What to see in Madeira

Considered one of the best islands in the world in 2015, Madeira It can be defined as a small oasis in the middle of the Atlantic. And it offers from spectacular natural landscapes to areas of immense historical value, passing through ingenious crops, majestic cliffs, natural pools and impressive beaches. Without a doubt, a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

If you are already more than convinced to travel to this wonderful Portuguese island, you can not miss anything that comes next, since we are going to tell you about all the places that you will have to to visit. Do you want to join us?

Funchal

As it could not be otherwise, we will start by talking about Funchal, the capital of the island, where you can visit wonderful corners and enjoy a large number of activities. Thus, you cannot miss the port, the Mercado de Lavradores, the Old Blandy’s Wine Lodge, the beautiful and picturesque neighborhood of Velh, the Cathedral and the historical case. In addition, from here you can make catamaran excursions to watch whales and seals.

Cabo Girão

Another obligatory place to visit in Madeira is Cabo Girão, which houses the highest cliff in Europe and the second in the world. We are talking about 600 meters high! As you can imagine, from here you can enjoy some views really spectacular, being able to contemplate the entire archipelago, with its multiple shades.

Porto Santo

If you travel to Madeira you cannot miss the opportunity to visit Porto Santo, an island that you can get to by ferry or plane. Here you will enjoy spectacular soft white sand beaches. The island offers all the mod cons for the tourist (hotels, restaurants, golf courses ...), in addition to numerous activities: horse riding, hiking, diving, deep sea fishing ...

Grottos of São Vicente

Nor could the Grutas de São Vicente, a town located in the north of Madeira, be missing from this list. The caves are actually part of the Volcanic center, which offers visitors from audiovisual demonstrations of the volcanic eruptions that gave rise to the island, to visits to beautiful gardens, as well as a tour of the caves, made up of lava tubes.

Towns and cities

In addition to Funchal, there are other urban centers that you should know, such as, for example, Machico, the second largest city on the island. Former capital of Madeira, it offers some of the best beaches in the entire territory. It is the perfect place to taste the exquisite gastronomy of the area. In addition, some 15th-century buildings and a beautiful old lighthouse are preserved in good condition here. Nor can you miss Caniçal, a small fishing village; Camacha, a town famous for its basketry and wicker industry; Santana, a city that surprises with its traditional cane-roofed houses; and Cámara de Lobos, which houses one of the most important fishing ports.

Natural landscapes

As we mentioned at the beginning, one of the main reasons to visit Madeira is its natural landscapes. We have already told you about one of them, the Cabo GirãoBut we still have more corners to offer you, such as the Pico de Arieiro, which, at 1,818 meters, is the third highest on the entire island, and offers impressive views. The first place is for Pico Ruivo, surrounded by a spectacular environment. We also do not want to forget Boca da Encumeada, which houses one of the most spectacular waterfalls on the entire island. And for scuba diving lovers, nothing like the Garajau Nature Reserve. Finally, we want to recommend a visit to the natural pools of volcanic origin in Porto Moniz.

Must See in Madeira, Portugal | travel guide (April 2024)