Madeira Holidays - Portugal

Before embarking on his second stint as Prime Minister in 1951, Winston Churchill chose Madeira as his retreat; somewhere 'warm, paintable, comfortable and flowery' were his criteria and a friend came up with this perfect location to convalesce and restore his spirit.

Today, this semi-tropical speck in the Atlantic, 700km off the west coast of Africa still fulfils all his criteria. Holiday hotels here are how they used to be: staff remember your name and serve traditional afternoon tea and dinner is worth dressing up for. Many of our properties, including Reid's Palace where Churchill stayed, have pampering spas and are high on luxury. We are also sure you will like our collection of charming quintas: intimate hillside retreats with easy access to the island's levadas. These irrigation channels, carved into hillsides, criss-cross the island and provide walkers with an extensive network of trails from which to gain fantastic views of Madeira's jagged volcanic peaks and precipitous basalt cliffs.

Points of Interest in Madeira

Wonderful gardens and historic churches of Funchal.
Câmara de Lobos was one of Churchill's favourite painting spots.
Nun's Valley - a tiny village nestled deep in the mountains of Madeira's interior founded by nuns fleeing from invading pirates.
Watch spectacular sunsets from Ponta do Sol.
Sample different varieties of Madeiran wine at the many wine lodges thoughout the island.

Madeira Holiday Excursions

Tour Madeira's tumbling mountain countryside including the Pico do Arieiro, the island's second highest point, and Santana, famous for its A-shaped thatched cottages. Or take a scenic tour featuring Porto Moniz, with its natural bathing pools, and Cabo Girão, one of the world's highest sea cliffs. A full excursion programme is available; please see your Sovereign Concierge for details.

Hotels in Madeira

You are truly spoilt for choice when picking a hotel for your luxury holiday in Madeira. Offering superb panoramic views and lush tropical gardens, The Cliff Bay near Funchal never fails to impress. The privileged cliff-top location of the Pestana Carlton Madeira also boasts excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean and is just a ten minute walk from the centre of Funchal. Reid's Palace is a truly elegant and stylish hotel with facilities to match, whilst the CS Madeira Atlantic Resort & Sea Spa is a contemporary luxury hotel with superb leisure facilities and a highly regarded Thalassotherapy centre. Any of these superb hotels will provide everything you expect of a luxury holiday. See our full list of hotels in Madeira.