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Jan
10
Madeira Tavel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Portugal
Trip to Madeira
Madeira is the largest and most populated of the archipelago of islands southwest of mainland Portugal and home of the island capital Funchal. Also under Madeira jurisdiction is the island of Porto Santo, 30 miles (50kms) from Madeira. The other two neighbouring volcanic island groups, Salvagens and Desertas, are unpopulated. Funchal is where you will find snazzy hotels and a cosmopolitan scene filled with bars and casinos, as well as some good examples of religious colonial architecture. The most popular area is around Porto Santo, where tourists flock to in droves for its fine white sand beaches.
Flights to Madeira
Thirty minutes from Funchal is Madeira International Airport, which serves some of Europe’s most well known airlines, like Air France, easyJet, SAS, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and TAP Portugal. Flights from Lisbon take about 1 hour, 30 minutes, with most other main cities in Europe taking less than 3 hours to reach by air. The popularity of Porto Santo assures that those who don’t want to dawdle around can jump directly on a connecting flight headed for Porto Santo and be on the beach in less than an hour. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Madeira try lastminute.com.
Another way to get between the two main islands is by car ferry, operated by Ferry Service Funchal–Porto Santo, the trip takes about 2 hours and is a good way to bridge the islands if you’re travelling by car.
Madeira
Sightseeing in Madeira
Discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1419 that brought their religion with them, there are many fine cathedrals and churches to be found in Madeira. Some of the most prominent are in Funchal. The city’s cathedral was built in the 15th century and proudly stands as an attraction for worshippers and secular admirers alike. In the following century, the Santa Maria Malor was erected with its ornate Baroque façade. The real impressive sights however are the natural wonders around the islands including cliffs, caves, bays, peaks and beaches.
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
Madeira is not known as a party island, but Funchal has evidence of Portugal’s imported style of nightlife and bonhomie. The city has a decent number of restaurants, bars and clubs, but don’t expect what you’d get in Paris or London. There local plonk in Madeira, understandably similar to Portugal’s fortified wine, is available in both dry and sweet varieties.
Also imported with the conquistadors was the Portuguese way of cooking, and there are eateries serving traditional food in different price ranges. There are some excellent French restaurants in Funchal and other international options are popping up around the city.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
Any shopping to be done can be best accomplished in Funchal or Porto Santo, as these are the two main tourist camps. Outside the two urban centres there are many natural wonders to explore such as the volcanic caves of Sao Vicente, where lava tubes can be observed.
A drive around the windy cliff roads guarantees great views. The Cabo Girao is one of the highest ocean cliffs in the world and is not to be missed. The small whitewashed village of Vila Baleria is also worth a visit; Christopher Columbus visited this site before heading out on a famous journey of his own.
Daytrips
There are lots of daytrips on Madeira, both cultural and natural. The Sao Vicente Caves are a network of lava tubes extending about 1,000m into the earth. They can be explored during a 30-minute guided tour during which visitors can get a sense of what it feels like to venture deep within the bowels of the earth.
Porto Santo, Madeira’s sister island, lies 39kms away but offers the ultimate in beach seclusion if you’re looking for a daytrip involving a sandy getaway. There’s a town on the island, Vila Baleira, which has a charming scene of cobblestone lanes and old stucco houses. Back on Madeira, you can drive to the summit of Pico do Arieiro, which peaks out at 1,818m for some superb views. The island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo, can be reached by a short hike from the parking lot.
Must-see attractions
No trip to Madeira would be complete without a ride on the cable car from the Parque Almirante Reis to the mountaintop village of Monte. It begins in the capital Funchal’s old town and ends at the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, an attraction in its own right. Back down in the old district of Funchal is the Sé, simply known as the Cathedral. This is Madeira’s most important church, and its Moorish influences, Baroque altar and Flemish and Portuguese artwork offer plenty to absorb.
At the top of the mountain, be sure and check out the Botanical Gardens, 5 hectares of terraces along the mountainside planted with countless species from around the world. Machico is Madeira’s second-largest town, best known for its 15th-century church the Chapel of Miracles, a famous pilgrimage site and a small but lovely fortress dating to the 18th century. Santana is another must-see village on the island for its unique triangular-shaped homes called palheiros.
Best time to go
The summer is the best time for a trip to Madeira. The weather is reliably hot, dry and sunny making the beach (or mountaintops) the prime place to be. It rarely rains, and sea breezes help temper the heat somewhat. This is naturally the busiest time in Madeira, so expect plenty of company if you visit during the summer. Spring and fall are better times for a visit, as the weather is still extremely pleasant, but tourist numbers are much lower. Winters are wet and cold, ensuring great hotel rates but unpleasant beach conditions.
Rainy day suggestions
There are a couple of decent museums in Madeira that can shed some light on this town’s rich history as a hub for seafaring activity over the past centuries. The Frederico de Freitas Museum, located in Funchal, has an amazing collection of tiles and mosaics from North Africa, Turkey and the Moorish period. It also houses some stunning artefacts from Madeira itself, making it a favourite with antique lovers. The Whale Museum is also worth a visit as it documents the whaling industry that was a major part of village life up until 1982. Plenty of artefacts and displays put this historic trade into perspective.
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