7 Nights in Madeira, Portugal - From Shannon

Madeira Holidays

Madeira holidays tee up some of Europe’s best scenery – from tropical gardens and flora-filled hills to wind-swept beaches.

Pretty as a picture

Madeira’s a real head-turner – so much so that it’s been dubbed the Floating Garden for its flora-filled landscape. Fuchsia bougainvillea, scarlet poinsettias and lilac jacaranda trees are all commonplace here, and they’re out in abundance on the island’s many walking trails, known as levadas. This criss-cross network of paths delivers some of the best panoramas of the landscape. And if it’s just pretty views from above that you’re after, make a beeline for the lookout point at Cabo Girao – it's Europe's highest cliff and comes complete with a glass-bottomed sky walk.

Picturesque coastline

Madeira’s good looks stretch out to the coast, too. Small rocky coves and pebbly bays are dotted all around the island’s edge, and while sandy beaches are in short supply, there are a couple of notable exceptions. Ribeira Brava’s home to a volcanic swathe, and there’s a man-made stretch of biscuit-coloured sand in Calheta – a town known as the ‘European Hawaii’ for its surfer-friendly waves.

Fun-filled Funchal

The island’s capital packs a punch on several fronts. There’s a whole host of museums near the seafront, including the Natural History Museum and the CR7 Museum – the latter’s dedicated to one of Madeira’s most famous sons, legendary footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. Nightlife’s on the up-and-up here, too, thanks to a casino and a sprinkling of nightclubs near the waterfront, and if you’re after birds-eye views of the city, take the Monte Cable Car into the hills. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can then whizz back down in a wicker basket toboggan that’s steered by two guys with just boots for brakes.

Two-for-one Canico

Just 10 minutes’ drive along the coast from Funchal is the old-meets-new town of Canico. Its hilltop old quarter centres around an 18th-century church and a quiet-as-you-like square. But head just a couple of kilometres down the hill and it’s a different story – boutique hotels and clifftop villas are the norm here in one of the island’s up-and-coming luxury hotspots.