Madeira · FOOD & DRINK
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 food & drink experiences worth a day of an island week, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
A small-group full day on Madeira’s east side, from Pico Arieiro views to Porto da Cruz rum tasting and São Lourenço cliffs.
“Carlos was a great friendly guide! We were able to see some amazing views at the eastern most point of Madeira, the 'dragons' back and see the rum distillery in the East!”
4-hour Taste Funchal in Funchal: local guide translation, food and wine tastings, small group walk. Vegetarian options, not vegan-friendly.
“This tour was a lot of fun, we tasted a variety of foods and drinks. Ana our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable with lots of enthusiasm! An excellent introduction to Madeira’s cuisine!”
A 4-hour walking food tour in Funchal with Portuguese market snacks, Madeira wine tastings, and local history from a qualified guide.
“The guide was so pleasant! Loved all the places that were selected for our tour to try traditional Madeira food and drinks”
Half-day 4x4 off-road adventure from Funchal to Cabo Girão and a São Vicente vineyard for guided Madeira wine tasting.
“Must do this tour! The 4x4 was a nice touch to the wine tour and tasting. The ride getting to the winery was awesome and was truly an adventure with winding hills and very bumpy terrain through the mountains!! Once at the winery we went on a walking tour of the vineyards which was very interesting, then sampled white, red and rose!”
Madeira wine, poncha, bolo do caco, and more in Funchal on a 3.5-hour small-group walk with 11 food and 6 drink tastings.
“Matt was our guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. We enjoyed our time and loved the food and drinks. It was great to hear some of the history of Funchal as well. We would definitely recommend this tour to others. Thank you for a fantastic experience.”
Madeira jeep adventure with roof-off views, Cabo Girão Skywalk, Câmara de Lobos, and free Madeira wine tasting in 4 hours.
“Such a great tour, guide was lovely and very informative. Always happy to answer any questions, visited quite a few lovely places. Definately worth the money!”
Half-day Madeira jeep tour from Funchal to Cabo Girão and Serra d’Água, then wine tasting at Quinta do Barbusano in São Vicente.
“We loved the experience. The trip in a jeep was nice, and the off-road parts were very fun. Our guide Gil was great, he's perfectly fluent in English and his explanations were really worth it. We were very happy to learn a lot on big and small stuff about the history of the island, above and beyond the experiences that were in the trip itself (Gil would often stop and show us a few things of interest). Highly recommended.”
Guided tour at H.M. Borges in Funchal, Madeira tastings with snacks and Max Römer artwork. Pick 2 to 6 pours.
“Really enjoyed our visit to HMBorges. Very knowledgeable and friendly guide Melissa. There is a tour of the historic building, a helpful description and guide to how Madeira wine is made and aged. Then a wine tasting at the end which was fun and we learnt about the different types. We happily bought a bottle to take home - no pressure to buy at all - but we thought it was delicious.”
Eat and sip your way through Funchal with nine tastings, six Madeira wine styles, and a market start at Mercado dos Lavradores.
“A broad sampling of food and drink in a variety of venues—some well-known, others harder to find—grounded in historical and cultural context by a well-traveled local guide. A convivial and rewarding introduction to Madeiran gastronomy.”
Roof-off 4x4 adventure from Funchal with sea-cliff views, Cabo Girão skywalk, and optional Madeira wine tasting plus Poncha stops.
“A really good half day tour including the Nun's Valley and south coast areas. The soft roof Land Rover 4x4 vehicles are great at handling the mountain roads and are brilliant when you can stand up to view the scenery close up when off road. Our driver and guide was top class too. The visit to a traditional village bar to try a freshly prepared glass of Poncha for a very reasonable charge was enjoyable, their coffee was good too! The stops provided the great views promised whether over the stunning rural mountains, the sea cliffs and coastal village at Camara de Lobos. The Madeira wine tasting at Henriques &…”
Full-day Madeira wine tasting with lunch from Funchal. Visit São Vicente and Câmara de Lobos, taste multiple wines, small group.
“We did this tour for my partner’s birthday, and we both had a memorable day. This tour would be worth it simply for Sofia’s knowledge and storytelling, but the views, wine and food make it an unforgettable experience. The second spot we visited (Quinta Do Barbusano) is the real highlight, with some of the best vistas we’ve ever seen and some of the best beef we’ve ever eaten. This tour is an amazing way to see the most beautiful parts of Madeira while drinking fantastic wine and hearing some of the island’s most fascinating stories.”
Ride Madeira in a classic VW, stop in Câmara de Lobos, visit Cabo Girão’s skywalk, then taste poncha in Serra de Água.
“What an absolutely fantastic day we had with Miguel. So much fun being driven around in his beautifully restored Volkswagen Beetle. He has so much knowledge on the history and culture of beautiful Madeira. He also has an amazing knowledge on Volkswagens! We fully recommend this amazing tour.”
A self-guided Madeira walking food tour in Funchal, starting at Mercado dos Lavradores, with Madeira wine, chocolate, cheese, and pastel.
“Great way to experience the hidden gems of funchal, had lots of food and a good way to enjoy the foodie scene in madeira, we started at a fab local restaurant and had great service and lots of lovely food, then a madeira wine tasting and artisan chocolates, our highlight was the cheese and wine at a independent cheese shop, serving fab cheeses :). Great way to eat and see the town….”
A full day from Funchal with open-roof 4x4 views, Cabo Girao glass balcony, Poncha and Madeira wine, then a 3-hour dolphin catamaran.
“Très déçus par cette activité. Tout d'abord il faut savoir que la journée est opérée par 2 prestataires différents, 1 pour le matin et 1 pour l'après midi, pas vraiment de continuité entre les 2. Le matin, on n'a pas vu tout ce qui était prévu, un belvédère fermé, pas de dégustation de vin de Madère comme annoncé lors de la réservation mais beaucoup de temps dans le bar "du pote" pour y boire une poncha (ou autre chose) payante, accès à la plateforme de verre payant également (et pas forcément intéressant). A la fin de cette demie journée, on est déposé au port, environ une heure pour se trouver…”
Madeira wine, honey museum, off-road north coast views, and the Cabo Girão Skywalk, all in a small group from Funchal.
“A lovely day spent exploring the island with our very knowledgable driver and guide Rui. We got to see parts of the island we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to, including some fun off roading. We were lucky to have great weather and the views were fantastic. The wine tasting at both locations was lovely, and the tour of the vineyard was great, what an amazing place to sample wine and enjoy the views. We did come away with a bottle or two, but there was no pressure to buy. The Land Rover was good fun and having a driver who knew the roads so well and could discuss the…”
Every kind of day on the island, and the best of each.
