Madeira

Madeira [1] is a tropical archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous region of Portugal. The archipelago is made up of two populated islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two groups of unpopulated islands called the Desertas and Selvagens Islands. It is part of the European Union ultraperifric area.

Known worldwide as the Islands of eternal Spring, Madeira or "Ilha Jardim"{Garden Island} has a mild climate throughout the entire year.

Madeira island is 310 miles from the African coast and 620 miles from the European continent, only 1h 30mn flight from mainland Portugal and about 3h from all the main countries in Europe.

Cities

• Funchal — Island regional capital and largest city in Madeira, home to tourist resorts, gorgeous panoramas and local color.
• Santa Cruz
• Machico
• Santana
• Camara de Lobos
• Porto Santo city:Vila Baleira
• Ribeira Brava town

Culture and History

Madeira Islands are just a short trip from Europe (more or less 4 hours from UK), to a destination where you can combine holidays on the beach, in the mountains or in the city. Discovered early in the 15th century by the Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal.

Travel to Madeira - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Madeira

• Madeira International Airport/Funchal(FNC) (IATA: FNC)(ICAO: LPMA) (formerly known as Santa Catarina Airport), about 30 minutes from Funchal,in Santa Cruz municipality. Tel: +351 291 52 07 00. The island of Porto Santo (PXO)is in Porto Santo/Vila Baleira. This airport is just a 15 minute flight from Madeira International Airport.

There is boat/ship service between the two islands. The following Airline companies fly regularly to Madeira International Airport: TAP Portugal, Portugália, SATA, British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air France, easyJet, First Choice Airways, Thomson, LTU, Thomas Cook, Condor, Niki, SAS, Sterling, Transavia, My Travel, Binter Canarias.

By boat

• Cruise ships port here.
• There is a weekly connection between Portomaio (Algarve) to Madeira offered by Naviera Armas [[2]].
• There is a car ferry between Porto Santo and Madeira, two hours one way. Ferry Service Funchal-Porto Santo.[[3]

Tours and Getting around Madeira

• Buses Recommended to get a 7 days bus ticket, access to all Funchal City routes, 17.50 EUR (March 2007)
• Taxis
• Car rental Renting a car is a great way to see the island. All European rules of the road apply in Madeira. Roads outside of Funchal can be windy and steep and gas stations rare. Renting via the Internet is usually cheaper than walking-in.

Portugal and Madeira Car Hire - Auto Jardim [4]

Talk

English is as common as in mainland Portugal, although people will always appreciate it if you try and learn a few words of Portuguese.

Madeira tourist attractions and sightseeing

• Levadas An impressive system of aqueducts built in the 1900s to bring water from the mountains to cropland.
• Cabo Girão One of the world's highest ocean cliffs (590m/1,935 ft. above sea level), you'll easily realize the island's Edenlike quality.
• Jardim Botânico Funchal Botanical garden.
• São Vicente Caves, [5].Volcanic caves where you can visit lava tubes.
• Jardim do Monte Palace Magnificent gardens of the former Monte Palace hotel.
• Jardim Orquídea Orchid garden.
• Madeira Story Centre, [6]. The best way to learn about Madeira's history and culture.
• Fireworks on New Year's eve The biggest fireworks in the world (Guinness world record 2007). Best places to see the fireworks include the tip of the marina of Funchal, on the cruise ship, and Pico dos Barcelos (on the side where you can see the Funchal's marina).
• Miradouro means viewpoint. Splendid view of the island can be seen from different viewpoints. Recommended viewpoints include: Pico dos Barcelos, Pico do Arieiro, Pico de Facho, Curral das Freiras, Monte. (For Pico do Arieiro, you can check its current view from live webcam [7] [8] before embarking your journey.)

Madeira city tours

• Madeira Nature, [9]. The Nature of Madeira (Active and Eco-Tourism)

• Hiking at Ponta de São Lourenço, the eastern part of Madeira is a Nature Reserve with wonderful panoramic views of the Atlantic and spectacular volcanic rock formations. Many unusual species of plants are found here and are best seen on foot, like the Ice Plant, Everlasting, Cardoon and many more. Down the cliff is a secluded beach called Prainha, the island’s only natural black sandy beach. Very popular with the locals, it’s great for swimming. The hiking trail can be walked comfortably with a pair of good hiking boots. Hiking duration could last several hours, prepare food and drink.

• Santo da Serra Golf, [10].
• Palheiro Golf, [11].
• Porto Santo Golf, [12].

• Sailing, [13]

• Snorkeling, [14]

• Scuba diving, [15]

• Madeira Island tours, [16]

• Madeira Ecotours, [17].

• Nature Meetings, [18]. Hiking.

• Surfing The Atlantic offers waves for moderate to experienced surfers.

• Madeira Wind Birds, [19]. Bird watching.

• InterTours, [20]. Sightseeing tours.

Visit

Must go places to visit in Funchal Top places to visit in Funchal

Learn

• The University of Madeira [21] is one of the youngest Public Universities in Portugal.
• Currently the Mathematics and Engineering Department [22] offers a joint *Professional Master Degree with the Carnegie Mellon University [23] in Human-Computer Interaction [24]. This top Professional Master program provides international students with opportunities to study in one of the best locations in the world, while having access to one of the world best Universities in Information and Communication technologies.

Work

Madeira is presently one the best locations in the E.U. for companies with operations in the single market and worldwide. With reduced direct and indirect taxation, adequate infrastructures, competitive operational costs, safety and quality of life, Madeira is positioned to provide the investor with a unique package of benefits, offering a wide range of solutions to enhance the efficiency and performance of various forms of investment.

Moreover, Madeira's preferential tax regime has not only been approved by Portugal, but also by the European Union as a valid form of State Aid for regional development, providing Madeira's IBC with credibility and transparency. To find out more about Madeira's special status in the E.U., please consult State Aid nº 222-A-02; State Aid nº 222-B-02 and the Commission's Decision 2003/294/CE.

For more information visit the official website of the International Business Center of Madeira [25].

Madeira souvenirs and shopping

Madeira Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Mid-range

• Adega da Quinta, Quinta do Estreito, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Tel: +351 291 910 530. Traditional restaurant where you can eat "espetada" in an old winery uphill from Câmara de Lobos
• Coral Restaurante, Praca da Autonomia, Câmara de Lobos, Tel: +351 291 098 284. Fresh fish and shell fish.
• Espada Preta, Caminho Trincheira, 9300-159 Câmara de Lobos, Tel: +351 291 948 439. Fresh fish and shell fish, also try their specialty "bread soup" (main course).
• Restaurante O Tunel, near the tunnel of Caniçal. Seafood starters and espetada as main course. If you do the levada walk or drive around the area of Caniçal, Machico and Pico de Facho.

Madeira nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Madeira Wine is a fortified wine prized equally for drinking and cooking. There are four major types of Madeira: Malvasia (also known as Malmsey or Malvazia), Bual (or Boal), Verdelho, and Sercial, the latter two being drier.

Madeira cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Budget

Mid-range

• Atrio - Madeira [26]: The Atrio is a small family run hotel located on the south side of Madeira island. Each room is individually styled. Address: Lombo dos Moinhos Acima, 9370-912 Estreito da Calheta - Madeira (+351) 291 820 400, email: welcome@atrio-madeira.com, fax: (+351) 291 820 419.
• Vila Galé Santa Cruz, Rua de São Fernando 9100-157 SANTA CRUZ - MADEIRA, ☎ (+351) 291 529 000, [27]. Since its launch in 2006, the Vila Galé Santa Cruz Hotel is your hotel of choice for a holiday in Madeira. Only 5 minutes away from Funchal International Airport, the Santa Cruz Hotel is a top-quality 4-star hotel where you only have the sea for a vista. Located only a few kilometers away from the tourism centre of Funchal, the Santa Cruz Hotel is among the best that you can find for a holiday in Madeira. Online Booking 

• Villa Koala [28]: The Koala is a small run hotel located on the south side of Madeira island. info@koala-madeira.com
• Pestana Hotels & Resorts - Caniço: Pestana Atalaia [29]
• Estalagem do Mar, just outside in waking distance from São Vicente at the north coast. Rooms with private bathroom and tub and view to the Atlantic Ocean. Indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and not necessarily working sauna, lots of parking space. Double low-season at 50€.
• Crowne Plaza, [30]. Some English spoken here, wireless access in lobby. All rooms have ocean front views facing east. Several options for day trips and guided activities.
• Quinta da Quebrada, [31]. Quinta da Quebrada is located in the North Coast of Madeira, more precisely in Arco de São Jorge. The place has a very pleasant weather, with sun all over the year. Very warm and dry in summer, gentle temperature and very few rainy days on winter. The unit offers you 7 Bungalows all with a very beautiful view over the Atlantic Ocean, TV and Telephone. Each one is composed by a double room, a private bath-room, and a kitchenette/living-room.
• Quinta Da Casa Branca[32], An old Quinta converted into a boutique design hotel, set in the heart of Madeira island capital, among colourful gardens.

Splurge

• Pestana Hotels & Resorts - Madeira [33]: Pestana Carlton Madeira, Pestana Casino Park, Pestana Grand

• Reid's Palace - [34] lovely old five-star where Winston Churchill used to stay!
• Savoy & Royal Savoy - [35] Reid's rival hotel complex, consists of the old Savoy hotel and new, contemporary Royal Savoy

• The Cliff Bay [36]. Luxurious 5 star hotel owned by the Porto Bay group, it is the most awarded 5 star hotel in Madeira with prizes like the Neckermann PRIMO 2006; Trip Advisor 2005 Winners: Top 100 World Luxury Hotels; Style Holidays Gold Award 2005, etc.

Stay safe

Emergency Service telephone number is 112 Some police in Funchal have red armbands, this signifies that they speak another language other than Portuguese, mainly English and German. Crime figures for Madeira are very low.

Destinations in Madeira:

• Funchal
• Porto Santo
• Santa Cruz (Portugal)

This page was last edited by Wikitravel user Texugo. Based on work by Peter Fitzgerald, Duarte Nunes and Eric Polk, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme and AnyFile, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license