Madeira Holidays

Nicknamed the Floating Garden, Madeira is Portugal’s answer to the Garden of Eden. Fuchsia bougainvillea, scarlet poinsettias and lilac jacaranda trees blanket the landscape, turning entire villages Technicolor. The zig-zagging network of mountain trains – known as levadas – deliver some of the best natural panoramas on the island.

The good looks aren’t limited to the island’s interior. Make your way down to Madeira’s coast and you’ll come across small rocky coves and pebbly bays. Sand is in limited supply here, but there are a couple of exceptions to the rule. You’ll find a volcanic sweep of sand in Ribeira Brava, and a man-made stretch of beach in Calheta, where the sands have been shipped over from Morocco. Surfers, meanwhile, make the most of its 'Hawaii of the Atlantic' nickname, with waves to give the tropical islands a run for their money.

Madeira’s capital, Funchal, is made up of colonial buildings, basalt churches and sleepy squares. The narrow backstreets of the old town are packed with wine bars and family-run tavernas, while the marina is lined with cafés and seafood restaurants.

You'll find Canico De Baixo just east of Funchal. It's made a name for itself as a luxury holiday spot. Here, the parish’s old quarter is built around an 18th-century church and a pindrop-peaceful square, while the new quarter is filled with boutique hotels and clifftop villas.