What to do in Madeira?

[sidicks]

We have booked a long weekend break in Madeira at the start of September (4 nights in total) - just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for what to do, where to eat etc?

Cheers

Sidicks

[Broomsticklady]

Thoroughly recommend the Fort restaurant in Funchal Old Town - past the 'drag' of restaurants and carry on to an orangey building which is a museum - go in there and you'll find the restaurant. Well recommended deservedly on Trip Advisor - suggest booking tho - gets busy. Excellent food and good VFM too - they don't stint on the inclusive wines!!

[llewop]

This

toboggan ride

more information on it:

http://www.love-madeira.com/monte-toboggan-madeira...

to save walking up to the start, there is a cable car that goes from the sea front to a point not to far away, so a nice 'round trip'

[A2Z]

llewop said:

This

toboggan ride

more information on it:

http://www.love-madeira.com/monte-toboggan-madeira...

to save walking up to the start, there is a cable car that goes from the sea front to a point not to far away, so a nice 'round trip'

We have done this and it was good fun but we didn't get the "nice round trip". The sled coudn't make it all the way into town with traffic, hill flattening out etc and we were all left by the road side about 2/3 of the way down whilst the pickups came to take the sled back to the top. Seem to remember there was quite a wait at a lonely bus stop for a few of us (there were no taxis passing).

[llewop]

A2Z said:

llewop said:

This

toboggan ride

more information on it:

http://www.love-madeira.com/monte-toboggan-madeira...

to save walking up to the start, there is a cable car that goes from the sea front to a point not to far away, so a nice 'round trip'

We have done this and it was good fun but we didn't get the "nice round trip". The sled coudn't make it all the way into town with traffic, hill flattening out etc and we were all left by the road side about 2/3 of the way down whilst the pickups came to take the sled back to the top. Seem to remember there was quite a wait at a lonely bus stop for a few of us (there were no taxis passing).

hmm - I will confess we had the benefit of a coach for the last bit - and onwards to a Medeira tasting since it was part of a tour from our cruise ship. But there did seem to buses and taxi's around - also I'm sure it's not more than a mile/mile and a half or so for the remainder of the way back to 'town'... downhill.

[rmaurer]

Dinner here was awesome if you like Thai/Asian food: http://www.choupanahills.com/en/en_index.html
A bit of a taxi ride up into the hills above Funchal but the views were amazing.

[jackal]

sidicks said:

We have booked a long weekend break in Madeira at the start of September (4 nights in total) - just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for what to do, where to eat etc?

Cheers

Sidicks

Ask to sit in the cockpit for the landing.

Kai Tak stylee approach.

Edited by jackal on Monday 25th July 18:09

[sidicks]

Thanks for the recommendations so far!

Sidicks

[Farmerpalmer]

We have just returned from a great week in funchal, madeira. We have now been 6 times - so we do like it.
If you like shopping, there is "forum shopping centre" in the monumental lido area. it has some nice shops and is close to the coast.
http://www.forummadeira.com/
Also there is which is a huge shopping centre, set in the hills above funchal - it is only a short taxi ride, and is well worth a visit if you are a serious shopper. there is a multiscreen cinema and lots of restuarants etc.
http://www.madeirashopping.pt/index.php

see:
"mhttp://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/index.htmladeira shopping"

Taxis's can take you on a guided tour of the island, fix the price with the driver, and is often better than sharing a minibus with lots of people. lots of beautiful villages and mountains etc

lots of good eating places - as mentioned, see tripadvisor - anything in the top 10 is worth a visit, especially "the forte". 35 euro for the all inclusive a la carte menu, and includes all your wines with each course. well worth a visit.

There is a city bus, which iike alot of cities goes in a big loop around town and surrounding area - it is a hop on, hop off type, and your ticket lasts all day (9am -6pm ish)

see:
http://www.themadeiratimes.com/#

If you are staying in funchal, there is alot which you can walk to. lots of gardens close to town. or you can visit the botanical gardens via the cable car. Probably avoid the toboggan ride, as it is 25 euro to go 200 metres!
It is a steep, but doable walk from monte back down to funchal central.
Have a great time.

[Cupramax]

jackal said:

Ask to sit in the cockpit for the landing.

Kai Tak stylee approach.

Long gone are the days you can do that, didn't a Thomas Cook pilot get sacked recently for letting Robbie Savage on the flight deck, as yes...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1162757/Le...

[macar]

Eating, go to the old town for authentic (wander up the streets to the rear of the cable car), try eating the sinister black fish (only found in deep water around Madeira and Japan).
Afternoon tea, a must at Reids Hotel (need a shirt/jacket)
Toboggan is ok, not as good as it was though
Walking, the levada walks are what Madeira is known for, you can book through your hotel
Boat trips, usually 1/2 day to see the whales
Fishing, lots of charter boats in the harbour for game fishing
Helicopter rides, down by the harbour, have to pre book as they wait until the flights full (5No), the 45 minute tour around the coast is excellant
Booze, try the Madeira wine lodges in town. I think Blandys has a room for sampling Madeira from whatever year you choose, you buy by the glass, great for anniversaries (great for getting pissed with approval from the missus)
Thats enough for one weekend, oh the taxis from the airport are driven by ex rally drivers(or so they say)
Which hotel are you saying in?

[anonymous-user]

Rent a car. The roads out of the towns are fantastic.