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Saga Hosted Hotels
Special Interest
Gardens
Madeira's Enticing Gardens
Funchal, Madeira
Make the most of Madeira’s gloriously green gardens and fabulous ocean views as you enjoy four included excursions from your five-star base in Funchal. This wonderful week invites you to learn more about the island’s indigenous and introduced plants and trees as well as its cultural heritage and royal roots. Each excursion invites you to explore in the company of a knowledgeable host as well as allowing you to spend time soaking up the scenery. It’s a relaxed and peaceful experience with farmers’ markets, nature trails and expansive estates opening up the island’s most enticing and characterful places to visit. The annual Flower Festival also takes place while you're there, a celebration that brings the island to life with bursts of colour and fragrance.
Facilities
Restaurant
Snack bar
Outdoor swimming pool
Gym
Jacuzzi
Hairdresser
Spa
Solarium
Sauna
Turkish bath
Wi-Fi
Table tennis
Live entertainment
Nationwide shared chauffeur service– included on all departures from April 1, 2026
A nationwide return shared chauffeur service from your home to your UK departure point
Exceptional value every time
Saga Host
Our trained hosts will welcome you and ensure you enjoy your holiday. We also offer 24/7 support if needed.
Travel insurance and additional cancellation cover included §
A price reduction is available if you choose not to take the included insurance and additional cancellation cover.
Included excursions
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Quinta Boa Vista Garden
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The first excursion of the week takes us into the historic walled garden terraces of the Quinta estate. It’s just a 20-minute walk or a five-minute drive from central Funchal but a world away in terms of hilltop views and lush green lawns. Throughout the expansive grounds and greenhouses, orchids appear scattered like sparkling crown jewels. It’s a reminder that this former working estate was once renowned for its market garden produce. Birds-of-paradise and a variety of show bloom orchids and cut flowers still thrive in the setting and add to a colourful arrangement of flowering frangipani, hibiscus and an assortment of ancient aloes. We’ll spend the day here soaking up the sunshine and learning more about the major players in the Madeira Flower Festival.
President Gardens/ Santa Catarina Park/ Camacha village/ Quinta do Palheiro
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We’ll start today exploring in the rather grand setting of the Presidential Palace Gardens, also known as the Quinta Vigia. It’s a fabulous floral tribute to the important people that have resided in the villa including numerous dukes, counts and even Brazilian Empress, Princess Dona Maria Amélia. The gardens offer an opportunity to discover more about Maderia’s royal heritage as well as a chance to enjoy panoramic harbour views harmoniously intertwined with beautiful botanicals and exotic species of bird. From the Quinta Vigia, we’ll make our way to another gorgeous garden that looks out over Funchal Bay to Ponta do Garajau, Santa Catarina Park. It’s the perfect place to appreciate the iconic views out to sea with large lawns and fountain-filled lakes surrounded by indigenous and introduced plants, trees, herbaceous borders, and flowering beds. In the afternoon we turn our attention to the characterful hillside village of Camacha. Located just to the east of Funchal, Camacha has become known for its annual apple festival as well as being a hot bed of Portuguese folk dancing and traditional basket weaving. It’s considered the centre of the island’s willow craft cottage industry as well as providing visitors with untold opportunities to purchase handcrafted souvenirs and learn more about Madeira’s cultural heritage. Armed with a selection of handcrafted kitchen utensils and woven baskets, we’ll make our way from Camacha to the final gardens on today’s itinerary, the gloriously green Quinta do Palheiro. This incredible environment sends the senses into overdrive with hibiscus, bougainvillea, jacaranda, and an incredible camellia collection thriving in the fertile soil and sunshine.
Mercado dos Lavradores-Farmer’s Market/ Municipal Gardens/Madeira Magic Gardens
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It will be Madeira’s abundant regional produce that steals the show this morning as we pay a visit to the Mercado dos Lavradores. Situated in the centre of Funchal, this iconic farmers’ market provides a glimpse of the old days with fresh fruit and vegetables providing a fascinating backdrop to the bustle and energy of buying and selling. The building the market is housed in conjures up yet more historic verve with tiled painted panels depicting Funchal-related themes to complement the rich blend of smells, sounds and tropical discoveries. After our morning at the market, we’ll take some time out in the nearby Jardim Municipal. Also known as the Donna Amélia Garden, this is where Funchal locals love to throw a fiesta with Christmas, book fairs, art exhibitions and live music all celebrated within the grounds. It’s a peaceful place to visit with water features, statues and a Japanese garden adding to myriad flowering plants and ancient native trees. Last but by no means least on today’s tour are Maderia’s Magic Gardens that are located within the theme park alongside the public promenade. The garden features abundant endemic and exotic plants as well as subtropical specimens from the ancient Laurissilva rainforest. It’s an ideal spot for a stroll followed by afternoon tea at the café before we head back to the hotel for a well-earned siesta.
Ribeiro Frio/ Monte Tropical Gardens
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Our final excursion of the week reveals even more indigenous Laurissilva forest examples as we head north to Ribeiro Frio Forest Park. It’s here that the island’s gloriously green undulations come to the fore with sun-dappled nature trails and ancient stone waterways creating a magical setting amongst Maderia’s mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for laurel trees, Lily-of-the valley, and ancient examples of Madeiran mahogany. After making the most of some of the mountain look out points, we’ll head to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens to enjoy yet more sensational scenery across Funchal Bay. This 18th century estate was once a luxurious hotel but had long since been abandoned following WWII. During the late 1980s Monte Palace was rescued by the José Berardo Foundation and transformed into a characterful garden and heritage museum. Swans, ducks, chickens, and peacocks roam around the grounds while koi carp enjoy life in the foliage fringed lakes. And there’s nowhere better to admire the view and revel in the romance of Madeira’s enticing gardens before heading back to the hotel for one more swim in the outdoor pool.
Location
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With so much on offer at the hotel itself, you could quite easily spend your whole holiday at the Enotel Lido. But if you’re drawn to explore, you’ll find the hotel is conveniently set back from the main road and promenade, offering a peaceful setting but with easy access to the seafront and lido. It’s also perfectly placed for days out or evenings in the old town and port of Funchal, which is just 10 minutes away by bus. The pedestrianised centre is full of old Madeiran charm, and you can spend hours exploring the narrow lanes of the old town and browsing for trinkets at market stalls.
Out and about
For thrill seekers head up to the dizzying heights of Monte and take an exhilarating downhill ride to Funchal on one of Madeira’s famous wicker toboggan sledges.
Address
Rua Simplicio dos Passos Gouveia, 29 , 9004-576, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Hotel details
You’ll appreciate the hotel’s excellent location as you enjoy buffet-style meals in the main restaurant, which overlooks the ocean, but if you fancy a change there’s plenty more choice! Take the chance to dine in one of the two speciality restaurants serving Madeiran and Italian (buffet-style at lunch) cuisine.
There are three bars, open at various times daily for 24 hours each day serving selected international alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Complimentary fruit is available daily from the hotel’s coffee shop.
All 348 rooms have a balcony or terrace with partial views of the sea. There is a lift to each floor. The complimentary minibar is stocked with soft drinks and water on arrival.
You can upgrade to a room with a sea and pool-view room for a supplement, subject to availability.
During your stay, enjoy the following programme of activities and entertainment. Some activities may be at an extra charge and activities may change from time to time.
Live entertainment six times a week
Water aerobics
Table tennis
Billiards
Golf is available nearby (please ask in resort for details and prices)
Talk on Madeiran wine