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Madeira hotels

Overview                    Prepare                    Get Around                    Highlights

Hotels in Madeira provide a variety of characterful places to stay, including some excellent luxury hotels, and plenty of budget options.  Prices fall during the low (winter) season, although not at Christmas and New Year.  Madeira hotels, whose clientele once included Winston Churchill, offer similarly good value for money as the rest of Portugal, whether you select a hotel in the capital city of Funchal or opt for a hotel on the smaller neighbouring island of Porto Santo

coastal residences in prime locations for sea, sun and views.... 

Madeira does offer an amazing selection of hotels types and locations, from affordable and charming country houses that have awesome natural surroundings, to stunning hotels in secluded spots, as well as the proverbial coastal residences in prime locations for sea, sun, and views. The island has few beaches and property at these is sparse.

Cheap hotels in Madeira are best found by using our price comparison tool before booking in advance to avoid disappointment.  Madeira is a year round destination and its hotels are very popular, thus prone to being quickly fully booked.


 

Overview

Overview

Madeira bursts with flowers as summer visitors swim in volcanic pools and hike through ancient laurel forests. As temperatures cool, golfers swing on to the courses and Funchal comes alight for New Year. Nearby Porto Santo basks on its therapeutic sands.

Seaside

Take in city and sea views from Funchal's cable car to Monte, and bump downhill on a wicker toboggan. See thatched houses in Santana, stop for seafood in fishing village Câmara dos Lobos and sip rum cocktails in Machico. Bathe in Porto Moniz rock pools, go barefoot on Calheta's golden sands, and watch the sunset from Ponta do Pargo lighthouse.
Inland

Explore some of Madeira's finest gardens at Monte Palace Tropical Garden and Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro. Golfers can choose from Palheiro Golf, Club de Golf do Santo da Serra and Porto Santo's 27-hole course. Drive along the upper coast road from Calheta to Santa to take in the terrain of steep terraces of farmland and stop off for a picnic with views of lush green mountains and the blue seas.
Escape

Find a city retreat at Funchal's Botanical Gardens or head north for Portugal's largest rosebush collection at Quinta do Arco Rose Garden. Discover the Madeira laurel and mahogany trees, rare flowers and waterfalls on a spectacular drive through the Laurisilva. These ancient UNESCO World Heritage laurel forests cover much of the island. Find that special hideaway on Porto Santo's mineral-rich sands.
Adventure

Walk the levadas (inland waterways) from Rabaçal and Ribeiro Frio or the mountain-top hikes from Pico do Arreiro to Pico Ruivo, Madeira's highest peak at 1,861m. Take a deep breath for paragliding off mountain tops and canyoning into deep ravines. Surf the waves in Jardim do Mar and head off-shore to catch marlin on a day's big game fishing.
Eat & Drink

Take your pick of the fresh fish dishes from swordfish and tuna steak to squid (lulas) and fish stew (caldeirada). Opt for traditional skewered or marinated meats served with fried corn and bolo de caco bread. Enjoy fortified Madeira wines and local cocktails such as the rum-based Poncha à pescador (fisherman's punch) and Pé de Cabra (literally “goat's foot”) made from beer.
Nightlife

Enjoy glasses of famous Madeira wine and traditional local cocktails. Dine in coastal seafood restaurants from Câmara de Lobos to Machico. Stop here for a few poncha rum cocktails or head back to the capital to try your luck at the Casino and dance the night away at Vespas nightclub.
Take Home

Pick up some wickerwork bargains or traditional Madeira embroidery and handmade lace tablecloths in small Funchal shops and stock up on various brands of fortified Madeira wine. Pick cut flowers to be specially packed up for transporting home at Funchal's busy flower market.

Prepare

Prepare

Bring your swimwear for the beach, and your hiking boots, waterproofs and a sense of adventure for exploring inland.

Madeira Year

Funchal comes alive for the Madeira Carnival in February. Join in the parades, music and dancing and then stay on until March for the Madeira Island Open golf championships in Santo da Serra. Visit the island in September for the Madeira Wine Festival, with the grape harvest in Câmara de Lobos and light and sound shows in Funchal. Head to Porto Santo in October for the Columbus Festival recalling the Portuguese explorer with music, exhibitions and parades. Return for Christmas and New Year, when thousands of lights and fireworks light up the natural amphitheatre of the city.
Public Holidays

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Mardi Gras/Carnival (Feb), Easter (Mar/Apr), Liberty Day (25 Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Portugal Day (10 Jun), Corpus Christi (Jun), Assumption (15 Aug), Republic Day (5 Oct), All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Restoration (of Independence) Day (1 Dec), Day of Our Lady (8 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Weather

Around 300 miles off the west coast of Africa, the Madeira archipelago has a mild climate with summer temperatures averaging around 22°C. In winter this drops to a gentle 16°C. The humidity is moderate and the sea is warmed by the Gulf Stream (in summer this is the same as the air temperature, but in winter it's a little warmer). However, Madeira is mountainous so if you venture inland take a fleece and waterproofs as hill mists may leave you soaked.
Electricity

230V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.
Dialling Code

+351 (national), 291 + 6-figure number (Madeira).
Money

Euro (€) is the currency.
GMT

Precisely (+1 in summer).
Madeira Tourist Info

Madeira Tourism website

Highlights

Highlights

Take in the smells and sights of the capital, Funchal, and discover Madeira's volcanic beginnings in São Vicente.

Breathe in the scent of exotic flowers at Funchal's Botanical Gardens, and take in panoramic views across the city and bay. Ride a toboggan downhill from charming Monte back to Funchal's old town, where Flemish masterpieces adorn the walls of the Sacred Art Museum.

Head west for modern art at Calheta's Casa das Mudas Art Centre and north to Porto Moniz for the Living Science Centre. Eastwards, explore the island's beginnings at São Vicente Caves &Volcano Centre and local traditions at the Madeira Theme Park. Then retreat to sister island Porto Santo for gentle family fun and thalassotherapy.
Sightseeing Tips

Watch out for persistent salespeople in Funchal trying to persuade you to sign up to time share or holiday clubs – if you are tempted to buy, always read the small print carefully!

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited.



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