Madeira With Kids
Updated 26/04/20201
If you are thinking of visiting Madeira with kids, then do it. You won’t regret it.
A Madeira family holiday offers something for everyone from dramatic coastal scenery, lush tropical landscapes, to cosmopolitan Funchal and charming rural villages.
Plus, if you plan to go hiking in Madeira, you will discover world class hiking trails for all ages and abilities.
And best of all, Madeira is an affordable destination for families. There are cheap flights to get there, affordable accommodation in Madeira plus a heap of free or low cost attractions.
So, what is there to do in Madeira for families?
Table of Contents
Things to do in Madeira
Funchal
Funchal is the capital of Madeira island. It is a sprawling city with an attractive, compact city centre and a charming old town.
The city is known for its pretty parks, colourful Jacaranda trees and eye catching black and white mosaic pavements.
Most Funchal attractions are within walking distance of each other and can be visited in a couple of days.
We spent a leisurely five days exploring the city and surrounding hills. I would recommend allocating time just to wander the maze of city streets. Alternatively, watch the world go by from one of Funchal’s many (and cheap!) outdoor cafes.
Best things to do in Funchal
One of the best things to do in Madeira with kids is a ride on the Funchal cable car (Teleferico do Funchal) which provides fantastic views of the city and coastline.
The cable car can be used to travel to colourful and aromatic Monte Tropical Gardens.
Our kids loved the different themed gardens, winding paths and Monte’s museums, galleries and fountains. The kids liked the Japanese garden whereas my favourite was the intricate wall tile installations and quirky sculptures.
Don’t miss a fun ride from Monte back to the outskirts of Funchal on the iconic wicker toboggans. Our kids say was their ride was the highlight of Madeira.
Low-cost attractions in Funchal include the Madeira Story Centre and the CR7 Museum. This gleaming museum dedicated to local hero Cristiano Ronaldo is packed with trophies. It is a must for football fans.
There are many free attractions in Funchal including old churches and the centrally located Se Cathedral.
I would highly recommend a tour at Santa Clara Convent, one of Funchal’s hidden gems.
And after visiting churches and museums, visit a pretty city centre park for a good runaround.
You can read about all the fun things we did in Funchal here.
TIP – If you are visiting Madeira with kids on a tight budget, don’t dismiss fee paying attractions. We were pleasantly surprised that many Funchal attractions offer fantastic discounts for families.
For example, we were offered free travel for one of our children on the Monte wicker toboggans. All our children were free at Monte Tropical Gardens.
Check out our comprehensive, practical tips for a Madeira family holiday here.
Funchal beaches
Madeira is a volcanic island lined by dramatic sea cliffs so most beaches in Madeira are black sand.
The most popular beach in Funchal is Praia Formosa near the tourist hotel district.
Most visitors to Madeira (and many locals) prefer to swim in the open air lidos which dot the coastline around the city centre. The lidos are fantastic value for money.
The Lido Beach Complex just outside Funchal is the largest lido in Madeira. It offers unheated seawater pools of different sizes, safe ocean access plus changing and catering facilities.
Entrance tickets are valid for a full day and are an affordable €5 for adults and €1.80 for children over ten.
Tropical Gardens
The Madeira Botanical Gardens are famous for its intricate geometric flower beds or visit the elevated Palheiro Gardens with fantastic views over Funchal.
Aquapark Madeira (Aquaparque Madeira)
This is the only waterpark on Madeira island and will not bust your budget like other European waterparks.
The complex has a variety of pools suitable for different ages, three exhilarating waterslides plus a fast and a slow river.
The Aquapark is unbeatable value for money with a full day ticket costing just €10 for adults and €7 for children.
Aquapark Madeira can be reached by public bus (or a short drive) from the centre of Funchal but it is only open from June to September.
Cabo Girao
Cabo Girao is the highest sea cliff in Europe and will challenge your head for heights!
The cliffs are a short drive from Funchal and the free to enter viewpoint is accessed by a steep, winding road.
There is a large viewing platform from which a smaller, glass-floored platform juts out over the towering cliff edge.
The thick glass floor is dotted with non-slip spots which makes the view underneath the floor difficult to see. Unfortunately, the blurry view gets worse with muddy footprints and rain.
However, the panoramic views from the platforms are breath taking and it is hard to quantify just how high up you are.
Cabo Girao is one of the most popular things to do in Madeira so turnstiles operate in peak season to control the crowds accessing the platforms.
Calheta Beach and marina
The best beach to visit in Madeira with kids, particularly toddlers, is Calheta Beach on the sunny south west of Madeira.
It is an artificial sandy beach at either end of a man-made harbour. The beach has been cleverly designed to ensure a gentle slope into the sea which makes it ideal for kids.
Plus, the stretch of water between the two beaches is calm and boat free so it is perfect for swimming or attempting stand up paddle boarding.
There are a handful of cafes and restaurants nearby plus a Pingo Doce supermarket for an impromptu picnic.
Free changing rooms, public toilets and fee paying car parking is available on the promenade.
After leaving Funchal, we rented a villa in Calheta and it is an excellent base for exploring the rest of Madeira island.
You can read our comprehensive round up of the best beaches in Madeira here.
Calheta sugar cane factory
Don’t miss the Calheta sugar cane factory which is the last sugar cane processing factory in Madeira and a short stroll from Calheta beach.
The free to enter factory is a lesser known Madeira attraction. It is well worth visiting, especially in April/May when the machines are in full sugar cane juice production.
Factory and cafe
A small display of engineering and sugar cane production artefacts leads through to the noisy, tiered factory floor.
Sugar cane is fed into large machines to squeeze out the juice and the remaining pulp is collected to use as animal feed.
The juice is directed through pipes to the manufacturing area where it is made it is made into sugar cane juice or fermented into alcohol. The bubbling, steaming fermenting vats of alcohol did not smell nice!
Pop into the small cafe on the factory’s outdoor terrace. The cafe sells sugar cane juice for just 60 cents and small tasters of a dizzying array of alcohol.
The adjacent factory shop sells alcohol, sugar cane juice and a delicious range of honey products. It also displays the largest Bolo de Mel (Madeiran honey cake) that was made on the island.
Our children enjoyed our visit here and devoured their sugar cane juice and slice of honey cake.
Sao Vicente’s Caves
The Sao Vicente caves and Volcanism Centre on the north coast of Madeira make a great stopping off point when exploring Madeira’s coastal road.
The caves are lava tubes, formed 890,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption.
A short tour highlights interesting formations and explains the geology of the area. On a hot summers day, the cooling temperature inside the caves can bring welcome relief!
Porto Moniz
There are several things to do near Porto Moniz on the north west coast of Madeira.
Visit the picturesque black sand Seixal beach, a popular spot to view a Madeiran sunrise. Enjoy a hike in the UNESCO World Heritage Laurussilva Forest whose trees are native to Madeira island.
Take a nail-biting trip on the tiny Archadas da Cruz cable car down a seemingly vertical slope to the remote agricultural area of Fajã da Quebrada Nova.
Make sure you check the weather forecast before visiting as the cable car does not operate in bad weather or in high winds. Sadly, it was too windy on the day we visited.
Porto Moniz natural swimming pools
The pretty natural Porto Moniz swimming pools were created naturally from volcanic action.
The pools are open year-round and have a balmy average water temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.
Your effort to get to Porto Moniz pools is rewarded by a low entrance fee of just €1.50 for anyone over three years old.
Santana Theme Park
Santana Theme Park is more a cultural park than a theme park as it does not have roller coasters!
The park showcases the traditional crafts and culture of the people of Madeira. There is a small playground, a train ride and a boating lake plus an excellent simulator ride.
Children will enjoy exploring the palhacas, Santana’s traditional thatched-roofed ‘triangle houses.’
Santana theme park (Parque Tematico da Madeira) best suits families with younger children due to the gentle nature of the park.
Hiking in Madeira with kids
A levada hike is one of the best things to do in Maderia. Keen hikers travel from all over the world to hike Madeira’s unique landscape.
Levadas are hand cut irrigation channels that criss cross Madeira island. Running alongside these irrigation channels are narrow earthen paths which are the popular levada hiking trails.
There are hiking trails to suit all ages and abilities ranging from mountains, coastline or forest trails and each levada path will provide incredible views and new experiences.
For example, you will walk in or above the clouds on the challenging Vereda do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo trail or through a 1 kilometre tunnel on the Levada do Risco trail.
Hiking was my highlight of Madeira. The levada trails were tranquil, scenic and bursting with springtime wildflowers. Plus, for families travelling on a budget, hiking in Madeira is a budget friendly activity.
Check out our levada hikes here.
Tips for hiking with kids
Hikes vary in length, terrain and difficulty so it is essential to research the best and safest route for your family.
You must be adequately with appropriate footwear, clothing and equipment. Madeira hiking trails are not a walk in the park!
Levada hikes are not pushchair friendly and keep children close at all times as sheer drops occur suddenly.
The levada paths we hiked were well signposted and easy to follow. Most trails are linear so if you are driving you will have to return to your starting point.
You can read our detailed essential tips for Madeira hiking here.
Visiting Madeira with kids – accommodation and food costs
Sightseeing in Madeira is affordable for families but what about other costs?
Accommodation costs
Accommodation costs vary by facilities and season.
We visited Madeira in April (2019) and as Spring is off peak, accommodation was cheaper.
We paid the bargain price of £50 per night in Funchal for a central, two bed apartment with five beds, kitchen and living room. It did not have a balcony or outdoor space but the weather was mild so we didn’t miss it.
In Calheta, we paid £65 per night for a four bed house with basement games room, pool and garden.
Generally, I think Madeira is a very competitive destination compared to other European destinations.
Check out our guide to affordable, family friendly villas in Madeira here.
Food costs
Eating in a restaurant is a similar price to eating out in the U.K which is not cheap for a family of five.
To keep costs down, look for Early Bird deals, special offers and kids menus or fast food restaurants and sandwich chains.
Self catering in Madeira is easy and affordable. As an island economy, Madeira’s supermarket prices were comparable to the U.K..
There are several large supermarkets around the island and a few in Funchal city centre. Look for Pingo Doce and Continente signs.
Plus there is a family run grocery store on every corner.
One pleasant surprise was how affordable cafes are.
We were able to buy five hot drinks and five cakes for between €5 – €7. This became a daily treat after long days spent sightseeing and hiking!
We had an active, fun and affordable trip to Madeira with kids and would love to return to the island.
There are lots of fun, diverse attractions to fill every day of a Madeira family holiday.
Alternatively, do nothing except relax by a pool, sunbathe at a lido and enjoy the Madeiran sunshine surrounded by lush tropical flora. Bliss.
Have you been to Madeira? What are your top tips for visiting Madeira with kids?
Essential reading for visiting Madeira with kids
Maderia 6 Car Tours and 100 Walks by Sunflower Guides – the most accurate guide we found. Packed with information about drive times, scenic routes and hiking the levadas.
Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to Madeira – lightweight book packed with useful information and a handy map, ideal for map lovers like me!
Portuguese phrase book – always useful and will keep the kids busy!
