Reading list / 6 books
Madeira is one of the world’s great walking islands. These are the best walking books and walking guides for Madeira — mapping its levadas, peaks and trails.
Selection guidance updated
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English · 2018 edition
Best for: A walking-focused trip that may include Porto Santo.
Dillon’s 60 day walks range across Madeira and neighbouring Porto Santo. That second island is a clear reason to choose it over a Madeira-only route collection.
Consider: The listed edition predates the 2026 Sunflower volume; compare maps and edition details, then check current route conditions separately.
Sources: Cicerone contents ↗
English · 2025 edition
Best for: A walker who wants a compact route-by-route guide.
The English Rother edition lists 70 levada and mountain walks, with a route map and height profile for each walk and downloadable GPS data.
Consider: Check the ISBN and language: Rother also publishes German editions with different update cycles and ISBNs.
Sources: Rother English walking guide ↗
English · 2026 edition
Best for: A traveller mixing self-guided walks with driving days.
The listed 16th edition combines 100 long and short walks with six car tours, a touring map and downloadable GPS tracks. It can cover two jobs that otherwise require separate books.
Consider: Its breadth is useful for selecting outings, but no printed guide can confirm whether a particular path is open on the day you visit.
Sources: Sunflower edition details ↗
English · 2019 edition
Best for: Someone who wants a separate island map beside a guidebook.
The double-sided 1:40,000 map puts trails and roads in one wider view. It is most useful as a companion to route descriptions, especially when comparing neighbouring areas.
Consider: A map does not provide the route narrative or live access notices of a current walking service.
Hiking & Levadas
English
A guide to Madeira’s iconic levadas — the hand-cut irrigation channels that thread the mountains — by geographer Raimundo Quintal, combining cultural and historical background with practical footpath descriptions.
Hiking & Levadas
English · 2018 edition
A Trailblazer walking guide with 37 selected walks across all regions of Madeira — from easy levada strolls to mountain hikes — with large-scale trail maps, altitude profiles, transport notes and downloadable GPS tracks.
A practical companion: Using a walking book with live trail information →
The editor’s guide
The key difference is between a route guide and a map. Paddy Dillon’s Walking on Madeira describes 60 day walks across Madeira and Porto Santo. The Sunflower book combines 100 long and short walks with six car tours. The Rother title is another route collection, with 70 walks in the listed edition. These counts describe different selections; the highest number is not automatically the best choice for your trip.
Think about how you navigate. A book of route descriptions may be enough for choosing walks and understanding their character. The double-sided Tour & Trail Map, at 1:40,000, is a companion when you want a broader view of roads, paths and neighbouring routes. A map on its own does not replace current information about closures or conditions.
Older walking books can be valuable for landscape and history, but route access can change after publication. If you are choosing between editions, compare the date, included maps, GPS support and whether the title covers Porto Santo. Madeira’s official hiking page publishes live trail status and current access rules, including the reservation process for classified routes. Check it before each walk; no book can replace that live information.
Reference: Official Madeira hiking status and access rules ↗
These comparisons use the titles’ stated scope and edition details. They are selection guidance, not claims that we have personally tested every book.