Madeira, Madeira Islands: Average Review Ratings

Weather

cool with cloud, sunny at times, very cold up in the higher regions

Holiday

hilly country, best to see by tourist bus, both west and east and south /north available tours to the top of mountains and great views, tropical gardens are a joy to visit, by cable car or bus. There are banana trees every available spot of land even next to motorways Long tunnels channel through the mountains as well as old roads where some rockfall make travel precarious so most transport use the very good motorways. Many fabulous churches are everywhere in most villages and towns, beautiful paintings adorn the walls and ceilings as well as huge sparking glass chandeliers. Flowers are everywhere in May, broom and rhododendrons are profusely scattered all over the island. On clear days you can see the Porto Cristo island from the highest mountains, its green and luscious areas and landscape are simply beautiful, Funchal the capital holds many interesting events as we did enjoy on the promenade during the week we visited, good places to eat dotted around, have been there twice after 10 years and many new hotels have been built and are still being built!

Places Recommended

west tours and east are best to visit by the mini buses these visit all major interesting places and highest mountains, the cable car is good, a return to monte, visit the tropical gardens, also for monte another cable car to another tropical garden, all in ticket is advisable, or you could get the basket chair ride fro the top of monte for a thrilling ride!

Recommend Madeira to others

Yes

Weather

Apart from one day visiting the NE of the Island when it rained (but not in the south!) the rest of the holiday was fine and mainly sunny, but warm day and night.

Holiday

Fantastic holiday on a beautiful island with such a diverse landscape with flowers/plants.

A tour of the island is a must to show all it has to offer, from verdant green to almost desert like areas.

Friendly people always willing to help made the holiday an enjoyable experience.

Clean with well kept gardens and public areas enhance the island.

Our hotel, the Four Views Oasis, albeit 20 minutes from Funchal (served by hotel courtesy coach and 155 bus) was very good: exceptionally clean throughout; large bedrooms; good food overall; and fantastic staff in all areas. Would I go back? You bet!

Places Recommended

Cable Car in Funchal
Open top buses
Camara de Lobos ( go up to viewpoint for best views)
Porto Moniz ( fabulous seascape and colour)

Recommend Madeira to others

Yes

Weather

Boiling; a couple of days were a bit overcast but hey ho, it was still hot.
We were staying at Paul do Mar, S/W end of the island again and it seems to have it's own micro climate: it can be cloudy in Funchal and clear skies at Paul.

Holiday

We love Madeira, it's food and people.
We thought of looking at somewhere else for next year but I really can't find a single fault here.
It's nice to pop into Funchal for a day trip, but personally i would rather stay in this beautiful fishing village any day.

Places Recommended

Hire a car and travel the island- you will not be disappointed. Porto Moniz is awesome if you like the water.
The fishing is great; I had a few trips out with my friend Graham Venters from Calheta port- a real gent.

Recommend Madeira to others

Yes

Weather

The weather was great. No rain, the temperature was relatively high: 18ºC in January is really great.

Holiday

I love it. The "levadas" were great. The views are wonderful. The food is excellent and at good prices. The night life is also good- lots of theme parties during the week (not only on weekends).

Recommend Madeira to others

Yes

Weather

Although for the most part the weather in Madeira is pleasant the events of 20th Feb 2010 illustrate that rainfall can sometimes be very heavy and that the only airport can be shut as a result.

It is advisable to allow generous time for delays if you need connections once you leave Maderia.

Holiday

Madeira is a lush and beautiful island with fascinating walks along the levadas.

There are no sandy beaches but every hotel and most apartments have good swimming pools.

Places Recommended

Mini bus tour accross the top of the island to the north coast.

Recommend Madeira to others

Yes