Madeira increases fees for hiking trails and introduces limits for tourists

Madeira is changing the rules for accessing tourist trails, increasing fees, and introducing limits for visitors. Find out how much it costs to access hiking trails, who is affected by the new rules, and what tourists can be fined for

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The autonomous region of Portugal, Madeira Island, is changing the rules for accessing popular hiking trails. Local authorities are increasing the entrance fee for official tourist trails, expanding the list of paid routes, and introducing restrictions on the number of visitors. This was reported by Time Out Worldwide.

Madeira is known for its dense green forests, volcanic peaks, steep cliffs, and picturesque coastal villages. It is these natural landscapes that have made the island one of the most popular destinations for hiking in Europe. At the same time, the rapid growth in the number of tourists has forced regional authorities to review their approach to managing tourist flows.

Which trails in Madeira have become paid

In early 2025, the Madeira authorities announced an expansion of the list of paid hiking trails. Previously, the fee applied only to the seven most popular trails, but now it extends to 30 official PR category routes.

The cost of access to these routes has increased from €3 to €4.5. The fee is charged to all non-residents aged 12 and over who plan to walk the island's official hiking trails. For tourists who book a hike through a licensed tour operator, the cost will remain at €3, according to available information.

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Mandatory booking and visitor limits

In addition to the price increase, Madeira has introduced a new system for accessing the trails. From now on, all visitors without exception — including locals and children under 12 — must book a 30-minute “entry window” in advance through the SIMplifica online portal.

The number of available slots is limited. According to the authorities, this approach will prevent crowding during peak hours and distribute the load on natural trails more evenly. Tourists who are required to pay the fee but fail to do so may be fined up to €50, according to Euronews.

Separate rules for the PR1 Pico do Areiro - Pico Ruivo route

Additional costs are also envisaged for one of Madeira's most famous routes, the PR1 between Pico do Areiro and Pico Ruivo. After a large-scale forest fire in 2024, this route was temporarily closed. Work to improve safety is currently being completed there.

Until it is fully open, tourists can take a shortened route to the Miradouro Pedra Rija viewpoint for the standard fee of €4.50. Once PR1 is fully open, which is expected at the end of April, the cost will increase to €7 per person due to increased maintenance and safety requirements for the route.

Where will the funds from tourist fees go?

Madeira's Regional Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment, Rafaela Fernandes, explained that all funds collected will be used to maintain hiking trails — their preservation, cleaning, restoration, and maintenance.

According to her, such measures are necessary to ensure that the island's unique natural landscapes are not damaged by excessive tourist traffic.

Madeira is not the only region in Europe to introduce such restrictions. Previously, Italy implemented one-way traffic on the popular Cinque Terre trails, and the Dolomites introduced voluntary tourist fees to reduce the burden on nature. Such steps are becoming part of a pan-European strategy to preserve natural areas.

Tip: When planning a trip to Madeira, tourists should familiarize themselves with the rules for accessing routes in advance and take into account the need for online booking. It is also important to allow extra time for logistics between locations. It is convenient to plan your trip to Portugal and travel around Europe in advance — in particular, through the ticket booking system for all types of transport on Visit Ukraine, which allows you to compare options and choose the best route.

We remind you! Wizz Air is expanding its summer flight program from Poland, launching new flights to seaside destinations. Read about which cities you can fly from to Bulgaria, Italy, and Greece, when the flights start, and how much the tickets cost.

Photo: shutterstock

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