Though it’s only 35 miles long and 14 miles wide, small-but-mighty Madeira packs a punch when it comes to walking holidays. A landscape crisscrossed with scenic mountain walking trails combined with colourful culture, food, and yearround sunshine, it’s hard not to be smitten by the ‘floating garden’ of the Atlantic.

Madeira’s charming capital has plenty to please. Stroll around the colourful farmers’ market where vendors offer samples of exotic fruits and vegetables, or lunch at the excellent seafood restaurants secreted away in the backstreets behind the marina. Explore the old quarter or hop on the cable car to visit Monte Palace botanical gardens. The city also has a museum dedicated to the island’s homegrown football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Perched over one of the world’s highest sea cliffs at a lofty 580m above sea level, this glass-bottomed viewing platform is not for the faint hearted. But if you can brave stepping out onto the suspended walkway, you’ll be rewarded with views of Funchal in the distance and the surrounding Cabo Girão cliffs.  

Pico Ruivo stands as the tallest peak on the island, reaching a remarkable height of 1,862m (6,109ft). It’s surprisingly easy to visit - you can enjoy a climb to the summit in a couple of hours by following the stone-paved path that starts from the car park.  

No visit to Madeira would be complete without sampling the fortified wine that made the island famous. Grapes grown in the island’s volcanic, nutrient-rich soils make for interesting wine profiles, flavoured with combinations of caramel, peach, hazelnut, orange peel, walnut oil, and burnt sugar.

These coastal villages are highlights of Madeira. Porto da Cruz is a picturesque settlement nestled along the island’s northeast coast, featuring a landmark church and a sugar factory dating back to 1927. Caniçal is steeped in history as it once supported Madeira’s thriving whaling industry. Today, this laid-back fishing village on the east coast is the perfect spot for a boat trip and leisurely walks along the Levada do Caniçal. 

For food fans, Madeira’s must-tries include warm bolo do caco bread brushed with garlic butter and parsley, fish such as octopus, tuna, or black scabbard, and espetada – a grilled skewer of cubed beef rubbed with salt and garlic. For a sweet treat, try bolo de mel (honey cake) and round off with a glass of poncha – a sugarcane brandy punch made with honey and lemon juice, typically served at fiestas.

Madeira is a haven for nature lovers. Nearly a quarter of the island is blanketed in UNESCO-listed laurel forest, home to rare flora such as the striking orange perennial known as the ‘bird-of-paradise,’ Madeira’s national flower. For twitchers, the east’s São Lourenço Peninsula is an Important Bird Area that offers dramatic walks and the chance to spot species including Bulwer’s Petrel, Madeira Chaffinch, and Red-legged Partridge.

In the early 15th century short, simple water channels were created to redirect streams from the mountains, providing essential water for irrigating crops and running mills. To help maintain these levadas, paths were added alongside them, which today allow walkers to explore the island with ease.

• Levada das 25 Fontes 

  This trail takes you past a collection of the Rabaçal Valley’s most impressive waterfalls and springs. Be sure to take a short detour to Risco waterfall in the heart of the jungle.   
  

• Levada do Castelejo

  Starting in the village of Roque do Faial, this trail follows the levada from its source and through the Sao Roque valley, taking in views of high peaks and agricultural land.   
  

• Levada do Alecrim

  Located on the west of the island, the Levada do Alecrim offers sweeping views down the Rabaçal Valley. This side of the island differs greatly from the high volcanic peaks of the east and rolling moorland offers panoramas over the sea in both directions on a clear day.