Madeira Activities

One of the most popular activities in Madeira is hiking alongside the levadas, a series of irrigation channels that have been transformed into well-marked walking trails. Or perhaps you’ll take the cable car up to the village of Monte before tobogganing down the narrow, winding streets, pushed along by drivers in traditional dress - straw hat included! More leisurely pleasure include wine tasting tours and dolphin and whale watching; while you can spot different species year-round, the months of May and June and September – November are particularly good times.

Madeira Food & Drink

If you’ve heard of Madeira, you’ve probably heard of its famous fortified wine that’s said to have been General George Washington’s drink of choice during the American Civil War. And while it’s mostly thought of as a sweet dessert wine, drier vintages are also produced. Throughout the islands, you can dine well and dine cheaply, with fish and seafood from tuna to swordfish and sea snails – unsurprisingly – a staple on many menus. A popular traditional dish is picado, a platter of steak and fries treated as a sharing dish and eaten with toothpicks.

Madeira Attractions

Get your art fix in Funchal walking along the Rua de Santa Maria, one of the oldest streets in the city and is now a permanent art gallery: over 200 doors that line the cobblestone street have been painted by local artists. A short drive west of the capital, the Cabo Girão sea cliffs are one of Maderia’s most popular attractions thanks to its glass walkway extending out from the cliffs, 580 metres above sea level. And for natural attractions, enter the lushness of the Laurisilva of Madeira, an ancient laurel forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site or take a dip in the natural salt-water swimming pools at Porto Moniz.