Madeira Family Holidays & Breaks

Take the Family is a travel agency specialising in active, adventure and luxury holidays. Your personal travel advisor will create the perfect Madeira holiday for your family, with expert advice and dedicated support throughout.

Madeira for family holidays

A popular year-round holiday destination thanks to its warm summers and mild winters, Madeira was for a long time mainly the preserve of retirees. But things have changed, and now this Atlantic island belonging to Portugal offers a wealth of activities and attractions for families with kids of all ages, as well as incredibly friendly people.

Book a holiday in Madeira with Take the Family and try hiking, biking and watersports galore, as well as going out looking for dolphins and whales - all less than less than four hours' flying time from the UK.

As a specialist UK-based family travel agency, we can tailor-make the perfect holiday in Madeira for your family. Contact one of our travel advisors now and let's discuss your trip of a lifetime.

Below is everything you need to know to inspire you to book a Madeira family holiday.

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Things to do with kids in Madeira

Madeira Outdoor Activities

• Explore Madeira’s glorious scenery on foot by walking along levadas – gentle paths following the water channels that bring rainwater off the hillsides.

• Sign up for a mountain-biking tour and discover the island’s world-class trails. We can add activities to the bespoke luxury family holiday in Madeira we create for you.

• Try watersports including kayaking or paddleboarding along the coastline, and take a boat trip to look for dolphins and other marine life.

• Make a heart-thumping trip down one of the slides at the Aquaparque Madeira in Santa Cruz.

• Wander around the spectacular gardens for which the island is famous, including the Botanical Gardens, Jardim Orquidea and Boa Vista.

• Head for the Parque Temático da Madeira in Santana, a fun park showcasing the history of the island, from handicrafts to baking, music to clothing, with traditional thatched cottages, animals to meet and a boating lake.

Madeira’s Best Beaches

• Savour the island’s natural (non-imported) beaches with their dramatic black volcanic sand, unique lava rock pools and pretty pebble coves: we recommend Seixal, the volcanic pools of Porto Moniz, and secluded Praia da Maiata.

• Hop over to neighbouring Porto Santo for miles of natural golden sand - and some lovely hotels that we can include as part of your bespoke Madeira holiday.

Funchal with Kids

• Visit the Madeiran capital’s colourful market and try local produce and specialities.

• Hop on the cable car that takes you up to Monte and the Botanical Gardens, then jump in a wicker toboggan for a ride back down.

• Have a dip in Funchal’s seawater lidos.

• Visit Madeira Magic/Kids’ City, with the emphasis on science in its mini-planetarium, 3-D cinema and 5,000m2 garden with educational and play areas.

Mountain-biking in Madeira

Eating in Madeira

Food in Madeira is centred on superb fresh seafood and grilled meats, with traditional Portuguese cooking methods to the fore. Tuna steaks feature are a staple on menus here.

Some hotel packages in Madeira include lunch or dinner, and most good hotels have a children’s menu and/or accommodate special requests for kids – which can help those travelling with fussier children.

We definitely recommend indulging in the afternoon teas served on a clifftop terrace at the super-child-friendly luxury hotel Belmond’s Reid’s Palace (see Best Places to Stay tab). And adults who like a tipple should treat themselves to a glass of Madeira wine.

A ride in a wicker toboggan in Funchal

When to go to Madeira

When to go to Madeira is matter of preference and your personal circumstances as it’s a year-round destination. It's perfect for any of the half terms and for winter sun, but oddly enough, some of the best Madeira deals are to be had in the height of the summer holidays, when it’s too hot for many elderly people but mild enough for kids.

The best time for dolphin and whale spotting in Madeira depends on the species you wish to see: April to June is good for migratory whales, July to September (when the sea is calmest) offers up large numbers of Atlantic spotted dolphins, and winter brings resident species (sperm whales, short-finned pilot whales, beaked whales and bottlenose dolphins) and short-beaked common dolphins.

Cable cars up to Monte and the Botanical Gardens

How to get to Madeira

There are direct flights from the UK to Madeira from London and some regional airports, taking around 3 hours 45 minutes. There is no time difference and no jet-lag.

We will include the most convenient flights for your family in the tailor-made Madeira package we create for you, as well as car hire if you wish - although Madeira is a small island and you can get by using taxis or public transport.

Madeira

Quinta Jardins do Lago

Reid's Palace

VidaMar Madeira

Madeira Active Family Adventure