Madeira — living and buying a home with a view in Funchal, Calheta and Porto Santo
Autonomous Region · Atlantic Madeira Madeira and Porto Santo. A mild climate all year round and nature on your doorstep.
The Essence
The Autonomous Region of Madeira is made up of the island of Madeira, Porto Santo and the Desertas and Selvagens islands.
Madeira has mountains, levadas and cliffs over the sea, with Funchal at its centre. Porto Santo has a golden sand beach about nine kilometres long.
Why Live Here
Climate
Mild temperatures all year, without extremes.
Nature
Levadas, the Laurisilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage) and peaks above 1,800 metres.
Funchal
A city with services, a hospital, a marina and an international airport.
Digital nomads
A growing international community, especially in Ponta do Sol and Funchal.
Porto Santo
A golden sand beach a short boat or plane trip away.
Safety
A calm pace and a close community.
Culture & Festivals
April–May, Funchal
Flower Festival
An allegorical parade and the Wall of Hope, with flowers from all over the island.
September, Funchal and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos
Wine Festival
Grape harvest, grape treading and Madeira wine.
31 December, Funchal
New Year's Eve
The fireworks over Funchal bay.
Regional Calendar
The cuisine of Madeira
Espetada
Beef on a bay-leaf skewer, grilled over embers.
Bolo do Caco
Round flatbread, served warm with garlic butter.
Poncha
Sugar cane spirit, honey and lemon.
Bolo de Mel
Sugar cane honey cake, traditionally made at Christmas.
Madeira on the map
Map © OpenStreetMap
Areas of Madeira
Price/m²: median value of home sales over the last 12 months in the municipality shown (INE, Q2 2026). Time to the airport: by car, without traffic (OSRM and OpenStreetMap, measured on 24/10/2026). These are references, not valuations.
What You Need to Know
Are Madeira and the Azores the same region?
No. They are two different autonomous regions, each with its own regional government.
How do you get to Madeira?
By plane, with direct flights from Lisbon, Porto and several European cities.
Is Porto Santo a good place to live all year?
It is quieter outside summer, with basic services and a daily link to Madeira.
Other Regions You May Like
If this is not quite your Portugal, perhaps one of these is.
FOZ VILLA · Madeira
The Portugal that is Worth Living
We know this region well. Let us show you the homes you will not find on the property portals.