Lisbon & Lush Madeira Island

Day By Day Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Madeira Island

   Welcome to Madeira Island! Airport transfers are included upon your arrival and departure to ensure a smooth trip.

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Explore the heart of Funchal on foot. Discover Madeira's vibrant capital, a gem nestled between lush hills and the vast Atlantic Ocean. Funchal exudes Portuguese charm, offering a captivating blend of rich history and lively modern spirit.
     • Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers' Market)
     • Sé Cathedral
     • Santa Clara Convent
     • Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art)
     • Blandy's Wine Lodge
     • Zona Velha (Old Town)
     • Praça do Município (Municipal Square)
     • Fortaleza de São Tiago (São Tiago Fort)
     • Marina and Waterfront
2. Day 2 Free Day for Personal Activities (Madeira Island)

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Explore Madeira’s stunning West Coast: From dramatic cliffside hikes to relaxing on the world-famous Seixal Beach, Madeira's West Coast offers adventure and tranquility. Discover hidden villages, stunning vistas, and the unique charm of this island paradise. Here's what awaits you:
     • Ribeira Brava
     • São Vicente
     • Seixal
     • Porto Moniz
     • Calheta
     • Ponta do Sol 
3. Day 3 Free Day for Personal Activities (Madeira Island)

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Discover Madeira’s Eastern wonders: Step into a world of timeless charm in Madeira's Eastern region. Discover Santana, a village where centuries-old traditions live on in its iconic thatched houses. Immerse yourself in the picturesque beauty of the landscape, where history whispers through ancient customs and breathtaking scenery.
     •  Santana
     • Machico
     • Pico do Areeiro
     • Ponta de São Lourenço 
4. Day 4 Free Day for Personal Activities (Madeira Island)

   Suggestions for the day:

   • Take the Day to Explore Funchal's Botanical Gardens: Discover the natural wonders of Funchal with a day dedicated to exploring its renowned botanical gardens, featuring the iconic Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
     • Start your day immersed in the exotic beauty of the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Lose yourself amidst its lush greenery, unique cultural exhibits, and perhaps even a graceful swan or two.
     • Then, go on an exhilarating Monte Toboggan ride, a one-of-a-kind adventure where wicker baskets whisk you down the streets.
     • Continue your botanical journey at the Funchal Botanical Garden in the city center. Marvel at the diverse plant life while enjoying breathtaking coastal vistas.
     • Throughout the day, savor the tranquility of these gardens. Capture vibrant floral colors, fragrant scents, and the unique essence of Madeira's natural wonders.
   • Bid farewell to Madeira with a Typical Night Dinner: Immerse yourself in the island's vibrant culture with a delicious 3-course dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a lively folklore show where you can even try out the traditional dances! Cap off the night with breathtaking views of Funchal's twinkling lights from a scenic viewpoint. Pick-u/drop-off is included in hotels in Funchal's city center. Schedule your typical dinner here.
5. Day 5 Flight to Lisbon

   Welcome to the vibrant capital city of Lisbon! Airport transfers are included upon your arrival and departure to ensure a smooth trip.

   Suggestions for the day: 

   • Once you've settled in, stroll around Lisbon's vibrant districts (Chiado, Baixa, Belém & Bairro Alto), and make sure to check these highlights:
     • São Roque Church
     • São Pedro de Alcântara Garden
     • Ruins of Carmo Church
     • Santa Catarina Viewpoint
     • Luís de Camões Square
     • Torre de Belém
     • Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
     • Pastéis de Belém
     • Augusta Street
     • Terreiro do Paço
     • Santa Justa Lift
6. Day 6 Free Day for Personal Activities (Lisbon)

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Visit Sintra: Historically known as being the illustrious home to Portugal’s most storied monarchs, the town of Sintra is not only historically relevant, but aesthetically speaking, it is a true marvel of magnificence and romantic beauty. This dream destination is also known as being filled with heavenly mansions tucked among rolling green hillsides, and fantastical castles that make you feel as if you have stepped into an actual real-life fairytale, including must-see marvels of the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Palácio da Pena, Quinta de Regaleira, the Castelo dos Mouros, and the Palácio de Monserrate.
     • Pena National Palace
     • Local pastries (travesseiros de Sintra)
     • Ginginha (local licour)
     • Quinta da Regaleira
     • Monserrate Palace
     • Moorish Castle
     • Old-Town 
7. Day 7 Free Day for Personal Activities (Lisbon)

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Visit the UNESCO City of Évora: The Alentejo region of Portugal is a feast for all the senses, from its northernmost tip to its sunkissed southern shores. While the north offers visitors pastoral scenery, like horses grazing in the flatland, the central portion of the region is marked by the vast plain with rows of cornflowers blowing in the wind. As one makes their way to the Alentejo coast, wild and unmarred natural beauty awaits to awe and inspire.
     • Sé Cathedral
     • Roman Temple
     • Capela dos Ossos
     • Giraldo Square
     • Évora university
     • Água da Prata aquaduct
     • Cromlech of Almendres
8. Day 8 Free Day for Personal Activities (Lisbon)

   Suggestion for the day:

   • Visit Fátima: Those looking to delve deeper into Portugal´s religious roots need to look no further than Fatimá, which is famous for being the holy site where an apparition of Our Lady of Fatima is said to have appeared. As the story goes, the apparition was seen by a pair of shepherd children in the early part of the 20th century. That sums it up, but there is far more to the story, which you will surely discover more about when you make your way to Fatima as a fabulous day trip from Lisbon (the Museu de Arte Sacra e Etnologia is the place with all the 411). Located just about an hour from Lisbon, Fatima and its Chapel of the Apparition and nearby Holy Trinity Cathedral top the list of Catholic pilgrimage sites. But even if you are not really a religious person, the architecture, energy, and history of the place will surely win you over, particularly the Sanctuary of Fátima.
   • Visit Óbidos: The romantic appeal of Óbidos — a marvelous medieval town in Portugal chocked full of intriguing history — provides a true experience as if you have actually stepped back in time to explore the nation’s amazingly rich history. Wandering among this enclave´s charming cobbled streets — flanked by an ancient walled labyrinth — and visiting its magnificent medieval castle will be memories you will never forget.
     • Porta da Vila, Óbidos castle
     • Santa Maria church
     • Santa Maria Square
     • Bom Jesus da Pedra Sanctuary
     • Óbidos lake
     • Porta da Vila
     • Óbidos Aquaduct
     • Óbidos Medieval Market. 
9. Day 9 Return Flight Home

   Thank you for choosing Portugal Getaways! We look forward to the opportunity to travel with you again soon. If you have any feedback or if there's anything more we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to let us know.