Madeira Archipelago is a group of 4 small islands located on the Atlantic, south of Portugal.
The two inhabited islands are Madeira Island and the slightly smaller Porto Santo.
A daily ferry runs between Porto Santo and Madeira, so it is possible to visit both islands during one trip.
Porto Santo is a great beach destination, while Madeira Island is beloved by tourists who love to eat out, hike, and be active in nature.
Also, football fans, as Madeira Island is home to one of the most popular football players – Cristiano Ronaldo.
If you are his fan, you can easily visit more than 10 Ronaldo-related places on Madeira.
You can, for example, visit his museum, eat at his restaurant and sleep at his hotel.
Madeira is a true heaven for all hikers.
There is a great network of official hiking routes with different levels of difficulty.
One of the most popular hikes is the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.
What makes hiking in Madeira unique are levadas, which are typical for Madeira irrigations channels, which transport water from the mountains.
They also serve as perfect hiking paths through magnificent jungle-like, Laurisilva forests.
Cuisine
When it comes to cuisine, Madeira is famous for its fish, seafood and beef dishes.
Some of the must-try local dishes are Espetada (beef on a skewer, seasoned with salt, garlic, and bay leaves), Lapas (local limpets baked on a frying pan with garlic and butter) and Black Scabbard Fish served with a banana.
Madeira is also famous for its drinks.
This is where the famous Madeira Wine is produced. It is not however, their only popular drink.
Just as popular on the island is Poncha – a strong alcoholic drink made with aguardente de cana (distilled alcohol made from sugar cane) honey, sugar, and orange/lemon juice.
Nikita is what locals call a creamy drink made with vanilla ice mixed with pineapple juice, sugar and beer, but it can also be served without alcohol.
When to Visit
Madeira Island is a perfect destination for any time of the year, but one of my favourite months to visit is May.
This is when the magnificent Madeira Island Flower Festival takes place.
During that period you can enjoy different concerts, performances, flower exhibitions, flower-inspired outdoor fashion shows and all sorts of flower-related attractions.
One of Funchal avenues changes into a colourful flower market where local ladies dressed in their beautiful flower dresses to hand out travel information to tourists.
Some streets are even covered with colourful flower carpets made of petals.
The main event of the Madeira Flower Festival is the famous Funchal Flower Parade.
Local residents, mostly children, parade through the main avenue of Funchal, showing off their carefully prepared choreographies and magnificent flower dresses.
Another great period to visit Madeira is Christmas and New Year’s Eve when one of the biggest fireworks displays takes place.
And if you are planning to swim in the ocean or do water activities, it is better to visit the island during the summer, or in September, when the weather and water temperatures are still great.
Although beaches aren’t the strongest point of Madeira, the island has a lot to offer to all kinds of tourists.
Whether you are a backpacker travelling to Madeira on a budget, or a demanding luxury traveller, you will find on the island exactly what you are looking for.
We highly recommend including Madeira Archipelago in your travel agendas.
Editors Note: