Madeira Overview — First-Timer's Introduction

What and where is Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 km southwest of mainland Portugal and roughly 600 km west of the Moroccan coast. It is an autonomous region of Portugal. The main island, also called Madeira, is the largest; the inhabited Porto Santo lies to the northeast, and the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens islands are nature reserves.

Madeira is volcanic and dramatically mountainous. Its highest peak, Pico Ruivo, reaches 1,862 m. The island is famous for its laurel forest (Laurisilva), a UNESCO World Heritage site, its network of irrigation channels called levadas that double as walking trails, year-round mild climate, and the wine that shares its name.

Capital and main towns

Funchal is the capital and by far the largest city, on the warmer, sheltered south coast. It is the cruise and tourism hub, home to most hotels, restaurants, the historic Zona Velha (Old Town), the Mercado dos Lavradores market, and the cable car to Monte. Other notable towns include Câmara de Lobos (a fishing town near Funchal), Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Calheta and Câmara de Lobos in the south/southwest, Machico and Santa Cruz in the east near the airport, and São Vicente, Porto Moniz and Santana on the wilder north coast.

Language, currency, getting in

Portuguese is the official language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and German and French are common too. The currency is the euro. Most visitors arrive by air at Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport (FNC) near Santa Cruz, about 20 km east of Funchal. Porto Santo has its own small airport and is also reachable by ferry from Funchal.

What Madeira is known for

Madeira suits nature lovers, hikers, and travellers who want mild weather and scenery rather than big sandy beaches. Highlights include levada and mountain hikes, the Laurisilva forest, coastal viewpoints (miradouros), natural sea pools, Madeira wine and poncha, tropical gardens, whale and dolphin watching, and a strong New Year's Eve fireworks tradition in Funchal.