Madeira Solo Travel: My Top Tips for Safety, Hiking and Making Likeminded Friends

If you’re wondering what Madeira solo travel is like, I’ve got you. I’m approaching my fourth solo trip to Madeira, so I understand just how nerve-wracking it can be to take a solo trip to a remote island in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Here’s the good news: with the right knowledge, it’s easy to meet other like-minded solo travellers. I did it, over and over, and gained some friends for life.

In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about Madeira solo travel, including where to stay, how to hike solo, where to meet friends, and whether Madeira is safe for solo female travel.

This piece is just one part of my detailed Madeira travel tips, which also cover all the practicalities of visiting Madeira, from budget and getting around to the best time to visit.

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

Madeira Solo Travel: Is Madeira Safe to Visit Alone?

First things first, safety. I’m turning 28 this year, and I’m done with the days of under-planning and placing budget over safety.

Thankfully, as I cover in my detailed answer to the question “is Madeira safe to visit“, this island is one of the safest destinations I’ve visited in three years of full-time travel.

• Firstly, the crime rate is low, especially for serious offences. Petty crimes are the most common offence, according to a press release from the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira.
• Over the course of three trips (amounting to 6 months in Madeira), I only experienced catcalling twice. This was in Funchal and Câmara de Lobos, and didn’t escalate to anything serious.

Is It Safe to Go Hiking Solo in Madeira?

There are nearly 3,000 kilometres of hiking trails in Madeira. They’re best explored with a buddy or group, but if you’re an experienced hiker, you can go alone.

It is safe to go solo hiking in Madeira, but you should always stick to the designated trails, carry proper gear and first-aid, and check the weather conditions and list of trail closures in Madeira before you begin hiking.

You should also download an offline map (using an app such as AllTrails).

If you’re going hiking alone, make sure that someone (perhaps your hotel/hostel receptionist) knows where you’re going and for how long.

Solo hikers occasionally go missing in Madeira, and this is usually because they overestimate their abilities, don’t check the weather, or stray from the designated paths.

Not confident about the idea of hiking solo? The best solution is to book onto a group hiking tour. The most popular group hiking tours are the PR1 (Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo) and the hiking trip with a local, which does a different hike almost every day of the week.

The Main Challenges You’ll Face as a Solo Traveller in Madeira

Solo travel doesn’t come without its challenges, especially in Madeira.

• Public transport outside of Funchal is limited, so you may need to rent a car. However, driving in Madeira can be challenging, with fast motorways, limited merge space, and steep rural roads.
• Many hike transfers only accept bookings for a minimum of two people, limiting your options aside from renting a car or joining a group hiking tour.
• There are limited hostels in Madeira, and due to this, the dormitory beds fill up fast. Hotels and self-catering accommodation can seem expensive for one person.
• Most people visit Madeira with their partners or family, making it challenging to meet other solo travellers.

Where to Stay in Madeira as A Solo Traveller

Where you stay really matters if you’re going to Madeira solo. Hotels in Madeira are packed with couples and families, limiting your chances of meeting other solo travellers, and self-catering accommodation may help to save money, but it’s less than ideal for making friends.

The best place to stay is a hostel. They are full of other solo travellers hoping to meet and explore with new people. The layout of hostels are optimised for meeting people, with shared communal kitchens, living spaces and dormitory-style beds.

The problem? For a long time, Madeira almost exclusively attracted families and retirees. Therefore, hostels are a relatively new concept; there’s just a small handful available, so hostels are often booked up 3-6 months in advance.

If you don’t have time to read my full breakdown of the best hostels in Madeira, I’ve shared my top three favourite hostels below:

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Getting Around as A Solo Traveller

One more thing you need to think about is getting around Madeira as a solo traveller. Renting a car is the best way to explore the island, but driving in Madeira requires the correct license and confidence navigating steep roads, fast motorways and driving on the right-hand side of the road.

If you are not comfortable driving, that’s also fine. Contrary to popular belief, you can still have an incredible trip to Madeira without renting a car; I write about this in detail in my guide to exploring Madeira without a car.

My biggest piece of advice for solo travellers who don’t rent a car is to stay in Funchal. The capital city, home to over 90% of the island’s population, has the best public transport connections. Outside of the city, connections are patchy.

Plus, most tours in Madeira also only include pick-up in the capital – not from other popular places to stay like Ponta do Sol or Caniço.

There are two key sites that will help you hire a car in Madeira: Discover Cars and Klook. Pick-up is usually from the airport or the centre of Funchal.

How to Meet Other Solo Travellers in Madeira

• Stay at a hostel. These spaces attract solo travellers who want to socialise and explore with new people.
• Consider social media and apps. I spotted a lot of solo travellers on Bumble BFF, looking for people to hike with. There are also Facebook groups for Madeira solo travel.
• Join a group tour. This is by far the easiest way to meet other tourists if you’re visiting Madeira alone.
• Strike up a conversation at a bar or coffee shop. Hot spots in Funchal include Art Food Corner, Barreirinha Bar Café and Doca do Cavacas.
• If you’re a digital nomad in Madeira, you can also join the community WhatsApp groups to meet like-minded remote workers and expats.

Female Solo Travel in Madeira: What’s It Like?

If you’re considering Madeira solo travel as a woman, I get that you’ll probably have more safety concerns. I’ve spent over 6 months in Madeira and only been catcalled twice, which is considerably less than what I experience back at home in the UK.

I feel very safe in Madeira as a solo female traveller, whether I’m walking at night in Funchal, shopping or hiking. I don’t tend to hike solo, though, as I have seen discussions in Facebook groups about solo female trail runners and hikers being followed. It’s uncommon, but it does happen.

Overall, I highly recommend Madeira for solo female travel. It’s definitely up there with my favourites, which include Thailand and Australia.

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I hope you found this guide to Madeira solo travel handy! I’d love to hear from you in the comments, whether you share your experience of solo travel in Madeira or want to add your own tips.