Forget Paris and its jam-packed Haussmann-designed streets, Bali and the overpriced wellness retreats for valley girls, and Cancun with the luxurious all-inclusives that feel like anything but Mexico:
According to Tripadvisor, the world’s trendiest destination for 2026 is a barely-known, small Portuguese island that’s recently been awarded the title ‘Hawaii of Europe’.
Better even, Americans can fly there nonstop, without the usual unnecessary layovers in larger hubs, and round-trip fares are cheaper than you might think!
At a length of only 35 miles from east to west, and approximately 14 miles at its widest point, Madeira has charted higher than any other tourism hotspot in the world’s largest travel platform’s latest official ranking.
Having written extensively about, and been to Madeira ourselves, we can’t say we’re surprised:
For starters, where even is Madeira?
A Slice Of Portugal Off The Coast Of Africa
If you were curious enough to pull up Google Maps and you’ve been looking at a map of Portugal, befuddled, as you can’t find an island named Madeira anywhere, maybe you want to zoom out a little and keep your eyes peeled for a tiny landmass of the coast of West Africa instead.
Yep, you’ve read that right:
Although Madeira is a Portuguese island, inhabited by the Portuguese since the late 15th century, it’s located a whole 620 miles from mainland Europe. From Africa, or more specifically the coast of Morocco, it’s a much-shorter 310 miles.
Madeira sits on the African tectonic plate, but it’s Portuguese through and through:
Its gorgeous capital, Funchal, is a spiritual sibling of Lisbon, straddling an azure Atlantic while Baroque palaces dominate the townscape, and Iberian-style calçadas and their intricate pavement pattern cut through a pedestrian-friendly Old Town.
Locals may have been living away from the continent for over five centuries, but they have retained their culture and language, the cuisine is heavily influenced by Southern Europe, and the overall vibe is definitely Iberian, so what sets Madeira apart from the rest of Portugal?
The Land of Eternal Spring
Given Madeira’s unique location, you might have put two and two together and come to the conclusion that it doesn’t exactly experience well-defined seasons like the mainland does.
It’s no wonder it’s called the Land of Eternal Spring: regardless of the time of year, the lowlands of Madeira boast a typically mild Atlantic weather. It’s never too hot, nor too cold out, and bar the odd heatwave, temperatures rarely ever exceed 64–72°F year-round.
This makes Madeira a prime winter getaway for Europeans who don’t really have anything close to the Caribbean to make up for the lack of sunlight and warmth in the colder months. And no, a rainy Mediterranean in January doesn’t even come close.
On top of that, Madeira is known as ‘Hawaii of Europe‘ for good reason:
It has a dramatic coastline interspersed with black-sand, volcanic beaches, a mountainous inland traversed by jagged peaks, beautiful waterfalls trailing down cliffsides and emptying directly into the ocean, and laid-back coastal towns where time seems to stop and freeze for a while.
Mountain Views For Days
For the nature buffs out there, Madeira is that one epic playground you never knew you needed.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful hike in (geopolitical) Europe, the trek from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo takes you straight to the highest peak on the island, with breathtaking views above the clouds, knife-edge ridges, and tunnels carved into volcanic rock.
For a more-chilled outdoor activity that won’t involve steep climbing, and that won’t take the best part of a day to complete, the island is dotted with tourist-friendly levadas:
These trails run alongside man-made streams, built centuries ago to facilitate the transportation of water between villages, and some like Levada das 25 Fontes and Caldeirão Verde pass majestic waterfalls and untouched patches of rainforest.
Speaking of forests, Madeira’s UNESCO-protected Laurissilva, a laurel forest dating back millions of years, is not to be missed. Located on one of the highest, and most verdant points of the rugged island, it feels particularly mystical when its ancient curved trees are envelopped by an early-morning mist.
Madeira Away From The Funchal Crowds
Funchal is where most tourists will base themselves as they explore Madeira, and listen, we totally get it:
It is indeed the largest, and thus best-equipped settlement, with street markets galore, a cultural scene that’s hard to beat, and even panoramic cable cars taking you from the harbor area to the surrounding hills. Funchal is the most obvious pick.
However, if you’re hoping to experience a quieter, more idyllic side of Madeira, head out to Ponta do Sol, the town where the sun shines an uninterrupted 250 days a year on average, and colonial-era architecture contrasts beautifully against terraced banana plantations.
Alternatively, Porto Moniz in the wild north of Madeira is known for its natural, lava-formed oceanic pools, unrivaled seafood eateries boasting views of an agitated Atlantic, and slow-paced living. You know, Madeira at its most authentic.
Getting To Madeira From The States
The best part is Americans can fly nonstop to Funchal (FNC), the only international airport serving Madeira Island, from Newark (EWR) without stopping over in mainland Portugal first.
A post-pandemic gift from United, this now-established route usually runs in the summer season, from mid-May through September, with 3 flights offered every week, with departures scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Meanwhile, return flights land back in Newark on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
The flight time is only 6h50, making this one of the shortest Transatlantic routes in operation, and the average roundtrip fare ranges from $750 to $800 for peak summer dates. Not that much more expensive than flying to Lisbon or other tried-and-true, not to say cliché European hubs, after all.
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