The ‘Hawaii of Europe’ gets dozens of new flights from the UK for just £70

With its black sand beaches and volcanic cliffs, Madeira is often called the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ – and the paradise island is about to be a lot more accessible. 

Several UK airlines are expanding their services to the Portuguese archipelago, with new routes and additional flights launching just in time for the summer season. 

Jet2 is introducing a new weekly service from Bournemouth to Funchal starting in May, with flights departing every Thursday. 

Ryanair will also carry passengers to the island. The low-cost carrier will launch twice weekly flights in May on Wednesdays and Sundays from Edinburgh to Funchal. 

Both EasyJet and Jet2 are increasing flights from London Luton. Jet2 launched a weekly flight to Funchal from Luton earlier this month, with departures on Mondays, while EasyJet will add to new services from June, flying out every Monday and Friday. 

According to Madeira’s 2025 flight schedule, the total number of UK flights to the island during the summer period is expected to rise by 12% – from 349 in 2024 to 390 in 2025.

Flights from the UK to Funchal, the capital and largest city of Madeira, take around four hours, and tickets can be found for £70 one way. 

Located off the west coast of Africa, Madeira has been compared to epic bucket list destinations such as Hawaii, Peru and Croatia.

One TikToker @thechaosdiaries said: ‘The gorgeous Portuguese island has everything: beaches, amazing hikes, cute towns, great food.’  And due to its rugged cliffs and volcanic scenery, @destinationinspiration dubbed it the ‘Hawaii of Europe’.

What to see and do in Madeira

Although relatively small, Madeira has plenty of things to do. The coastal capital of Funchal is nestled between the ocean and rugged hillsides. 

Visitors can take a ride on its Cable Car, which takes them from the old town to the suburb of Monte, offering sweeping views along the way. 

On the ground, tourists can admire its historic architecture, including the Funchal Cathedral, a gothic 16th-century church, and the Sao Tiago Fortress, a 17th-century defence wall built to protect the city from pirates. 

The island is known for its wine too. Tours around the island often depart from the capital, taking visitors to local vineyards and historic wine cellars. 

Elsewhere, the village of Santana, on the north coast of the island, is described as like stepping into a time capsule due to its traditional triangular thatched houses. 

Swimming on the island is slightly different than your typical beach holiday. The island isn’t known for its stretches of sandy beaches due to its rugged and volcanic coastline. 

For those looking to relax, Madeira has several man-made and natural swimming pools. One of the most famous is the Porto Moniz natural swimming pool, which is carved into the volcanic surface. 

The island is described as a mecca for hikers and is home to nearly 1,800km of hiking trails, and there are countless places to get lost, from the network of trails along the east and west coast to the central mountain range. 

On the north coast, you’ll find some of the Madiera’s most beautiful levadas – a system of man-made irrigation channels or aqueducts that crisscross the island, visitmadeira.com says. 

While on the south coast, hikers can enjoy ‘breathtaking views’ over Funchal. 

Those hoping to explore the trails will need to pay a fee, however. As of January this year, tourists exploring its most popular trials have to pay a €3 (£2.50) fee to the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (ICNF). 

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