6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MADEIRA SOON.
When you think of European getaways, your mind might drift to the bustling streets of Paris or the sun-kissed beaches of Greece. But tucked away in the Atlantic Ocean lies a hidden gem that rivals even the most exotic destinations: Madeira, the Hawaii of Europe.
Madeira is a small island, within the Portuguese territory. But, with it’s own unique identity, culture, history and climate.
For Americans seeking a unique and unforgettable vacation experience, Madeira offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, adventure, and relaxation. And with flight times from New York City clocking in at just over seven hours, paradise is closer than you think.
From the UK and mainland Europe, Madeira is even more accessible. With many direct flights to the island and options for inexpensive connecting flights via Lisbon or Porto.
Read on to find out why you should visit Madeira at your earliest convenience.
What is Madeira known for?
For a long time, I thought of Madeira as a holiday destination favored by British retirees. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. But it hadn’t been top of my bucket list. Instead, I thought I could safely tuck it away lower down on the list – somewhere I might visit in 40 years time.
I thought of Madeira and thought of Madeira wine and Madeira cake. It sounded like, well…..quite a boring holiday destination. As it turns out, I was very wrong. Not least about Madeira cake. It turns out that the “Madeira cake” we have been accustomed to in the UK, was invented in England and not Madeira.
I’d also heard a vicious rumor that Madeira doesn’t have any beaches. And, whilst it is true that Madeira does not have white sandy beaches, it does indeed have them. They are just more volcanic – arguably more interesting.
6 reasons to visit Madeira
Here are 6 reasons to visit Madeira soon.
1/ Hiking and outdoor adventure
Madeira should shoot to the top of your travel “to do list”, if you are a hiking fan. It is an out and out hiking mecca. I’m not just talking one or two amazing hiking trails, Madeira has hundreds of kms of trails. Yet, the island itself is only 57km long!
We particularly loved the variety of hikes available on the island. There are mountain treks, peninsular trails and beach walks. But in Madeira, you’ll also fine the unique “Levada” walks. These are trails that run alongside water streams. You’ll often find waterfalls, lagoons and incredibly beautiful green spaces along these trails.
We whittled our favourite hikes down to 10 across the island – believe me, this was tough. For a sample of the best hikes in Madeira, check out our post.
2/ Beaches & tidal pools
Madeira, does indeed have beaches. There’s even a generous size beach in the capital of Funchal. You won’t find white sand, but you will find black volcanic sand – an unusual and quite stunning spectacle.
There are also many pebble beaches around the South of the island. Sun set lovers can flock to the pebble beach of Paul do Mar, for a sun downer at Maktub Pub overlooking the ocean.
Aside from the beaches, what particularly captivated me about Madeira was the natural tidal pools. I recently read Freya Bromley’s excellent book, The Tidal Year, which extols the virtues of tidal pools in the UK.
And, whilst I might not be quite convinced about taking a dip in Britain’s pools, I am very convinced about Madeira’s volcanic pools. There are four around the island. My personal favourite was Seixal, a hidden gem on the North coast.
When I visited Seixal tidal pool, I shared it with one or two people and a happy Labrador. Nothing could be closer to my idea of heaven.
3/ Botany and gardens
Madeira should be known for many things and one of these is the diverse flora found around the island. When we visited Madeira recently, we met a botanist who had visited the island specifically with the intention of getting up close and personal with the plant life.
However, even if you’re not a professional plant lover, you’re sure to be wowed by the variety of exotic plants found on the island.
Even the least curious visitor will notice the exotic bird of paradise flowers and banana plants growing around the island. And this is without even entering the botanical gardens.
There are at least five outstanding gardens that you can visit around Madeira island. One of the most outstanding is the Madeira Botanical Garden, a beautiful place showcasing flowers and plants from around the world. Another is Monte Palace Gardens. You could happily visit one each day of your vacation.
I was particularly pleased to find that my favorite flower, the Protea, grows in Madeira. Native to South Africa, this delightful spiky pink flower is sold in the farmers market in Funchal.
4/ A buzzing capital city
One of the biggest surprises that we found when visiting Madeira, was how much we enjoyed spending time in the capital – Funchal.
A small city, Funchal is very walkable. With a few days spent in Funchal, one can take time to get to know every nook and cranny.
We enjoyed a delicious food tour, explored the quiet lanes looking for hidden gems and weaved our way in and out of bars sampling local Poncha. Our walking a little more unsteady as we went.
For the uninitiated, Poncha is a local drink made in Madiera. A sugary and strong alcoholic drink made from lemon, honey and liquor.
It seems to me that Funchal is quite a unique proposition. Unlike large cities on other small European islands, the city still remains a functioning worked-in and lived-in place.
Funchal doesn’t feel overly touristic, despite the hoards of cruise ship passengers milling about on some days. Instead, it feels authentic, bustling and alive with activity. The heart of a wonderful island paradise.
5/ Easy flight times
As of 2023, there is one direct flight from New York to Funchal per week with SATA Azores Airline. Flight time is a smidge over seven hours. So, for East Coast American’s reading this – Madeira, aka the Hawaii of Europe is actually four hours closer to you than Hawaii is!
For Brits, flights from London to Madeira operate daily, with a flight time of around four hours. You can also fly via Lisbon or Porto, taking the time to explore the Portuguese main land on route.
6/ It’s getting more popular
In the last few years, the visitor numbers have jumped up – leaping up 50% between 2023-2024.
Our experience of hiking the Pico to Pico (the most famous hiking trail in Madeira) showed us that parts of the island are beginning to become crowded – if you don’t park your car at the start of this trail by 06:30 you won’t get a space.
But, we also found quiet corners of Madeira that were undiscovered, or at least not busy. Madeira is becoming more popular, but it remains a paradise where you can find peace and tranquility – so long as you avoid the Pico to Pico trail that is!
Why delay – start planning your adventure in Madeira with our guides
- 7 days in Madeira + 27 of the best things to do in Madeira
- 10 best hikes in Madeira
- Where to stay in Madeira
- Visiting Madeira in March – what to expect
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
British travel writer and long-distance hiker, native to Kent. Emma has walked the Camino de Santiago more than ten times, completed trails across Europe from the Corfu Trail to the Fisherman’s Trail, and covered thousands of kilometres on foot. She always writes from first-hand experience. Her goal? Inspire just one person to go on their first long-distance hike.
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