This unexpected island is being hailed as the 'Hawai‘i of Europe'

From world-class surf conditions to its very own Stairway to Heaven hike, the Portuguese island of Madeira is quickly being hailed as the Hawai’i of Europe.

While we all love the island paradise of Hawai’i, increasing flight prices, resort rates and recoveries from natural disasters are making more people look for an alternative destination.

Enter Madeira, Portugal, an island chain in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northern Africa. Quickly growing in popularity with hikers, digital nomads and adventurers, it’s little wonder that it’s being hailed as the Hawai’i of Europe. Let’s dive in.

It has great weather year-round

Being off the coast of North Africa, the weather conditions in Madeira are pretty great. Even in January, you can see highs of 19 degrees Celsius, so it’s the perfect spot for a bit of winter sun.

In fact, if you’re looking for the ideal hiking and surfing conditions, the winter and autumnal months tend to be the best as the temperatures and humidity aren’t insane, but they’re still largely warm and dry.

The weather conditions in Madeira are always pretty great. (Image: Francisco Sousa)

The surf conditions are epic

You can’t compare an island to Hawai’i if the surfing isn’t up to standard. On Madeira’s southwest coast, you’ll find Jardim do Mar, a town that’s become famous among surfers after big wave specialist, Nico Von Rupp, released an insane surf video from that location.

Unlike the popular breaks around Hawai’i which are rightfully always busy, Madeira’s wave scene is a lot calmer with fewer surfers at each break. With the Atlantic swell directly hitting the island, there’s normally at least one wave working somewhere in Madeira.

Jardim do Mar is famous among surfers. (Image: David Becker)

It’s a hiking haven

One of the major draws for Madeira, Portugal has to be its extensive network of hiking trails, known as the PR network. There are 23 designated hiking routes on the island from waterfall hikes to coastal wonders to the island’s unique Levada routes, which run alongside winding freshwater irrigation channels down the imposing hillside.

When we talk about Hawai’i’s hiking scene, it’s impossible not to think of the iconic Stairway to Heaven in Oahu. However, Madeira has its own Stairway to Heaven hike in the shape of PR1 (Vereda do Areeiro), which is probably the most popular hike on the whole island and takes you through the clouds to the highest point in Madeira.

Madeira has an extensive network of hiking trails. (Image: Tim Roosjen)

There’s beautiful nature everywhere

From ancient cloud forests in Fanal to the beaches of Santa Cruz to the lush greenery of the island’s centre, Madeira is a naturally beautiful island. Like Hawai’i, Madeira is a volcanic island – although Madeira’s underwater volcano is thought to be dormant. It’s because of this geology that there are lava pools, amazing rock formations and volcanic soil that keeps all the plant life flourishing year after year.

Madeira is a naturally beautiful island. (Image: Artem Zhukov)

It has amazing natural saltwater swimming pools

Want to bathe in the ocean but don’t want to risk the tides? Natural swimming pools are a beautiful way to feel like you’re in the open water while being sheltered by natural rock formations. In Hawai’i, you’ve got Queen’s Bath, which can be risky to get to in the first place.

Natural swimming pools are a beautiful way to feel like you’re in the open water while being sheltered by natural rock formations. (Image: David Becker)

Meanwhile, most of Madeira’s stunning Atlantic-facing natural swimming pools lie on the island’s north shore, in Porto Moniz. Walk a few steps into these easy-to-reach pools and relax surrounded by nothing but beautiful ocean.

Porto Moniz has most of Madeira’s stunning Atlantic-facing natural swimming pools. (Image: Dimitry B)

It’s a rum-loving island

While the most well-known drink in Hawai’i might be a Mai Tai, Madeira has been making its own rum and fortified wine (and namesake) for centuries. In fact, the official drink of Madeira is poncha, a drink that takes sugar cane rum, specific to the island, and blends it with fresh fruit juice and sugar.

The official drink of Madeira is poncha. (Image: Monika Guzikowska)

Traditionally, this is with fresh orange or lemon juice to pack a citrus punch. This is because the drink was designed to keep farmers and fishermen warm in the early mornings. Poncha isn’t for the fate-hearted though – these short, sharp drinks have a huge hit of booze behind them!

If rum isn’t your thing, Madeira also has a huge wine-growing heritage from the strong, sweet Madeira dessert wines to your regular table wines. So much so, that they hold a giant Wine Festival in the capital, Funchal, every September.

Head to a Poncha bar in Madeira. (Image: Pedro Emanuel Pereira via Getty Images)

It has the humble Malasada

Interestingly enough, one of the most popular snacks in Hawai’i is the Malasada, which is a lot like a doughnut. This was actually brought to Hawai’i by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira and the neighbouring Azores Island chain back in the 19th century.

If you’re in Madeira for the carnival season, you’ll find malasadas around every corner, as it’s a popular treat for festivals and celebrations.

Malasadas are a popular treat. (Image: Cristiano Pinto)

There are top-tier botanical gardens

One of the biggest attractions in Madeira, Portugal is their botanical gardens, especially in the springtime when they’re in full bloom. In fact, the annual flower festival in May is arguably the biggest event in the island’s tourism calendar.

For 2024’s flower festival, hotels in the capital reported being at 95 per cent capacity, making it one of the busiest times of the year to visit Madeira.

With the island’s great year-round weather and volcanic soil, it’s little wonder that there are amazing botanical gardens and flower festivals. This is really similar to Hawai’i which has a few tropical botanical gardens across different islands.

One of the biggest attractions in Madeira is their botanical gardens. (Image: Rumman Amin)