In Madeira, there are fewer sandy beaches, but more beaches with pebbles or stones. To access the water, we strongly recommend water shoes. If you are interested in exploring a variety of sandy beaches, the winner is Tenerife ??.
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The Canary Islands are probably a safer bet if your top priority is hot weather but that of course can't be guaranteed and the weather in Madeira is generally good too. Madeira is much more beautiful though with lots of things to do. As you enjoyed the Azores, I can see no reason why you wouldn't also love Madeira.
Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €126, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €95.
Canary IslandsThe islands are a little warmer than Madeira, as they are further south, with constant Atlantic breezes. Some resorts are more sheltered, thus warmer, than others. And the sun can be strong, especially if you take a trip into the mountains. Stay at one of these hotels in Tenerife or villas in Lanzarote.
South Tenerife usually has the best weather and north Tenerife can be cloudy and rainy. The south side of Gran Canaria is also considered to have the best weather among the Canary Islands group.
I highly recommend going if you love nature, if you enjoy great food, a warm culture and breathtaking views at every turn. I stayed in the main Funchal, away from the tourist area. I didn't go to Madeira to be surrounded by other tourists taking photos of this or that.
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.
Yes, Madeira is a popular destination and indeed some of the main tourist attractions can get quite busy. But for the biggest part, Madeira is still very quiet and undiscovered.
Its golden, nine-kilometres long, sandy beach has made this small island famous all over world. In 2022, European Best Destinations awarded it the title of 'best beach in Europe 2022'. The recognised therapeutic properties of its sandy beach and its crystal-clear turquoise waters contribute greatly to this.
Areas to AvoidBecause of its volcanic background, most beaches in Tenerife are volcanic with black sand which can be hot under the feet. If you're after a traditional sandy beach head to Los Cristianos and leave the southern resorts alone. Playa la Arena is also notorious for pickpockets.
Lanzarote tends to be the hottest and most arid of the Canaries, as it is closest to the Sahara desert and because it is one of the lowest lying islands. The Sahara can bring high temperatures and fine sand to Lanzarote, causing occasional heatwaves.
January is peak cold and wet time in Tenerife, if you want to avoid the wettest month but equally not suffer high temperatures or high prices the best time for you to go is between March and June.
One of the top reasons for visiting the island is the year round warm weather. In January the weather in Tenerife is pretty good with an average temperature of 17°C and rarely falling below 14°C so it's decent t-shirt and beach weather.
True, Malta perhaps has the edge in terms of historical drama and Madeira has an altogether grander, rawer feel to its scenery, but neither of these edge-of-Europe getaways are going to leave you feeling short-changed.
Ponta do SolThis municipality on Madeira's west coast is considered the warmest and sunniest on the island. It is very popular with visitors seeking to enjoy the climate and the warm sea. In addition, Ponta do Sol presents very diverse landscapes, namely the mountain range, the coast and traditional villages.