Americans Can Fly Nonstop To This Sunny European Destination Breaking All Time Records

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Move over, Mediterranean. The “Hawaii of Europe” is officially taking over.

If you are looking for the continent's best winter sun, you might be looking in the wrong place.

Not Barcelona and its sun-drenched, palm-lined oceanfront promenade. Not Nice and the scenic Promenade des Anglais, straddling the turquoise Mediterranean. Most definitely not the overpriced, yesterday's-news Amalfi Coast.

Europe's hottest sunny spot right now, both figuratively and literally, is a small Portuguese island lying off the coast of West Africa you might have never even heard of:

At only 35 miles long, and 14 miles across at its widest point, Madeira may be a tiny dot in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is packed with natural wonders and beautiful coastal towns, and to the soccer fans out there, it's even the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Most importantly, it's breaking tourism records right now:

Behold The Gorgeous Island Known As ‘Hawaii Of Europe'

We know you're probably thinking: why the heck would I fly to the Eastern Hemisphere for a sunny getaway when weather in Portugal is at best mildly warm, and it rains all the time? …and that's when you get it wrong, pal.

A small Portuguese island at only 35 miles long and 14 miles across, Madeira is the unlikely winter sun destination you didn't know you needed.

To begin with, it's not located in Europe proper, but off the coast of West Africa. Needless to say, it doesn't exactly experience those harsh, gray European winters, and as a matter of fact, it's called the Land of Eternal Spring due to its year-round sunny climate.

Check the weather app for yourself: in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, it's a lovely 62–68°F this week during most days, with lows of 57–59°F in the evening.

Why Madeira Is All The Rage Right Now

Speaking of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC), which serves the island of Madeira, has reached 5 million passengers for the first time this year.

It marks a 13.1% year-on-year growth, compared to 2024, and it cements Madeira's role as a year-round European destination.

In other words, it's getting increasingly-popular Europeans keen on escaping their suboptimal Northerly weather this season, and they're quickly followed by their American counterparts.

Americans have the Caribbean right on their doorstep, indeed, but for many, nothing beats an across-the-pond culture-loaded vacay in Europe, and not only is it sun-drenched, Madeira has all that Old World charm they seek:

Explore Funchal, Madeira's Vibrant Capital

Funchal itself is a beautiful Portuguese city by the ocean, complete with regal Baroque palaces, a landmark late-medieval cathedral with a signature cedar-wood ceiling, and a beautiful promenade lined with palm trees and laid-back seafood eateries.

Remember Cristiano? Towards the end of the promenade, you'll reach the CR7 Museum, a gallery entirely dedicated to the legendary player's trophies and achievements. A mandatory stop for football fans, but perhaps you're not exactly soccer-aficionado.

In that case, perched on a hill overlooking Funchal, Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a definite must-see, with its exotic plants, tree-flanked pathways, and Japanese-style ponds frequented by elegant pink flamingos.

It's easily reached with the Funchal Cable Car, which offers sweeping city views itself.

In the heart of Zona Velha, Funchal's picture-perfect Old Town, Mercado dos Lavradores is a traditional market selling fresh fruit and vegetables, and let's be honest, you haven't really been to Madeira until you've sampled Confeitaria Colombo's mouth-watering pastel de nata.

Culture never tasted this good.

These Are Madeira's Most Beautiful Coastal Towns

To the east of Funchal, in Santana, you'll find one of Madeira's most iconic sights: triangular-roofed cottages thatched with straw, painted in bold hues of red and blue, dating back to the 16th-century. They originally sheltered farmers, but now serve as an open-air museum.

To the west, Câmara de Lobos houses colorful fishing boats, dancing to the gentle crashing of the waves against a peaceful marina, terraced hillsides covered with banana plantations, and great coffee spots.

Nearby, Ponta do Sol is oftentimes considered the sunniest town on the island: it's strategically located in Madeira's driest spot, and the sun shines supreme here for an average 8 hours a day. The rocky beach isn't the best, if we're honest, but the church-dominated village core is cute.

Now, if you're looking for beaches, you should know Madeira isn't exactly known for golden sands and turquoise seas. In that case, we'd recommend you take the ferry to the next Portuguese island, the equally-charming Porto Santo.

That said, you can still get those subtropical vibes you're craving in Porto Moniz, in the north of Madeira, famous for its natural lava-formed pools and warmer seas, or Seixal, with its striking volcanic-black sand beach.

Breathtaking Nature All Around

Madeira is called the Hawaii of Europe for a reason, and you didn't come all this way to not go on a levada walk.

Levadas are the island's historic irrigation channels, making their rapid course through verdant jungles into towns, and several of those have now been converted into tourist-friendly footpaths. Only have time for one? Levada das 25 Fontes is the top pick, with its multiple waterfalls and dramatic scenery.

Madeira's also home to some of Europe's most beautiful mountain treks, and that's no surprise given its mountainous interior and jagged peaks.

The challenging, but very rewarding Arieiro to Ruivo Peak hike is your best bet at soaking up those island views. Just make sure you carry enough water and snacks with you, and take it easy on the steep, high-altitude sections. That's a whole 7-8 miles one way.

For a more relaxed activity, head out to Fanal, Madeira's best-known UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an ancient laurel forest that blossomed out of the island's rugged soil millions of years ago.

And listen, we know Madeira is trending for its sunny temps, but if you're visiting Fanal, you better hope for some fog and crisp mountain air. The twisted trees and grassy hills are particularly atmospheric when they're covered in a misty veil.

Getting To Madeira This Winter

The best part? Madeira is not another one of those faraway, remote European islands that are at the end of a multi-stopover, grueling 3-flight journey.

You can get there nonstop from America! Flights are available from Newark with United every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this winter, departing 8:55 PM and landing in Madeira the next morning at 8:30 AM.

The total outbound flight duration is 6h50.

On the way back, flights depart at 11:30 AM, reaching Newark on the same calendar date, local time, at 2:00 PM, with a total duration of 7+ hours. Average roundtrip fares are around $400–600 for the season.