The island of Madeira deserves more than a just a weekend visit – ideally a week, but if a weekend is all you have time for, here is how to spend a weekend, or 48 hours in Madeira, to make the most of your trip!
Day One
Start your morning in the one of the luxurious self-catering apartments of Solar Do Ribeiro, which overlooks Funchal, the city harbor and the beautiful coastline.
Once you have soaked up the beautiful coastline, you can walk a little down the way from Solar Do Ribeiro Luxury Apartments to the Farmers’ Market which is located in the heart of Funchal’s historical city centre. It is here where you can experience the aromas and taste the exotic fruits of Funchal.
The next stop on your trip is the Funchal Cable Cars to enjoy the panoramic views from Funchal to the surrounding mountains of the town of Monte! When you hop off the cable cars in Monte, be sure to visit Monte Palace Museum – tour the museum which is enriched with ostentatious stone ornamentation, windows, niches, pagodas, Buddhas, lanterns and sculptures from different parts of the world, cultures and eras.
In the evening, you can enjoy a lovely meal on the balcony of your Solar Do Ribeiro apartment – a great ending to a great first day exploring Madeira.
Day Two
Wake up early for a hike that can be only a trail (known as vereda) or a footpath alongside a watercourse (known as levada). This is one of the best ways to experience the wonderful and thrilling landscapes of the island.
After you have finished your hike, you can take on the next thrilling adventure: wicker tobogganing. Wicker tobogganing, dating back to the 1850’s, was used as the primary downhill public transportation in Funchal. Today, it is a famous attraction amongst tourists – it is described as “adventurous 2km journey”.
On your last night on this beautiful island, you can enjoy the delicious foods at restaurants near your Solar Do Ribeiro Luxury apartment – and try soak up the last bit of time you have on the island.
What are you waiting for?
Book your stay at Solar Do Ribeiro right now!