Tourist Attractions
Madeira Archipelago
Last update: August 2023
Autonomous Region of Madeira
Tourism and Gastronomy
Paradise for your vacation -
"Despite having a small area, Madeira is rich in majestic scenery and rare beauty"
[Visit Portugal].
View of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal © LHG/Images of Portugal
Autonomous Region of Portugal, the
Madeira Archipelago, located a little
more than 900 km from the European continent, near the coast of Morocco, is one of the destinations
preferred for
holidays, sports (
golf, surfing), walks
and weekends from visitors from all over the world.
The archipelago has a total area of almost 743 km², but the most visited part is the
Island
from Madeira itself, followed by
Island of Porto Santo.
Madeira Archipelago
Lush nature, sea delights and pleasant climate
This is a summary of
Madeira in a nutshell. A perfect place for holidays and sightseeing.
Ideal for lovers of nature, adventure, beaches, sports, good food and good
wines.
Madeira Archipelago
The
Madeira Archipelago, an archipelago of volcanic origin, was discovered
by the Portuguese João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo in 1419.
Madeira Archipelago
In addition to
Madeira Island, the islands of
Porto Santo, Desertas Islands are part of the archipelago.
and
Wild Islands.
They were the first overseas lands to be colonized by the Portuguese.
Currently, the economy of the archipelago is completely focused on tourism.
Funchal, the Capital of Madeira
The capital of the
Madeira Archipelago, historic city and great center
tourist destination in Portugal, is the fourth most visited city in the country.
According to the report recently published by Bloom Consulting, the fourth place,
considering its variables and including the overseas archipelagos, it is the city of
Funchal, on the island of Madeira, behind only
Lisbon, Porto and Cascais.
Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal © Internet, illustration
Porto Santo is an island in the
Madeira Archipelago, famous for its incredible beaches and for
to be, since 2020, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
The municipality of
Porto Santo occupies the entire area of this island, whose capital is
city of
Vila Baleira.
Porto Santo is home to some of the most incredible beaches in Europe, which is why
which is why it is a great tourist destination.
Learn more:
Porto Santo, Madeira
Tourist attractions
Among other tourist attractions, visitors cannot fail to visit the
Sé do Funchal,
which dates from the 16th century.
Find out more:
Tourist attractions in Madeira
Funchal Cathedral, Madeira Island, Portugal © Diocese of Madeira, illustration
Sports: golf, surfing...
Madeira is also the ideal place to practice your favorite sport: golf, surfing, kite-surfing,
sailing, diving, and many others.
Find out more:
Sports in Madeira
What to do in Funchal?
There are many and varied activities to be done in
Funchal:
•
beaches
•
visit the tourist attractions
•
rides and trails
•
play sports: water sports, golf
•
wellness tourism: saunas
•
wine tourism: discover the wines of Madeira
Find out more:
What to do in Funchal
Holidays in Funchal
In a beautiful bay on the south coast lies the city of
Funchal,
the capital of the archipelago. Of indisputable beauty and pleasant climate of the Atlantic,
Funchal is the gateway to the
discovery of these paradise islands.
Nights in Madeira
Fun during and also during the night: several options to spend unforgettable nights in
Funchal. Cafes, bars, restaurants and shows propose their offers that certainly also
will wait for you.
Find out more:
Madeira by Night
Madeira Wine
One of the best known wines in the world,
Madeira Wine is the great ambassador of this
region of Portugal.
Gastronomy
Lovers of good food will have many opportunities to taste the typical snacks and specialties
of the varied and traditional cuisine of Madeira.
Find out more:
Madeira Cuisine
Some distances
Madeira Island is located about 685 km from the coast of Africa (closer to Morocco), 973 km from Lisbon,
520 km from the island of Gran Canaria, and 891 km from the island of Santa Maria, the closest to the Azores archipelago.
Madeira Island, Portugal © Images of Portugal
Nice weather
Temperatures in Madeira hover around 20°C most of the year. Including the water temperature
sea is 26°C in summer (17°C in winter).