Madeira lies just off the coast of Portugal and was colonised by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Its mountainous slopes and hillsides have been cultivated with vineyards and orchards making it just as beautiful inland as along the coast.

Madeira holidays offer magnificent panoramic views that show off the island's lush greenery set against the deep azure sea. The historic features of Madeira are complimented by top-notch facilities and plenty of water sports activities.

An impressive cathedral sits in the heart of the Madeira's capital Funchal, which features winding cobbled streets and some interesting museums and tropical gardens. Funchal is the main place to go for Madeira holidays nightlife, with a selection of good bars and a handful of decent clubs in the downtown area.

The magnificent Madeira countryside, filled with flowers and basking in glorious sunshine, is a popular place with ramblers. Madeira holidays can also offer a variety of interesting excursions. Visit the finely cultivated gardens for a relaxing day out, featuring unusual flora and fauna native to the island.

Although Madeira has no beaches of its own, a day trip by ferry to the even smaller sister island of Porto Santo offers a 5 mile stretch of soft golden sand and quaint cobbled streets in the main town of Vila Baleira, where you can sit and enjoy a glass of fortified Madeira wine. Porto Santo is a popular excursion on Madeira holidays.

Did you know? Madeira has been producing ‘laranjada’ a carbonated orange drink since 1872, making it 14 years older than Coca Cola.