See what the experts are saying about Madeira. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
853km (529 miles) SW of Portugal, 564km (350 miles) W of the African coastline The island of Madeira, 850km (527 miles) southwest of Portugal, is just the mountain peak of an enormous volcanic mass. The island's craggy spires and precipice... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Riding a Toboggan -- Madeira's most fabled activity is taking a carro de cesto ride in a wicker-sided sled from the high-altitude suburb of Monte to Funchal. Two drivers run alongside the sled to control it as it careens across slippery cobbl... Continue reading »
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Planning a trip
Arriving The quickest and most convenient way to reach Madeira from Lisbon is on a 90-minute TAP flight. The daily flights (9-13, depending on the season) stop at the Madeira airport then go on to Porto Santo. Getting to Madeira's capit... Continue reading »
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Fast facts
Area Code -- The country code for Portugal is 351; the area code for Madeira is 29. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) -- Most ATMs (available 24 hr. a day) are found in Funchal. But there are also some ATMs in towns throughout the island.... Continue reading »
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Getting around
Remember that distances are short on Madeira, but you should allow plenty of time to cover them because of the winding roads. By Bus -- The cheapest, albeit slowest, way to get around Madeira is by bus. If you want to tour on your own, you... Continue reading »
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Island layout
The capital of Madeira, Funchal (pop. 100,000), is the focal point of the island and the gateway to its outlying villages. When Zarco landed in 1419, the sweet odor of wild fennel led him to name the town after the aromatic herb (funcho in Po... Continue reading »
Madeira Travel Experiences
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Bracing weather
Travel NotesMadeira January 2007BackgroundThe island of Madeira is the largest of a handful of small volcanic islands in the Atlantic, of... Continue reading »
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Gardens and rain
I visited two botanical gardens .. the private one is Monte Real Palace Tropical Gardens and is accessible by a cable car from the seafro... Continue reading »
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Funchal market
Funchal market is a lively place with only a limited amount of merchandise aimed for tourists. It is especially interesting for the fish... Continue reading »
