Madeira is renowned for its landscapes, lore—and its legendary wine, which graced the tables of America's Founding Fathers.
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Madeira Island is actually home to over 25 miles of secret tunnels built into the cliffs and mountains. Said to be constructed in the 16th century right through until construction ended in the 1940s, they were built to help maintain the hundreds of miles of aqueducts across 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.
In fact, Madeira was just voted Europe's “Leading Island Destination” in the World Travel Awards again (the sixth time in the last seven years). Less than four hours from London and with almost guaranteed sunshine, Madeira is an ideal winter break, or for that matter, anytime destination.
The Portuguese have three meals a day, between 7:30 and 10 a.m. we have breakfast, consisting of drinking coffee or fruit juice with toast or a sandwich. The main meals are lunch, between 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Most of Madeira's nightlife is found in its capital, Funchal, the only city of any size on the island. Outside of Funchal, Madeira has small towns or villages that are totally unlike tourist resorts. So, if you want to go out partying, Funchal is where you need to be.
Madeira is a Portuguese fortified wine. It's made on the Madeira Islands, off the coast of Africa. Dry varieties are typically served before or between meals (as an aperitif), while sweet varieties are considered dessert wines.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous person to come out of Portugal, as well as the most followed person on Instragam with 395 million followers. Born in Madeira, Ronaldo for many is the best football player of all time, having won a record of five Ballon d'Or awards.
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.
Natural Beauty: Madeira is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including lush green valleys, rugged coastlines, and majestic mountains. The island's diverse scenery offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities and a high quality of life for nature enthusiasts.
This scarcity, along with the rich flavor profiles, has catapulted the prices of some Madeira bottles. You'll have to shell out around $10,900 for the 1842 vintage of H.M Borges Terrantez 'T' Vintage - one of the most expensive fortified wines in the world.
Poncha is the most well-known alcoholic drink on the island, made with sugar cane brandy, sugar and lemon juice. But, in addition to the traditional version, there are other versions that are worth trying.
Exotic fruits at the local marketAt the local market in Funchal, you can try them all but beware, the prices are too high. Tip: If you do decide to buy some fruit to take away, near the market you will find some small fruit and veggies shops at much cheaper prices.
“Coral” BeerA beer called “Coral” is produced by the Madeira Brewery, which dates from 1872. Manufactured from the best malts of Czech origin, fermented and ripened at low temperatures. It has a pale golden colour, a clean, aromatic flavour, a light body and a pleasant aroma loved by locals.
For Dinner, the Portuguese usually eat between 7:00 and 9:00 PM. While this is not as late as in Spain, for example, most of the restaurants don't even open until 7:00 PM for dinner, so travelers accustomed to eating earlier should expect to adjust their schedule and eat a bit later than usual.
Madeira is a pretty small island, and so luckily you don't need very long to see all of the incredible things that this destination has to offer. If you're looking to experience the must-dos then a short four-day break would be fine. However, a week is the perfect amount of time to really make the most of the island.