One of Porto Santo’s best-known viewpoints, Miradouro da Portela, offers sweeping views to the north and south. From here, you can take in the entire southern half of the island, including the 9 km-long beach, and see how the island’s low peaks give it a surprisingly open, almost barren feel. On a clear day, Madeira even appears in the distance. A short walk will bring you to the island’s three remaining traditional windmills. Painted white and red with sturdy stone bases, they’re no longer in use but are wonderfully preserved and make a great spot for photos, framed by both the ocean and the inland hills. Portela gets especially magical at sunrise or sunset, when the light casts the bay in golden hues. It’s also easy to combine this stop with nearby attractions like Porto dos Frades natural pools or the Terra Chã hike.

If you’re based on Porto Santo and fancy a glimpse of its sister island, a day trip to Madeira is doable. A daily ferry connects the two in just over 2 hours each way, with plenty of Atlantic views to enjoy along the journey. Once in Funchal, you can wander colourful markets, historic streets, and lush botanical gardens, or take the cable car up to Monte for sweeping vistas. A same-day return is possible if you start early, but it does make for a long day. Most travellers prefer staying at least one night on Madeira to explore at a more relaxed pace.

Conceived by film director Can Togay, Shoes on the Danube Bank is an ironwork memorial erected in 2005 consisting of sixty pairs of shoes, which pays tribute to the thousands of Jewish victims who were shot into the Danube during the Arrow Cross movement in 1944-45. With over 800,000 people expelled or killed, the Hungarian Jewish community is regarded as one of the biggest victims in the dark era of the Holocaust.