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TUI suspended flights to the island back in July, much to the disappointment of holidaymakers.<\/p>\n
However, the relaunched flights will operate on a weekly basis from London Gatwick Airport from May 2024.<\/p>\n
Holidaymakers may have found themselves on the island by accident in recent years. <\/p>\n
It's just a 15-minute flight from Madeira and is often used as an emergency landing when there are high winds at Funchal Airport.<\/p>\n
Read more on European islands<\/h2>\n
While small – you can fit Porto<\/span> Santo six times into Madeira – its main appeal is its beautiful 8-mile-long golden sand beach.<\/p>\n Porto<\/span> Santo Beach has been named one of the best in Europe on several occasions, with it being given thousands of 5* reviews by tourists.<\/p>\n One person wrote on TripAdvisor that it was "one of their favourite beaches in the world" while another said it had the "best sand in the world".<\/p>\n The sands are believed to have health benefits<\/span> due to their anti-inflammatory minerals such as strontium.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n So don't be surprised if you see beachgoers buried up to their necks in the sand.<\/p>\n The seawater is even used in some of the spas on the island too.<\/p>\n On the other side of the island are huge mountains formed by volcanic rock, which have some of the best views of the ocean at the Pico Castelo viewpoint.<\/p>\n Despite the stunning coastline, the island remains relatively untouched, unlike the rest of Portugal, with most tourists overlooking it.<\/p>\n More often visited by locals from the mainland, there is just one town on the island, Vila Baleira, where most of the 5,000 islanders live.<\/p>\n The town has whitewashed houses and large plazas, perfect for a late-night glass of wine.<\/p>\n There are more than 50 restaurants and bars to choose from, serving fresh seafood and Portuguese classics.<\/p>\n Make sure to try the local cuisine, the most well-known being the bolo do caco – bread baked on a piece of tile – and a sugar cane brandy cocktail called a Poncha.<\/p>\n And there is even an 18-hole golf course on the island, designed by former world no.1 golfer Seve Ballesteros.<\/p>\n Other popular activities include horse riding, 4×4 off-road experiences and fishing tours, along with watersports.<\/p>\n The TUI holidays will include a stay at the Hotel Pestana Porto<\/span> Santo in Vila Baleria, one of the best resorts on the island, with all-inclusive breaks from \u00a3927pp.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-24719506-1699883462199.jpg\")
<\/picture>SANDS GOOD <\/span><\/p>\nTiny European island you won't have heard of with 22C winters and rainbow beach<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/newspress-collage-24544208-1698413897533.jpg\")
<\/picture>ISLE GO <\/span><\/p>\nEuropean island once home to terrifying pirates is now loved for it's spas and beer<\/h3>\n
Most read in Beach holidays<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/landscape-beach-port-ghalib-marsa-799441139.jpg\")
<\/picture>AIR WE GO <\/span><\/p>\nTUI relaunches flights to top winter sun spot that were scrapped during Covid<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>SANDS GOOD <\/span><\/p>\nTiny European island you won’t have heard of with 22C winters and rainbow beach<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2ekjc3h-giftun-island-hurghada-red-783130891.jpg\")
<\/picture>DROP OFF <\/span><\/p>\nPopular winter sun hotspot where holidays have dropped in price – with \u00a335 flights<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-24682918-1699539622344.jpg\")
<\/picture>GO SEA IT <\/span><\/p>\nEuropean city where Santa’s buried has shorts weather in December and 90p beers<\/h3>\n
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