Madeira Introduction

Madeira Island has a romantic name, being known as the Pearl of the Atlantic which is a garden on water and covered with flowers. You will see how colourful it is and what fragrant smells it has with all the blooms of colour. You will always be able to find a market selling local produce.

Madeira Island has some wonderful beaches and is well known for its buzzing nightlife. Its gastronomy is second to none, including its wine production thanks to the lush mountains which have a plentiful supply of grapes.

Madeira wine is one of the world's best wines. It also has some lovely beaches, and if you enjoy surfing then the white water breaks will give you the thrill you are looking for. You can guarantee on warm sunshine and refreshing seas. There are world surfing competitions held here, usually in late January.

Madeira Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Laurissilva forests are spellbinding.

Madeira Location

Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean 994 kilometres from Lisbon. Its dramatic landscapes and lush vegetation are spellbinding on this Archipelago island. Madeira Island is situated just off of the coast of Africa.

Weather in Madeira

Madeira has a subtropical climate with winter averaging 18°C and summer 24°C, making it popular all the time.

Madeira's temperature is kept cool thanks to the Sahara desert wind blowing across for a few days each year. There is also a Trade Wind that blows across from Portugal's coastline. Winter temperatures are often much lower but the temperature is still somewhat pleasant. Most rainfall occurs between September to May, however, it is possible to experience the odd rainy day at any time of the year.

Madeira has its own micro climate where you can often find temperatures, and daily hours of sunshine differs depending on your location.

Transfers from Funchal airport

Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>

Airport shuttle bus service from Funchal airport

In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>

Madeira Car Hire

Although you will find that you have everything you need close to your resort, hiring a car can be a good way of exploring Madeira and getting to places that are perhaps a little off the beaten track.

It is easy to hire a car from the local agencies. There are a good selection of cars and most car hire agencies usually offer child booster/car seats if you request it at the time of booking. Cars can be delivered/collected from your resort or a pick up point of your choosing.

With a car you will be able to go to some of the beaches a little out of the way and visit some of those shops away from the bigger towns. Supermarkets out of town are usually cheaper than those in the more well known resorts.

In Madeira you drive on the right hand side with the road signs being international and modern. Always carry your driving licence, passport and car rental agreement because if you are unlucky enough to be stopped by the police, you could face a fine for not having one of these documents.

Shopping in Madeira

For the best shopping on Madeira you should spend a day in Funchal, where you will find a big selection of shops, malls and a department store. It is all very modern and offers a good choice of things to buy along with some trendy cafes and restaurants.

Madeira is well known for its wicker products so you will find an abundance of wicker souvenirs. The department store in Funchal is a delight in itself with its charm and atmosphere, making you feel like you've gone back in time.

Flowers are also a popular buy as the Island produces such enchanting blooms, these can be bought inexpensively at local markets.

As you walk through the cobbled, narrow streets of Funchal you will be amazed at how many quaint little shops there are.

No visit to Madeira would be complete without sampling some Madeira wine, so if you visit the Madeira Wine Company you will get the opportunity to sample some of this famous exported product. If you decide to purchase any wine, they will be wrapped carefully so you can take some home.

Eating Out in Madeira

Eating out in Madeira is relatively cheap and meals are usually substantial instead of gourmet. The people of Madeira love to cook their food slowly and the heat from the barbeque is a great way to ensure the fullest of flavour in any dish. When you first go into a restaurant and take your seat, you will be offered some home made bread to accompany butter, cheese or paste made of sardines. Aperitifs are usually offered with this and also some nibbles such as vegetables in a garlic dip.

A traditional starter is called bolo do caco which is garlic butter and parsley served with traditional bread. Grilled limpets are also a speciality, again with garlic and lemon.

Soups are also a popular choice with a variety of different selections like tomato and onion but don't be surprised if your soup arrives with a poached egg floating on the top.

Meat dishes are usually beef or pork and are often marinated in a garlic sauce and then either skewered and grilled over charcoal, or cooked slowly as a casserole.

A picado is a sociable way of eating food as it consists of tiny pieces of beef and served in a huge pan (depending on the number of people eating) with French fries. All the diners get to pick from this dish using a fork or a large toothpick type instrument.

Seafood is a popular choice and is served fresh and exquisitely cooked. You can find tuna, cod and squid a popular menu and is often served with potatoes and a creamy sauce.

Madeiran's love their sweet dishes and you will find plenty of cakes and desserts, in particular a popular one is a honey cake called bolo de mel.

Madeira wine is served everywhere but you can also try a dry local wine called vinho seco, a liquer with rum, honey and lemon juice called poncha and last but not least nikita, a cocktail made with beer, ice-cream and pineapple.

Madeira Nightlife

Madeira has remained a laid back and quiet place where you would not come to if you are simply looking for loud music and clubs.

Having said that there are some options for evening entertainment with a variety of bars, restaurants and cafes to keep your pulse going.

There are some discos in some of the hotels and a lot of the hotels also offer theme evenings which are available for anyone to attend.

There are often dinner dances held at some of these hotels that run usually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

If you fancy trying your luck at a casino you can even do this at the Casino park hotel which has roulette tables, black jack tables and slot machines. You will need to take identification and dress must be smart.

Madeira Beaches

Madeira beaches are mostly pebbly and do not have endless stretches of glorious golden sand. However, the sea is clean and clear and simply amazing. There are a small number of beaches which are sandy, so you can still get the opportunity of building some sandcastles.

Machico Beach

Machico beach has a good number of facilities for swimming, for sunbathing and for water sports. It also has lifeguards which patrol the beach and can get busy, at weekends as it is popular with locals.

Praia Formosa

Only a short distance from Funchal here you will find 3 small, but sandy beaches with a larger pebbly bay. Facilities on the beach are excellent with lifeguards, water sports, changing rooms, a children's area and a first aid centre.

Doca do Cavacas

These are a few seawater pools which are natural and simply ideal for swimming. The area is basic with little facilities although there are changing rooms, restaurants and bars.

Jardim do Mar

These beaches are a surfers paradise! It consists of 3 beaches called Portinho, Enseada and Ponta Jardim that has an annual surfing competition and attracts many professional surfers from all around the world.

Funchal

Funchal does not actually have any beaches, but there are a few public lidos which provide sea access and offer an ideal place for soaking up the sun on a lounger.