dolphins

From mountain hikes and whale watching to wine tasting and gourmet dining – there’s no shortage of things to do in Madeira

It didn’t take us long to discover that Madeira is an island of striking contrasts. Towering mountains and plunging valleys, a vibrant city and unspoilt natural parks. Even the weather keeps you on your toes, shifting from overcast skies to dazzling sunshine in moments, thanks to the island’s many microclimates.

The capital, Funchal, is defined by its charming mosaic cobblestones in the cathedral quarter, winding restaurant-lined lanes in the old town, and a sweeping seafront promenade with steps leading down to the sea for those fancying a spontaneous swim.

During our walking tour of the city, we took in the elaborate gothic cathedral, indulged in sweet treats at the celebrated chocolatier Uaucacau, and stumbled upon exotic fruits we’d never encountered before at the central market – from banana passion fruit to monstera deliciosa, which apparently tastes remarkably similar to pineapple when fully ripened, reports OK!.

READ MORE: I doubled the fun on my Italian city break with two incredible cities, just a train ride apart

There’s no shortage of things to discover beyond the city either, as we found out when we ventured further afield around the island.

Madeira: an island built for adventure

Feeling energetic, we tackled the Vereda da Ponta de Sao Lourenço, a 7km round-trip hike leading to the most easterly tip of Madeira. The rocky trail demands a fair amount of stair-climbing, but the payoff is absolutely worth it – jaw-dropping panoramic views of the stunning coastline await. We’d strongly advise heading out early, as the path becomes considerably crowded from mid-morning onwards.

A jeep tour offers the finest way to explore the island’s north coast. Our itinerary took in beaches, waterfalls and a rum distillery where we sampled the local beverage Poncha Regional – a blend of rum, honey, lemon and orange juice. But the true standout moment came when venturing off-road into the verdant laurel forest, jolting along the muddy paths surrounded by tropical vegetation.

For our subsequent excursion, we headed to the harbour to embark on a whale-watching trip. We ended up considerably more drenched than anticipated as we raced across the ocean in our rib. While the rear seat might be the safest option for those prone to seasickness, it’s also where the majority of the spray appears to hit. We were, however, treated to the sight of a pod of bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the waves – and the tour guide graciously offered us a towel!

For a more tranquil afternoon we travelled to the spa at The Vine Hotel to experience its Red Wine Divine Bath. The 90-minute treatment features a gentle exfoliation using crushed grape seeds, a soak in a bubbling tub of red wine-infused water – with a glass of wine to savour for that additional touch of indulgence – and a full body massage to round off the blissful experience.

Discover the Madeira Wine Festival

The Madeira Wine Festival takes place from late August through to mid-September and offers a fantastic opportunity to experience the island at its liveliest. It’s a tribute to local wine-making heritage, featuring concerts and theatrical shows across multiple locations. We made our way to the Wine Lounge along Funchal’s waterfront, where live entertainment accompanied pop-up stands from 11 Madeiran wine makers, giving us the chance to try numerous varieties. We also dropped by Quinta do Furão for its yearly celebrations, which included a buffet lunch, wine sampling and the chance to tread grapes barefoot.

Naturally, you don’t have to wait for the festival to enjoy Madeira’s wines. During a guided experience and tasting at Blandy’s Wine Lodge in Funchal, we discovered the wine-making techniques and were amazed by the enormous 9,000-litre oak casks. We also took part in a vineyard visit at Quinta Das Malvas, where we discovered how they combine vines through grafting to shield them from illness and why roses play a crucial role in assessing vine wellbeing.

Where to eat: restaurant recommendations and regional specialities

There’s certainly no lack of upmarket dining establishments in Madeira. We began our culinary adventure at Akua, a seafood spot nestled down a quiet side street in Funchal, where the tuna tartare cones and jumbo tiger prawn proved to be the highlights. At Three House, we savoured the chef’s table experience, where every dish is crafted right before your eyes. We’d highly recommend the red snapper ceviche and tacos packed with the local delicacy, black scabbardfish. Make sure you head up to the rooftop bar afterwards for a cocktail (open Wednesday to Saturday).

For an upmarket dining experience with breathtaking views, Avista is an absolute must. The outdoor terrace gazing out over the ocean is truly stunning, and our scallops with lime risotto and crème brûlée dessert were simply divine.

At Audax, we treated ourselves to the tasting menu – five courses crafted by the chef to capture the traditional flavours of Madeira, reimagined with a contemporary flair. Every dish was strikingly presented and packed with flavour. Over at Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, we were won over by the sophisticated monochrome interior, gourmet dishes made from locally sourced produce and spectacular sunset views.

Where to stay in Madeira

Pestana Quinta Perestrello is a charming 37-room hotel on the outskirts of Funchal, lovingly converted from a traditional manor house. Its modest size lends it a wonderfully homely atmosphere, complete with a snug reading room and a quaint garden pool. Guests can also take advantage of the two neighbouring Pestana properties, which boast larger pools, restaurants and a health club. Central Funchal is just a 15-minute stroll away.

For a more indulgent experience, Casa Velha is a five-star boutique hotel situated alongside the breathtaking Palheiro Gardens. Here, the décor is opulent, the grounds are magnificent and the ambience is one of pure serenity. The restaurant Oxalis specialises in regional dishes with a contemporary twist and merits a visit even if you’re not staying there, as do the Palheiro Gardens themselves, where hundreds of plant species from across the globe flourish and trees soar to heights of 46 metres.

Arrange your own island getaway

For further details on accommodation, dining options and activities, head to VisitMadeira. EasyJet and British Airways provide direct flights to Funchal from the UK.

I’VE never tried synchronised swearing before – but then again, I’ve never been in a crowd being buzzed by a low-altitude jet fighter.

F***!! we yelled as a Blue Angels “sneak” pilot screamed over us and we watched the other five planes from the flight soaring in perfect formation high in the sky.

What made it even more exciting was that we were on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico, basking in 30C heat.

It was a highlight of our visit to Pensacola in the Florida panhandle (the top bit).

While still new to many Brits, this was familiar territory to our ancestors.

It has a claim to be America’s oldest city, established by Spanish conquerors in 1559, and is now known as The City Of Five Flags as it has also been ruled by France, the good guys from Great Britain, the Confederate States of America and, of course, the US.

DRINK IT IN

Adult-only campsite in the middle of a cider farm & you can stay for £17 each

NO KID-DING

Train company launches adult-only carriages – and kids are BANNED

The latter were fighting for strategic military importance, which is why it is now home to a US Navy base — and that formation- flying team, the oldest in the English- speaking world.

But forget the strategic importance, just go here for the beaches.

They are incredible. White sand, warm water, more dolphins than you can shake a flipper at, and plenty of pelicans.

There are also hundreds of restaurants, bars, coffee and souvenir shops, and a host of top hotels including the Hilton Pensacola Beach where we stayed.

The latter is a great stay, with charming staff, superb pools, a welcoming outdoor bar and a fine restaurant.

Best of all was its location, though it’s not in “downtown” Pensacola.

It’s on, as its name suggests, Pensacola Beach — an offshore resort on the island of Santa Rosa, linked by bridge to its big brother.

If you’re not driving, there’s the Pensacola Bay City Ferry, shuttling between downtown, Pensacola Beach and the historic Fort Pickens, well worth a visit in its own right. You can buy daily hop-on, hop-off tickets.

Also, when the Blue Angels practise, most Tuesdays, you can do what we did and, for about £25, book a cruise out to sea to catch all the action.

Pensacola and Pensacola Beach provides you with the ideal two-centre holiday without much travelling.

Head downtown and you can revel in rich history — with lots of helpful signage, marked walking paths and the Veterans Memorial Park — as well as enjoying art shops and museums and event spaces.

Our visit coincided with the Pensacola Seafood Festival. Stalls sell everything from cheese-flavoured popcorn and artisan beers to, er, mermaid outfits.

We didn’t buy much, as wifey had blown our budget on a painting of a seahorse from a lovely art shop on the main drag, Palafox Street.

Once you are tired of the culture and shopping, and have eaten and drunk your fill — check my guide, above, to Pensacola dining — what are you going to do? That’s right, head back over the bridge to the beaches.

Get yourself a boat trip to go dolphin-spotting — you can see them while you are driving over the bridge but it is an offence to stop there.

We went with Captain Steve after booking with friskyboattours.com — and that man knows how to find a dolphin.

He’s also really good at explaining the area, and identifying passing birds.

One of those passing birds was an osprey, and we ventured a little farther afield one day to see if we could find some more.

It meant sacrificing the beaches for a while as we headed inland to Tarkiln Bayou State Park, where a marked trail — the Americans are good at that — tells you what you may see.

It leads you on a beautiful, tranquil route, past rare carnivorous pitcher plants (I read the sign) to a hidden lake. It was lovely but there were no ospreys, which was surprising given the number of tasty fish we saw swimming around.

No problem, they were there at next stop, Big Lagoon State Park.

Observation towers give you a great view of the wildlife — the resting osprey being trumped for me by a great blue hero flapping past at eye level.

I did mention not many Brits know about Pensacola — whose social-media marketing message is #thewaytobeach — and some of the locals would like to keep it that way.

We had flown from Heathrow on a Virgin Atlantic booking with partner airline Delta, changing planes at Atlanta.

It wasn’t as fast as the Blue Angels, but it was much less noisy and much more comfortable.

While we were waiting for our connecting flight to Pensacola, we chatted to a couple who, it turned out, had a condo on Pensacola Beach.

They were puzzled why we were going there and I explained I was writing a piece for a British newspaper.

“Don’t”, they said, “It’s our secret.”

Sorry.

CRAB CAKE OR TACOS?

YOU won’t go hungry or thirsty in Pensacola. Here’s our guide to dining of all kinds, from flip-flop to fine, at the beach and downtown.

BEACH

Flounder’s Chowder House: Big portions and bargain Bushwhackers (the local signature cocktail, a chocolatey rum-based concoction). Family-friendly with great play areas.

Bamboo Willie’s: Home of frozen cocktails, a perfect spot to chill.

Casino Beach Bar and Grille: Overlooks the pier. Totally relaxing, with great views and food.

The Grand Marlin: A wonderful atmosphere, tremendous seafood, views to die for.

Native Cafe: All-day breakfast joint the locals love. Try Crab Cakes Benny – muffin, crab cakes and poached eggs with hollandaise sauce.

Red Fish Blue Fish: The perfect beachfront restaurant and bar. Go for the shrimp tacos.

Salt: Signature restaurant at the Hilton Pensacola Beach. Beautifully prepared seafood and the best steak I’ve had in ages.

DOWNTOWN

Bodacious Shops: Classy coffee and breakfast staples plus artisanal olive oils and vinegars to buy.

The Fish House: Go for baked oysters. Also home to Grits à Ya Ya – tasty shrimp on a savoury porridge.

Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grill: Perfect spot next to the ferry port. Try the crab cakes or mahi tacos.

Maker’s Cafe: Welcoming spot, perfect for coffee and cake.

Union Public House and The Well: Neighbouring venues – a great gastro pub and a cocktail bar where they mix a drink to match your mood.

SUN-seeking holidaymakers can save up to 30 per cent on packages for one of Florida’s top attractions.

The limited-time deal is the perfect chance to lock in a tropical escape to Orlando’s most exclusive park: Discovery Cove.

Discovery Cove Orlando packages: save up to 30%

If there’s any such thing as a classic bucket-list item, it’s swimming with dolphins – and that’s something you can do without breaking the bank this summer.

Discovery Cove in Orlando has just slashed prices for 2026, and we’ve got the inside track on how to stack your savings.

Right now, you can get up to 15 per cent off 2026 Discovery Cove packages.

But the real win for savvy readers is using the code SUNNY at checkout to snag an extra 15 per cent off – that’s a potential overall saving of 30 per cent.

For families watching the pennies, the Ultimate Package is the undisputed star of the show.

Not only do you get a full day of luxury at Discovery Cove, but it also includes 14 days of unlimited access to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica.

SET SAIL

The ULTIMATE family cruise is here – with a water roller coaster & private island

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It’s the best way to beat the 2026 rush and guarantee two weeks of world-class thrills for one upfront price.

The best part? Once you step inside this hidden island oasis, you can put your wallet away.

Discovery Cove is all-inclusive, meaning your breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks are all covered.

You’ll spend the day getting up close and personal with some of the friendliest, most playful animals in Florida.

Head to the Dolphin Lagoon to step into the calm waters and see a dream come to life as you’re greeted by a bottlenose dolphin.

SET SAIL

The ULTIMATE family cruise is here – with a water roller coaster & private island

Discovery Cove Orlando packages: save up to 30%

If you want to explore further, you can snorkel through the Grand Reef, a vast underwater world where thousands of tropical fish and graceful rays drift over colourful coral.

For a change of pace, visit the Freshwater Oasis to see the fun-loving otters.

You can also stroll through the lush landscapes of Flamingo Point to observe the beauty of Caribbean Flamingos.

They even provide all the essentials, including snorkel gear, wetsuits, animal-safe suncream, towels and lockers.

With a strict limit of just 1,300 guests per day, you can dodge every theme park visitor’s nightmare: endless lines of slow-moving queues in the Florida heat.

Because capacity is capped, the park stays peaceful, allowing you to move at your own pace without the usual crowds.

Instead of waiting in line, you’ll be swimming through serene lagoons or hand-feeding tropical birds in the aviary.

You can book with confidence via AttractionTickets.com, a package provider with a stellar 4.8 Trustpilot rating.

This flash sale ends on March 31, so you’ll need to move fast if you have the Orange State in your sights this summer.

Another once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience is taking to the sea – and Norwegian Cruises Lines offers an incredible range of packages.

European travellers shouldn’t miss a theme park near Paris where kids can go free all summer.

Planning a hol closer to home? There’s a new £450 million Center Parks in Scotland underway with its own ‘subtropical swimming paradise’.

SACRAMENTO — Senior Ayla Teegardin of Palisades held her head high on Saturday morning. A 51-37 loss to Yuba City Faith Christian in the state Division IV girls basketball final at Golden 1 Center couldn’t lessen the inspiring backstory of how she and her Dolphin teammates had already won by making it to the final despite all the trial and tribulations of the Palisades Fire that destroyed a community in January 2025.

Teegardin lost her home, spent three months in a hotel and battled to regain her teenage life.

“I struggled with a lot of anxiety coming into games,” she recalled.

Basketball and teammates kept her focused. This season has been another challenging time with practices at night and at middle schools until the high school gym was finally re-opened at the end of January.

“That traumatic situation has brought everyone closer,” first-year coach Lebre Merritt said.

On Saturday, Palisades (16-14) fought Faith Christian (34-1) to almost a draw at halftime, trailing 29-26. But the Dolphins scored only 11 points in the second half and had no answer for Long Beach State-bound Lauren Harris, who came in as the nation’s career three-point scoring leader while averaging 31.2 points this season. She finished with 26 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. She made a half-court shot at the end of the first quarter.

Elly Tierney of Palisades did her best on offense with 15 points and six rebounds. Teegardin finished with three points and six rebounds. Only three players scored the entire game for Faith Christian.

The Dolphins outrebounded Faith Christian 43-33 but made only 15 of 63 shots.