Overview

It’s no surprise that families from all over Portugal love to celebrate the New Year in Funchal.

Completely immerse yourselves in the Madeiran party atmosphere as the week-long celebrations build up to midnight on the 31st. The entire island descends on the capital Funchal for the big event – families and friends gather on every rooftop and balcony, as Funchal bay fills with cruise ships bringing travellers from around the world to enjoy the festivities. On the stroke of twelve, the ships sound their sirens and every church bell rings out as the epic firework display begins.

We’ve suggested spending the New Year in Funchal but it’s easy to extend your stay if you’d like to spend Christmas and New Year on the island – just fill in one of our Enquiry forms and we’ll give you a call to chat through the possibilities.

Itinerary

Fly from Gatwick to Madeira. You’ll be collected on arrival in Funchal by our driver, for your transfer to Quinta da Serra (a thirty-minute drive). Dinner at your Quinta's restaurant is included.
Your hire car will be delivered this morning - you could spend your first full day on the island exploring the capital Funchal; Portugal’s largest city outside of the mainland.
You could spend today exploring the towns and villages across eastern Madeira - the Casas Tradicionais in Santana, the forest park at Ribeiro Frio and the Engenho do Norte rum distillery in Porto da Cruz.
You could spend today exploring the island’s mountainous interior – beginning at the Boca da Corrida miradouro before driving to the Curral das Freiras - the famously secluded Nun's Valley. New Year’s Eve’s celebrations begin with cocktails, dinner and live music at your Quinta. A specially-arranged bus will take you into town for the fireworks show.
Madeira shuts down on New Year's Day - a chance to relax at the quinta.
You could spend today exploring the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens and the Jardim Botanico. It's easy to park in Funchal's old town district, before catching the Teleferico cable car up to the gardens. For the return journey, you could ride a Carro de Cesto – the famous wicker toboggans which run down the steep streets from the Gardens back towards the centre of the city
For your final full day, you could explore the spectacular coastal scenery in the north: the coastal hamlet of Seixal and the Casacata Veu da Noiva: the Bridal Veil waterfall, the lighthouse at Ponta do Pargo and the miradouro overlooking the 140m high cascata da Garganta Funda waterfall; one of the highest waterfalls on the island.
You'll return your car to the airport before flying home.

From £1300 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: direct return flights from the UK. Accommodation in twin/double en-suite rooms on a B&B basis, but including a New Year gala dinner and half-board on New Year's day, airport transfers and car hire.

Activities

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