Madeira Information Guide & Facts

 Madeira

Language: Portuguese
Population: 255 000 people live on these islands according to data collected in 2001. Half of the population lives in the capital. Population density is very high, reaching 337 inhabitants/sq km in Madeira and 112 per sq km in Porto Santo.
Currency: € EURO
Time: Madeira follows Portuguese time with Summer time. Clocks advance one hour in the last Sunday of March and go back one hour in the last Sunday of October, according to the regulations of the European Union.
Electricity: The electric current is 220 volts.
Water: There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. Porto Santo uses treated seawater, but all of it can be consumed.

The Madeira Archipelago is situated between latitude 32º22’20" and 33º7’50" with its longitude between 16º16’30W and 17º16’38"W. The island of Madeira has a surface area of 459 square miles (741 km2), (35 miles long and 13 miles wide). The island is 310 miles from the African coast and 620 miles from the European continent, which is the equivalent of a 1 hour 30 minute flight from Lisbon. The archipelago, discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens and Desertas.

Climate

These islands, because of their privileged geographical position and mountainous relief, have a surprisingly mild climate. Very mild average temperatures, 22ºC in the summer and 16ºC in the winter, and a moderate level of humidity, confer upon these islands exceptional subtropical features. The seawater temperature is also very mild, because of the influence of the warm Gulf current, presenting averages of 22ºC in the summer and 18º in the winter.

Access

One can reach the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo by air or sea.
There are two airports: Madeira International Airport - on Madeira, and Porto Santo Airport, on the island of Porto Santo.
Because the ports of Funchal and Porto Santo are often visited by cruising ships, they serve as gateways to the islands, as well as departure points to other destinations. Connections between the islands are either by air or ferryboats, which also transport cars.
Surface transport on the islands is trouble-free thanks to the modern road structure, which has been significantly improved in recent years.
Practically all points of these islands are served by a good road and transport network.

Culture

With a well-documented history, Madeira’s artistic heritage is one of the pillars of the island’s culture. During the 15 th and the 16 th centuries Madeira’s geographical situation was responsible for making it a waystation for all Atlantic navigation. Funchal was then one of the most strategically located ports in the world, attracting many foreign traders who came to do business with European nations.

This period, when the sugar trade was at its height, represented Madeira’s golden era. The trade supported luxurious lifestyles, which in turn allowed for the accumulation of extraordinary artistic treasures. Convents, temples, palaces and mansions, military fortifications and other buildings of artistic value are some of the monuments that tourists can visit today.

Activities

Madeira has the perfect combination of natural elements that produce the ideal setting to practice all sports throughout the year

A fantastic array of natural resources come together on the Island of Madeira, enabling you to enjoy a variety of sporting activities all year round.

Naturally there is a broader range of water sports where the most common activities are swimming, surfing, windsurfing, diving, sailing, canoeing or water skiing.

However, with its mild climate and specific geographical formation, this island encourages not only the local population but also those who visit us, to participate in other outdoor activities, such as horse-riding, mountain biking, hand-gliding and paragliding, mountaineering or canyoning.

International and world sporting events take place on the island, such as World Championships of Surfing and Triathlon as well as the Rhythmic Gymnastics International Championship.

It is not by chance that world famous golfers participate every year in the Madeira Island Golf Open - PGA European Tour, or that many famous world drivers exhibit their spectacular skills to thrill the motor racing fans at the Madeira Wine Rally.

General Information

Banks
Banks are open from 8:30 to 15:00hrs, Monday to Friday. Foreign Exchange offices work from 9:00 to 13:00hrs and from 14:00 to 19:00hrs, every day, except on Saturdays when they open from 9:00 to 19:00hrs. Outside these periods, the hotels can make currency exchange.

Communication
The region has very well developed in terms of IT networks and telephone communications. The international access code is +351, and the regional area code is 291.

Post
The main post office, or "Correios de Portugal", is at the centre of Funchal, at the Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian. There are daily collections at 11:00 and 15:00 from the post boxes placed all over the island.

Chemists
Chemists are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 13:00. In addition, at the door of every pharmacy you will find advisory notes about the pharmacies currently open.

Hospital Centres
There are 67 health centres situated around the Madeira island, and one at Porto Santo. In Funchal there are two hospitals.

Police
The police presence is very discreet. If you need help, dial 112. There is a Lost Property section in Funchal, at Rua da Infância, 28, Tel.: 291 208200

Safety
Madeira is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world. If you take the minimum sensible precautions, you probably won’t experience any problems. Most of the hotels have safes or deposit boxes where you can keep your valuables.

Tips
In hotels and restaurants the bill normally includes service. The normal rate for good service is 10%.

Camping Parks
There are two official camping sites on the Madeira archipelago, one in Porto Moniz and the other in Porto Santo, in the town of Vila Baleira.