Madeira for wheelchair users: accessible beaches, levadas and getting around
Is Madeira wheelchair friendly? The steep island has improved: beaches with amphibious chairs and bathing assistance, two levada paths built for everyone, buses with ramps, adapted taxis and airport assistance. What works and what to plan for.
This page first appeared on Madeira Blog on 14 July 2006. We have rewritten it with up-to-date information.
In July 2006 this blog asked whether Madeira was wheelchair friendly, and answered honestly: “not friendly at all”. Steep hills, stairs everywhere and hotels without wide enough lifts made the island hard work. Twenty years later the hills are still there, but a lot has changed. With some planning, Madeira is now a realistic holiday for wheelchair users.
What is still hard
Be ready for the terrain. Funchal climbs steeply from the sea, many pavements are laid with traditional cobbles, and villages cling to slopes. The flattest areas are the seafront, the marina and the hotel zone around the Lido. Most classic levada walks are narrow and uneven, and the Monte toboggan is not accessible.
Accessible beaches and sea pools
Several bathing areas carry the national “Accessible Beach, Beach for All” award, with adapted access and accessible toilets. In the bathing season, staff help visitors in and out of the water.
| Place | What there is |
|---|---|
| Praia Formosa, Funchal | Amphibious chair, amphibious crutches and bathing assistance. An Audioplage system for blind and partially sighted swimmers can be booked in advance. |
| Lido bathing complex, Funchal | Amphibious chair for the pool and bathing assistance. |
| Ponta Gorda (Poças do Governador), Funchal | A mechanical lift into the pool and bathing assistance. |
| Banda d’Além, Machico | Amphibious chair and a flat, shaded area reserved for people with reduced mobility. |
| Fontinha, Porto Santo | Amphibious chair and bathing assistance on the long sandy beach. |
São Roque in Machico, Ribeira do Faial in Santana and Palmeiras in Santa Cruz have also been listed as accessible beaches. See beaches in Madeira and Porto Santo.
Levadas you can do
Two routes in the mountains are signed as a caminho para todos, a path for everyone:
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde, first section. From the Queimadas forest park above Santana to Pico das Pedras, 1.9 km, about 45 minutes. The surface is compacted earth with stones, with wooden railings along the way. A few short muddy patches can be awkward after rain. See Levada do Caldeirão Verde.
- Levada do Paul II. A 1.2 km path in the west of the island.
Check the weather warnings before you go, as rain makes both paths harder. Classified trails also need a booking. See trail fees and booking. Specialist operators run accessible tours with all-terrain wheelchairs and scooters, among them Madeira Accessível by Wheelchair and Wheelchair Accessible Madeira.
Sights
- Cabo Girão skywalk. The glass platform on one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs has a wheelchair lift for its few steps. See Cabo Girão.
- Funchal cable car. The station has step-free access and an accessible toilet. Ask the operator about boarding the cabin before you go: +351 291 780 280.
- Museums in Funchal. The A Cidade do Açúcar museum has the region’s first permanent tactile route, and the Baltazar Dias theatre has accessibility measures. Call ahead for other museums; many are in old buildings.
- Viewpoints by car. Many of the best views are a few metres from a car park. See viewpoints in Madeira.
Getting there and around
- Airport assistance. It is free. Request it through your airline at least 48 hours before you fly. Madeira airport has no air bridges, so the assistance team takes you to and from the aircraft. See Madeira airport.
- Buses. Most city buses in Funchal are low-floor with a ramp. On rural routes, check with the operator before you travel. See buses in Madeira.
- Taxis. Several taxi companies have adapted vehicles. Book in advance, especially for airport transfers. See taxis, Uber and Bolt.
- Car hire. Adapted cars are rare. Ask well ahead, or plan around taxis and tours. See car hire.
Where to stay
Choose the flatter parts of Funchal, around the Lido and the seafront, over the hillside districts. Ask hotels and apartments for photos of the bathroom and the entrance, the width of the lift and whether the shower is step-free. A ground-floor room with a level path to the street makes the biggest difference. See where to stay in Madeira and healthcare in Madeira.
Sources: Funchal city council, accessible tourism, DNoticias, Madeira’s accessible beaches, The Independent, Madeira’s accessible levadas tested, TUR4all, Funchal cable car accessibility