Marvel at Madeira's city Funchal from above in a cable car for 15 euros return, where you'll get a view like no other. The cable car arrives in Monte where you can enjoy a toboggan ride in a wicker basket and see the Church of Nossa Senhora.

Madeira's flowers and plants are so impressive that it would be rude not to see them displayed at one of its magnificent gardens. The Botanical Garden in Funchal and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden are two top places to see the island's florally wonders.

It's a good idea to rent a bike or car to see the varied landscape of the island. The western coast is more dramatic with cliffs and mountains, Nun's Corral is a hidden valley in the centre and Santana in the north is where you can see Madeira's beautiful thatched triangular houses.

Go out to sea on a dolphin and whale watching boat trip with Rota dos Cetaceos You'll be accompanied by a marine biologist who is in contact with lookouts on land to guide the boat to where the wild dolphins and whales are located. A sighting isn't guaranteed but the company promises you a free trip if you don't spot any dolphins. There's also a chance to swim with the dolphins, if you're brave enough! Trips are 48 euros for two and a half hours and 65 euros to swim with dolphins.

With over 2,000 km of levadas (water canals) throughout the island, you can enjoy walking while seeing nature's beauty close-up. There are around 200 different routes that take you from the sea to the island's highest peaks - a chance to see the unique landscapes that cars and bikes can't reach.

Art enthusiasts should visit the modern Casa das Mudas Arts Centre, which features a variety of exhibitions, musical performances and events in one of Madeira's most urban designed buildings.

There's loads you can do to get active in the sea and on land. Quad biking, mountain biking, paragliding, scuba diving and canoeing are just some of the more adventurous sports available.

...on a Jeep safari. Mountain Expeditions offers you a chance to explore the island in a unique way. You'll go into the mountains and valleys to discover some often unreachable places and see the beauty of Madeira from new heights. The trips vary each day so you can go on a half-day Nun's Valley & Sea Cliffs tour on a Tuesday and Saturday or see the wonders of the island's north side on the full day Enchanting North trip on a Friday. The full day Best of the South trip on a Sunday allows you to see top spots like Paul de Serra, Calheta and Jardim do Mar. Jeep safaris are 30 euros for half day trips and 52 euros for full day tours including lunch.

One of Madeira's drawbacks is its lack of beaches, well white sand ones anyway, but if you do want a world-class beach, you should take a trip to the island Porto Santo. You can arrive by plane in 15 minutes with Sata, although this can be pricey. A ferry to Porto Santo from Funchal takes around two hours and 15 minutes and costs from 52 euros for a return trip. Apart from the gorgeous, golden sand beach, you'll find traditional windmills dotted around the landscape, the lively Atlantic Festival in June and some fabulous beach bars in the summer where you can party under the stars. Be sure to stop at the Ponta da Calheta viewpoint where you can see a spectacular view over the island.

Find out why Porto Santo is one of our top ten secret beaches of the world

If you do fancy spending the day lazing by the ocean on Madeira's main island, you'll find some black sand and pebble beaches. Praia Formosa in Funchal is one of the top beaches offering clear water, great facilities and restaurants. Another good spot is Madalena do Mar. Prainha in Canical (pictured) on the east of the island is the only natural golden sand beach on the island. There are a couple of man-made golden sand beaches - Calheta and Machico - but these tend to get overcrowded. Surfers should head to Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar Beaches to try out the fantastic waves that are considered some of the best in Europe.

... of Madeira, obviously! The Old Blandy Wine Lodge in Funchal offers a tour and tasting for just 5 euros. Here you'll learn about the island's wine history, how it gets from vineyard to bottle and how to keep a bottle of Madeira wine. From August you can also visit Blandy's vineyard at Quinta de Santa Luzia, where you'll be given a guided tour of the unique property, see some of the rarest varieties of grapes and of course, taste the delicious wine. The vineyard tour costs 15 euros.

Some of the culinary delights of Madeira include bolo do caco with garlic butter (a type of garlic bread) and the legendary beef espetada (grilled beef on a skewer). You'll find fresh and regional ingredients used in the dishes and a variety of seafood available. Black scabbard (espada), tuna and dried and salted cod are some of the specialities of the sea. Tropical fruits like mango, papaya, passion fruit and custard apples also grow in abundance on the island.

The elegant Café do Museu in Funchal's central square Largo do Colégio is a popular spot for locals and tourists, serving international and Madeiran cuisine. Venda da Donna Maria Restaurant is a traditional restaurant designed like an old-fashioned grocery shop in Funchal's Old Town, where you can eat homemade, regional food. For a magnificent view of Madeira's north coast try the restaurant at Quinta do Furao in Santana and Villa do Peixe overlooks Camara de Lobos Bay and offers fish specialities in a modern setting. If you're missing the comforts of home, luxurious afternoon tea at Reid's Palace is a must. It's served in the impressive Lounge and includes scones, finger sandwiches and champagne, if you wish!

The Farmers' Market in Funchal is well worth a visit to see its bustling atmosphere and architecture. Among beautiful flowers and exotic fruits, you'll find a variety of fish and spices - a great place for keen photographers, but arrive early to see the market in all its glory. The Dolce Vita shopping centre in Funchal is a great place for high-street shopping with the likes of Massimo Dutti, Geox and Accessorize filling its space. You'll also find boutiques and well-known shops like Zara around Funchal, so it's worth walking around the many streets of the centre. Cristiano Ronaldo's sister owns a fashion boutique called CR7 in the west of Funchal, which is a good place to have a browse for its famous connection and to see the photos of the footballer that adorn the walls. Outside Funchal, Madeira Shopping in Santa Quitéria is a modern mall with over 80 shops and seven cinemas.

Most of the vibrant nightlife in Madeira takes place in Funchal. You'll probably come across a few poncha bars while out and about after dark. Poncha is a concoction of rum, sugar cane honey and lemon, and is one of Madeira's traditional alcoholic drinks. It's also popular with the young and trendy and fruitier versions are being sold in the city's trendy bars. Venda Velha is a poncha bar in the Old Town that's popular with the locals (young ones too!) and a good place to try the drink in different flavours, like passion fruit or tangerine. Super-cool visitors should check out the chic Mini Eco Bar (pictured) which follows the concept of a bar combined with a shop where you can buy sunglasses, CDs and T-shirts as well as cocktails and poncha. Next door, Sneakers Delight is similar, selling shoes and clothes in the day and turning into a bar at night. The bars stay open until 2am and those wanting to party can head to the discos until 7am. Copacabana, Molhe and Vespas are all popular with locals.

If you want to sleep like a royal, check into Reid's Palace (pictured). Not only does the majestic hotel have a spectacular view of Funchal, being located on a cliff to the west of the city centre, it also has a great selection of poolside settings (one of the swimming pools located on the sea level is filled by the sea's crashing waves!) so lazing-in-the-sun types really won't need to leave the hotel. The rooms are light and cosy and you can choose DVDs that are delivered to you and listen to music using the iPod speaker dock. Doubles start from 390 euros per room, per night and includes a sumptuous buffet breakfast.

You'll find plenty of city hotels and countryside quintas (houses) for various budgets across the island. Uber-trendy guests wanting to be located right in the centre of Funchal should stay at The Vine, which has sleek rooms, a rooftop bar, pool and jacuzzi. Estalagem da Ponta do Sol is a modern cliffside hotel, Hotel Paul do Mar in Calheta gives you the freedom of an apartment and is located at the base of a cliff in a quiet village, and Vila Giorgi is a boutique hotel with Moorish influences and a stylish design.

Madeira is a jewel of the Atlantic with a year-round mild climate, but is often seen as a destination for mature tourists. We visited the island to prove there's more to it and found just that. The lush landscape is a haven for adventure junkies, wine lovers can enjoy a boozy break and there are some chic and arty bars that have opened, creating a vibrant night scene. Check out some more of Madeira's highlights:

- Various viewpoints: If you love a good view, you must check out the island's most beautiful spots. Ponta do Pargo, Paul de Serra and Ponta de Sao Lourenco (pictured) are worth visiting for their stunning views.

- Let the party begin: Excitement takes over Madeira for the Carnival in February, April's Flower Festival and the Atlantic Festival in June. Art lovers will enjoy the ON by Porto Bay event that's on every two years in the summer with Funchal's Old Town being taken over by music, art and dancing to raise money for charity.

- Meet the locals: Head to a poncha bar to mingle with the locals and try Madeira's speciality drink. There are also plenty of cafes dotted around Funchal, like Café do Teatro, where you can stop for coffee and people watching!

- Explore the landscape: Cycling, Jeep safaris and walking are just a few ways of seeing the island's natural beauty.