The idyllic island destination of Madeira will become more accessible than ever before to golfers across the UK and Europe with a dozen new flight routes launching this winter.
Belfast, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are among the major cities set to offer direct flights to the archipelago’s capital, Funchal, across nine highly respected airlines including EasyJet, Jet2 and Air Baltic.
UK-based golfers will soon be able to fly with Jet2 to Madeira from Liverpool or the Northern Irish capital, while EasyJet is handling flights from Amsterdam and Bordeaux.
Other routes being established include Munich (Discover Airlines), Nuremberg (Eurowings), Reykjavik (Play), Riga (Air Baltic) and Gothenburg (Braathens Airways).
Meanwhile, Czech airline Smartwings is offering flights from Katowice, as well as a direct route from Warsaw to Porto Santo – Madeira’s second-largest island and home to one of the destination’s three acclaimed golf courses.
The Seve Ballesteros-designed Porto Santo Golfe is complemented by two courses on mainland Madeira: the picturesque Palheiro Golf and Robert Trent Jones’ 27-hole masterpiece, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra. All three courses can be experienced for one price with the Madeira Golf Passport, available to buy as a three, four or five-round package.
In 2026, the trio will be joined by a highly anticipated new course at Ponta do Pargo, designed by six-time Major winner and Ryder Cup legend Sir Nick Faldo’s company Faldo Design.
Alongside the new European options, United Airlines has announced a new network connecting Funchal with 89 airports across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In total, the expanded offering will see 23 countries from the UK, Europe and North America operating services into Madeira in the next 12 months.
The eyes of the golfing world will be on Madeira this month when Funchal’s Savoy Palace plays host to the illustrious World Golf Awards and World Travel Awards. All three golf clubs, as well as Madeira itself, are in the running to earn one of the most prestigious honours in the industry.
An archipelago of Portugal, Madeira’s position 500km from the African mainland lends it a mild sub-tropical climate throughout the year, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter. Away from a stellar line-up of golf and other sporting venues, the islands are exalted for their vast natural parks and more than 30 varieties of wine.
For more information on Madeira, please visit www.visitmadeira.com
