Villas in Madeira, Portugal

Madeira has an immense range of activities and facilities available for a packed holiday itinerary, the most popular being a number of watersports on offer. Some of these include scuba diving, surfing, sailing, water skiing, whale and dolphin spotting and many more. The island is great for trekking and walking enthusiasts – the levadas (water irrigation channels) make up a 500 mile network of spectacular routes to amble, which you can explore on a guided walk. Other popular activities include mountain biking, golf, fishing, plus a theme park and aqua park, which are open to visitors in the summer months.

Madeira has a wide range of restaurants abundantly spread all over the capital city and the rest of the island. There are a huge variety of restaurants offering local and international cuisine, and as with most island nations, fish is one of the most popular dishes, along with espetada - succulent pieces of beef on a skewer cooked over coals. Madeira cake is renowned all over the world, so it is no surprise that the island and its locals love their cakes and pastries. Nearly every café and restaurant has a selection of pastries and cakes to suit everyone. Why not also try the island’s Madeira wine…

Madeira is a shopper’s heaven with a great choice of outlets, ranging from shopping malls to miniature boutiques and local markets (fish & fruit/vegetable/flowers). The capital of the island, Funchal, is home to the largest shopping mall, Madeira Shopping, whilst in the tourist area of the town centre you will find several other malls including Dolce Vita and Maderia Forum. Most villages and towns have regular weekly markets where traditional Madeiran goods and handcrafts can be purchased. Leather goods, including shoes, rugs, Madeiran embroidery and Madeira wine can also be found all over the island.

With amazing views, outstanding landscapes and historic buildings and monuments, Madeira bursts with unique history and culture. Whether you are on the lookout or not, you will come across some amazing historic parts of the island. Visit the capital resort and wander down its white-washed streets and through beautiful gardens, and see the fifteenth and sixteenth century buildings that still stand today. Madeira has a range of museums situated in a number of resorts, detailing every inch of the islands history and culture.

• Visit the Volcanic Centre & Caves of Sao Vicente

• Explore one of the many Natural Reserves on the island, from the seashore to the highest mountain peaks

• Jump aboard one of the daily cruises along Madeira’s beautiful south coast or try one of the catamarans and enjoy whale & dolphin watching

• Take a helicopter flight and experience a spectacular bird’s eye view of the island.

• Experience a ride on one of the island’s cable cars and elevators to find remote areas and exceptionally beautiful views

• Take a day out and visit the Madeira theme park, offering many activities, covering an area of 17 acres

• From Funchal, take a day trip to the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, in just two hours by ferry

• Visit some of the beautiful gardens, in particular the Botanical Gardens, Palheiro Gardens and Monte Palace Gardens

• Visit the natural rock pools on the north of the island in Porto Moniz