Funchal is the largest city in Madeira, and a great home base for Madeira adventures. The island itself is only about an hour drive from one end to the othe with so much in between! Funchal is located on the south side of the island and relatively central to most destinations. There are multiple festivals in the city a year, including Carnival, the Flower Festival, The Sé Festival and more! This full guide includes how to get there, where to stay, what to pack, what to eat and what to do in Funchal!
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How to get to Madeira
There are two ways to get to Madeira: by plane or by cruise ship. The most accessible way for a majority of people will be to arrive by plane. There is also an inter-island ferry between Madeira and Porto Santo. Once you arrive at the Madeira Airport, there are a few options to get to Funchal. You can either: rent a car; take a taxi/uber; take the city bus; or take the Aerobus. The cheapest option is the city bus but the Aerobus typically has a more direct route. If you choose the Aerobus, you can purchase a round-trip ticket for €8 from the driver.
Where to Stay in Funchal
The best place to stay is in Old Town Funchal, since it’s central to everything including bus stops. It’s also on the map for tour companies to pick you up! The further away from Old Town, the cheaper accommodations get. Just be aware that Funchal is a big hill and you’ll want to factor in the price of public transit/taxis! You might not want to walk everywhere.
There are a number of hostels for those backpacking on a budget, as well as a variety of hotels and apartments for rent. An apartment gives you flexibility to make your own meals at home and have a home base.
What to Pack for Funchal
Madeira is a semi-tropical island, so you want to be prepared for both rainy and humid, sunny days. If you’re planning on doing any hiking, pack layers and a good pair of hiking shoes. There’s also a great selection of restaurants, so you might want to pack a nice dinner outfit. Here’s a packing list for Funchal:
- 2-3 t-shirts
- 1-2 pair of pants/shorts
- 1 warm sweater
- 1 waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella
- Waterproof shoes (try Vessi)
- 1-2 hiking outfits (depending on your day trips planned)
- Bathing suit (lots of waterfalls and a beach!)
- 1 dress (or nice outfit for dinner)
Read more: Ultimate Travel Packing List to be Prepared
What to Eat in Funchal
While Madeira is in Portugal, there are numerous foods to try in Madeira that you likely won’t find elsewhere in Portugal. Give these a try!
- Black scabbard fish, which is similar to sword fish, and typically served with bananas
- Bolo do caco, bread with butter and garlic
- Prego no Bolo do Caco (steak sandwich made with bolo do caco)
- Bolo de mel, a dense sponge cake with nuts and spices
- Tropical fruits
- Madeira Wine
- Poncha (sugar cane rum, bee honey and lemon juice, sometimes made with other fruit juices)
- Nikita (Ice crea, sugar, pineapple rings, and white wine and / or white beer)
- Head to Talho do caniço: it is a butchery but you can purchase meat and they’ll grill it for you while you grab a glass of wine.
What to Do in Funchal
Mercado dos Lavradores
A farmer’s market in Funchal, open daily. It is filled with fantastic fruit, exotic flowers, local crafts, and a fish market. It is also a known tourist trap! The fruit samples are typically dusted in sugar to entice people to buy produce at the market, and the price of food is 2-4x the price at a local grocer down the street. It’s absolutely worth visiting, just keep your wallet closed.
Funchal Walking Tour
Funchal is the largest city in Madeira, and deserves to be explored! Give yourself some time in the city, and book a walking tour to see the best of Funchal. Walking tours are an excellent way to see a lot of the city, as well as learn about the history. The Funchal: Old Town Walking Tour is excellent, and you pay in advance. There are also plenty of free (by donation) walking tours to try!
Rua de Santa Maria
In an effort to revitalize a run down area of Funchal, the doors of Rua de Santa Maria were painted and the street is a pedestrian only thoroughfare. The street is lined with restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and over 200 painted doors! It’s not only a great area to explore, the painted doors are a destination in their own right.
Monte Palace and Tropical Gardens
A tropical paradise totaling 70,000 m2, Monte Palace is a beautiful oasis in Funchal. Historically, not a traditional palace for royalty but instead a luxury hotel. It was abandoned and then purchased in 1987 by José Berardo, who turned it into the luxurious gardens it is today. Open to the public since 1991, you’ll find a variety of exotic plants and animals, including flamingoes, koi carp, and peacocks!
Botanical Gardens
The Madeira Botanical Garden was created in 1960 and includes over 2,000 botanical species including endangered species. The Garden also has a research and conservation area! You can get to the botanical gardens by walking, city bus or the Botanical Garden Cable Car (not the same as the Funchal Cable Car). Admission is €6, or €13 for a round trip ticket with the cable car. The gardens are open daily!
Reis Magos Beach
Not your typical sandy beach, this pebble beach offers opportunities to swim in the clear-blue waters, sunbathe on a concrete pier, a restaurant and bar. It is about a 2 hour walk from Old Town Funchal, but you can also hop on a city bus or take a taxi there!
Funchal Cable Car
Funchal is set on a beautiful hillside, which also means walking away from the harbour is steep and hilly. If you want to head to the Monte Palace or the Toboggan Ride, try the cable car! The cable car starts at the harbourfront and takes you directly to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
Toboggan Ride
One of Madeira’s most famous attractions is the Funchal toboggan. The wicker and wood toboggans originated in the 1850s as a means to get down the steep hills in Funchal. It looks like a blast! Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 9:00am–6:00pm and Sunday: 9:00am–1:00pm. A toboggan ride costs €25 for one person or €30 for two (€15 per person) and every review I’ve read has said it’s worth it. (Unfortunately I couldn’t do it while I was there). Take the Monte Cable Car to the Monte Tropical Gardens, and then take the toboggan ride down!
São Tiago Fortress
A beautiful yellow fortress along the coast, São Tiago Fortress is temporarily closed but a great place to visit along the water.
Santa Catarina Park
A beautiful park along the coast is Santa Catarina Park. It’s a huge park, with numerous species of trees, shrubs and herbs from around the world. It also has a small pond with an island for the birds that live and nest in the park.
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