In which city house in Madeira?

The Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, off Morocco? Here are the best cities to stay in Madeira!

Located in the Atlantic Ocean 600 km from the Moroccan coast and close to 1,000 km southwest of Lisbon, Madeira is renowned for its mild climate all year round, its steep and incredibly green landscapes for a volcanic island. Built in the 15th century, the island of Madeira remained preserved and its nature in the wild, making it a major nature destination among Europeans. Recovered from a dense and thick forest, the Portuguese archipelago that is surnamed the "Island of Flowers" or "Atlantic Pearl" competes with its Spanish Canaryians. Madeira attracts lovers of hiking, surfing and swimming in search of breathtaking fauna and flora. She is said to be a lush garden in the middle of the ocean.

In which city house in Madeira, among the 260,133 souls that populate this island? The atmosphere will be different depending on whether you choose Funchal, Machico, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Santana or Vila Baleira. Your grades!

Funchal

The capital of the Madeira archipelago, Funchal is the largest city on the island, located southeast. Nearly half of the inhabitants of Madeira live in Funchal: 111,892 people. Founded in 1421 by the Portuguese explorers, Funchal is home to unmistakable historical monuments: Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral, Saint-Jean-l’Evangélist Church, Nossa Senhora do Monte Church and the City Hall and its panoramic tower dating from the 18th century. On the heights, do not miss the two botanical gardens of the city, offering a beautiful view of the city and the ocean. The Sacred Art Museum is one of the most important visits to Funchal. The city centre is rich in monuments and museums, small parks and typical markets. Mercado dos Lavradores a market of fruits, vegetables, flowers and fish. Accommodation in Funchal is a good starting point to explore the rest of the island.

Machico

The second town of Madeira, Machico is stretched to the hollow of a narrow creek that grows inside the land, between the heights and the ocean. To stay in Machico, there are many hotels but you will need to identify what you want to do to choose the area: near the beaches – Praia de Machico and Praia de Sao Roque -, in the heights to enjoy the famous levadas , canals built in the slopes of hillsides in the mountains to irrigate sugar cane crops or to produce hydraulic electricity. In Machico, we find the Levada dos Maroços, a trail at 220 meters altitude, surrounded by cultures and gardens built in terraces, with a beautiful view of the valley. Not far east of Caniçal, the Ponta de Sao Lourenço (Pointe Saint-Laurent), the most important point in the east of Madeira Island, is found.

The west coast

Beaches and natural pools will make the paradise of swimmers and surfers to the west of the island. Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar, Jardim do Mar, Porto Moniz, Sao Vicente, Ponta Delgada, etc.: the west coast offers good surf spots in the waves of the Atlantic, with pretty seaside resorts where to sleep in Madeira.

Porto Santo

Want to stay in Madeira and feel like Robinson Crusoe? It is almost possible, by landing for the island of Porto Santo, nicknamed “Dorée Island”. It is the second populated island of Madeira, of volcanic origin, northeast of the main island. Long golden sand beaches and desert landscapes await you. Hiking – Pico de Facho and Pico de Ana Ferreira - and swimming in the Praia do Porto Santo await you by going to sleep in Porto Santo.