Holidays in Madeira have long been thought of the ideal break for the older generation, however Madeira has much to offer all travellers. With its Portuguese sovereignty it is distinctly European and has a busy and bustling capital Funchal along with many relaxed and quiet towns and villages throughout the island.
Situated west of Africa but further north than the Canaries, the island enjoys an excellent year round climate. Madeira holidays therefore enjoy great weather with temperatures comfortably in the 20s year round.
| Walking, touring and sightseeing are the real strong points on the island... |
The most popular time to visit is in the spring months of April and May when the island is bursting with colour from the local vegetation and is really very beautiful and picturesque. In fact Madeira is known for its many gardens and plants. The island itself has stunning scenery with some of the highest sea cliffs in the world towering over the Atlantic. It is often used as a calling point for cruise ships whose passengers enjoy a day out on the island. The views are often breathtaking around the coast line and you can also enjoy the volcanic scenery that is in common with some of the Canary Islands to the south.
Madeira is reached in just over three hours from the UK with flights arriving into Funchal Airport to the east of the capital. The runway has long been known as not for the faint hearted as it juts out on concrete stilts over the sea below, however pilots are well used to the approach and take off required to land at Madeira.
Best for...
Couples of all ages who enjoy a quality break with lots of nature thrown in for good measure. There is a strong mix of activities for all with many hotels offering a full range of things to see and do. Hotels are centred around the Funchal area which has no beaches to speak of, therefore hotel pools are the place to lounge around and soak up the sun.
Whilst this may not be an obvious choice for families there is much for those who enjoy activities and getting out and about. Quality is good and many properties are child friendly.
What to do...
Walking, touring and sightseeing are the real strong points on the island when you can tear yourself from the pool. The capital has several interesting museums and you can take the world famous Monte toboggan rides where you hurtle down the hill on the cobbled streets in Funchal. And if you survive that, the take off over the sea will seem like a walk in the park! Grabbing a car hire for a couple of days gives you chance to really explore the island.
Walking the hills that cover the island is one of the most popular activities and there is a wide choice of places to explore including coastal and inland walks. The northern coast can be dark and brooding and the south coast where you will find the most dramatic shore line with the high sea cliffs.
There are lots of water based activities too from what watching and fishing plus all manor of sports such as tennis. You can also take a boat over to Porto Santo where you will find the best beaches. Diving is also good as well as windsurfing. Bird watching is also very popular.
The sea food is excellent and freshly caught and cooked sardines are a must for everyone as well as sampling the famous Madeiran wines.
