When planning a holiday to escape the frigid winters or grind of everyday life, European travelers often turn to two island paradises in the Atlantic Ocean: Madeira and the Canary Islands. Each has its own unique charms, making the decision of which to visit a real challenge.
Both destinations boast exceptional climates, gorgeous landscapes, and plenty of things to do. Both have also earned nicknames like “Land of Eternal Spring,” with the Canary Islands known for their consistent warmth and Madeira for its variable yet temperate weather.
Most travelers will (and should) only choose one for their next holiday. So the question is which one should you visit: Madeira or the Canary Islands?
This article breaks down various aspects of both destinations, including their climate, geography, accessibility, activities, costs, cuisine, and crowd levels, to help you choose your next getaway. Whether you prefer the vibrant and diverse landscapes of the Canary Islands or the rugged, dramatic beauty of Madeira, both destinations promise unforgettable experiences.
Read on to discover whether Madeira or the Canary Islands are the perfect fit for your next adventure.
Climate
Both Madeira and the Canary Islands benefit from some incredible weather. There’s a reason why both have become popular getaways for Europeans seeking warmer climes, especially in the winter, and why both carry titles like “Land of Eternal Spring,”
The Canary Islands are legendary for their year-round warm weather. Temperatures rarely, if ever, dip below 60 degrees on the coast and rain is rarely an issue. You’ll just need to be prepared for the occasional dust storm, which regularly arrive from the nearby Sahara.
Madeira is a bit wetter than the Canaries and the weather is a bit more variable. You can get four seasons in a day on the island and at any time of the year. Also due to its more northern location, temperatures are a bit cooler so you might need to pack a bit differently.
It’s interesting to point out that Madeira and the Canaries actually have different high seasons. The Canaries are from December to April and then again in July-August, while Madeira is just May-October. The Canaries are undoubtedly a winter getaway that also receives some summer vacationers, while Madeira seems to be a popular summer holiday spot.
So which has the better weather? The Canary Islands
Although neither really suffers from “bad” weather, the Canaries arguably have the better between the two. You can thank its more southerly location for that.
Granted, that’s only if the Sahara hasn’t kicked up a dust storm and sent it out to sea. In that case, you might be better off sticking to cooler Madeira, which doesn’t suffer from these events quite as often. Despite its established high season, there really is no bad time to visit Madeira either.
Geography
Wow, what a toughie this one is. Both Madeira and the Canaries are renowned for their natural beauty, and both draw frequent comparisons to legendarily idyllic places like Hawaii. Regardless of how you break down the two, they are both, without question, beautiful places to visit.
The geography of Madeira and the Canary Islands is a bit different though, and both offer varying kinds of beauty.
The Canary Islands are arguably more diverse in their landscapes. Between the five major islands, you have everything from desert beaches to lava fields to bizarre woodlands and everything in between. Visit Tenerife and you will be treated to lush terraces against the backdrop of a huge volcano. Pop over to Fuerteventura or Lanzarote and it seems like you’re vacationing on one of Saturn’s moons.
Madeira on the other hand is somewhat less diverse; but what it does offer is superlative. Far more green and rugged than the Canaries, Madeira is both beautiful and dramatic at once. The coast is defined by incredible cliffs with little to no purchase while the interior is wholly mountainous, featuring crooked spires and deep-cut canyons carved from ancient volcanoes.
So which is more beautiful? Toss up
Beauty is such a subjective concept – who are we to say which is truly the prettiest?
Of course, we’re biased when we say that we think that Madeira is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Driving along its coastline and stopping at the many miradors along the way is an awesome experience. Having the mountains so close-by is a real treat as well.
But the Canaries are no slouch either. They are more arid than Madeira and offer a lot more in the way of geographic diversity to be sure, even seeming alien at times. Go island hopping and the landscapes will seem to shift constantly.
For those who want diversity, the Canaries are probably the better choice. If your a fan of dramatic landscapes though, Madeira will appeal more.
Accessibility
The Canary Islands and Madeira are both located off the northwestern coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. As the crow flies, they’re only about 300 miles from each other.
Most will arrive on the islands via a flight. Outside of their respective national carriers (TAP for Madeira, Iberian for Canaries), who offer year-round travel, most air routes are seasonal. Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet, and other European carriers have flights to each island but only from specific cities and during specific times of the year. Schedules can seem random and inconsistent but flights to/from the UK and Germany are the most common.
The Canary Islands benefit from multiple international airports though. While Madeira only has one significant one near Funchal (there are limited flights out of Porto Santo), the Canaries has five – Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote – thus giving you more options.
The only other way to get to the islands is by sea. Again, most if not all boats will come either from Portugal or Spain. Traveling by boat can be convenient if you’re bringing a car but takes longer and can sometimes be more expensive. Given that Madeira is technically closer to Europe, travel times are slightly shorter.
Note that there are no ferries to and from Morocco at the moment due to territorial disputes. There are occasional flights to both the Canary Islands and Madeira though via Marrakech and Casablanca.
So which is more accessible? The Canary Islands
Because there are so many more flights and points of access, the Canaries are definitely the more accessible islands. You can reach them from almost any major airport in Europe (for a good price) and during more parts of the year.
Getting Around
Both Madeira and the Canaries require similar methods of getting around. While public transport is present (and sometimes necessary) on the islands, having a car in both cases will be the most convenient.
Using Madeira as an example, the bus system, while useful in the more populated areas, leaves a lot to be desired. Traveling between towns and villages can be a problem: routes are sparse and what schedules do exist are almost never accurate due to delays. Getting to trailheads and other more remote locations almost always necessitates a shuttle, taxi, or hitchhiking.
Although the Canary Islands does offer a little bit more in the way of infrastructure and development, the situation is very much the same. Traveling within the communities is fine, but the moment you want to get outside, things get difficult. Island hopping adds a whole different dimension as you will have to go to specific ports to reach the next.
Really the only way to travel around Madeira or the Canaries is by rental car. Having one means that you’ll be able to go where you please when you please.
So which is more convenient? Madeira
We think Madeira is slightly easier to get around only because of its smaller size. Unless you plan on visiting Porto Santo, you only have to worry about getting around one island rather than five or six. Circumnavigating Madeira will only take around 3-4 hours, although one could spend a lot more time exploring all of the interior mountain roads.
The roads in Madeira are for the most part good quality. There has been a ton of construction recently and the local government is really trying to make the whole island more accessible: new tunnels and passages are constantly being opened it seems.
Driving inside populated areas may be tricky thanks to hilly terrain and narrow streets. In this case, taking the bus is probably your best bet. Everywhere else, have a rental car. Just be careful when driving on unmaintained roads: rocks are sometimes scattered on these, which can lead to a ruptured tire.
Activities
Both Madeira and the Canary Islands offer very similar things to do. Each has a healthy mix of adventurous, cultural, natural, gastronomic, and leisurely activities. There are so many similar options for both that they might even seem the same after sorting through them all.
Yet, like their food and landscapes, there are subtle differences between each that set them apart.
Let’s start by listing some of the common activities on the islands:
- Hiking
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Colonial tours
- Culinary experiences
- Wine tastings
- Watersports
- Natural sightseeing
- Beach trips
- Festivals
Each island does all of the above differently. For example, hiking on Madeira is very different from the Canaries, featuring more rugged, mountainous trails and often more altitude gain. Where snorkeling and diving are popular in the Canaries, fishing is more common in Madeira thanks to large schools of migrating sport fish. Even surfing is distinct in both locations: the Canaries has a good mix of spots for all skill levels, while Madeira is strictly for seasoned riders thanks to breaks like Jardim do Mar.
So which offers more to do? Toss up
Both Madeira and the Canaries have a ton of things to do. Truly, it’s difficult to say which destination is better based on what they offer because there is just so much!
We’d say that if you were looking for more adventurous activities in a more dramatic location, Madeira is probably the better choice.
If on the other hand, you want more accessible things to do and a greater variety, then the Canaries are more up your alley.
Either way you go, you are spoiled for choices and there will hardly ever be a moment where you are idle.
Costs
Right off the bat, we’re going to say that both Madeira and the Canaries are relatively affordable destinations. You won’t break the bank visiting either and will certainly have a good time with a reasonable budget.
That being said, both places can be expensive in different ways.
Accommodation in Madeira can be slightly pricier than the Canaries, mostly due to scarcity. There are, without question, way more options on the latter, which means more chances to score a good deal or a cheap place.
That being said, food and transport are arguably cheaper in Madeira. Car rentals are notoriously expensive in the Canaries and getting between the islands (especially with said rental) can add up as you’re paying for more gas and ferry tickets. To mitigate expenses, you’d have to restrict yourself to one island ultimately.
The Canary Islands also have a slightly longer high season, which means you’ll be subject to higher prices for a longer period of time.
So which is more affordable? Madeira
Though it has fewer accommodation options, Madeira is the cheaper destination because everything else is more affordable. A good meal will still cost less than 20 euro and you can find a rental car for as low as 15 euro per day. A poncha (the local’s favorite drink) is still less than 5 euros too, and it doesn’t take many of those to light you up.
The fact that you don’t have to worry about island hopping (or driving much for that matter) on the island means that you will spend less on gas too.
Cuisine
No matter which island group you visit, you are going to eat very, very well. Both Madeira and the Canary Islands benefit from high-quality, locally sourced food sources and both feature a cornucopia of ingredients. Seafood and tropical fruits are all in abundance.
That being said, the culinary traditions of Madeira and the Canary Islands differ greatly.
The cuisine in the Canary Islands is more eclectic, taking influence from a myriad of culinary styles from the likes of Spain, Africa, and Latin America. Dishes often use bold flavors through the use of spices and infamous mojos or local sauces. Canarian food is, like the islands’ landscapes, varied and often bewildering to experience.
Meanwhile, Madeiran food is much more straightforward, focusing more on pure, clean flavors. Dishes are usually simple, featuring fewer ingredients that tend to shine. Brick ovens are popular on the island and are used masterfully to prepare local tuna steaks and espetada, or Madeiran meat skewers. Bolo do caco, a dense Madeiran bread, is a staple at almost every dinner table and is often served slathered in garlic and butter.
So which has the better food? Madeira
We simply can’t get enough of the food in Madeira. Like its continental counterpart, Italy, Madeiran cuisine lets its ingredients speak for themselves. The food is hearty, filling, and usually bursting with flavors. Honestly, there are few things more rewarding than a big meal after a long hike at a tiny village restaurant. Washing it all down with a poncha is the cherry on top.
That is not to say that the food in the Canary Islands is bad either; on the contrary, it is equally delicious. You may even have more options as the islands are more developed and so have more restaurants catered to tourists. We just find the concept of food more “pure” on Madeira and a better representation of its rustic, rural lifestyle.
Crowds
The Canary Islands receives more than 15 million tourists each year (post-COVID) and is considered one of the most popular places to visit in Europe. It is so desirable, that many Europeans have made it their second home in the winter and have invested in local property, much to the chagrin of the locals.
Madeira on the other hand receives a fraction of visitors: a tenth to be exact at only 1.5 million. That’s a pretty massive difference. Unlike the situation in the Canaries as well, Madeirans are more open to the idea of foreign visitors and investment i.e. expats.
It should also be noted that while 25-30% of the people who visit Madeira are Portuguese, only 3-5% of those who go to the Canaries are Spanish. So in the case of the latter, it definitely skews towards the foreigner side.
So which has fewer people? Madeira
If it wasn’t obvious before, Madeira is overwhelmingly less crowded than the Canary Islands.
So bad is the situation in the Canaries, in fact, that locals are actually beginning to push back against over-tourism, claiming that such a high influx of people is causing serious environmental issues. For that matter, local Canarians are also starting to be pushed out thanks to a high demand in real estate and consequently skyrocketing housing prices.
In short, those visiting the Canary Islands might be met with a lukewarm reception and will probably spend more time around other foreigners than actual Canarians.
Visit Madeira and you will be met ecstatically by the locals. Madeirans are very welcoming people and love having people visit their island, especially those from further abroad. There’s plenty of room for everyone here still so get there before it suffers the same fate as the Canaries.
So which is better? Madeira or the Canaries?
Let’s review quickly so far what we’ve covered already and tally the results:
| Madeira | Canary Islands |
|
|---|---|---|
| Climate | X | |
| Geography | X | X |
| Accessibility | X | |
| Getting Around | X | |
| Activities | X | X |
| Costs | X | |
| Cuisine | X | |
| Crowds | X |
And there you have it! With a score of 6 vs 4, Madeira is the winner, thanks to its lower costs, better food, and fewer crowds.
In all honesty, you won’t have a bad time with either location. The Canary Islands are popular for a reason and have been attracting people for decades because of their fine weather and breadth of attractions. It’s just at a point now where the islands might be a little too popular.
Madeira though is still a diamond in the rough and evades most people’s attention. It’s frankly incredible that this island has not been overrun yet by the masses because it’s just so amazing here.
We highly recommend visiting Madeira on your next holiday. This island is absolutely gorgeous and will appeal to nature lovers, thrill seekers, culinary enthusiasts, and more. It’s still affordable here and the lifestyle is for the most part peaceful but all that can change – get here before it’s too late!
