The Portuguese island of Madeira is often referred to as a floating garden of the Atlantic, and for good reason. This lovely isle in the North Atlantic Ocean is an absolute paradise for anyone who loves flowers.
VISIT MADEIRA'S FLOWER FESTIVAL WITH GH
Thanks to its rich volcanic soil, a wonderful range of vibrantly coloured flowers bloom here throughout the year. But there's no better time to visit than in late spring, when the Madeira Flower Festival takes place.
During the island's enchanting festival, everything in Madeira is about flowers, and the pretty streets of the island's capital Funchal are filled with colours and scents from floral floats. Parades and performances take place daily as locals celebrate the beauty of the island in bloom.
This year, Good Housekeeping is offering you the chance to join our eight-day trip to coincide with this delightful festival in May, so you can make the most of this amazing floral spectacle.
You'll get to enjoy the festival's highlights and see the floats make their way through the streets of downtown Funchal as live music and fragrant scents fill the air.
The trip is tailor-made to show you the very best horticultural highlights of island; from the vibrant orchids at Palheiro Gardens to the exquisite colours of Funchal Botanical Gardens and the Quinta do Arco Rose Garden.
What are the main events of the Madeira Flower Festival?
The festival's main event is the Allegoric Flower Parade, when the streets of Funchal are filled with music, colour and floral perfumes, as an amazing parade of floats accompanied by dancers and musicians dressed in creative and colourful costumes passes by.
EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL IN 2025
Another highlight is the Wall of Hope ceremony, a tradition which has taken place in Madeira for over 40 years. During this ceremony, children walk with flowers in their hands towards Praça do Municipio where they construct a wall of flowers known as the 'Wall of Hope' to represent the call for world peace.
There are lots of smaller events that take place during the festival too, including flower concerts where you can enjoy live music surrounded by flora, and markets where you can buy your own plants and sample regional food.
What dates are the Madeira Flower Festival?
The Madeira Flower Festival takes place on the island every spring, in April, or May, when the flowers are in full bloom. In 2025, it will take place between 1st and 25th May.
Where does the Madeira Flower Festival take place?
Although the whole island will be celebrating the beauty of flowers, the main events of the festival take place in the island's capital, Funchal. The Flower Exhibition takes place in the city centre of Funchal, more specifically at Praça do Povo.
Want to experience the Madeira Flower Festival with Good Housekeeping in May 2025? You'll be staying at the luxury Enotel Lido, a five-star hotel just outside Funchal, where you can kick back in the bar, sauna, gym or one of the hotel's two swimming pools after a busy day exploring.
As well as included garden visits and a day soaking up the lively atmosphere of the Flower Festival, you'll also have plenty of free time to explore the islands as you wish.
And for more unmissable horticultural holidays, check out Good Housekeeping's full collection of garden trips.
