Our Family Holidays in Madeira Recs Hotel & Activities

We had wonderful family holidays in Maderia and I wanted to share all our recommendations from our trip to this stunning Portuguese Island! After only an hour and a half flight from Lisbon, we arrived in a tropical paradise with so many kid-friendly activities!

Table of Contents for Family Holidays in Madeira:

Best Time to Visit
Where to Stay (including our fav all-inclusive)
Family Activities (including whale watching in Maderia!)
Transportation
Health and Safety

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Our family trip to Madeira was an unforgettable adventure last February with its breathtaking landscapes and warm, sunny weather. We loved our first all-inclusive hotel experience, as well as seeing whales in the wild, exploring the nature and trying delicious tropical fruits.

The Best Time of Year To Visit For Your Family Holidays in Madeira

Madeira's mild climate and vibrant festivals make any time a great visit. We visited in the lower season of February during Carnaval and the weather was beautiful at 70°F/22°C

Madeira is known for its subtropical climate and offers mild temperatures year-round. Here's a quick view of the island's average temperatures and festivals.

Seasonal Temperatures for Family Holidays in Madeira

Spring in Madeira

High Temp: 66-68°F/19-22°C
Low Temp: 55-59°F/13-15°C
May through August are the driest months

Summer in Madeira

High Temp: 71-78°F/22-26°C
Low Temp: 65-70°F/18-21°C
May through August are the driest months

Autumn on Madeira

High Temp: 70-77°F/21-25°C
Low Temp: 61-66°F/16-19°C
Rainfall is highest in November and December

Winter in Madeira

High Temp: 62-68°F/17-20°C
Low Temp: 54-59°F/12-15°C
Rainfall is highest in November and December.

Festivals on Madeira Island

family trip to Funchal on Madeira Island

Here's a list of notable festivals on Madeira Island by month, showcasing the island's rich cultural calendar:

January: Festa dos Reis (Three Kings Festival): Celebrates the end of Christmas with traditional music and parades.
February/March: Carnival (Carnaval): One of the biggest street parties in Europe, featuring vibrant parades, costumes, and music. The exact dates vary, as it's tied to Easter.
April: Flower Festival (Festa da Flor): A celebration of spring with magnificent flower parades, markets, and decorations across Funchal.
May: Festa da Sé: A festival that highlights local traditions, crafts, and gastronomy in Funchal's cathedral area.
June: Atlantic Festival (Festival do Atlântico): A month-long event with fireworks competitions, music concerts, and entertainment to mark the start of summer.
- São João (St. John's Festival): Celebrated across the island with traditional marches, food, and drink.
July: Madeira Wine Rally: The largest sporting event on the island, attracting many international participants and spectators.
- Festa da Lapa: A seafood festival in Paul do Mar, celebrating the local delicacy, the limpet.
August: Monte Festival (Festa de Nossa Senhora do Monte): The largest religious festival in Madeira, with processions and celebrations in honor of Our Lady of the Mount.
September: Madeira Wine Festival: Celebrating the island's rich wine-making traditions with live harvest activities, exhibitions, and tastings.
October: Madeira Nature Festival: Encourages outdoor activities and awareness of Madeira's natural beauty, including hiking, bird watching, and marine activities.
November: Chestnut Festival (Festa da Castanha): In Curral das Freiras, celebrating the harvest of chestnuts with traditional food, music, and dance.
December: Christmas and New Year's Celebrations: Madeira lights up with extensive Christmas lights, markets, and the famous New Year's Eve fireworks display, considered one of the world's best.

Accommodation for Your Family Holidays in Madeira

Choosing Your Accommodation in Madeira

When I plan a family holiday in Madeira, selecting the right accommodation is crucial to ensure everyone has a comfortable and enjoyable stay. We usually stay in Airbnbs or holiday homes so that we can cook, but since this was a school holiday break in the middle of winter, I wanted the easiest solution for us the parents! So, we looked into an all-inclusive (see below). Next time, we would like to try out a family vacation home to get another perspective of life on Madeira.

Family-Friendly Hotels in Madeira

Enotel Lido Madeira All- Inclusive:

Read more about our stay at Enotel Lido Madeira and see a dozen more pictures!
Kids' Club and Teens Room: Activities for different age groups that are supervised by trained babysitters.
Rooms: Spacious, with options for extra beds and most had private balconies with sea views. We had a basic room but still had a view!
Amenities: 2 pools including a heated pool which was great for February and an infinity pool that overlooked the ocean! 4 all-inclusive restaurants.

Pestana Ocean Bay:

Located 3 miles west of Enotel Lido
Entertainment: Live shows suitable for all ages
Dining: Child-friendly menus and buffet options
Location: Proximity to Funchal and sea views

Vila Baleira:

Holiday Villas

Palheiro Village:
- Amenities: High-speed internet and a fully equipped kitchen
- Access: Complimentary access to Palheiro Gardens
- Beautiful pool!

Kid-Friendly Activities on Madeira

Whale or Dolphin Watching: The waters around Madeira are a haven for marine life. A boat tour can get us up close with these magnificent creatures, and most operators are exceptionally educational. You can read about our whale watching trip here or go straight to our amazing boat tour here!
Funchal: The old capital city of Funchal really exceeded my expectations! Charming with beautiful gardens and great cafes. Highly recommend checking it out!
Wicker Basket Toboggans: The iconic toboggan run through the streets of Funchal looks amazing! We tried to do it but couldn't find parking up there! We should have done a tuk tuk tour up and toboggan ride down like this or taken the gondola up (see below!)
Botanical Garden Cable Car: Stunning views of the island and ocean as you take the gondola/cable car up to the Madeira Botanical Gardens.
Levada Walks: The network of levadas (irrigation channels) offers an immense variety of gentle walks through stunning landscapes. The Levada do Caldeirão Verde is particularly scenic and suitable for families. Here's a very highly rated guided tour.

The Village of Santa Cruz: Pictured above and located only a 4 minute drive, we loved this charming town right along the water! Great spot to get lunch on your way to the airport (delicious home-cooked food at Recanto da Pitada!) You can also watch the planes come right over the ocean and land at the airport!
Beach Fun: Madeira might not be known for sandy beaches, but Calheta and Machico have lovely man-made golden sands. For natural pools, head to Porto Moniz for a safe and unique swimming experience.
Funchal's Story Centre: A captivating museum that narrates Madeira's history through interactive exhibits. Kids love the hands-on approach and it's educational for the whole family.
Madeira Theme Park: Situated in Santana, this theme park features multimedia pavilions, a replica of the Monte train, traditional houses, and much more giving a wonderful insight into the island's traditions and history.
Cabo Girão Skywalk: Donning a glass floor, the skywalk is Europe's highest cliff skywalk and offers breathtaking views. It’s thrilling for me to watch the kids marvel at the sheer drop below.

MOM TIP: I highly recommend booking a day tour for these mountain roads as we had trouble with all the driving at a couple points! This tour looks great which starts in Funchal then goes to Porto Moniz mentioned above in the beaches, the Fanal Forest and the Cabo Giro Skywalk! Great price for 8 hours and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Transportation for Your Family Holidays on Madeira

holiday airport on madeira for our family

We found that renting a car in Madeira is particularly convenient for families wanting the freedom to explore at their own pace and was very affordable. We used Rentacar.com which was great because we compared different companies, chose automatic (because of me!) and got great affordable insurance. I think the total was under 100 euros for 3 days! Also our hotel had a free parking garage which made it a no-brainer decision.

Note: Be mindful that driving in Madeira can involve narrow roads and steep inclines. One time we had to stop going up a certain road...it was just too steep!

There's also an efficient public bus network, with the main operator Horários do Funchal serving Funchal and surrounding areas. Link is in English.

Note: There is no Uber in Maderia but you can use Taxis or Bolt.

Health and Safety for Your Madeira Family Vacation

Health and Hospitals in Madeira

The number one most important thing to know when traveling as a family to Madeira is the emergency number is 112. This is for Ambulance, Fire and Police. Play a game with your kids to remember!

In terms of health insurance, if you are a EU resident you should travel with your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as this will entitle you to state-provided medical care.

My understanding living in Portugal is that any care for kids under age 18 is free for foreigners. However, I always recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any eventualities and we always purchase ahead of time. We've used AXA on our past 3 trips and its worked great. We had 1 claim fully covered.

Safety in Madeira

Madeira is a safe destination with a low crime rate, but it's wise to follow standard safety practices such as safeguarding valuables and being aware of your surroundings especially in more touristy areas.

Regarding safety, always heed local advice when hiking, especially along the levadas (water channels), as trails can be slippery and weather conditions are variable.

I hope you enjoyed this Family Trip Guide to Madeira and if you are visiting mainland Portugal, be sure to check out my other guides including free PDF itineraries: