Things to do in Madeira

Bored of museums? It’s your lucky day. One of the most famous things to do in Madeira is tobogganing from the hilltop town of Monte. Its famous wicker toboggans were once used to carry freight down the steep hill to Funchal. Then a British merchant hit on the idea that the toboggans could carry people - today, you can still sit in the baskets and careen down the hill. With two carreiros in traditional straw boaters setting the speed, it’s a whole lotta fun.

Nowhere else is Madeira’s floral bounty shown off quite so colourfully as at the Jardim Botânico. We’ve visited a lot of gardens around the world, and this one still stands out. It’s a wonderland for any plant lover, with examples of virtually every plant that grows on Madeira and lots of subtropical flowers and plants from far-flung destinations. Take the Teleféricos do Jardim Botânico above the ravine west of the Botanical Garden up to hilltop Monte. It’s a fantastic trip.

Fancy a tipple? Look no further than Madeira’s oldest working wine lodge, Adegas de São Francisco, in Funchal. Madeira’s famous local brew is a rich and full-bodied fortified wine: sampling some is among the best things to do in Madeira.

Getting out and exploring Madeira on foot is one of the island’s greatest pleasures. Madeira is a volcanic island: its rugged mountains peek through the clouds, and its cliffs crash down to the surf below. You can walk the island on a network of levada trails: simple irrigation channels that provide direct access to the best of the island’s natural beauty.

For a heady experience above the clouds, drive to the top of Madeira’s third-highest peak, Pico do Arieiro (1,818 metres/5,900ft). As the road rises, the rugged countryside becomes spectacularly barren, though plunging volcanic hillsides have been softened and greened by time.

Lay down a towel and soak up some rays: there’s bucket-and-space fun to be had here too. You’ll want to make for Porto Santo - actually some 40km (25 miles) off Madeira. As desert islands go, it’s not exactly undiscovered - you can get here on a two-hour ferry. Porto Santo is still, at heart, the resort of Madeirans, who seek what they have not: sand.

To get your culture fix, visit Funchal’s Museu de Arte Sacra. Housed in a 17th-century palace, outstanding works on view include a dozen or so rare 15th- and 16th-century Flemish paintings. There’s also a fine collection of Flemish sculpture.

Divers are in luck in Madeira, since one of Europe’s first underwater nature reserves was created along the Garajau coastline. Clear waters, colourful fish and spooky shipwrecks: what more could you want?

Football mad? Don’t miss the CR7 Museum. One of the world’s top footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo is Madeira’s most famous native son and this museum is dedicated entirely to him. The CR7 Museum traces his life and his star-studded career. If you’re looking at Madeira holidays, why not book a night’s stay at the Pestana CR7 Hotel. Directly above the museum, the hotel is jointly owned by Ronaldo and the Pestana group.

Santana is home to an enchantingly picture-book style of housing – A-framed structures known as palheiros. Two palheiros, perfectly painted in red, white and blue, are the objects of many tourist selfies because they are located in the centre of the village. Another palheiro that you can explore is in the grounds of Madeira Theme Park. This is one of the best things to do in Madeira for children, with rock-climbing walls, adventure playgrounds and a boating lake.

São Vicente may just be the prettiest village on the island. Its compact, well-kept centre is pedestrian-only, and attractive shops and cafés look out onto Igreja Matriz, a church with a painted ceiling depicting St Vincent. The village remains pristine - set inland, it’s protected from the harsh ocean winds. 

Madeira is an outstanding shopping destination, given its long craft heritage. The island is renowned for wicker items, exquisite handmade lace and embroidery, gorgeous flowers and local wines.