One year, one family, one island

We lived with our family for a year on the Island of eternal spring. Now we are sharing our experiences for everyone planning to visit Madeira one day.

Prepare your trip Read our Island Stories
our year in madeira

One year. 365 days of island mist, steep climbs, and local secrets.

Forget the generic “Chat-GPT” itineraries. We lived on Madeira as a family, survived the 25% inclines, and discovered where the locals go when the tour buses arrive. Now, we’re sharing it all with you.

Preparation

Forget everything you know about island driving and microclimates. From choosing the right rental car (hint: the smaller, the better!) to packing for four seasons in one day, we’ve got your logistics covered.

Destinations

Every corner of Madeira has a different soul. We’ve lived in Funchal and explored the rest. Discover the sunniest spots for families, the wildest northern escapes, and the most authentic local neighborhoods.

Activities

Hiking the levadas with kids, swimming in volcanic pools, and finding the quietest sunrise spots. We’ve filtered the ‘must-sees’ from the ‘tourist traps’ based on 365 days of exploring.

Island Stories

Our personal blog about life on the rock. Here we share the best local playgrounds, secret black sand beaches, our favorite viewpoints, and what it’s actually like to move your life to an island.

who we are

Bom dia! Tudo bem?

Hi there! We are Marieke & Rembrandt and decided to spend our parental leave for one year on Madeira island, together with our two children. You can read more about us in the ‘About the authors‘ section.