October 31 2022

10 Reasons why Madeira Island is special

Madeira – Region in Portugal. Madeira Islands is a Portuguese archipelago of volcanic origin, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal and its capital city is Funchal, the biggest city in Madeira Island; and has an estimated population of 270,000. Click here for more info.

Port of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal.

There are many reasons why Madeira is an exciting destination. Not only has it won “World’s Leading Island Destination” for seven consecutive years, but it also holds a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Laurisilva of Madeira is a “Strict Reserve” believed to be the largest Laurel forest type, protecting 39 rare and threatened species of animals and plants. It is considered to be a living relic.

Early morning mist in the ancient Laurisilva Forest at Fanal, Madeira, Portugal. Photo by Colin Watts.

Travelling to Madeira island is easy. There are flights to Madeira every day from Europe’s main airports such as Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, Charles du Gaulle in France, and Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Germany. Airlines such as TAP Air Portugal and EasyJet constantly fly to Madeira Airport in Santa Cruz, Portugal. Now that you know where to start your next journey to Madeira, let’s dive into our 10 top reasons to visit Madeira island!

1. World’s Leading Island Destination

Madeira Island is a 10/10 when it comes to travel. It has won “World’s Leading Island Destination” since 2015 awarded by the World Travel Awards, surpassing Bali and the Maldives.

2. Tropical Weather

The Archipelago of Madeira thrives with excellent weather all year long. Making Funchal an attractive holiday destination in Europe. Especially during summer and winter time.

Looking east along the north coast of Madeira Island, Portugal. Photo by Colin Watts.

3. Sustainable Destination

Madeira is considered to be a sustainable travel destination, as there are many ways of discovering the island leaving little impact on the environment. Sustainable tourism highly supports the island’s socio-economic transformation, allowing small businesses like ours to remain open to the public.

Ponta de São Lourenço, Estr. de São Lourenço, Canical, Portugal. Photo by Piotr Musioł.

4. Madeira’s Flower Festival

Every year, Madeira island hosts its traditional “Flower Festival” event celebrating the region’s flora, fauna, culture, biodiversity, and more. You’ll get to spot beautiful floral carpets across the island. It’s a wonderful event to spend with the family and learn more about Madeira’s traditions. The festival takes place from April 27th to May 21st, so make sure to book your tickets on time. Click here for more info.

Flower Festival Woman in 2021, Madeira, Portugal. — Flower Festival 2021, Madeira, Portugal. Photo by Daniele Franchi.

5. Hiker’s Paradise

Madeira is well-known to be a hiker’s paradise as we host several hiking spots, Levada walks and trekking trails where you can adventure yourself safely on the island. Pico do Ruivo situated in Santana, is the highest point in Madeira and the third-highest mountain in Portugal. It is blessed with unique flora and fauna and has an altitude of almost 2000m above sea level, more info here. Enjoy the best of our nature, but remember to plan your hiking adventures safely, preferably on a clear day.

6. Travel Distance

There are many incredible places and lodges to stay in Madeira only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Funchal. Driving in Madeira is the best way to experience the abundance of beauty on the island as many activities are away from the city. We recommend hiring an automatic car to have a safer and more pleasant sightseeing experience. Automatic Madeira has a large fleet of hybrid cars allowing you to save money and use fewer natural resources on your trip. Click here to make a reservation to hire a car in Madeira.

Automatic Rental Cars. Toyota Yaris Cross year 2022, book this car now.

7. New Year’s Eve Firework Show

Madeira hosts one of the biggest fireworks shows in the world. In fact, Madeira held a Guinness World Records™ for the “Largest Fireworks Display in the World” in 2006 due to its “truly amazing massive burst of colour”. We strongly believe that our island’s New Year’s celebration is a one-in-a-lifetime experience and we highly recommend this 10-minute show. See a short video clip from the 2021-2022 celebration below.

New Year’s Eve Firework Show. View from Santo António, Funchal. Video by Automaticrentalcars.com

8. Paradisiac Beaches

If planning a longer visit to the island, we recommend you save a day to visit Porto Santo Island, a member of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. A paradisiac island only a ferry away on the Porto Santo Line. The Ferry Lobo Marinho, is an iconic ship that transports travellers from the centre of Funchal to Porto Santo in less than 3 hours. Also known as the “Golden Island” or “Ilha Dourada” by Madeirans, Porto Santo was made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on October 2020.

Island of Porto Santo. Photo by Daniele Franchi.

9. Portuguese Gastronomy

Gastronomy on Madeira island deserves special mention. Our food consists mainly of seafood, but there are also several vegetarian and vegan options for traditional Portuguese food. Among our favourites dishes, are the Madeiran speciality fried Lapas or Limpets, the traditional Espetada Madeirense, and the delicious Prego no Bolo do Caco. Don’t forget to order the iconic Brisa Maracujá with your meal, a local drink from the island.

In order of appearance: Brisa Maracujá. Espetada Madeirense. Lapas fritas. Photo byw360.pt

10. Natural Pools

You can get to experience almost every form of nature on the island due to our rich biodiversity and geographical location. From mountains to beaches, and from plain lands to snow, we couldn’t finish this list without mentioning the incredible natural pools of Porto Moniz. Located in the northern part of the island and almost an hour’s drive from Funchal via the VE2, ER104 and ER101. A true spectacle of vibrant blues.

Porto Moniz, Portugal natural pools. Photo by Torben Höhn

Selecting only 10 reasons of why Madeira is so special was not an easy task. We strongly believe that Madeira’s energy is healing, its nature is peaceful and its landscapes are beautiful. The island has indeed a harmonious frequency that resonates with a lot of us.

We feel like this list captures the full splendour of the island from a local perspective, as we are a small family business in Funchal. Our boutique car rental company specialises in renting automatic cars only, as they are safer and more comfortable to drive on the steep and narrow roads of the island. As locals, we are aware that hiring prices for automatic cars in Madeira are usually very high and rental vehicles don’t meet customers’ expectations. We are also aware that big car rental agencies are not very reliable with their customer service.

Our philosophy as a company is to provide our drivers with the best customer service, best car rental prices and most ‘up to date’ reliable cars in Madeira Island. Our team consists of industry experts aiming to meet your travel needs. Learn more about our values here.

As a gesture to you for staying with us until the end, here is another reason why Madeira island is so special. Hope you get to enjoy one of these magical sunsets with us.