Cheap holidays to Madeira, Portugal from London Gatwick

Cheap Holidays Madeira

Madeira Island, Portugal
The Portugese island of Madeira is situated about 620 miles west of Lisbon and just under 500 miles from the coast of Africa. Part of an archipelago of volcanic islands including Porto Santo, Madeira enjoys a subtropical climate with average temperatures ranging from 16 - 25c. Lying in the path of the warm Gulf Stream, Madeira’s summers are warm and winters mild, making it a perfect year-round holiday destination.

For a relatively small island Madeira has a lot to offer. Rugged coast lines, fantastic scenery, beautiful beaches, and picturesque villages can all be enjoyed on holidays to Madeira, along with visits to exciting volcanic caves. The attractive island capital, Funchal, is also worth seeing, with its pretty squares, streets, and historical monuments.

Madeira beach holidays are very popular, but exploring the interior of the island, its ancient culture and beauty is a favourite pastime for visitors. There are alluring gardens and many impressive cathedrals, churches, and galleries. The gorgeous little harbour at Camara de lobos, five km west of Funchal, is well worth seeing. This pretty fishing port was Winston Churchill’s favourite holiday spot in the 1950s and a subject for many of his paintings. Another favourite tourist activity is to get a cable car up to the tiny hilltop village of Monte, and slide back to Funchal on a wicker toboggan ride. Madeira tourist information giving details on what to do, things to see, and where to stay, is readily available.

Gastronomes will be more than satisfied with the cuisine of Madeira. Sea-food, sword-fish, and tuna are often to be found on menus, as is fried corn and espetadas. Similar to kebabs, espetadas consist of chunks of meat and vegetables grilled on spits. Washed down with a glass of Madeira wine and followed by Madeiran honey cake, what could be more delicious?