Top 10 must-see places in Madeira

Funchal

The capital and largest city of Madeira, recognized as one of the safest in Portugal, with crime rates close to zero. We recommend starting your acquaintance with a walk around the Sao Tiago Fortress (locals call it the "yellow fort"), built in 1614 to protect against pirate raids. Today, it houses the Museum of Contemporary Art. For lunch, we recommend the restaurant Do Forte, located on the fortress grounds and ranked among the best in the city. Prices are above average, but justified by the taste of the dishes, the level of service, and the terrace view.

Don't forget to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption—the oldest church on the island, with a mosaic ceiling and walls adorned with Flemish paintings. Also, include the wine museum, Quinta do Palheiro gardens, and the colorful Municipal Market in the Old Town, where you can buy fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and handmade items.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Monte

A suburb of Funchal, located on a hill. You can reach it from the city center by cable car.

At the top, besides beautiful views of Funchal and the surroundings, you will find several interesting attractions:

• Church of Our Lady of Monte, where the last emperor of Austria-Hungary is buried. There is an observation deck on the roof, best visited in the evening;
• Tropical Garden of Monte Palace, laid out on the hillside. The area is large, so you will need comfortable shoes. The ticket costs €12.5, and children under 15 enter for free.

The most interesting feature of Monte is the traditional wicker sled ride down the mountain. As you can imagine, there's no snow in Madeira, so the two-kilometer track is paved. Fortunately, the surface is so well-polished that you can reach a decent speed. This thrilling experience costs around €35 per person.

Machico

This is where the settlement of Madeira began—in 1419, Portuguese sailors Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira landed here. Machico was the capital of the island until 1496.

The slopes of the surrounding mountains are dotted with so-called levadas—artificial channels that collect rainwater used for technical purposes. You can hike up them to enjoy the views (there are routes of varying difficulty, some of which can only be tackled with an experienced guide). Those interested in military architecture will find the Nossa Senhora do Amparo Fort (18th century) fascinating. For lovers of hiking and scenic landscapes, we recommend visiting the nearby reserve on the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. You will need to walk 4 kilometers one way, but the views and the chance to see rare birds and monk seals up close make up for this minor inconvenience.

There's also the only sandy beach on Madeira, with sand brought from Morocco. If you plan to visit the island with children, this resort is the best choice for a comfortable vacation.

Selvagens Islands Nature Reserve

Located 280 kilometers south of Madeira, it includes three uninhabited islands: Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena, and Ilhéu de Fora. Here, rare endemic plant species are found, and it is home to many birds, providing ideal nesting conditions. Access to the reserve is only possible with a guided tour.

Santana

A small town in the northeast of the island, known for its unique triangular houses made of stone, reed, and thatch (dating back to the 16th century).

Santana can be described as an open-air ethnographic museum. If you want to learn all about the history, traditions, and culture of the country, visit the thematic park. In July, it hosts a folklore festival with groups from all over Portugal.

For hardy tourists who aren't afraid of challenges, there's a hike to the highest peak of Madeira, Pico Ruivo (1,861 meters above sea level), offering one of the best panoramic views.

Those who prefer a more relaxed time can visit Quinta do Furão, a winery where you can taste the "drink of the gods" while enjoying the ocean view, and in early September, participate in grape harvesting.

Ponta do Sol

The sunniest spot on the island, with water and air temperatures usually 5-10 degrees higher than other resorts. People come here for a peaceful beach holiday (the coast is rocky, so there are few families with children) and beautiful sunsets. Nearby, there's an interesting site for diving enthusiasts — the shipwreck of Bowbelle, which sank during a severe storm. Local schools organize excursions to the wreck for all who are interested.

Cabo Girão Cliff

The second highest cliff in the world and the highest in Europe (585 meters). At its peak, there's a glass viewing platform offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Funchal, and in good weather, passing whales. The cliff is often used for base jumping.

You can ascend by cable car, with a gradient of 70 degrees. The small cabins hang over the abyss, giving passengers a simultaneous thrill and fear.

Paul do Mar

The high waves attract surfers and those wanting to learn how to surf to this fishing village. In 2001, it even hosted the World Surfing Championship!

When the season ends and the athletes leave, Paul do Mar becomes very quiet and sparsely populated. Spend a day here walking along the empty beaches, savoring seafood delicacies, and climbing one of the nearby hills to photograph the village from above.

Porto Moniz

A small town in the northwest of the island. Its main attraction is the natural volcanic pools where both tourists and locals swim in the summer.

Visit the São João Baptista Fort, built in 1730 to protect the town from pirates, now converted into an aquarium housing about 70 species of fish.

Families with children and science enthusiasts should plan a visit to the Center for Contemporary Science.

Nearby is the Miradouro da Santa viewpoint, offering beautiful views of the town and its surroundings.

Fajã dos Padres

An isolated village in the southern part of the island, accessible by cable car. There are only 10 houses here, which at various times have housed up to 50 people.

The first inhabitants were monks who grew Malvasia grapes on the slopes in the 15th century to make wine (one of the best in Madeira). Thanks to the unique microclimate, tropical fruits and vegetables grow here that are not found elsewhere on the island. The only historical landmark is the ruins of a chapel destroyed by pirates in 1626. However, people come here not for excursions but to enjoy peace and quiet.

Gastronomic Tourism: What to Try in Madeira?

Of course, the wine! For example, the famous Madeira wine, aged in oak barrels. The largest wineries are located in Funchal, Porto da Cruz, São Vicente, and Ribeira da Janela. The harvest is gathered from mid-August to October-November (depending on the altitude of the vineyard). In some estates, grapes are still stomped by foot before being sent to a machine press. From late August to mid-September, Funchal and other towns host the Harvest Festival — a lively event with music and dancing, where visitors can tour farms and participate in grape picking.

Madeiran cuisine will delight both fish lovers and meat eaters. Fish lovers should try the black scabbardfish fillet, octopus or crab dishes, and tuna steak. Meat lovers will enjoy traditional beef skewers on laurel and meat marinated in wine (carne de vinha-d’alhos). The most popular first course is corn soup.

An interesting local delicacy is fennel candy (rebucados de funcho). They make great souvenirs for loved ones — a 160-gram bag costs only 3 EUR.