Secrets Itinerary: What To Do In The Amazing Madeira Island ♦ Madeira Island is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Europe, where many thousands of tourists yearn to return each year. Because? In addition to the excellent weather all year round and the rich fauna and flora, Madeira is also a place where there is virtually no crime, is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world! Our award-winning Madeira guide has hundreds of pages of essential information on where to go, when to go, what to do, how to get there and where to stay, including maps, detailed weather, geography and history reports, as well as nightlife information, people, places and culture. Secrets From Portugal is here to let you know what to do, where to go, where to eat and where to sleep.
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Beyond the breathtaking views, Funchal’s famous cuisine and relaxing walks, for the most adventurous and energetic the opportunities are endless, with so much to choose from: levadas, mountain walks, hiking, sailing, dolphin and whale watching, scuba diving. , sport fishing, canoeing, surfing and paragliding. Discover here all the places not to be missed. Whatever your tastes, you will find something of interest! From superb parks and gardens with exotic flowers to the incredible blue sea, towering cliffs and quiet valleys with rustic villages to extraordinary landscapes and towering mountains!
Madeira is a big island and although the roads are good, getting to know the island takes time and car hire. If you want to know it relatively well, the ideal is a week. However, depending on the time you have available you can build a script, knowing which are the places to visit on the island of Madeira.
Where To Go
Cabo Girão
Cabo Girão is located on Madeira Island, west of Funchal. It is a popular vantage point with up to 1800 visitors per day. It is an almost vertical headland with 589 m high offering a magnificent view of the sea, Câmara de Lobos and Funchal, which is why it is a very visited place.
Pico do Areeiro
O Pico do Areeiro é um pico situado na ilha da Madeira. Com 1818 metros de altitude, é o terceiro pico mais alto da ilha, depois do Pico Ruivo e do Pico das Torres. O pico é o marco divisório entre o concelho de Câmara de Lobos, Santana e Funchal e é acessível através de automóvel.
Pico Ruivo
Pico Ruivo, in the municipality of Santana on the island of Madeira, is, with its altitude of 1862 meters, the third highest mountain in Portugal, and the highest of the archipelago of Madeira.
Jardim Botânico da Madeira
Madeira Botanical Garden – Eng. Rui Vieira is a Portuguese botanical garden, located in Funchal, Madeira. It consists of several botanical species, more than 2,500 plants, from all continents that coexist in harmony, about 300 exotic birds and 200 indigenous species of the Region.
Mercado dos Lavradores
Mercado dos Lavradores is a historic building located in Funchal’s city centre in Madeira. It is a work that preserves the traditional architecture of the Estado Novo, in a style that oscillates between 1930s Art Deco and Modernism.
Where To Sleep
Belmond Reid’s Palace
Surrounded by lush subtropical gardens, Belmond Reid’s Palace perches above picture-perfect Funchal Harbour. Having welcomed guests for more than a century, we’ve perfected the art of indulgence. Anticipate gorgeous panoramic views, innovative cuisine and the superb service of a bygone era—you may never want to leave. Paradise perfected in a clifftop haven. Over the years this luxury hideaway has honed the art of pampering, earning a reputation as one of the best hotels in Funchal. Whatever your age or interest, there are activities both within the hotel’s estate and beyond to keep you on the go, all year round.
Saccharum
Overlooking the sea and close to Marina da Calheta, SACCHARUM HOTEL RESORT & SPA has been designed with a natural and landscaping of exceptional quality, allowing you to enjoy, at the same time, the proximity of the sea and the mountain. Experience and feel the essence of what nature gives you. Supported by a hotel design concept, the resort was designed by the modern and innovative RH + architecture studio by architects Roberto Castro and Hugo Jesus, while the interior design was done by well-known designer Madeirense Nini Andrade Silva.
Hotel Quinta da Serra
Situated at an altitude of 820 meters, the Quinta da Serra Hotel offers an exclusive and refined atmosphere in communion with nature, invites you to rest and renew energies in a quiet and relaxing way. Next to the leafy gardens is a 28-degree indoor freshwater pool, jacuzzi, sauna, multi-treatment massage room (payable) and a gym overlooking the gardens.
The Vine Hotel
Come to The Vine Hotel and enjoy an unforgettable experience, inspired by the tradition of Madeira winemaking. The theme of the vines is represented in a bold and modern design, the four floors of floors reflect the state of the vineyard in a particular season, with a different colour scheme on each floor. We offer memorable dinners, a swimming pool, spa, meeting room ideal for small events, as well as efficient and professional staff. Guests can use the gym belonging to the shopping centre at no additional cost. It is a properly equipped gym and has direct access by the Spa elevator. Located right in the centre of Funchal, our hotel also overlooks the harbour and the bay.
Albatroz Beach & Yacht Club
The hotel unit is located in a privileged area of the island, facing the splendid Atlantic. The hotel’s 400-meter seafront invites any visitor to enjoy its clear, mild waters through direct access to the sea. The hotel’s pretty gardens occupy much of its 14,000 m2 and suggest a leisurely stroll. Be enchanted by its subtropical plants and trees. Albatroz Beach & Yacht Club is located east of the bay of the beautiful and recent city of Santa Cruz, about 17 km from the island’s capital Funchal, and less than 10 minutes from Santo da Serra Golf Club.
Where To Eat
William
Awarded a Michelin star and led by Executive Chef Luís Pestana, William Restaurant offers a creative approach to modern European cuisine with international influences and innovative flavours. The best products on the island can be enjoyed in the company of superb panoramic views.
Il Gallo d’oro
The exclusive restaurant of The Cliff Bay Hotel of the Porto Bay Group, holder of two Michelin stars, stands out for its Mediterranean and Iberian inspired aromatic cuisine, signed by Chef Benoît Sinthon. Its wine list, with approximately 300 references, is also awarded. Entirely renovated in 2012, the Il Gallo D´Oro restaurant retains its classic décor and offers a sophisticated and romantic ambience, suited to the special moment that this tasting experience promises.
Armazém do Sal
Located in an area of Madeiran tradition, in a century-old building that stored salt, Armazém do Sal restaurant offers contemporary cuisine inspired by traditional Portuguese cuisine, with a strong regional influence. The house has a carefully selected wine list and live music keeps you company while savouring the most varied delicacies.
The Dining Room
The Dining Room restaurant is located opposite the Quinta da Casa Branca hotel, in an elegant and luxurious mansion, former residence of the family that owns the hotel. It features a magnificent dining room with classic ambience and an alfresco dining terrace with stunning views of Quinta’s gardens. The restaurant offers a la carte service with inventive and contemporary gastronomic cuisine.
