FNC · Portugal
A green Atlantic island of levada walks, flowers and mild weather all year.
Madeira lies in the Atlantic almost 1,000 kilometres south west of Lisbon, and its mild climate has drawn British visitors for well over a century. The island is mountainous and green, crossed by levadas, old irrigation channels with paths alongside that make popular walking routes.
Funchal, the capital, has a busy market full of exotic fruit, botanical gardens and a cable car up to Monte, where you can ride back down in a traditional wicker toboggan.
New Year's Eve is a big occasion, with fireworks over Funchal bay, and a bottle of Madeira wine makes a good souvenir.
