What a lovely town! It's an easy 15-20 minute walk to the city center. We visited the Municipal Gardens and the Santa Catarina Park. We stepped inside a church located on Praça do Municipio. It cost 1€ to climb to the roof, which offered beautiful views. Before the cruise, I scheduled a tour for us at Blandy's Wine Lodge. We learned all about madeira and enjoyed a great tasting for about 6€ each. We had lunch at Restaurante Dos Combatentes. There were lots of locals eating the traditional dishes here. Be sure to try the scabbardfish (espada). The highlight of the day was when we stopped to watch a group of kids performing traditional dances. During one song, my husband and I were both pulled into the action and were guided through the dance. Truly a fantastic memory!

This city was a pleasant surprise! It's an easy walk from the pier to the city center. We spent most of our time at the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle. A combined ticket was 11€. The gardens and views are beautiful at each spot. The higher you climb, the more you forget you are in a busy city. It's like an oasis in the middle of an urban area.

The port provides a free shuttle. Explanada de España is a beautiful walkway. We were there in the morning and able to enjoy it with only a few people around. Mercado Central was a bustling neighborhood market filled with locals. We enjoyed eating lunch at one of the stalls while people watching. Castell de Santa Bàrbara was a long hike, and we only had time to make it about halfway there. Being just that far up was a nice break from the city.