Admire flowers

The mild climate is to thank for the lush flora. It has also earned the Portuguese island the nicknames "island of eternal spring" and "island of flowers". And indeed, Madeira's parks and gardens are resplendent in lush blooms. A visit to the famous Jardim Botânico, the botanical garden in Funchal, should therefore definitely be on the to-do list. It is about 50,000 square meters in size, built into a hillside and features more than 3,000 different species of plants. The magnificent view of Funchal harbour rewards even non-flower fans. Tip: take the cable car!

Jardim Botânico
9060-345 Funchal, Portugal
Web: ifcn.madeira.gov.pt
Tel: +351 291 211 200
Tickets: € 6,-/adults

Toboggan Trip

Adults whizzing down narrow streets in a toboggan, whooping like little children? That's what you find in the Montes district. In fact, since the middle of the 19th century, people there have been travelling downhill in a traditional basket sledge. These are made of wood and willow. They offer space for two people. Once you are seated in the sled, you travel down the narrow alleys for about 2 kilometres. The sled is steered by two skilled "Carreiros do Monte". Fun fact: the uniform of the sled drivers is strictly regulated. It consists of white pants, straw hats with a black band and boots. The latter are equipped with special rubber tire soles so that the carreiros can brake with them.

Toboggan Ride
Departure: Caminho do Monte No. 4
Arrival: Estrada do Livramento
Speed: depending on the weather between 15 and 38 km/h
Web: carreirosdomonte.com
Tickets: € 30,- for 2 persons in sledge

Hiking Levadas

Levadas are artificial watercourses that stretch across the island. They serve to channel water from the high-precipitation north to the centre and south. They also operate three electricity plants. So you can definitely call the canals Madeira's "lifeline." Walking along them is one of the most beautiful experiences on the island. A particularly picturesque path leads along the southwest coast. From Porto Moniz, it follows the Levada Nova to the coastal town of Calheta. Tip: Madeira's climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities all year round. Hiking is just one of them. Mountain bikers also get their money's worth.

Enjoy design and art

Once called Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the iconic building on Funchal's harbor is now known as the "Molhe." It was originally home to Madeira's Portuguese navigator and colonialist, Gonçalves Zarco. For several years now, it has been home to the Nini Andrade Silva Design Center. The famous designer, Nini Andrade Silva, responsible for the design of numerous Madeira hotels and across the whole world, lives and works here. Visitors will learn not only more about her, but also about the history of the island. Tip: the restaurant here is excellent!

Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva
Estrada da Pontinha, 9000-726 Funchal, Madeira
Web: niniandradesilva.com
Tel: +351 218 123 790

Discover local cuisine

Madeira is rich in wonderful restaurants that serve international delicacies as well as island specialities. Espada, the black scabbardfish from the Atlantic Ocean, is a must-try. It is served with fried bananas. Other national dishes include bacalhau, a dish made from dried cod, and lapas. The latter is limpets, traditionally served fried in garlic butter. A visit to the market is worthwhile to discover exotic fruits. And we don't mean passion fruit but annona (tastes like a mix of banana, pineapple, strawberry and cinnamon) and cherimoya (cinnamon apples). Also a must-do in culinary terms: wine tasting. After all, the famous Madeira Wine has been produced here since the 15th century.

Whales and dolphins watching

That Madeira has a lush natural and plant world to offer is well known. Fewer people know that the fauna also feels incredibly at home here. So you can watch whales and dolphins around the island all year round. The marine mammals come close to shore, various operators take their boats out from Funchal and Calheta to see the animals at sea. The sightings of spotted dolphins, striped and rough-toothed dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales and fin whales will certainly remain unforgettable.

Whale Watching Tour H2o Madeira
Avenida D. Manuel I - Porto de Recreio da Calheta, 9370-133 Vila da Calheta
Web: h20madeira.com
Tel: +351 965 104 018
Tickets: from € 45,-/adults

Be active on the water

Madeira is not per se considered a destination for a beach vacation. After all, the Atlantic is usually rough and cool, and fine sandy beaches are not necessarily plentiful. But: they do exist. The two narrow beaches Prainha on the eastern headland Ponta de Sao Lourenço and Porto da Cruz in the northeast attract with their sand. The sand is black here - thanks to the lava. Bathing enthusiasts should therefore rent a boat and go in search of hidden bays. A diving or snorkelling excursion is also worthwhile. The underwater world off Madeira is colourful and rich in fish and other species. The southwestern coasts of Jardim do Mar and Paúl do Mar are hotspots for surfers.

Take a cable car ride

From the picturesque old town of Funchal (Zona Velha) up to the village of Monte, it is best to take the cable car. It is electrically operated and is, therefore, the most environmentally friendly means of transport on the island. During the 15-minute ride, you overcome a height difference of 560 meters. This allows for beautiful views of the surrounding area and the harbour. The Teleférico do Funchal was opened in November 2000 and is a nice way to see the city from a different perspective.

Teleférico do Funchal
Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses 32, 9060-190 Funchal
Web: madeiracablecar.com
Tickets: € 18,- ascent and descent/adults

Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site

With the Laurisilva, the laurel forest, the Portuguese island has its own UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1999. The entire forest covers about 15,000 hectares of the island. Incidentally, the name of the island is also derived from this. Madeira is the Portuguese word for wood. When the island was populated in 1419, it was almost completely covered by forest. Today, the old laurel forests are popular as an often mystical hiking region. A hike through the old laurel forest of Fanal is particularly beautiful. This is nicknamed the "Fairy Forest". It is best to start directly at the Forestry Posto Florestal Fanal.

Buy souvenirs

What do you take home as souvenirs from a trip to Madeira - apart from wonderful memories and hundreds of photos? Besides a bottle of good Madeira wine, azulejos are a good choice. These are ceramics, including ceramic tiles. These are usually still made by hand. Also handmade are the wicker goods for which the island is famous. Since Madeira belongs to Portugal, the Pasteis de Nata, the traditional desserts with custard filling, also offer themselves as souvenirs.