The small island of Madeira is packed with an abundance of cultural sights and attractions as well as a host of recreational activities to enjoy, making it the perfect holiday destination. The beautiful island has superb green forests filled with native plants and fauna. Cheap hire car in Madeira is a great option for seeing the sights.

The capital city, Funchal, is home to enchanting gardens, historical monuments and charming streets filled with shops, restaurants and cafés. Funchal has a lively nightlife with a host of alfresco bars, trendy nightclubs and live music clubs. The city has a constant stream of visitors arriving by rental car, with Funchal being a main stop over port for cruise liners travelling to the Caribbean Islands.

The capital city also has some interesting historic sites and cultural activities to enjoy. There are plenty of museums including Frederico de Freitas House Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum and the Madeira Story Museum. The downtown area has a great atmosphere with its open squares, water fountains and street performers.

The vineyards in Madeira are definitely worth seeing as not only do they produce world-class wine, but they are also unique in that they are built on terraces along the slope of the mountains. There are great vineyard tours, which are lots of fun with wine tasting, food and walks through the processing rooms.

Maderia is best explored with a hire car as there is much to see along the beautiful roads. You can drive around the island by cheap Madeira car hire, stopping off at different villages and sights in a day. There are plenty of lookouts offering breathtaking panoramic views of the island and surrounding waters.