The beautifully designed Castanheiro Boutique Hotel successfully retains elements of the original building, located on a quiet road yet very close to the old town and amenities. Sea and hill views from the year round rooftop pool and hot tub are spectacular. Rooms are spacious, modern and clean, beds are extremely comfortable and breakfasts are excellent. Book a room.

Guide books for Portugal rarely go into any detail about the Madeira islands so you should consider buying a dedicated book.If you’re visiting Madeira without a car but want to explore the island, it makes most sense to choose accommodation in Funchal. Not only is the old town an interesting destination in its own right – see this post for what to do in Funchal– Madeira’s capital city is also the starting point for most organised tours and bus routes. Stone Lovers is a charming 1 bedroom cottage set above the village with its own pool and garden and a range of interesting features. See photos and full amenities Dedicated wine buffs should consult this guide Madeira: The islands and their wines (The Classic Wine Library)

There are several private villa and apartment rentals in this area too. Stay in Calheta for the marina and sandy beach Rest assured, Madeirans don’t always put their wine in a blender and are the custodians of a fortified wine that has found itself in some important glasses throughout history. The Americans got a taste for Madeira wine after it was collected and distributed during trade-route stopovers. The tipple was subsequently used to toast America’s Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 as well as the inauguration of George Washington as the USA’s first president in 1789. Read more about golfing in Madeira 4 star boutique accommodation in Funchal Castanheiro Boutique hotel rooftop pool and views

Madeira’s signature dish is espetada, chunks of beef marinated in garlic and bay leaves, skewered on a laurel branch or metal skewer, and grilled. To serve, the skewers are hung from unique contraptions, and diners pair them with bolo do caco, a type of bread made in part with sweet potato that’s toasted and slathered with garlic butter; milho frito, cubes of deep-fried polenta; and a green salad. I love digging into regional food and the Sunday market in Santo António da Serra, a mountaintop village in the island’s east, is Madeira’s culinary scene in miniature. Vendors assemble in the early morning and bring a huge variety of tropical fruits – bananas, of course, but also passionfruit, guava, papaya, custard apple, pitanga, tamarillo and other fruit generally more associated with South America. If you are more in the market for independent apartments and villas in Funchal, there are plenty to choose from. PLACES TO STAY IN MADEIRA EAST OF FUNCHAL

Being surrounded by water, it’s no surprise Madeira hauls in its fair share of seafood. Among the island’s seaborn delicacies are limpets or lapas, which are open shellfish resembling a barnacle. Plates of lapas are typically served with garlic and a squeeze of lemon to create a simple yet tasty starter. When it comes to mains, meat lovers can sink their teeth into espetadas (beef cubes speared with a bay leaf twig) and wine-marinated pork carne de vinho e alhos, while fish lovers can go for espada, or scabbardfish. There are several more original, boutique style hotels scattered throughout the hills of Funchal old town if you want a more unique experience. Old Town, Funchal Funchal Market Lido, Funchal 5 star hotels in Funchal If, like me, your interests centre around food and walking, this guidebook may fit the bill Madeira (Walk and Eat) (Walk & Eat) Unfortunately, Madeira isn’t exactly a budget destination. Accommodation is relatively expensive, with relatively few hostels or budget options, and a rental car is needed to get to the more remote corners of the island.

This delightful coastal village is a maze of cobbled streets and cute cottages with flower-filled gardens and stunning views. You need a car if you want to go exploring but note that many of these lanes are too narrow to drive down so you may need to leave your vehicle in the central car park and walk to your accommodation. Cobbled lanes, Jardim do Mar, Madeira island DK Eyewitness have thought of almost everything in their guide to the Top 10 (gardens, beaches, museums, walks etc.) Top 10 Madeira (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide) Unless your accommodation offers regular transfers to Funchal, or you’re happy to stay put, you’ll need a car to get around the rest of Madeira. With a vehicle, you have good access from Calheta to many of the popular walking trails in the west of the island. Special places to stay near Calheta