Madeira is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. From the picture perfect landscapes, to the unpredictable weather and adventurous hikes available, there is something available for everyone. If you have heard of Madeira, then you may know that it is a Portuguese Island and is relatively small. So small that you can drive from one end of the island to the other in a few hours (thanks to the tunnels built). This has made it easy for tourists to hire cars are drive around the island instead of staying in one area. However, if you are like me and you do not drive, or perhaps you do not want to drive on a very steep, hilly island, then you may be wondering, how can I explore Madeira without a car?
It is very possible to explore Madeira without a car. I visited for 6 days and was able to do most of the activities pretty well without a car. There were multiple ways to make my time in Madeira full of adventure. I feel like I was able to see all of the sites around the island (that I wanted to see) with careful planning. You must know that it may be a bit more difficult to be flexible, but it is still an amazing experience! Here are some tips for you, if you are planning to go to Madeira without a car.
Transport
Firstly, you do not need a car because you can get a bus to places. However, the buses are usually limited in terms of times. I have also heard they are not always reliable. Although this would be the cheapest option, if you are looking to go further out than where you are staying, then it may not be the safest idea. You may find yourself struggling to get transport back.
Alternatively, there are bolts if you would rather pay a bit more for a faster way to get to places. Similarly to the buses, be careful because the Bolts are more popular in certain areas compared to others and if you decide to go to another part of the island, it does not mean you are guaranteed to be able to get a bolt back.
Tours
The best way to travel around the island is through tours. There’s a couple of ways you can do this. You can get a company who provides transport to the destination and then waits for you till a certain time. OR, you can either book a full on tour guide who will take you to different places and gives you information.
I did both of these options and heres what I thought:
- For the first option, I found a transport company to take me to places (usually hikes). This was a great way to do the hikes without a tour guide. It means you could take your time, as long as you get to the end of the hike at the time given. I do think they give enough time to do the activity, but of course, you won’t have the same freedom as if you did it without a company. The Company I used is called Do It Madeira. The two trips i booked with them included the Caldeirão Verde Levada and Pico do Arieiro & Pico Ruivo Sunrise Hike. They provide transport to multiple other destinations on the islands.
- For the tour companies it was a bit different. As the trips I wanted to do included of day trips to different areas of the island, it was easier to get a tour guide. I did this for both the North/West side and East side of the Island. It was a great way to be able to see parts of the island easily and safely with someone knowledgeable. I had a great time on the tours and would recommend doing a tour to learn more about the island. The downside to this is that you may feel a bit rushed. For example, when I did the North/West tour, we only got 20-30 minutes to see the famous black sand beach. I would have liked a lot longer here, but as we were limited for time, it was not possible.
The main downside to the tours is that the weather is unpredictable and you can’t cancel without losing your money. This unfortunately happened to me. I wanted to see the sunrise at a popular destination and then do a hike after. However, it was foggy so the sunrise could not be seen. As the weather app kept changing until the day before, it meant I could not cancel the transport and choose another day. I ended up doing the hike and still had a good time, but was quite disappointed. However, it does give me another reason to go back!
Where should I stay?
In terms of location, the best place you should stay is in Funchal. This is the busiest area of the island with majority of the population living here. You will find loads of hotels and places to stay here. Most transport pick up from this area too making it easier to get around. In terms of what hotels to pick, you can books hotels on websites like booking.com. You will have a lot of options for restaurants too in this area.
I would recommend staying close to the beach. This is because madeira is extremely steep and hilly, the last thing you want after a long day out is to walk up the hill back to your hotel after eating out. Or, you could always find a hotel that offers all-inclusive deals. Either way, make sure you pick a location that is going to be suitable with what you are planning on doing.
To conclude, it is absolutely possible to go to Madeira without a car. Your experience may be different than if you had one. Although, in my opinion, it’s also easier because the roads in Madeira are not easy. Remember to check reviews on any tours you book and plan ahead if you feel like you want to do a lot on the trip! 🙂
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