Madeira

Where to stay

If you have the time, I recommend splitting your stay across the east and west of the island. I details how to do this in my five-day Madeira Island road trip itinerary with some suggestions.

One of my favourite ever stays is Casas da Levada, a lush wonderland of old stone cottages and an infinity pool overlooking the sea.

If you don’t plan to rent a car – and I only suggest car hire for those who are confident drivers – then use Funchal as your base.

What to eat

Bolo de caco. Milho frito. Peixe espada. Lapas. Maracujá. Madeira Island might be part of Portugal, but this sub-tropical drop in the Atlantic has its own strong identity – and most importantly, unique dishes and foods to try. Check out my guides on what to eat and drink in Madeira, and where to eat on Madeira Island.

Getting to Madeira

Madeira Island is an easy flight from Portugal’s mainland. You can fly in from Porto, Lisbon or Faro, plus other European cities such as Berlin, Prague, Paris, and the Canary Islands.

The Madeira archipelago also has a second island, Porto Santo, which is almost the polar opposite in terms of landscape. Here find long, golden stretches of sand and a relatively flat and dry smaller island. Perfect for that beach vacation. You can hop between the two by ferry or plane, plus there are direct flights from Portuguese and Europen cities to Porto Santo.

How to get around

For somewhere like Madeira Island I love the freedom of renting a car to explore small villages, pull up at viewpoints and beat the crowds. Note that Madeira has an extreme landscape – it’s incredible to look at, but intimidating to drive.

If you can’t hire a car, there is an okay public transport system of buses that will get you around the island. Alternatively, lots of tour companies offer day trips and 4WD safaris you can book to explore more of the wild landscape. It’s essential you go beyond Funchal and into nature!