Maderia Holiday Guide

There are a number of airlines that fly to the main airport in Madeira, Funchal. These include British Airways and TAP Air Portugal, who operate scheduled flights from UK airports. Various charter airlines also fly here. There is also an airport, at Vila Baleira, on Porto Santo Island. So, if you want to visit this island, you can take an internal flight, which takes 15 minutes. Or, else take a ferry from Funchal waterfront. This takes 2 hours 30 minutes.

The easiest and cheapest way to get around the island is by bus. You can pick up a schedule of times from the Tourist Office at Funchal. Or, ask at your hotel. Buy tickets at any news stand. Alternatively, you can get a taxi almost anywhere. These are yellow with blue stripes – so, easy to spot. These are regulated by the government – so, prices are fixed. The roads in Madeira are incredibly windy and steep, with lots of sharp corners and hairpin bends. So, hiring a car is generally not recommended, unless you're a brilliant driver with nerves of steel.

Madeira's mountainous rugged terrain and steep cliffs means that beaches here are on the wild side. So, don't come here expecting stretches of Caribbean style white sands – as there aren't any. Instead, you will find mainly pebbled shores with the odd sandy patch. But, don't let that put you off. Madeira's beaches may be more pebbly than sandy, but they are immaculately clean, well maintained and offer sunshine, warm, crystal clear waters and blue skies. Just make sure you bring a beach mat.

Praia Formosa is the main beach near to Funchal. It offers three small, sandy beaches and one pebbled one. There are also lots of facilities, including changing rooms, a crèche for children, and lively waterfront area with lots of shops, cafes and restaurants. Another beach with sandy areas, also on the south coast, is Ribeira Brava. Or, try Calheta, which has a lovely man made beach with golden sands, imported from Morocco and Portugal.

There are many places of interest for holiday goers all over Madeira. A good starting point is Funchal, the capital. Take a wander round the cobbled streets of the Old Town and see the many beautiful 15th and 16th century buildings. For an interactive overview of Madeira's history and culture, visit the Madeira Story Centre. Also worth a look is the Convent of Santa Clara, Madeira's oldest convent, which you can reach via the balconied passage of Calcada de Santa Clara.

A visit to the grand Cathedral Se, in Funchal, offers visitors a magnificent fusion of Gothic and Moorish design. Take a cable car to the pretty mountain village of Monte. Stroll round the beautiful tropical gardens here. Also, not to be missed is the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, a popular place of worship for pilgrims.

Other places to visit include Santana, a stunning village on the north coast, with lots of exquisite thatched cottages. Also worth noting is Machico, the original landing port where the Portuguese navigator Joao Goncalves Zarco first docked when he discovered Madeira. See the oldest church on the island here, Capela dos Milagres. Sao Roque is also a lovely 16th century chapel worth visiting while on holiday.

Take a boat from Funchal to Porto Santo island. This beautiful island has 5.5 miles of sandy beach, water sports activities and golfing. You can also go walking or horse riding. Porto Santo also has some lovely cafes and restaurants, including Roca Mar and Estrela do Norte, on the Marina.

Have a fantastic day out on the uninhabited Desertas Islands, off the coast of Madeira. Take a boat from Funchal. The islands used to be a haven for pirates. Now they have Nature Reserves and are the habitat for monk seals and sea birds. You can take a hike through the nature reserve, explore the island and then have lunch on the boat, before sailing back, and possibly seeing some whales or dolphins on the way.

 The nearby 19th century railway station is also visually impressive. Commerce Square, or Palace Square as it's also known, denotes the former maritime entrance to the city, and is dominated by a splendid arch.

Belem and the Gulbenkian Art Complex are possibly the cultural hearts of the capital - both areas are crammed with art galleries, museums and gardens. Quelez National Palace is easy to reach from Lisbon. Studded with Baroque fountains, statues and gardens, it's often compared to the Versailles Palace in France.

Madeiran food is very similar to Portuguese. You'll also find an abundance of fish and seafood dishes – tuna, swordfish, clams, mussels, oysters and cod. Classic Madeiran specialities include: bolo de caco, a local bread which tastes delicious served hot with garlic butter and parsley. Sopa de tomate e cebola, tomoto and onion soup is another favourite. Try too the carne vinho e alhis, a pork stew made with wine vinegar. Or, if you're a meat eater, try picado, a spicy beef dish. If you have a sweet tooth, enjoy some classic Madeira cake, or try, bolo de mile, a honey cake.

You'll find many fine restaurants in Funchal and all over the rest of the island. For seafood, try Jango in Funchal Old Town. Also excellent for seafood is Jaquet, on the waterfront. For traditional Madeiran dishes try A Seta, a country tavern just outside Funchal. For a memorable experience, have a meal at The Dining Room at the exclusive Reid's Palace Hotel. For wonderful views of the sea, eat at Doca do Cavacas, located on a pretty bay, near Funchal. For traditional Madeiran meat dishes such as game, rabbit and pork eat at Abrigo do Pastor in Camacha.

If you want to chill out with a glass of Madeira wine, a 'poncha', punch, or a shot of 'aguardente', the local rum, you'll find plenty of great bars on holiday in Madeira. In Funchal, try Joe's bar, at the Quinta La Penta da Franca Hotel, or try the bar at the Pestana Park Resort Hotel. If you want to go dancing, head for Vespas, the largest club on the island.

For some late night music, try Do Fa Sol, in Funchal, a cosy bar that stays open till 4am. The Golden Gate, a bar where you can also get something to eat, stays open late till 2am. There are also some great bars along the harbour in Machico. Two to try include Camara de Lobos, and La Barca.

Madeira is a shopper's paradise with a good choice of retail outlets from large, modern shopping malls, small boutiques and shops to local markets. The biggest shopping mall, Madeira Shopping, is in Santa Quiteria, Funchal. It has over 80 stalls, 20 restaurants and coffee shops. Another popular mall is Arcadas de Sao Francisco, also in Funchal.
For local handicrafts, leather goods, including boots, rugs, embroidered goods, and gifts, go to the Municipe Market. You can also buy all sorts of wicker goods in Camacha. Most towns and villages also have regular weekly markets where you can buy traditional Madeiran goods and handicrafts. Look out too for traditional Madeira cake and Madeira wine which you can buy all over the island.

Take the family to the Whale Museum, in the small fishing village of Canical, on the east coast of the island. Exhibits include photographs, hunting implements, fishing boats and a life size model of a whale. You can also take a boat from Funchal, which will take you out three miles away to watch whales and dolphins.
Visit the Sao Vicente Caves, near the river at Pe de Passo. The caves consist of the volcanic tunnels and lava tubes that have remained after an eruption that took place 400,000 years ago. The tour of the caves takes around 30 minutes.
Spend a fun day at the Lido Promenade in Funchal. You'll find three swimming pools here, including a huge seawater swimming pool. There are also slides, water sports activities, cafes, restaurants and bars. The kids will also love taking a toboggan or sledge down the 2km steep slope from Monte. Basically, you sit in a 2 seater wicker type basket on wheels, which is guided down by 'gondoliers'. This is not for the faint hearted, as speeds can reach about 40 mph.