Madeira holidays
the floating garden

Our selection of Madeira holidays includes some of the finest luxury hotels the island has to offer specifically in the resorts of Funchal and Santana,

Our Madeira holidays are served by a range of regional UK flights to Funchal including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Luton, Exeter and East Midlands flights.

Simply use the column on the right hand side of this page to view the resorts as well as detail on all the accommodation we have available. At any stage you can book the Madeira holiday of your dreams by using our search and book box.

Madeira is serenely beautiful, a deliciously warm, early summer climate, timeless civility and high standards, all set on a stage of amazing beauty, help make Madeira an attractive resort for all generations. Set in the Atlantic off the north west coast of Africa and about three hours from the UK, The Madeira holiday waters are warmed by the Gulf Stream current and the air temperature variations from 18 C to 25 C.

In a rapidly-changing world it is comforting to know that some places retain traditional and important values. On this serenely beautiful island many Madeira hotels still provide silver service with waiters who are courteous and attentive.

Prices remain attractive, with drinks, meals and extras remarkably inexpensive by modern standards. Madeira enjoys almost the same leisurely pace of life as when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1419, although even the capital of Funchal has its 21st century share of traffic problems.

Its setting - amid the benign Atlantic Gulf Stream just off the north west coast of Africa - is spectacular. In the fertile and volcanic interior, ridges of jagged peaks rise to 2,000m, while deep ravines plunge down to unspoilt fishing villages fringed by awesome coastal precipices. Cabo Girao, near Funchal, is home to the second highest cliffs in the world. Magnificent churches and breathtaking waterfalls vie for pride of place in picture postcard settings. Richly coloured flowers are everywhere - jacaranda, bougainvillea, hibiscus and orchids all proliferate in the perennially warm climate, alongside sugar and banana plantations and terraced rows of sun-ripened vines which produce the famous rich Madeira wine. Two thirds of the island is designated as a National Park and there are three botanical gardens in Funchal alone. There is forest and vegetation which dates back millions of years. No wonder the island is called the “Floating Garden”.

Visit the inland villages and you will encounter charming and hospitable people. At Camacha locals are usually busy on embroidery and wickerwork outside their cottages; at Monte they will guide you on exhilarating toboggan rides down flower-lined country roads. A drive around the island is both challenging and rewarding with spectacular winding coast roads typified by the north coast road to Porto Miniz, with the area around Santana especially stunning.

Madeira’s capital is 25km and approximately 45 minutes from the airport and is an historic town of traditional character with some splendid scenery. A third of the island’s population lives here. It lies on the ocean in a sheltered valley with a backdrop of volcanic mountains. The steep cobbled streets of the old town, with their shops, art galleries and restaurants, wind up to the hills contrasting with the more vibrant life around the harbour front below.

Famous wine lodges, a colourful Farmers’ Market, the historic cathedral and pretty churches add to the picture postcard view whilst the popular Lido and casino add more contemporary attractions.

Funchal is home to famous gardens including the Botanical Gardens, the Ecological Park and the Santa Catarina Park.

Madeira is famously known for its wine and cake, although there is also a delicious and simple local cuisine that deserves equal recognition. The island has a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes. Fish, fresh vegetables and fruit form the basis of succulent meals, which are often charcoal grilled and seasoned with herbs.

Try espetada, beef cubes rubbed with garlic and sea salt and then grilled on laurel skewers. Or espada (black scabbard fish) stuffed with a mix of herbs, bananas and lemon juice. Other favourites are grilled sardines and acorda, a soup with bread, garlic, olive oil and poached egg. Locally grown strawberries, grapes and apricots are seasonally on the menu. Wines to look out for include Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey, which are the four varieties of Madeira fortified wine ranging from dry to sweet. The locally brewed Coral is a fine lager.

There are several shopping centres where you can find your favourite labels and brands at very attractive prices. For souvenirs buy embroidery, wickerwork, tapestry, Madeira wine and cut flowers, especially orchids and the remarkable Bird of Paradise flower (strelitzia).

The ocean is particularly deep around the shores of Madeira and the rocky shoreline is home to clear waters which are superb for diving and for seasonal swimming. There are few sandy beaches of note as most are rocky with pebbles or black volcanic sand. Nevertheless 12 beaches have received a Blue Flag award for cleanliness. There is a man made sandy beach at Calheta on the south coast, west of Funchal, and pebble beaches and a Lido in Funchal. 

Walking, golf and watersports are popular activities. Walk across the mountains following the levada trails, designed by man for crop maintenance and irrigation and which run more than 2000km around the island, or the veradas which offer access to the higher mountains and the primeval Floresta Laussisilva. The crystal clear waters around the island are excellent for scuba diving and deep sea fishing. Waterskiing, windsurfing and sailing are also popular.

The islands are a key nesting site for loggerhead turtles, normally in August and September. The crystal clear waters around the islands are excellent for scuba diving and deep sea fishing. Waterskiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing are also popular activities, depending upon weather conditions.

Madeira offers championship golf courses in prime locations, some 600m above sea level.  Built in 1937 and re-designed by Robert Trent Jones senior in 1991, Santo da Serra Golf Club is ranked among the top 100 courses in Europe and certainly one of the most attractive courses on tour. The course has 27 holes and is challenging but not severe. Palheiro golf course is located in an old country estate overlooking Funchal. It is challenging and beautiful.Porto Santo Golfe was designed by Seve Ballesteros and is located on the island of Porto Santo. It fits perfectly into the landscape, respecting the preservation of fauna and flora, and overlooks the sea and sandy beach. All our hotels in Funchal and on Porto Santo offer generous discounts of up to 30% at the courses. Some offer special packages with free transport and other offers.

This is the ideal place to recover from the routine stresses of life and to open your senses to a wide range of sensations. Many of the hotels in Madeira and Porto Santo offer an extensive range of Health & Beauty and Spa activities and special packages to help you de-stress and embark on a thorough mind and body restoration.

Funchal offers a choice of local and international restaurants. There are some discos and bars and an international casino.

A good road completely circles the island and there are several more criss-crossing its interior. To find the timeless villages untouched by tourism, take off at a tangent here and there on the minor roads through the mountains. Boat trips are excellent for exploring the coastline from a marine vantage point. Local bus services are generally reliable and well-frequented by tourists. Taxis are readily available and inexpensive.

Time Difference:

Madeira and Porto Santo are on the same time as the UK

Local costs:

A typical set 3 course meal will cost approximately Euro20; a tea or coffee Euro 1.30; a glass of wine or beer Euro 1.6 and a bottle of wine approximately Euro 6

Dress Code:

Gentlemen are expected to wear long trousers for dinner and some more formal hotel restaurants may require a jacket

Electricity:

220v with 2 pin sockets; a European adaptor is required

None required

Water

We recommend buying bottled water

Language:

Portuguese is the national language and English is widely spoken

Visas:

None required for UK and EU passport holders

The Airport:

Since 2001, by means of 180 pillars rising 70m from the sea, the airport runway has been extended from 1800m to 2781m. It has won various international engineering awards.

Flight time:

3 hours 40 minutes from Gatwick and 4 hours from Manchester

Transfers:

In order to offer departures from as many UK airports as possible at keen prices we often need to combine transfers to and from the resorts for passengers from more than one arriving and departing flight. This means you may have to await the arrival of other flights. In such cases we restrict the waiting time to a maximum of 90 minutes. In all destinations transfers will be by coach or minibus and may involve drop-off and pick-up at hotels en route to the one you have booked.
We do, however, offer optional private transfers in Madeira at a supplement of £9 per person each way. Transfers to Quinta do Furão are only by self-drive car and are not included in the price.

Money:

The currency is the Euro and there are approximately Euro1.45 to the £. Major credit cards are accepted and ATM cash machines are available in the main tourist centres