Museum of Natural History (Municipal Museum of Funchal), Funchal, Madeira

Advantages: Beautiful picturesque island, not too hot in summer
Disadvantages: Hilly, poor restaurants, no sandy beaches

...museums in Madeira ranging from 'Blandys' a museum about Madeira wine to the newest 'Maderia Story' museum. For 10 Euros (£7) each you can spend a couple of hours in the modern 'Madeira Story' museum viewing good exhibits and interactive displays about the foundation of the island through to modern times. Mrs Cad had a hard time getting me out so I can recommend this one for the younger members of your party. The restaurant in this museum was very good and the shop attached to it was well laid out. ~Cable car ride~ To view Funchal from above you can take a cable car to Monte for 14 Euros 50 (£10) return. This old village on the hill has a beautiful picturesque church on the hill along with a garden nearby. The tropical Japanese garden, the church and surrounding area around Monte are perfect for viewing Funchal and the harbour... Read review

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Advantages: Plants and birds in a semi-tropical environment
Disadvantages: A little steep, some paths uneven

...in was 3 Euros (£2) per adult, for the money we got two pieces of blue paper and nothing else, so no map and no idea of the lay out of the gardens. We walked into the garden and past a large house on the right already spilling over with groups. This house had a museum of Madeira's history and a gift shop. We didn't look inside as we had already done another history museum and we were tired of the gift shops. ~The upper garden~ Jardim Botanico is laid-out on a hillside with steep cobbled paths in the upper tree clad gardens and smooth concrete paths in the middle and lower gardens. In this review I have divided it into upper, middle and lower gardens although the gardens themselves are not described in this way, I felt it was easier to describe and easier to write. We started in the upper garden near the house and walked along a path through... Read review

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Advantages: amazing scenery, not very family or children oriented
Disadvantages: no beaches, not very family or children oriented!

...is not expensive at all – the local buses are regular and cheap so you can easily work your way around the island. Because the island is so hilly there is no railway. Many of the road journeys are adventures in themselves as the car or bus clings to roads on the sides of cliffs as waterfalls pour down over the vehicle into the sea below! Food and drinks are good value, perhaps slightly cheaper than you would pay in the UK. The actual cost of a holiday to Madeira need not be prohibitive at all, especially if you are able to get a cheap late deal and fly in the middle of the night! THE CAPITAL AND THE PEOPLE The port of Funchal is the capital of Madeira and has a population of about 100,000. It’s a small and pleasant town with lots of places to eat and drink on the seafront, and some nice old buildings, museums and gardens... Read review

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