11.30am until 4.30pm.
• Price range: Approximately €8 for an adult ticket and €5 for children between 3 and 10 years old.
• Address: To make the journey to Cabo Girao you will have to take the train from Calle do Marquês in the historic centre of Funchal.

On your next trip to Madeira you can enjoy an adventure at sea on board a dangerous pirate ship. This activity is considered one of the most exciting activities that children and adults can do during their holidays.

The pirate ship adventure in Madeira takes travellers on board the Santa Maria de Colombo, a modern replica of one of the ships that the intrepid navigator used during the voyage that would take him to America and which was shipwrecked near the island of Hispaniola.

To fully enjoy the island of Madeira means taking excursions by land and by sea. Because of this, boat trips in Madeira are extremely popular and one of the most sought-after experiences for travellers. You will find them in different formats and different styles.

Some useful information

• Duration: The boat tour lasts about 3 hours and you must be at the meeting point at least 20 minutes to board.
• Timetable: This adventure is offered at different times.
• Price range: Adults pay approximately €30 per participant and children around €18.