Madeira

What can I expect from Madeira?

In the middle of the Atlantic and around 700km west from Maroc you find the paradisic colourful and almost tropical island Madeira, which means wood in Portuguese. Madeira is is marked by beautiful mountains, green forests, immense waterfalls but also the blue ocean, unique beaches, small fisher villages and the historic capital Funchal, which offers everything you need. The beauty of nature is incredible, people are friendly, food is amazing (especially if you like fish) and activities such as hiking, surfing, diving, climbing, fishing or just chilling are countless. I did spend 4 month on the island and did not even manage to do and see everything.

If you would like to get to know the most visited and touristic places shots, I would recommend you leave this page right now and google for Madeira Top 10 instead. As always, I present below some of my personal favourite spots- some of them famous, others less and if you desire, I can even tell you about incredible places most of the people do not even know. For now, here some different but wonderful experiences you can only realize in Madeira.

Typical Costs When Travelling

Accommodation –

When it comes to accommodation, there is something for everyone in Madeira. Especially in the capital, you find luxurious hotels, such as the Savoy Palace, which seems to be a popular place among the digital nomads, unique Airbnbs, e.g. in the middle of the mountains or directly on the beach, and various hostels for backpackers and surfers, like the Jaca Hostel in Porto da Cruz. If you plan to stay longer on the island, I suggest you to look for accommodation when you arrive, as the prices can be much cheaper if you dont book in advance. For more information, please contact me via PM. If you do decide to stay outside Funchal, I highly recommend renting a car. In this case, too, the best prices are with me ????

Food – Madeiran gastronomy is traditionally tasty. Its secret lies in the use of fresh and varied ingredients, originating from the tropical climate. You find fresh and incredibly incredibly cheap fish but also meat, tropical fruits, sweets, the typical bread (bolo do caco) and nutritious vegetables, no one can resist its taste. My favourite typical dish were Swordfish with banana seasoned with garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper and then fried in olive oil but also the traditional espetada, wich consists of small cubes of beef, seasoned with salt, garlic and bay leaves, stuck and served on a barbecue skewer. If you enjoy cooking and love seafood like you should try to prepare a ceviche with local fish from the market (Mercado dos Lavradores). Enjoy !

Transportation – If you are located in Funchal, buses go to most of the places on the island. Anyhow a bus ride can take hours. It is easier to rent a car or hitchhike.