Madeira

Restaurants in Madeira

Befitting a place where the sea is an inseparable part of it, you will find here an abundance of fish and seafood, in every possible style. The popular local fish is plucked from a depth of 1,200 meters (!) and looks like a black eel. In addition, you will find here the Espetada - the local meat skewer that includes pieces soaked in marinade before being grilled; Milho Frito - a corn and cabbage stew that is cut into chips and deep fried; Sopa de Tomate e Cebola – tomato and local onion soup that is usually served with an egg in the center; Bolo do Coco – a unique bread obtained in a flat form and without yeast; and Bolo de Mel - the local cake made from sugar cane syrup, almonds and fruit. 

Another culinary uniqueness on the island is the unique grape vineyards that grow here and were imported from Crete in the distant past. The wines produced here are considered famous all over the world and the way they are produced is done in a different way than any other wine production. The reason for this is the ancient desire to preserve the wines before going on world-wide voyages. Similar to other wines in Portugal, those of Madeira are also mixed with brandy which eliminates the fermentation and thus gives the wine a sweet taste and a high percentage of alcohol. 

If you are interested in tasting all the famous products of the island and being exposed to a wide variety of flavors, you will certainly want to go to the local market in Funchal: Mercado das Lavardores. In addition, you will find many other markets selling local food products in the many towns and villages of the island.

Attractions in Madeira

The island of Madeira consists of ups and downs, picturesque villages and extraordinary landscapes. Its residents speak good Portuguese and English, so it is easy and comfortable to get along and find your way around every corner. You will find here a great match for lovers of the landscapes and peace, for travelers and trekkers, outdoor enthusiasts looking for jeep tours and also those who like to take pictures and be photographed. 

The capital city of Funchal

At the foot of the southern mountain of the island, lies the old and spectacular city. Here you will find a lot of charming stone alleys and an addictive atmosphere. You can tour the city also via the cable car that reveals a spectacular view and near it there is a long alley parallel to the coastline where you will find a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars. At Funchal's marina you can purchase tickets for a cruise that includes dolphin and whale watching. In addition, you should visit the Wine Museum and the Ronaldo Museum, named after the famous soccer star Ben Hai.  

laurisilva

There is no reason or excuse to miss the magical Laurislava Forest. The place is rightfully called: "The Paradise of the Atlantic Ocean" and includes dense and diverse vegetation, bushes and plants like a children's fairy tale. The forest has been declared a natural site by UNESCO and is characterized by many orchids, bird of paradise flowers (symbol of Madeira), hibiscus, bougainvillea and laurel trees. 

Levada trips

This is one of the most successful adventures in Madeira and includes an encounter with the local canal system. These canals were created in the 16th century and their purpose was to transport water flowing from the mountain tops to the local agricultural areas. The water regulation is carried out by people called Levadeiros and they work in this ancient work even today. Along the fells there are unique and exciting landscape sites that must be crossed on foot (no access for vehicles). The felt trails include varying levels of walking and some are suitable for walkers and some for families with children.

Jardim Botanico Tropical

The tropical gardens of the capital city of Funchal are considered a maddening tropical lung where you can spend an entire day among impressive green trees, streams of water, a special Japanese garden and a host of mesmerizing plants and flowers. There is a cafe on site. 

Toboggan

If you went all the way up by cable car, you can go back down...on a road sled! You won't want to miss the operators in their special clothing and of course the unforgettable surfing. The sled moves according to the command of the operator in the back and will provide you with a fast and adrenaline-filled experience for about two kilometers. At the end you can purchase a photo from the route.
The price for a couple in a sled is 30 euros. 

Tour up the mountains

You can travel independently or with tour guides, to also discover the mountainous and steep places of Madeira. Up to the top of the mountain at the foot of which Funchal lies, you will find a dense and wild forest that includes hiking trails and particularly impressive views. On the way down you can also reach the village of Santana which kisses the sea and where there are traditional houses with triangular thatched roofs and a variety of small local shops. You can continue climbing up to Pico Ruivo, the highest mountain on the island and from there you start a trek to the summit at an altitude of 1862 meters above sea level, which takes about two hours of strenuous ascent.

Sao Vicente

A small and charming town on the ridge line near the town of Santana, where you will find a street with successful local restaurants and also a unique cave system (Grutas Sao Vicente Sa) known as the "lava caves", due to an ancient lava flow that remained in the caves and turned into basalt over the years. From time to time tiny pools of water also appear. The tour includes a XNUMXD movie. 

Porto Muniz

A village located next to the sea and includes several fishing restaurants and a small souvenir center. It is highly recommended to come here if only because of the unique appearance: the lava that melted the land of the village millions of years ago carved shapes and opened many natural pools that become natural breakwaters. 

Valley of the Nuns

The Valley of the Nuns, which is close to Funchal, is one of the must-see spots in Madeira. It is a huge eucalyptus forest within which there is a spectacular view of the valley surrounded by mountains. There are several tiny walking paths in the area, one of which will lead you to the parking lot of a local hotel called Estalagem Eira do Serrado. Arriving at the valley itself is accomplished by navigating to the existing village in its center (Curral Das Freiras) where the nuns used to hide people who escaped from pirate attacks at sea. Here too you will find several restaurants and souvenir shops. 

Ponta do Pargo

Another cliff on the island where you can trek and meet an ancient lighthouse overlooking the beach. Another hiking trail that includes a gorgeous view is in the village of Caniçal, full of bays.

Car Rental in Madeira

It is highly recommended to rent a car to tour the island. The area of ​​Madeira is relatively small, so it is not a long journey from one end to the other (about an hour and a half). In addition, Madeira can be combined with other cities in Portugal and enjoy a more free and spontaneous way of traveling according to personal desire and pace. 

Please note that driving on the local roads is not an easy task. Most of the roads are steep ups and downs and are very winding. There are also many bridges and tunnels. Maintain concentration while driving and avoid driving at excessive speed. The topographical conditions of the island, as we have already mentioned, allow for the existence of 6 climate zones that are completely different from each other and the vehicle is a golden opportunity to pass several of them in a single trip.

Flights to Madeira

The two inhabited islands of Madeira and Porto Santo have their own airports. They do not receive regular flights from Israel, but they can be reached very easily through connections from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal by flying with the company "Tap Portugal", El Al or Arkia (in the summer season), or any other European capital through the airlines Lufthansa, Iberia, Austrian Airways , Switzerland and more.

The arrival times are not particularly short and last about 15 hours on average, consisting of a flight to the stopover destination and from there to Madeira or to another stopover destination. In fact, the longer the arrival and additional destinations on the way, the lower the price. And yet, it is a flight that is not particularly cheap: around 700 dollars on average for a single round-trip ticket, using the European airlines.

The flight to Madeira via Lisbon will usually be slightly cheaper, but will also require an additional domestic flight, or a car rental and drive from Lisbon to Madeira. The flights at the peak of the season to Lisbon (July-August) usually amount to 400 dollars on average, although this time it is possible to reach Lisbon by using the many low-cost companies such as EasyJet, Wizz Air and even the international airline of Portugal "Tap", which offers flight routes Discounted.

Also this time, you can arrive by connecting flight (although there is a set of direct flights between Israel and Lisbon of several flights every week) and reduce the travel costs. 

From the airport in Madeira to Funchal city center you can get by bus that runs regular trips.

When should you fly to Madeira? 

The local climate of the Madeira Islands is considered comfortable throughout the year, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream that flows through them and their location at a latitude tangent to Casablanca in Morocco and the warm North African circles. The temperature here is relatively constant and stands at 25-30 degrees in the summer months and 17 degrees in the winter. We will also note that the water temperature itself is maintained in the same way and varies between 18-22 degrees in total. As an area with not particularly high humidity and many such sunny days, Madeira is suitable for trips throughout the year, therefore choosing the dates will be made according to your personal convenience. 

Another way to choose the flight dates is through the many festivals that are celebrated on the island:

In August the Feast of Nossa Senhora do Monte takes place. This is a festival accompanied by many stalls and celebrations. 

In February, Carnival is celebrated on the island, which, like the one held in Rio, is accompanied by huge parades, colorful costumes and incredible energy. Carnival is celebrated throughout Portugal and its main event takes place in the city of Porto. 

In March the fruit festival takes place.

In April the flower festival takes place.

At the end of August-beginning of September the wine festival takes place.

In September there is a grape harvest festival.

On New Year's Eve (December 31.12) the largest fireworks show in the world takes place in Madeira.