The official language spoken in the Madeira archipelago is Portuguese, but a majority of the local population is proficient in English, especially in the more tourist-heavy spots.
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Portuguese is the official language in Madeira. It is worth picking up a few key phrases if you want to be polite, such as 'please', 'thank you,' etcetera, although English is widely spoken in tourist areas. People who have visited the Portuguese mainland may notice a thicker accent in Madeira.
The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.
English is widely spoken in Portugal, especially in the larger cities and in the Algarve. Plenty of foreigners live comfortably and reasonably efficiently speaking only in English. (In fact, it can be difficult to find a Portuguese who will speak to you in Portuguese.)
As an expat living in Portugal, you'll likely manage your way around with English in the streets and tourist areas, but when it comes to governmental offices, the primary language spoken is generally Portuguese.
The official language spoken in the Madeira archipelago is Portuguese, but a majority of the local population is proficient in English, especially in the more tourist-heavy spots.
Food and drink prices at restaurants in MadeiraIn Funchal, you can go to a small local place and pay €5-12 for some food and a drink but then you can also go across the street to a fancier place and pay over €25 for food and a drink.
Madeira used to be the place for mature people.but not any longer. I have relatives ages from 15 to 43 and they all love the Island. They all have different likes, but all love the sea, horse riding, travelling around the Island.
Average monthly temperaturesFor the highest temperatures the best time to visit Madeira is between August and September although the sub tropical climate offers sunshine throughout the year and winter months are equally popular with visitors.
There are dozens of trails, hundreds of kilometres and countless sceneries to enjoy while hiking in Madeira. The west coast of Madeira hides some of the most breathtaking sceneries with trails and routes that cater for those who just want to stroll along as well as those who are looking for a bit of adventure.
The island of Madeira is also attracting keen interest, with 1,342 Britons living there in 2020. That number is expected to increase from 2022, since, despite its popularity as a tourist destination, property there will still qualify for inclusion in Portugal's Golden Visa scheme.
Madeira is a fortified wine that hails from the island of Madeira in Portugal, about 300 miles off the coast of Morocco. Ranging from sweet to dry, it's primarily made with a handful of grape varieties, including Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual (also known as Boal), and Malvasia (aka Malmsey).
ELECTRICITY AND WATERThe electric current in the archipelago is 220 volts. There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality. Porto Santo uses desalinated water, which is perfectly safe to drink.
With both rent and restaurant prices being around 25% cheaper than in Lisbon, Funchal allows you to live your island dream without paying the more expensive prices of mainland Portugal.
Tipping in Portugal & MadeiraMany people may tell you that tipping is not necessary and that restaurant workers earn a healthy wage, but this is not really true. Staff at restaurants earn among the lowest wages in Portugal and they rely on tips. As such, a tip is always appreciated.
My little AA Essential Guide to Madeira suggests that, as Flowercity says, tipping is appreciated but not required in Madeira. If you do want to tip, the advice is 10% in restaurants and for taxi drivers and hairdressers. In bars it suggests just loose change but nothing for chambermaids in hotels.
Most places in Madeira do take cards, but you'll need some cash for buses, and I've heard that some of the cable cars only take cash too (the cable car from the promenade in Funchal does take cards). The small shops and cafes I visited all took cards but it's best to have some money just in case.
Although Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago, it is actually closer to Africa than Europe. Sitting 434 miles west of Morocco and 528 miles southwest of Portugal and mainland Europe.
What do Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands have in common? Quite a few – they are all in the Atlantic Ocean, are islands of volcanic origin and are part of what is known as Macaronesia (along with Cape Verde).