![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2160987100.jpg\")
\n\t\tPanoramic view of the capital of Madeira island Funchal, Portugal. High quality photo (Credits: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tPanoramic view of the capital of Madeira island Funchal, Portugal. High quality photo (Credits: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re someone who struggles to pick between a city break<\/a> and a green getaway with plenty of nature, then we\u2019ve got just the destination<\/a> for you.<\/p>\n Madeira<\/a>, an archipelago in Portugal<\/a> is often hailed as the \u2018Hawaii of Europe<\/a>\u2019 thanks to the beautiful weather<\/a>, dramatic scenery and volcanic origins.<\/p>\n Its capital city, Funchal<\/a>, offers the best of both worlds for those who enjoy cosmopolitan city living, but also want to be awed by beautiful beaches, mountains and parks.\u00a0<\/p>\n And the great news is, Brits just got another way to travel to the fascinating spot as easyJet<\/a> has launched cheap new direct flights from London Luton Airport, with prices starting from just \u00a338.99.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t The new route from London Luton will operate twice each week throughout the summer, with flights available on Mondays and Fridays. However, in 2026, this will change to Wednesdays and Saturdays.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Got your attention? Keep reading to find out more about the breathtaking city that could be your next holiday spot\u2026<\/p>\n How to get to Funchal from the UK<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t As well as the new flights from London Luton Airport, the budget airline also offers flights to Funchal from Bristol, Gatwick and Manchester airports.\u00a0<\/p>\n The flights from London Luton to Funchal take three hours and 55 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s the weather like in Funchal and when is the best time to visit?<\/strong><\/p>\n According to easyJet, it can by pretty foggy in Funchal first thing in the morning, but this clears up by the afternoon so the sun can shine through.<\/p>\n In the summer months, the sun doesn\u2019t set until 9pm, so you\u2019ve got plenty of time each day to make the most of the glorious weather.<\/p>\n The Met Office explains that the city experiences year-round warmth, but like any holiday hotspot, the summer months are the best time to go if you\u2019re looking for hot temperatures.<\/p>\n \t\t The weather experts say: \u2018The summer months are perfect if you are looking for sunshine and temperatures which are hot, but not too hot. July and August are the warmest, sunniest and driest months.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018During the winter, temperatures drop slightly although they are still very warm by UK standards during this time of year. Weather systems occasionally affect the island, mainly outside of the summer months; bringing cloudier skies and some rainfall from time to time.\u2019<\/p>\n The average daily maximum temperature in July is 25.5C and in August it\u2019s 26.4C.\u00a0<\/p>\n This drops to a daily average maximum temperature of 19C in January and 18.8C in February.<\/p>\n Things to do in Funchal<\/strong><\/p>\n You certainly won\u2019t struggle to find things to fill your time during a trip to Funchal, from enjoying pretty beaches, to taking cable car rides up the mountains, picnicking in the parks, shopping in the city, perusing food markets and tucking into delicious delicacies.<\/p>\n The most popular beaches are Praia Formosa and Calheta. The former is the largest public beach the city offers and is actually a complex made up of four beaches.<\/p>\n Located in west Funchal, a 10-minute drive from the city centre, you\u2019ll find a mixture of pebbles and dark sand here and it\u2019s a good option for those who want to go swimming or surfing. Nearby, you\u2019ll also find the Doca do Cavacas Natural Pools and lidos.<\/p>\n \t\t For those who love the outdoors, there are plenty of hiking trails to follow, with the Levada trails being the most popular. Levadas are irrigation channels, so you\u2019ll follow along these as you walk. The 4.3 km long Levada das 25 Fontes takes around three hours and Tripadvisor users claim it\u2019s a \u2018beautiful\u2019 walk with lots of waterfalls and stunning viewpoints.<\/p>\n Some of these trails will cross through the Laurissilva Forest, an UNESCO heritage site, which is a subtropical rainforest that\u2019s about 20 million years old.<\/p>\n For those seeking more of a thrill, you can take a cable car ride and there are two options \u2013 the botanical garden cable car and the Funchal to Monte ride. At the parish of Monte, those looking to get back down into the city quickly can take a toboggan ride in one of the Monte sledges, made from wicker and wood. The route spans around two kilometres and takes about 10 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n \t\t Funchal is also home to beautiful gardens, including the aforementioned botanical garden and Monte Palace Tropical Garden home to thousands of exotic plants.<\/p>\n Culture lovers will have plenty to absorb, with an abundance of art and history to explore in the city itself. There are monuments and various museums including the Natural History Museum of Funchal, the Museum of Sacred Art of Funchal, the A Cidade do A\u00e7\u00facar Museum, and the Funchal Electricity Museum. There\u2019s even a museum dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s football trophies.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Gastronomy<\/a> is taken very seriously in Funchal, with around 1,000 restaurants in the capital, with 11 of these being in the Michelin guide<\/a> and several having stars. Be sure to check out a food market while you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n Local specialities include Espetada which are skewers of beef, marinated and grilled over laurel wood. Bolo do Caco, a round flatbread made with sweet potato, often served with garlic butter, is also popular, as well as Lapas (grilled limpets) and Espada, a black scabbardfish, often served with banana.For something sweet, order honey cake or Malassadas, a type of sweet donut.<\/p>\n Wine is also a big deal in Madeira, with more than 30 varieties \u2013 the most popular are Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia \u2013 as well as Terrantez and Tinta Negra. Sip a glass in the sunshine, while looking out over the sea after a day swimming, hiking or exploring. You\u2019ve earned it.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"EasyJet](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2021980799.jpg\")
\n\t\teasyJet is launching new flights to Funchal from London Luton Airport (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"TRAVEL](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_254630590-d09f.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe flight from London Luton to the island takes three hours and 55 minutes<\/p>\n![\"Portugal,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1249834814.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe weather is mostly warm, so you can explore the parks and gardens (Picture: Getty Images\/Westend61)<\/p>\n![\"Madeira](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2131992474.jpg\")
\n\t\tFormosa black beach at sunset, Portugal (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Levada](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-631297160.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe levada pathways will allow you to see waterfalls and explore theLaurissilva Forest (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Cable](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1332653725.jpg\")
\n\t\tThrill seekers who want spectacular views can enjoy a cable car ride (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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