Stay & Explore Madeira guide
Stay & Explore - Madeira guide Comprising four islands off Africa s northwest coast, Portugal s autonomous Madeira archipelago has a subtropical climate and dazzling scenery which draws in holidaymakers all year round. Madeira, the biggest of the four islands that gives the chain its name, serves up rough volcanic landscapes overlooking pretty marinas and Romanesque architecture. Getaways here suit adventure seekers as much as beach and culture lovers. Use our guide, and you ll be all set to start an enthralling holiday. With so much on offer here, you can t go wrong with our Local Expert s perspective on where to go. On top of that, they can advise you on what regional delicacies to order and which of Funchal s museums you should be frequenting. Craft your own itinerary and take your pick of the archipelago s top attractions with the optional of input from someone who knows it best. Getting around Madeira
Our Local Expert recommendations When you re arriving in a different country, it helps to have someone you can turn to for tips and recommendations. Our Local Expert will be on hand at a handpicked, hidden gem hotel with advice which ll help you make the most of your holiday here. At the end of the day, you re able to return to old favourites or newfound delights, reaping our wisdom whenever you please. Must-see sights and must-do events Funchal Religius sites: the Cathedral of Our Lady of The Assumption, or the Cathedral of Funchal, is a Gothic church in east Funchal. It was built in the late fifteenth century, while the statue of Pope John Paul II in the churchyard is a more recent addition from 2005. The Santa Clara Covent is possibly the island s best-known nunnery. Tours cost just 2, but be aware that the convent closes between 12 and 3pm as some nuns still reside in the building. Museums: you ll find the city s Sacred Art Museum located in the Episcopal Palace of Funchal. It holds a collection of paintings, sculptures and other works made between the 15th and 19th centuries, gifting visitors an insight into early 15th- and 16th-century Madeiran life. The Universo de Memorias, a museum of memories, is a great way to learn about the history of the Madeira archipelago. Take a trip way back to its volcanic birth some 14 million years ago, then journey up to more recent events. The Madeira Flower Festival (spring): held two weeks after Easter, this festival sees central Funchal fill up with colourful flower-packed floats. The night before the Sunday parade, thousands of children head to Avenida Arriaga, where they form the Wall of Hope, which is made from thousands of flowers. Madeira Day (1st of July): this national holiday celebrates Madeira gaining autonomy from mainland Portugal, which occurred in 1976. Official ceremonies involving song and dance are held across the island, while many families tend to celebrate with outdoor picnics. Praia da Calheta Beaches: Madeira, unlike its neighbour Porto Santo, isn t blessed with sandy beaches, but that s not to say you can t enjoy a beach holiday here. Madeira has artificial beaches like Praia de Machico, a half hour drive from Funchal. The sands here are imported from Morocco s beaches, and this place proves a popular hangout spot for tourists in the summertime. Pico de Arieiro Natural beauty: this is the third-highest peak in Madeira with a summit boasting views over the entire island and, weather permitting, Porto Santo, which is situated 30 miles to the south.
Camara de Lobos Natural beauty: take a trip through the tranquil countryside, culminating at the panoramic viewpoint of Eira do Serrado. From here, you can look down upon the famous Valley of the Nuns, which is situated at the bottom of a volcanic crater. Cantar os Reis festival (January): also known as the Singing of the Kings, this festival is held every January and celebrated on the 12th night after Christmas. The bulk of the event is in Funchal, but outdoor concerts are also held in other locations like Ribeira Brava and Camara de Lobos. Cabo Girao Skywalk: a short drive from Funchal, Cabo Girao is a small mountainside village with shops, restaurants and a notorious cliff skywalk. At 589 metres high, the Cabo Girao Skywalk is the highest in Europe and isn t for the faint-hearted! Sao Vicente Caves: formed by an eruption around 890,000 years ago, these caverns were the first volcanic caves in Portugal to be opened to the public. A tour lasts half an hour, during which you can see volcanic stalactites, lava accumulations and other underground natural spectacles. Monte Scenic Views: this tiny village overlooks Funchal and was formerly a health retreat for Europe s elite. Today, it s a popular viewpoint for tourists looking to get out into the mountains and explore outside of the island s capital. Monte Festival (August): a big religious event in the Madeiran calendar, the Monte Festival takes place every August in the hills of Monte. The event sees the Nossa Senhora do Monte Church decorated in flowers to honour the patron saint of Funchal, Our Lady of Monte. Camara de Lobos Pico de Arieiro
Faial Gardens: an hour or so away from Funchal is the Teixeira Family Museum, situated outside the parish of Faial. It was founded by Anaclet Teixeira de Fretais a Latin American entrepreneur and native Madeiran to celebrate the legacy of his family, and features gardens, a wine house, a chapel and palm trees imported from Egypt. Porto Santo island Columbus Festival (September): the world-famous explorer Christopher Columbus ties to Madeira ran deep, due to his marriage to Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, the daughter of an important captain in Porto Santo. Festivities last a week long, during which performers stage a re-enactment of Columbus arrival to Porto Santo harbour. Sao Vicente Cabo Girao Funchal Faial Porto Santo island
How to explore Madeira All transport prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. Your best bet is either travelling around by bus or taxi as no trains operate on Madeira island. Bus links run from near both the Enotel Quinta do Sol and the Madeira Regency Cliff hotels, both found in Funchal, Madeira s capital on the south side of the island. Funchal Travelling by bus in Madeira Madeira Regency Cliff Hotel s coastal location means it s a little outside of central Funchal. It costs 1.95 per person each way to travel on a city bus, called the Horarios do Funchal bus, to be precise. Tickets can be recharged for any number of trips you want to take. Buses run between 5.30am and 12:30am throughout the week. However, this differs on Sundays and public holidays. Travelling by bus to eastern Madeira If you want to travel outside of Funchal, there are several different bus operators you can use. To travel east to the city of Machico, go on an EACL bus. Tickets cost 2.75 each way and services run throughout the course of the day, differing on Sundays and public holidays. Travelling by bus to western Madeira To travel to Ribeira Brava on the west of the island, take the Rodoeste bus. One-way tickets for this route are 3.75. There are numerous services throughout the day, with journey times taking around an hour, depending on traffic. Again, services can vary if you re travelling on a Sunday or public holiday. Travelling by bus elsewhere on Madeira If you d rather drive yourself around Madeira, then car hire options are available. Simply speak to your Local Expert on arrival and they ll be more than happy to sort it out for you just ensure you bring the relevant documentation. It s important to remember that the roads in Madeira are often narrow and twisting, so be prepared for this fact before you put the keys in the ignition. Travelling by taxi in Madeira You will find taxi ranks in Funchal, while taxis can also be booked from the reception area of your hotel. The city itself isn t too big, so unless you re planning on taking a longer trip outside of it, most journeys will be between 5 and 15. This can vary based on time of travel and which taxi company you use. Bike rental in Madeira You can hire bikes for a day at prices of around 20 per bike in Funchal. And if you like the fresh air, but don t fancy the exertions of pedalling, then tuk-tuk tours operate daily at a price of 15 per person.
Food and drink Food In Madeira, the diet revolves around meats such as beef, pork and chicken, and fish including tuna and cod. Tuna is cooked over a wood fire in traditional Madeiran fashion, then served with green salad and a rose for aesthetics. Other local specialities include the imposing-looking espada fish, also called the black scabbardfish. It s usually eaten with boiled potatoes, a salad and (somewhat surprisingly) a fried banana. Meats, meanwhile, are often skewered, marinated in garlic and served with fries and salad. Wine Madeira s sunny climate lends itself to a number of reputable vineyards. Varieties of wine tend to be drier whites and sweet reds made from grapes such as Complexa and Tinta Negra. You might have heard of the fortified drink produced here, Madeira wine. It comes in a variety of different styles some sweet, some dry which are either consumed as an aperitif or by themselves. Alongside this, you ll see wine from mainland Portugal as well as international bottles. Beer and spirits Popular lagers in Madeira include Coral, which is made in Madeira. You ll find this on tap in a lot of bars in Funchal, with bottles of Sagres also being a popular choice. As Madeira is an autonomous part of Portugal, you can expect to see popular Portuguese lagers such as Super Bock. In terms of spirits, you can buy a lot of the products sold in the UK at a reasonably cheap price here, including brandy, whisky and vodka.