How Many Days in Madeira?

In short

Five days is the right length for Madeira: Funchal, the central peaks, the north-west coast, a levada walk and the eastern peninsula.
A week in Madeira suits hikers and leaves spare days for mountain cloud, which often hides the peaks by midday.
Three days in Madeira is worth it only as a short break: Funchal, one mountain morning and one coast.
Every extra day in Madeira buys flexibility for the weather as much as it buys new sights.

The short answer: five days, or a week for hiking

How many days in Madeira — what fits, and what you give up
Days	What fits	What you cut
3 days	Funchal, one mountain morning, one coast	Levadas or the coast, São Lourenço
4 days	Funchal, the peaks, the north-west, one levada	São Lourenço, spare days
5 days	All of the above, plus São Lourenço	A spare day for the weather
7 days	Five days, a second levada, and a spare day	Nothing essential
10 days	A week, plus Porto Santo by ferry	—

Yes, for a first visit that mixes sightseeing and walking.
Five days fits Funchal, the peaks, the north-west coast, one levada and São Lourenço.
It leaves one day to swap if the mountain weather is poor.
It is not enough for a hiking-focused trip: those need a week.

The peaks are often above the cloud at sunrise and inside it by midday — a spare morning is often needed.
Trails close after rockfalls or fires; a longer trip can wait for one to reopen.
The best levadas are in different regions — the west at Rabaçal, the north at Queimadas — and each takes a day.
A week allows a second base on the north coast for the northern walks.

These are the 1991-2020 IPMA climate normals for Funchal, on the south coast; the mountains and the north are wetter.

July and August are almost dry in Funchal, at 1.7 mm and 1.3 mm: five days goes furthest.
October to January average 67-95 mm a month in Funchal — add a day for rain.
In winter, trail closures are more frequent after storms; add a day for the peaks.
May, June and September balance dry weather and comfortable hiking temperatures.

01
Three days with the peaks as the only reason to come. One cloudy morning and the reason is gone.
02
A packed five days with no spare slot. The mountain weather will move something.
03
Porto Santo on a trip of less than a week. It needs at least a full day, or an overnight stay, on top of the main island.
04
A hiking trip without a hire car. The trailheads are not on useful bus times.

Is it worth going to Madeira for 3 days?

As a short break, yes: Funchal, one mountain morning and one coast. There is no margin for bad weather in the mountains.

Is 5 days in Madeira enough?

For a first visit, yes: Funchal, the peaks, the north-west coast, a levada and São Lourenço. Hikers should allow a week.

What is the best month to visit Madeira?

June or September for most trips: warm, dry and good for walking. July and August are the driest in Funchal (IPMA 1991-2020).