Book holidays to Madeira to explore the cliffs and valleys of Portugal's wild Atlantic outcrop, where orchids burst into bloom along steamy mountain pathways.
A sub-tropical climate means that Madeira holidays are warm any time of the year. Sprawling along the craggy south coast is Funchal, the island's capital, where locals sip fruity Madeira wine in the shade of rustling palm trees. Black-and-white striped pavements lead to the Old Town, home to a towering 15th-century cathedral. A drive along the super-steep coastline takes you to Cabo Girão, where you'll find towering sea cliffs. On Madeira's tiny sister island, Porto Santo, families splash about on a peaceful sandy beach.
Best of Madeira holidays for...
- Kids & teens: Parents and kids will get a thrill out of the cable car ride to Monte, which soars over deep valleys lined with banana groves. The traditional way back down - in a toboggan that looks like a giant wicker basket - will have you in fits of giggles.
- Active types: The old levadas (irrigation channels) that criss-cross Madeira's mountainous interior make perfect walking trails. If you're feeling fit, leave the trails behind and try the breathtakingly scenic hike between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, two of the island's highest peaks.
- Shopping: Sink your teeth into some freshly baked Madeira cake at one of Funchal's atmospheric little bakeries. Feeling refreshed, head out in search of hand-stitched lace tablecloths and other local handicrafts.
- Romance: Afternoon tea at Reid's Palace, where Winston Churchill once stayed, is as romantic as it gets on holidays to Madeira. Try to get a seat out on the breezy ocean terrace, which overlooks the hotel's flower-filled gardens.
- Free & cheap: It costs nothing to wander through Funchal's fragrant botanical gardens, where you'll find cute and colourful birds swooping between the trees. Stock up on supplies in town and you can tuck into a picnic here, too.
- Nightlife: Madeira's best club - Vespas - is in a converted warehouse down by Funchal's dockyards. Another popular hangout is the Beer House, also by the water, which brews its own silky smooth lager. Feeling lucky? Splash your cash at Casino da Madeira.
- Grown-up families: Learn about Madeira's volcanic beginnings at the Madeira Story Centre in Funchal, a funky museum that covers the entire history of the island. With special 'smell boxes' that let you get a real whiff of the past, it's sure to appeal to the whole family.
