Madeira holidays

Madeira has built up a loyal following among Thomas Cook holidaymakers, with 712 holidaymakers visiting this Atlantic island over the past year. Its dramatic volcanic scenery, levada walking trails, and mild year-round climate make it a top choice for adventurous types who want something that differs from Europe's typical beach destinations.

A 7-night stay is the most booked option, with shorter 5 and 4-night breaks also proving popular. June is the top month to travel, followed by July and October, showing Madeira's year-round appeal over many Mediterranean spots. Our customers typically jet off from London Gatwick, Manchester and London Stansted, offering good coverage across the UK.

Customers often choose Calheta Beach - All Inclusive, Barcelo Funchal Oldtown, and Dreams Madeira Resort Spa & Marina. Holidays typically start from around £1,060pp, dropping to roughly £912pp over winter, or from about £1,177pp during peak summer. As with all our flight plus hotel holidays, you're ATOL protected, with a low deposit available to secure your trip.

 

Things to do in Madeira

From mountain walks to historic streets and days out on the Atlantic, Madeira holidays are about much more than beach days.

Walk Madeira’s famous levadas

Levada walks are a classic way to see this Portuguese island. Originally built to carry water across Madeira, these historic channels now form hundreds of kilometres of walking routes through forests, valleys and mountain scenery. There are walks for all abilities, with many leading to waterfalls, viewpoints and parts of the island you can only reach on foot.

Spend a day in Funchal

 Madeira’s capital packs a whole lot into a compact waterfront. Browse the Farmers’ Market, wander through the cobbled streets of the Old Town and Zona Velha, where painted doors have turned the street into an open-air gallery, then ride the cable car up to Monte for views across the city. For a memorable way back down, swap the return journey for Madeira’s famous wicker toboggan ride.

Head into the mountains

Madeira’s mountain scenery is just as memorable as its coastline. Jeep safaris take you through banana plantations and sugar cane fields to viewpoints including Pico do Arieiro, one of the island’s highest peaks, while Cabo Girão’s glass-floored viewing platform looks out across some of Europe’s highest sea cliffs.

Get out on the water

Garajau Nature Reserve is a popular spot for snorkelling and scuba diving, while boat trips offer the chance to see dolphins and whales in the Atlantic. If you’d rather stay closer to shore, there’s no shortage of coastal viewpoints, boat tours and places to watch the waves roll in.

Family days out

Aquaparque is a popular family attraction on the island, with slides, pools and splash areas for all ages. Dolphin and whale watching trips are another favourite, especially with little ones who’ll love spotting wildlife out on the Atlantic. 

Beaches in Madeira

Beach days in Madeira aren’t quite what you’d expect. Instead of long stretches of golden sand, you’ll find volcanic beaches, natural lava pools and seawater lidos, giving you plenty of ways to spend time by the coast.

You’ll spot seawater lidos all around Madeira. Built into the rocks with pools, sun terraces and steps into the sea, they’re as much a part of a beach day here as sand is elsewhere.

If your perfect beach day starts with sand between your toes, Calheta and Machico are the places to head. A striking contrast to the rest of the coastline, these man-made stretches are two of Madeira’s few golden beaches, with sand imported from the Sahara. 

Porto Santo feels like a different holiday altogether. After days spent walking Madeira’s mountains and rocky coastline, its nine-kilometre sandy beach offers a complete change of pace, whether you’re visiting for the day or staying a little longer.

If you’re exploring the west of the island, make time for Câmara de Lobos. Fishing boats still fill the harbour, seafood restaurants line the waterfront and it’s no surprise Winston Churchill stopped here to paint the view.

 

History and culture

Madeira has welcomed visitors since the 1850s. The island’s famous fortified wine has been produced here for centuries and remains one of its best-known traditions, while Funchal’s Old Town, historic churches and local markets offer a glimpse into Madeira’s rich heritage.

Ride Madeira’s famous wicker toboggans

Amongst Madeira’s most famous traditions is the wicker toboggan ride from Monte to Funchal. Originally used by locals as a quick way of travelling downhill, today the Carreiros do Monte guide the wicker sleds through the streets using little more than their skill and rubber-soled boots. Pair it with the cable car up to Monte and you’ll experience a true Madeira tradition from start to finish.

Food and drink in Madeira

Seafood, tropical fruit and Madeira wine have long been part of everyday life in Madeira, and you’ll find them just about everywhere you eat. Harbour restaurants serve the day’s catch, cafés spill onto squares in Funchal and family-run tavernas are the sort of places where the menu hasn’t needed to change much over the years.

Funchal’s Farmers’ Market has been part of island life since the 1940s and is a great place to see what’s in season. Stalls are piled high with tropical fruit, herbs, spices and freshly caught fish, including black scabbardfish, Madeira’s best-known local speciality that’s traditionally served with banana.

What to try in Madeira

Espetada is a well-known dish in Madeira, with beef marinated in garlic before being cooked over an open fire on bay leaf skewers. Fresh tuna, octopus and limpets also feature on menus across the island, so it’s easy to try local seafood without hunting down a special restaurant.

No meal in Madeira feels complete without trying a glass of the island’s famous fortified wine, while poncha remains the traditional local drink. Mixed to order with sugar cane spirit, honey and citrus, it’s the drink you’ll see locals ordering in neighbourhood bars as often as visitors.

 

Nightlife in Madeira

Evenings in Madeira are all about making the most of the warm weather. Around Funchal’s harbour and Old Town, restaurant tables spill onto the pavements and bars stay busy after sunset so you can easily  go from dinner to  drinks without venturing far.

Funchal has the island’s biggest choice of cocktail bars, rooftop terraces and late-night venues if you’re looking for a livelier evening, particularly at weekends. Elsewhere, nights tend to revolve around fresh seafood, a glass of Madeira wine or poncha, with another round often feeling like a better idea than heading somewhere else.

 

Where to stay in Madeira

Whether you’re looking for restaurants and sightseeing on your doorstep or somewhere a little quieter by the coast, Madeira’s resorts each offer something different.

Funchal

Madeira’s thriving capital has the island’s biggest choice of restaurants, rooftop bars and places to spend the evening, alongside its historic Old Town and Farmers’ Market. Funchal holidays also put the Monte cable car right on your doorstep, so there's plenty to fill your days without travelling far.

Machico

Machico is where Madeira’s first explorers landed in 1420, and traces of its history can still be found around the town today. It’s also home to one of Madeira’s best sandy beaches, so you can combine time by the sea with cafés, restaurants and a stroll along the promenade.

Caniço

Caniço is best known for its dramatic coastline and Garajau Nature Reserve, where the clear water makes it a top spot for snorkelling and scuba diving. Caniço holidays put you right above the Atlantic, with hotels overlooking the sea and Funchal close enough if you fancy dinner or an evening in the capital.

Calheta

Calheta offers a different side of Madeira, with a sandy beach, a marina lined with cafés and a south-west coast location that’s bathed in sunshine. It’s a popular choice if beach days are just as important as getting out to see the island.

Porto Santo

If you’re happy to venture beyond Madeira itself, Porto Santo is known for its nine-kilometre sandy beach. It has a completely different feel from the main island, where mountain walks and dramatic coastal scenery go hand in hand with a few days by the sea.

 

Winter sun in Madeira

Madeira is among Europe’s winter sun destinations, with average daytime temperatures of around 17°C in December and January. If you’re looking for milder weather without travelling long haul, it’s warm enough to enjoy lunch outside, spend time by the coast and tackle a levada walk without the summer heat.

Winter reveals another side of Madeira. Walking trails and popular sights are often quieter than during the busiest months, while the mild weather means sightseeing doesn’t have to be squeezed into the cooler hours of the day. Whether you’re taking the cable car up to Monte, browsing Funchal’s Farmers’ Market, or finding a café overlooking the Atlantic, Madeira is the sort of place where winter still feels like a season for being outdoors.

 

Similar destinations

If you love the idea of Madeira but want to compare your options, these destinations offer a similar mix of warm weather, dramatic scenery and relaxed island or coastal life:

• Algarve - Portugal's sunny southern coast, with golden beaches, clifftop walks and pretty fishing towns.
• Gran Canaria - year-round sunshine, volcanic landscapes and sandy resorts just a short flight away.
• Tenerife - dramatic scenery, mild winters and plenty to explore both on the coast and inland.

More Travel Guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations including: Canico | Funchal