The tour buses and the rental cars move in the same wave: leave Funchal around 9:30, reach the famous spots between 11 and 15. Be an hour ahead of them or an hour behind, and you have the island to yourself.
- Pico do Arieiro: sunrise is the famous one and the car park is full an hour before it. Sunset has a fraction of the people and often clearer air. Parking at the top is €4 an hour (card only); the lower car park, ten minutes on foot, is €2.
- Cabo Girão skywalk: opens 8:30, €3 (free for children under 12). Go before 10, before the buses start around 10:30, or in the last hour before it closes (20:00 in summer, 19:00 in winter).
- Ponta de São Lourenço: the small car park fills early on clear days and there is no shade on the trail. Before 10 or after 15, and take water.
- Porto Moniz pools: open 9–19 in summer (9–17 in winter), €1.50–3 depending on the season. Cool and quiet before 11; the buses arrive around midday.
- Monte and the cable car: quiet first thing; the cruise-ship crowds come from mid-morning on ship days.
- The market in Funchal: Friday is the big day; go before 9 to see it working rather than posing.
- Sundays: locals go to the beach and the sea pools too. Saturdays and weekdays are quieter at the water.