Madeira

Destination

We’re not sure you’re fully prepared for the subtropical wonders of Madeira. We all know it as the garden isle, perhaps famous for its botanical garden and a dash of Madeira wine. A few of you might even be expecting a slice or two of cake. Which all sounds a little pedestrian, depending on how hard you hit the wine. Sweep all of that sleepy nonsense away and Madeira’s a little Portuguese firecracker. The surrounding waters rarely get a mention, but ask any scuba diver and they’ll tell you the seabed’s just swimming with rays, seals and colourful shoals. Quirky wrecks, snorkelling with dolphins and island hopping to even better beaches are all up for grabs too.

On land, hiking routes weave you through the mountains via the levadas. Madeira’s irrigation system hardly screams adventure, but, trust us when we say, it’s worth following these waterways. Perch (safely) on cliff edges and you’ll be among some of Europe’s rarest seabirds. Explore the shoreline and you could end up chatting to the owner of a micronation. Natural pools practically beg to be swum in. Towering skywalks with glass floors peer down on to crashing waves and Cristiano Ronaldo is practically worshipped as a god. Madeira delivers on the unexpected, and if you do one thing? Well… just try the poncha.

man walking on the hiking trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo in madeira

A hiker’s guide to Madeira’s best walks

See & Do

Madeira hiking tends to focus on the island’s levadas. Which are essentially ingenious irrigation channels that transport water to the many, many farms and fields carved into the island. Agri-architecture might sound a little tame, but it’s the key to routes through mountains and forests.

Coastal adventures deliver on head-spinning views, rare wildlife and challenging terrain. Endemic trees, flowers and animals await. And, best of all, the walks are all free to find and enjoy. There’s even a free guided walk through Funchal to take advantage of. You just need to bring your hiking A-game and a torch. Those mountain tunnels get pretty dark…

madeira toboggan ride in monte village

Top 12 things to do in Madeira

See & Do

At first pass it would be easy to assume the list of things to do in Madeira could contain little more than a mooch around the Botanical Garden and a sip of Madeira wine. Of course, we’d recommend you give both a go, but this cheeky little island has some quirks up its sleeve. The toboggan rides are a nice but bizarre place to start. From there it’s eccentrics, sunken treasures and a casual bit of snorkel time with some dolphins. Brace yourselves, Madeira’s a surprise-filled stay you’ll need plenty of time to appreciate.

golf course in madeira

Tee off on Madeira’s best golf courses

See & Do

Madeira hiking tends to focus on the island’s levadas. Which are essentially ingenious irrigation channels that transport water to the many, many farms and fields carved into the island. Agri-architecture might sound a little tame, but it’s the key to routes through mountains and forests.

Coastal adventures deliver on head-spinning views, rare wildlife and challenging terrain. Endemic trees, flowers and animals await. And, best of all, the walks are all free to find and enjoy. There’s even a free guided walk through Funchal to take advantage of. You just need to bring your hiking A-game and a torch. Those mountain tunnels get pretty dark…