Quinta da Casa Branca

Madeira, among certain demographics, is something of a well-kept secret. Lush and subtropical, it’s the sort of place that’s very popular indeed with an older generation of travelers. But its pervasive calm is its greatest asset — if it were heaving discos and all-night debauches you were after, you’d be in Ibiza. If, on the other hand, it’s peace and quiet you’re after, Quinta da Casa Branca might just be the place.

Although the city is becoming busier and more developed every year, this elegantly restored walled-garden estate retains an otherworldly sense of quiet and simplicity. Flowers are simply everywhere; in the rooms, accenting the soft, neutral-toned furnishings, and out in the gardens, visible from every room through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Suites and premium rooms open onto sun-drenched terraces overlooking the estate.

The tranquil terraces and gardens of the hotel grounds certainly aren’t designed for thrill-seekers, but they are perfectly lovely scenic areas for strolling, reading, or taking tea. Breakfast is a highlight, as is dinner, served in the dining room of the old house or, in summer, by moonlight out on the terrace. Not exactly the wild life, one supposes, but for an arboreal idyll, not half bad either.

How to get there:
Quinta da Casa Branca is a 20 minute taxi ride from the Airport Madeira International and costs approximately 35 Euros.