Things to do in Madeira
It's the very remoteness of the Madeira archipelago that makes the islands so enchanting. Yet there's still a lot to do and see. Although there are no real beaches of the golden sand variety, there are many interesting activities and cultural attractions that draw visitors to its shores. These include exploring the colourful old town, visiting one of the many museums or cathedrals or browsing some of the famous markets.
Travellers can take an exhilarating 20 minute ride down the highway to Funchal from Monte in nothing but a wicker basket chair, steered by carreiro dressed in white and only using their rubber soled shoes as brakes, in what is known as the Monte Toboggan run. Another of the main attractions, and best ways to see the island of Madeira, is the exciting cable car trip. It gives its visitors fantastic panoramic views of Funchal and its surroundings, before ending at the beautiful Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
However, if speeding down the highway in a wicker chair or flying high on the cable way doesn't appeal to some visitors, they can also explore the island with a boat trip around the coast. They might even catch a sighting of whales and dolphins. Alternatively, they can hop on a ferry to visit the nearby island of Porto Santo, which provides a pretty picture with colourful Mediterranean houses decorating the coastline.
Funchal
Named for the abundant fennel trees in the area, Funchal has many beautiful parks and gardens. The Madeira Botanical Gardens offer stunning views, as well as more than 2,000 specie…
Funchal
Named for the abundant fennel trees in the area, Funchal has many beautiful parks and gardens. The Madeira Botanical Gardens offer stunning views, as well as more than 2,000 species of plant life, while the Jardins Do Palheiro and the Monte Palace Hotel Gardens are both worth a visit. This is also a stopping point for the Funchal Cable Car which goes up the mountain to Monte. There are also lovely old buildings and cultural sites, including the 15th-century Santa Clara Convent, the São Lourenço Palace, the Colegio Church and Sé Cathedral. The city is known for its excellent seafood, baked goods and local Madeira wine. There's also golf, swimming and paragliding, as well as boat trips and the unforgettable Levada Walks.
Frederico de Freitas Museum
The Frederico de Freitas Museum in Funchal houses a vast array of decorative pieces. Turkish, Moorish and North African tiles, as well as about 2,000 mugs, trophies and vases are o…
Frederico de Freitas Museum
The Frederico de Freitas Museum in Funchal houses a vast array of decorative pieces. Turkish, Moorish and North African tiles, as well as about 2,000 mugs, trophies and vases are on display, along with Madeiran artefacts, porcelain works, religious sculptures, ancient sacred paintings and Chinese and North African metal and woodwork. When Frederico de Freitas died, he left his collection to the Autonomous Region, during which time the building was expropriated by the Regional Government. It then started rebuilding and restoration works on the house for the purpose of opening it to the public as a museum.
São Vicente Caves
Formed 890,000 years ago, the São Vicente Caves are among the first caves of volcanic origin to be opened to the public in Portugal. The caves were formed by a volcanic eruption w…
São Vicente Caves
Formed 890,000 years ago, the São Vicente Caves are among the first caves of volcanic origin to be opened to the public in Portugal. The caves were formed by a volcanic eruption which occurred in Paul da Serra. The outer part of the lava that was exposed to lower temperatures solidified rapidly while the inside remained liquid with lots of gases, forming a series of lava tubes. The caves were first reported in 1885 by locals and opened to the public on October 1st, 1996. At the end of the tour, visitors may access the Volcano Centre, a pavilion offering a range of educational and entertaining audio-visual displays. They recreate the geological evolution of the caves and the eruption of a volcano. They also simulate the birth of the Madeira Islands.
Website visitmadeira.com/en/where-to-go/madeira/north-coast/sao-vicente/sao-vicente-caves/
Madeira Cable Car
A favourite attraction in Madeira's capital of Funchal, the cable car travels from the Parque Almirante Reis in the old part of town up to the scenic village of Monte in the mounta…
Madeira Cable Car
A favourite attraction in Madeira's capital of Funchal, the cable car travels from the Parque Almirante Reis in the old part of town up to the scenic village of Monte in the mountains. The journey takes about 15 minutes and ends at the cableway station near the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. The panoramic view spreads to the delightful city of Funchal and to an overwhelming landscape, where nature's green melts with the ocean's blue. The bottom station for the cable car is situated at the Inn Quinta do Bom Sucesso on Madeira Island, seven minutes from the centre of Funchal city.
Website www.telefericojardimbotanico.com
Funchal Cathedral
In the heart of the historic section of Funchal stands the Sé do Funchal, the most impressive of Madeira's religious edifices. The simple rough white stucco and brownish basalt of…
Funchal Cathedral
In the heart of the historic section of Funchal stands the Sé do Funchal, the most impressive of Madeira's religious edifices. The simple rough white stucco and brownish basalt of the cathedral houses the Gothic portal. The ceiling is Moorish carved cedar inlaid with ivory and behind the Baroque altar are paintings by Flemish and Portuguese artists. The late fifteenth-century cathedral is one of the few structures that survived intact since Madeira's early period of colonisation. As the centerpiece of the structure, the cathedral contains a silver processional cross, donated by King Manuel I of Portugal, considered one of the masterpieces of precious metalwork of Portugal's Manueline style.
Porto Santo
Madeira's sister island, Porto Santo, lies 42 miles (68km) northeast of its larger sibling and was actually discovered before Madeira itself. Porto Santo is rather bleak and barren…
Porto Santo
Madeira's sister island, Porto Santo, lies 42 miles (68km) northeast of its larger sibling and was actually discovered before Madeira itself. Porto Santo is rather bleak and barren, though its southern coast is bordered by a lovely five mile (8km) stretch of beach fringed with soft golden sand, making for a popular holiday resort. The main town on the island is Vila Baleira, which was visited by Christopher Columbus. The town has a scenic park, some cafés and pretty cobblestone streets lined with stucco houses. Visitors can catch one of several regular daily flights to and from Madeira, or ferry from Funchal.