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Madeira Travel Guide

Madeira is a Portuguese island that is known for dramatic scenery, a lovely year-round climate, and beautiful subtropical flora.  ‘The Floating Island’ as this small, unique island is called by the locals offers fascinating landscapes and a rich natural beauty.  Madeira is a popular stop on both transatlantic and Western Mediterranean cruise itineraries.
 
Cruise ships stopping at Madeira dock at Funchal, the main port and capital city of the island, and most cruise lines will provide a shuttle to the town centre.  Funchal is a charming old town that has a distinctly colonial feel to it, and offers excellent opportunities for shopping, strolling, dining, and visiting museums and tropical gardens.  There are also a number of scenic hiking trails found in and around the city.
 
The coastline of Madeira is dramatic and rugged, and the beaches found on the island range from volcanic black sand to shingle and pebble beaches; visitors can relax at the many bathing complexes and lidos found here.  Other activities to enjoy include a boat trip to Porto Santos, an island with a lovely and inviting sandy beach, or a cable car ride to Monte, an historical old town. 
 
The cuisine found on Madeira, not surprisingly, has a heavy Portuguese influence; specialities include beef kebabs and all kinds of seafood, as well as honey soaked pastries and cakes that include the famous and delicious Madeira cake.  Visitors should try and sample the sweet wines that are produced on Madeira, and tastings can be arranged at the numerous wine lodges that are located around the island.
 
A trip to Madeira also offers travellers the opportunity to check out the unique local handicrafts and folk art, wicker goods, exotic flowers, and embroidery work at the shops in and around Funchal.

Other ports that are visited on cruises that stop at Madeira may include Tangiers, Casablanca, Lisbon, Tenerife, and Barcelona.  The ports of call will vary depending on the individual cruise.