We love:

• The climate... there's basically only spring here, and if it does get a little warmer in summer, you simply head up into the mountains.
• The countless hiking opportunities along the levadas — and these hikes are mostly without major ascents or descents. But there are also wonderful hiking trails with varying difficulty levels.
• The unique volcanic landscape with towering mountains offering spectacular views of the ocean and the valleys.
• The friendly locals who almost all speak English and are incredibly helpful.
• The outstanding food and drink, which is extremely affordable by European standards (you'll find examples and recommendations in the text). The flora with its laurel forests (see separate section), botanical gardens, hydrangea blooms and tree ferns, and the many endemic flowers that still grow here in partly untouched nature.
• The whales and dolphins that still live here — we even spotted them outside the main season (April to October).

Madeira enjoys spring-like weather all year round.

The climate on Madeira is subtropical, but the high mountains and elevation differences of up to 1,900 meters create a weather divide between the north and south of the island.

As a general rule, the climate in the north of Madeira tends to be somewhat rainier, while the south stays rather dry and subtropically warm. At higher elevations it can get quite cool with more frequent rainfall. Fog often rolls in, and you may find yourself literally "in the clouds."

We visited Madeira over New Year's and the climate reminded us of a European spring, but with significantly more sunny days. In December and January we consistently had around 20°C, and even at night it never dropped below 14°C.

In summer, Madeira's climate turns pleasantly warm — about 26°C with up to 8 hours of sunshine, but never uncomfortably hot. There's a saying: The best time to visit Madeira is whenever you're there.

Tourism is booming on Madeira — over 1 million tourists visit the island each year. We experienced Madeira as an incredibly peaceful place. The locals are very helpful, and when you strike up a conversation, they often express how grateful they are for tourists who support the local economy. Most residents make their living directly or indirectly from tourism. What also stands out is that locals run the restaurants — there aren't as many chain restaurants as elsewhere. Many historic buildings and monuments are exceptionally well preserved, everything is clean, and you feel very safe on this island. The locals almost all speak English, and some even speak German. You can communicate easily and get by perfectly well without any Portuguese.

• In 1351, Madeira first appeared under the name Isola di Legno (Wood Island).
• In 1419/1420, two young ship captains, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira, claimed the small island they named Porto Santo, along with Madeira, for Portugal.
• Prince Henry the Navigator ordered the colonization, and around 1440 the first Malmsey vines were brought to Madeira. From 1456 onward, Madeira grew increasingly important and wealthy thanks to sugar exports.
• In 1960, Porto Santo's airport opened, followed by Madeira's airport in 1964.
• In 1976, Madeira became an autonomous region.
• From the year 2000, following the expansion of the airport, Madeira's expressway network was significantly developed.
• In 2010, parts of the southwest coast — especially Funchal — were devastated by heavy rainfall, and wildfires around Pico Arieiro destroyed sections of vegetation. Reforestation efforts continue to this day.

• The city was founded by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421.
• The city grew and became the capital in 1497, also serving as a bishopric since the 16th century. During this period, it became an important trading post for ships stopping in Funchal on their way to the colonies in Africa. Funchal was a wealthy city — naturally, it was a major hub for sugar and wine trade.
• In 1803, disaster struck when Funchal was flooded, claiming 600 lives. But the city was rebuilt piece by piece, and as a safeguard, the three rivers were channeled and straightened. Despite these measures, heavy rainfall caused severe damage and casualties again in February 2010.
• From the mid-19th century, European aristocracy discovered Madeira and with it Funchal, bringing a wave of prosperity to the city.
• In 1891, Scottish-born William Reid opened the luxury hotel Reid's Palace, which belongs to the Leading Hotels of the World. Since then, tourism in the city has grown steadily each year. Funchal is a beautiful city with hotels for every taste and budget, and you can dine here at very affordable prices.

Among the most famous people from Funchal are certainly the football players Cristiano Ronaldo and Artur de Sousa Pinga, as well as the composer Pedro Camacho and the artist Henrique Franco.

Extra Tip: In Funchal there is a tourist information office on the promenade, the Avenida Arriaga, staffed by very knowledgeable personnel. It's well worth a visit, as you can always get up-to-date tips here — especially about the numerous events in Funchal.