We flew in for a wedding with only three nights on the island, and it turns out that’s just enough time to fall in love with the place too. We rented a car and drove almost the entire perimeter, chasing viewpoints, waterfalls, and black-sand beaches along the way.

It wasn’t a relaxed trip. It was a “let’s see how much we can fit in” trip. Here’s everything we visited, organized so you can plan smarter than we did.

Where We Stayed

Quinta do Furão, in Santana, sits right on the northeast coast, with its own viewpoint over the ocean and vineyards on the property. It’s a great base if you want dramatic views without needing to drive far to find them.

Funchal

We didn’t spend much time in the capital. This was more of a road trip than a city trip. But we had dinner on our first night at Restaurante Bar Ponto Final and walked around a bit. It’s worth a stroll through the old Portuguese streets even if, like us, you’re mostly passing through.

While you’re there, order a poncha, Madeira’s traditional drink made with local sugarcane spirit, honey, and citrus. It’s strong, a little sweet, and pretty much mandatory on the island.

Best Viewpoints (Miradouros)

Madeira has more viewpoints than you could visit in a single trip, but these were our favorites, ranked by how much they stuck with us:

• Miradouro do Guindaste: Hands down our favorite, and worth the early alarm. We went at sunrise and had it entirely to ourselves. A steep cliff drops straight into the sea, and at sunrise the water is glassy and still. Go early; this is not a spot you want to share with a tour bus.

• Miradouro de São Cristovão: Quiet, immaculate views, best visited earlier in the day before it gets busy.

• Pico do Arieiro: The island’s dramatic centerpiece. Clouds roll over the peak in real time, creating a landscape that changes as you watch it. Go with enough daylight left to walk around; we arrived a little late and had to skip sunset.

• Miradouro Ilhéus da Ribeira da Janela: Gorgeous, with a short path through a rock formation that leads to the best angle. Don’t skip walking through it.

• Miradouro do Véu da Noiva: Beautiful views, but expect tour buses. It’s not a quiet stop.

• Miradouro da Vigia: A worthwhile addition to the west-coast route.

• Teleférico das Achadas da Cruz: A cable car down to a tiny coastal spot. There are two small cabins holding around six people, and only one moves at a time while the other returns. Expect roughly an eight-minute wait between rides in both directions. We saw a line of about 25 people and skipped it given our schedule; if you have flexible time, it’s worth doing.

Beaches & Natural Pools

• Praia do Porto do Seixal: Black sand, dramatic mountains, and striking scenery. It gets busy, and parking is genuinely difficult, so arrive early or be ready to circle. Plan for a shorter visit unless you get there before the crowds.

• Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz: Natural volcanic pools right on the coast.

• Praia da Calheta: One of the more classic beach setups on the island.

• Praia Formosa: A convenient coastal stop near Funchal.

• Praia da Fajã do Cabo Girão: We saw this one from the water on a boat tour departing from Funchal, and the cliffs looked almost unreal from that angle.

Waterfalls & Hikes

Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9) was our one big hike of the trip, done the morning after we arrived. It’s about four hours round trip, following an old levada irrigation channel through dense, jungle-like mountain scenery to a waterfall. It’s a great introductory hike: lush and green rather than dramatic. Wear proper shoes, since parts of the trail are narrow with water alongside you the whole way.

Cascata dos Anjos is touristy but cool, and worth the stop. Bring a towel and swimsuit, since you can walk right under the waterfall and it’s genuinely refreshing.

Fanal Forest is known for its ancient, moody laurel forest, especially when it’s foggy. We got sunny weather instead of the classic mist, so the mood was different from the photos you usually see, but it was still worth it. Look out for the famous “witch tree,” one of the forest’s oldest and most photographed trees.

Where We Ate

We mostly stopped wherever looked good along the drive, and it worked out:

• Bolo do Caco Grill & Pizza: Surprisingly great burgers, and a good place to try bolo do caco, Madeira’s traditional bread, which locals eat with pretty much every meal.

• Restaurante O Precipício: Incredible views over Paúl do Mar, where volcanic terrain meets banana plantations running down to the sea. Worth the stop for the view alone, food included.

One Last Tip: The Airport Itself

Madeira’s airport is known as one of the hardest in Europe to land at, thanks to the short runway and surrounding mountains. Once you’re through security, there’s an outdoor waiting area built for exactly this. You can sit, grab a drink or snack, and watch planes land and take off. It’s a genuinely fun way to spend the last hour of the trip instead of sitting in a generic terminal.

If You Only Have 3 Days

Here’s roughly how we’d structure it again:

• Day 1: Arrive, then take a boat tour along the southern coast toward Cabo Girão — or drive the viewpoints route if no boat tour is available.

• Day 2: Early hike — PR9 or similar — then explore in the afternoon.

• Day 3: Full day driving loop, hitting as many viewpoints, beaches, and waterfalls as daylight allows.

• Final morning: Sunrise at Miradouro do Guindaste before heading to the airport. Non-negotiable.

We didn’t come close to seeing everything Madeira has to offer, but we saw enough to know we’re going back.