Forget Bali, This Paradisial Portuguese Island Is The World's Top Trending Destination For 2026

Geographically removed from the mainland and encircled by water, an island is synonymous with the ultimate escape. Today, many famous islands draw visitors seeking a far-flung vacation, but the resulting crowds and development tend to erode that desired castaway atmosphere. However, there are plenty of islands that still remain under-the-radar and on the cusp of mass discovery. This year, the Portuguese island of Madeira was crowned the top trending destination in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards. 

Blessed with volcanic geology, lush mountainous peaks, and scenic beaches, Madiera has often been compared to Hawaii or Bali. The paradisial island is anchored by the capital of Funchal, a centuries-old trading port that features well-preserved sites such as the Old Town and the historic Monte Palace. Outside of the city, you can delve into the island's unspoiled nature, such as exploring the ancient UNESCO-recognized Laurisilva forest, summiting the island's cloud-covered mountains, and swimming along the dramatic coastline.

While Bali was voted Tripadvisor's number one world destination in the same Travelers' Choice Awards, it's also over-touristed with more than 16 million visitors descending upon the island in 2024. In comparison, lesser-known Madeira only welcomed about 2.5 million people in 2025. Here, visitors can explore Madeira's incredible blend of outdoor adventure and history without the crowds that can plague Bali. However, now's the time to visit as Madeira's hidden gem status may soon change after it topped Tripadvisor's list, which identifies destinations that are rising fast in both reviews and ratings. Madeira is easy to access as its international airport in Funchal (FNC) receives nonstop flights from major European cities, as well as New York. Madeira is lovely to visit year-round as its temperatures hover between the low 60s in the winter to the high 70s in the summer. 

While perhaps not as famed as other European cities, Madeira's capital, Funchal, is trending towards the spotlight and boasts several historic sites. One of the top-rated attractions in Madeira on Tripadvisor, which awarded it the Best of the Best Award for 2026, is Monte Palace. Situated above Funchal, Monte Palace is a fanciful estate renowned for its elegant palace and diverse botanical gardens. While the property was first developed in the 1700s, the palace itself was built in the late 19th century as a hotel. In the 1980s, the gardens and grounds of the property were planted with flora and fauna from around the world, from bamboo groves to flamingo lagoons. Also amidst the gardens are interesting artworks and exhibits, such as panels recounting Portuguese history and a museum filled with modern and contemporary art.

After a visit here, head back down to Funchal to explore its Old Town, called Zona Velha, a charming district that brims with cobblestone streets and historic buildings, from intimate chapels to bustling markets. An important historic site and top Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice-awarded attraction in the Zona Velha is Blandy's Wine Lodge, named for the Blandy family that began exporting the world-famous Madeira wine in the 1800s. Here you can tour the wine lodge and sample Madeira wine. If you've worked up an appetite, stop for lunch or dinner at Peixaria no Mercado, a delicious seafood spot located in Madeira's circa 1940 market.

Madeira's nearly 300 square miles are filled with dramatic natural beauty, from the lush inland forests to the Atlantic Ocean coastline. To see one of the world's oldest surviving forests head to Madeira's Laurisilva, an enchanted fairytale forest shrouded in mist and mystery. Measuring over 37,000 acres, the Laurisilva is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back millions of years — its laurel forest serves as a biodiverse habitat for flora and fauna native to Madeira. Today, you can explore this ancient and pristine forest by hiking on trails that flank the levadas, which are irrigational channels that were first built centuries ago to transport rainwater from the forest.

For a more intense adventure, you can embark on the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro hike on Madeira's spectacular trail that connects two iconic peaks and is one of Europe's most breathtaking hikes. The nearly 4-mile trail, which is now operating as a point-to-point trail after a 2024 wildfire, links Pico de Areeiro, which measures almost 6,000 feet tall, to the summit of Pico Ruivo, Portugal's third-tallest mountain at over 6,100 feet. This challenging journey offers panoramic views of Madeira's cloud-shrouded peaks, unique bird-watching along the way, and an iconic staircase nicknamed the "Stairway to Heaven."

Those who want to experience Madeira's coast can head to Porto Muniz on the northwestern corner of the island. Here you'll discover Portugal's blue volcanic swimming pools that are a surreal oceanfront wonderland. These natural swimming pools, shaped by ancient lava rock, are protected from the Atlantic surf by rock walls and are supervised by lifeguards. If you'd rather head to the beach, Praia do Porto do Seixal is a public black-sand stretch flanked by rugged cliffs that's just a 15-minute drive east along the scenic coast.