Madeira

Praia do Garajau

A black sandy beach that sits close to Canico, Praia do Garajau is a great place to sit back and take in the sun, or to take a refreshing dip in the sea. It’s also one of the best places on the island to visit if you fancy trying your hand at scuba diving, with a cable car that provides easy access from the cliffs above.

Monte

The trip up to the village of Monte is one of the most popular attractions in Funchal, with a cable car running from the Old Town up to the mountaintop village that overlooks the city. As well as being able to take in stunning views across Funchal, you can spend some time visiting the old church and could even make the return trip on one of the famous Monte toboggans; which date back to the 19th century.

Levada Nova

Maderia is known for the network of small canals that cross the island and which were used to carry water down from the mountains and to help with the local crops. Alongside these irrigation channels are a number of footpaths and Levada Nova is one near to Calheta that is worth exploring as it winds through hills and forests, taking in local villages and some of the most impressive scenery on the island.

Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau

Perhaps better known as Christ the King, the Miradouro do Cristo Rei do Garajau is an art deco statue that is located on the cliffs in Garajau – a short distance away from Canico. Actually finished before the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, it was built to remember those non-Catholic people who had their bodies thrown from the cliffs back in the days when only Catholic people could be buried on the island.

Cathedral of Funchal

The cathedral within Funchal is one of the most historic buildings in the city and is famous for its breathtaking design, which includes a gothic canopy and a range of sculptures and paintings that date back hundreds of years. It’s certainly worth a visit whilst exploring the old part of the city.

Hit the beach in Calheta

The golden sands that make up the beach in Calheta have been brought in from Morocco and it means that the beach in the resort is a world away from most of those seen in Madeira – which tend to be made up of a mixture of stone and shingle. The beach is protected by the sea walls and can get busy during the summer months as people look to make the most of the favourable weather conditions.