We all have travel bucket lists. Countries to visit. Cities to tick off. Landmarks to take picture of. But I believe that real travelers have another kind of bucket list. You don't collect places, you collect experiences. Things you should do at least once in your life while traveling. And most of the time it turns out to be unforgettable trips with stories you can tell your grandchildren about. And one of them, in my opinion, is simple. Buy a one-way ticket with no fixed return. No strict plan. Just you, your backpack, and curiosity. That is exactly how I ended up in Madeira. 🏝️
From Porto to the Middle of the Atlantic
My journey to the island started with a two-hour flight from Porto in Portugal to Funchal, the capital of Madeira and the main gateway to the island. Since Madeira is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, almost everyone who visits arrives through this single airport.
Madeira itself was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors discovered it during their age of exploration. Before that, there were no towns, no ports, and no hotels. Just mountains, forests, and endless ocean. And even the name of the capital has a story.
When the first sailors arrived here, they found the area covered with wild fennel. In Portuguese, fennel is called funcho. The place became known as Funchal, literally “the place of fennel.” Today, the city looks very different, but that little botanical detail still lives on in its name.
The National Pride
Funchal is also famous for another reason. This is where Cristiano Ronaldo was born. Because of that, his presence is everywhere. The airport is officially called Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, renamed after Portugal won the European Championship in 2016. It was meant as a tribute to the country’s biggest football star and its most famous son. Near the entrance, you will find his statue. Let’s just say… it looks better in photos than in real life. 😏
In the city itself, you can also visit the CR7 Museum, dedicated entirely to his career. Inside, you will find trophies, shirts, medals, photos, and basically a full timeline of how a boy from Madeira became a global superstar. And for a die hard fans, there is a chance to make a foto with Cristiano... Not a real one unfortunately, but his full scale 3D version.
Whether you love football or not, it is impossible to ignore how proud the island is of him.
One of the Scariest Airports in the World
Before coming to Madeira, I had no idea that its airport is regularly listed as one of the most challenging in the world for pilots.
The reason is simple. It is located between steep mountains and the open ocean, leaving very little space for error. Winds can be strong, weather changes quickly, and the approach requires serious precision.
On top of that, the runway itself is unusual. In 2000, it was extended over the ocean on a massive concrete platform supported by around 180 piers. Yes, piers. Standing in the water. Holding airplanes above the waves.
Under this platform, there is even a highway. Which is still hard to believe. I only learned about this after seeing aerial photos, and suddenly everything made sense. The intense braking. The feeling that we were landing on water. The strange mix of stress and excitement.
However every good story has its own dark side. There was a tragic accident here in 1977, when more than 130 people lost their lives. After that, safety became a top priority, and the airport was rebuilt and improved several times. Today, it is considered safe, even if the landing still feels dramatic.
I was not sitting next to the window, so I missed the best view. But inside the cabin, it honestly felt like we were landing in the middle of the ocean. Not going to lie. It was intense.
One Way Ticket, New Island, New Chapter
Looking back, a one way ticket to Madeira was never just about arriving on an island. It was about giving myself the freedom to explore without rushing, without a strict plan, and without knowing exactly what would come next.
At that point, I honestly had no idea what was waiting around the corner.
Would I end up swimming in the open Atlantic?
Would I get lost in the mountains?
Would I survive one of Europe’s steepest cable cars?
All I knew was that this first impression of Madeira felt intriguing, calming, and quietly exciting at the same time.
And this was only the beginning.
You will find out what happened next in Part 2.
