More then 30 ideas on how to spend a rainy day on Madeira!

Madeira is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of North Africa, near Morocco. This provides a year-round climate of around 22 degrees Celsius. It's a unique paradise for subtropical plants. On Madeira, you can find waterfalls, lush green forests, steep cliffs, natural beaches, and vast plains surrounded by peaks over 1800 meters high. It stays green throughout the year, even when it doesn't rain for months. The super fertile volcanic soil nourishes the island at all times.

Of course, when you're on vacation, it's usually more enjoyable when it doesn't rain. But Madeira has more to offer during those rare rainy moments than most people might think. For us, it was quite a surprise to see how much there is to do on the island, which may not always be immediately apparent to visitors. Here's a nice collection of things to visit or do on a rainy day during your vacation here.
 

1. Check out websites with live webcams scattered around Madeira. Due to the high mountain ridges, clouds and rain often don't have free rein to sweep across the island. So, there's usually a place where it's dry or less windy that day. Even with the rain, you can still see a lot from the car. Don't be discouraged, and get out there. Save the links to the webcams on your phone and make the most of them.

2. We have books and games ready in the cottages to spend quality time together. Yahtzee, Jenga, card games, and other simple games can make for a great day.

3. Take a dip in our pool; it's always 26 degrees in the saltwater pool. Experience the sound of raindrops falling into the water while you swim. Put on your swimwear and dive in.

4. Play paddle tennis in the indoor courts at Lazer Padel in Funchal. Finish with a warm shower and be pleasantly surprised by the small kitchen there. The tasty toasts and homemade soups are really good.

5. Caravel Art Center in Funchal always showcases different art series. Local artists have a great place here to exhibit their work.

6. Se Cathedral in Funchal is a visual treat. Even if you're not a fan of churches and cathedrals, this is truly a work of art to see. You can walk around here for a short visit or several hours. It's free to enter and worth it.

7. 3D Art Fun Museum will make you laugh and provide stunning photos to take home or share on your social media. It's something different, and even the most serious individuals will have a good time. Interesting and amusing, even when it's not raining.

8. Plan a Blandy's, Barbeito Madeira, or Henriques & Henriques wine tour. There's always one that can accommodate you. It's an interesting experience. They keep it light and provide plenty of information about this globally renowned way of making wine. Madeira is a truly exceptional wine celebrated worldwide. We visited Blandy's in Funchal, and you can choose from various tours; ours lasted about an hour, with a tasting at the end and a substantial discount on bottles if you'd like to take more with you. Tip! They also offer an airport pick-up service, so you can take the bottles with you later and still benefit from the discount.

9. Visit the São Vicente Caves to take a look at the formation of Madeira. It's also very educational to witness the volcanic eruption. Check the opening hours in advance.

10. Taste Poncha and bring a deck of cards. You don't have to wait for rain for this one. It's fantastic in the sun or with heavy clouds above. Visit a local Poncha bar to see how it's made and to taste it. If you want more, you can usually order a bottle to take back to the cottage.

11. Book a world-famous High Tea at the Reids Hotel. It's highly praised by those who have experienced it. Reids is known for quality and doesn't cater to the masses. Be sure to book in advance. While you enjoy the view of the city and the ocean from the hotel, it's a lovely recommendation.

12. Enjoy a spa day at the Savoy Saccharum or Cliff Bay Hotel. Have a massage or any other treatment after a sauna session. It's a great way to relax after all that walking along the levadas and in the mountains. After all, it's a vacation!

13. Try an Ayurveda treatment in Caniço. It's a different experience from a regular massage and a real treat for your body. They offer personalized treatments for everyone.

14. Go karting under the runway of Madeira Airport. It's impressive just to stand beneath the high pillars of the runway! Enjoy go-karting in small karts suitable for young and old, with a real racing leaderboard for you to compete against each other and receive a printout of the fastest times and final rankings afterwards. It's a fun and safe afternoon for everyone, in our experience.

15. Go bowling at the Camacha shopping center. You can easily spend an hour or more there with friends. With few rules, it's guaranteed fun. The place may be a bit dated, but that doesn't affect the fun of bowling.

16. The Mercado dos Lavradores, a market in Funchal, is a well-known attraction in Madeira. While it's a real market where locals do their shopping, it's still wonderful to see. Flowers and vegetables are displayed all day long and make for beautiful photos. The fish market processes the fish brought in from small fishing boats. To experience this, you should arrive early, between 07:30 and 09:00. It's really worth it. You can find sardines and 200 kg tunas, and sometimes even unique catches like rays and sharks.

17. The CR7 museum of Cristiano Ronaldo offers a great collection of his sporting achievements so far, as well as a glimpse into his life. As a native Madeiran, he does a lot for the island's young athletes, ensuring that every child can play sports without their parents worrying about the costs.

18. The Sea Aquarium in Porto Moniz is a feast for the eyes. Beautifully built and a unique place in the lava by the sea. During rain or storms, you can enjoy the natural spectacle of waves crashing on the rocks and combine it with a visit to the aquarium.

19. Gato Legal coffee roasters at Ponta do Pargo is now known as one of the better places to enjoy specialty coffee. They offer various roastings and beans to suit every taste. They also make delicious pastries and sometimes savory sandwiches with a passion for food that makes them stand out.

20. Visit a rum distillery in Porto da Cruz (Engenho do Norte) or in Calheta. Madeira is known for its own distillate called Aguardente, a clear rum made from sugarcane. With a long history on the island and beyond, you can see how it's produced in these factories. During the harvest season, you can even watch the machines in action. Aguardente is one of the ingredients used to make Poncha.

21. The Whale Museum in Caniçal, Museu da Baleia, offers a large exhibition on everything related to the rich history of whales around Madeira. It covers the traditional production of cod liver oil from the past to the modern prevention team that ensures whales aren't disturbed. It's very interesting and close to Ponta São Lourenço, the extensive headland to the east of Madeira. It's a great place to explore on a sunny day.

22. The Madeira Film Experience tells the 600-year history of Madeira and the incredible struggle against the elements to survive on the island. It's far from the mainland and has become so resilient and free from external influences. They present this in a 30-minute film in a particularly beautiful way. The film is available in Dutch, English, German, and Portuguese.

23. Casino da Madeira is for those who aren't lucky with the weather but might be lucky in the game. Enthusiasts of games of chance can have a great time here. It's located on the edge of the beautiful Santa Catarina Park and offers breathtaking views of the harbor and the center of Funchal.

24. Try canyoning with Epic Madeira. We're fans of this activity because it's fun and exciting for everyone. Rappel through the nature of Madeira in places you couldn't otherwise reach. They provide quality gear to keep you warm, and their cameraman gives you the best photos afterward, so you don't have to worry about it while descending.

25. Nini Andrade Design Center, also for great food! In the heart of the capital, across the pier, you'll see a rock with a building on it. She's responsible for many beautiful designs in Madeira's hotels and is highly praised internationally for her designs.

26. Sacred Art in Funchal is a museum of sacred art on the Portuguese island of Madeira. It opened in 1955 in the former episcopal palace. The collection spans from the 15th to the 19th century and includes paintings, woodcarvings, church silver, and liturgical vestments.

27. The Casa da Mudas Museum in Calheta focuses on contemporary art. It's just around the corner from us, and you've probably seen it when you walked over the harbor in Calheta. That large building on top of the hill. It has unique architecture and is enjoyable on a sunny day from the outside and on rainy days from the inside. They always have interesting changing exhibitions and ample space.

28. Visit a cinema at the Forum Shopping center or at the Madeira Shopping center. The theaters are stunning, and they constantly feature new films. The quality of the theaters, sound, and picture is truly outstanding. It's a great way to combine with a visit to the shopping center, and everything is indoors.

29. Visit the Madeira Indoor Climbing Center or the Sports Park Água de Pena near the karting track. There are two climbing centers to be found here. The one at Água de Pena is an outdoor facility. From there, they also organize climbing days in other places on Madeira, with professional guidance, of course.

30. The Madeira Story Center also has a nice rooftop for sunny moments. It's a modern museum that tells the history of Madeira in a unique way, engaging all the senses.

31. Visit the Electricity Museum. It's a simple regional museum about the history of electricity with modest exhibits and old tools. Here, you can see how the electrical network on Madeira was established using solar, wind, and diesel power. All three elements are still used to provide a stable network for everyone. Working on more solar and wind energy is a consistent part of their progress.

32. Finally, we'd like to add for couples among our guests that with a seriously good Bluetooth speaker from Marshall, you can play great music and enjoy it on the comfortable couches or maybe even in the bedroom. We want you to have a great time, and we've done our best to make that happen.

As you can see, there's a lot to do, and you'll return home with a treasure trove of new experiences. If you're reading this and think we've forgotten to mention something, we're open to your super tip, and we'll add it to this blog with your name if you'd like. Greetings from Madeira, and for those who are already here, enjoy this beautiful island!