21 Best Things to Do in Funchal, Madeira (Practical Guide & Tips)
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Visiting the Portuguese island of Madeira? Funchal is a place you really shouldn’t skip. But what are the best things to do in Funchal?
Funchal is Madeira’s capital and main hub. Despite its relatively small size, it offers plenty to see and do, from historic landmarks and museums to gardens, viewpoints, and unique local experiences.
This guide covers the best things to do in Funchal, based on our personal experience from several visits. The list starts with the must-see attractions and is ordered in a logical way, beginning in Funchal Old Town, which makes it easy to follow even if you’re short on time. Further down, you’ll also find a few less obvious things to do in Funchal if you have more time.
Please note that this is a city guide focused on Funchal itself, not a guide to the best places on Madeira Island or day trips from the city. Before heading out to explore more of the island, make sure you first see some of Funchal’s main highlights – no visit to Madeira would be complete without it.
These are the best things to do in Funchal, Madeira:
1. Visit Funchal Cathedral – Sé
Located in the city center, The Cathedral of Funchal (Sé) is one of the main historic landmarks of Funchal. Built in the beginning of the 16th century, at the peak of the Portuguese explorers’ era, Funchal Cathedral is a symbol of power and prosperity.
Not to be missed is the Gothic altarpiece, composed of gilt woodwork, oil paintings on wood, and small sculptures. The wooden cedar ceiling with ivory elements is considered one of the most beautiful ceilings in the whole of Portugal.
Practical information: The visit is free. The church is normally open every day from early morning until early evening. On weekends, it’s closed for a few hours in the afternoon.
2. Explore the Old Town of Funchal
Funchal Old Town (Zona Velha) is a nice lively place. Most of the city’s shops and restaurants are located in this area. It might get a bit busy when there are cruise ships in town, but it still has a great local feel.
The main shopping streets are Rua do Aljube, Rua da Carreira, and Rua Dr. Fernao Ornelas.
If you are looking for a place for lunch, don’t settle for tourist restaurants with pictures on the menu. There are quite some really nice local restaurants that serve great fresh food. We had lunch at Restaurante Armazém do Sal which is supposedly very expensive, but during the day they had a very affordable lunch menu. The place was packed with locals, but we were the only tourists there.
TIP: If you want to explore the Old Town of Funchal with a local guide and learn more about the city, consider joining this highly-rated walking tour.
3. Admire the Street Art of Rua da Santa Maria
Rua da Santa Maria was one of our favorite places in Funchal. It’s a perfect example of how a bit of imagination can bring the city to life. This area that has suffered from the flooding is now completely reborn.
A public art program called ‘Arte de Portas Abertas’ (the art of the open doors) has managed to transform an old shabby area of Funchal’s Old Town into a colorful outdoor art gallery. It now displays over 200 works of art, most painted on the doors of the houses of Rua de Santa Maria.
This area was really quiet when we visited Funchal in April and so I consider it one of the hidden gems of Madeira. However, it definitely has the potential to become one of the most popular places to visit in Funchal. Don’t miss it!
4. Visit Mercado dos Lavradores – Farmer’s Market
The Mercado dos Lavradores is a flower, fruit, vegetable, and fish market in Funchal. A short visit to this colorful bustling market is a must-do in Funchal!
The impressive building dates from 1940 and the inside space is organized in several different areas (‘Plazas’), connected by passages and staircases.
The market is open daily (except Sundays and Public Holidays), but is busiest on Fridays when you’ll likely see traditionally dressed ‘flower ladies’ selling the most beautiful exotic flowers.
Beware that the prices at the market are quite high, especially for fruit. On the other hand, you can try fruit you’ve probably never seen before.
We tried several kinds of passion fruit (banana passion fruit was our favorite), a fruit called ‘nespra’, and several others I don’t remember the name of.
We loved this explosion of smells, tastes, and colors and strongly recommend you visit this farmer’s market when in Funchal. Cover your nose and take a peek at the fish market section as well!
5. Enjoy the Views from Monte Cable Car
Temporary closure: Monte Cable Car will be closed for maintenance from January 5 to early April 2026.
Visiting Monte has been the most popular Funchal attraction for many decades. At the beginning of the 20th century, tourists could reach the mountain by steam train. Nowadays, you can make the same journey and enjoy the scenery from Monte Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal).
The ride from Funchal old town to Monte takes 15-20 minutes one way, giving you plenty of time to enjoy beautiful views of the city and its surroundings. It covers a long distance (over 3.2km (2 miles)) and makes an impressive ascent of 580 m (1,902 ft).
Once in Monte, you have several options. If you have at least half a day, you can visit all of the places mentioned here, otherwise, you’ll have to choose. A popular option is to take the second cable car and visit the Botanical Gardens of Madeira. Alternatively, just next to the cable car station, you can visit the Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
A bit further down the road, you’ll find the church of Our Lady of Monte. From there you can take a wicker toboggan sled down the mountain. You can read about all these points of interest below.
Even if you don’t visit any of the gardens, the Monte cable car is worth it for the views alone. It’s a must-do in Funchal.
Practical information: Cable car operates daily, hours vary by season. For up-to-date information, please check the official website. Normally, you can just get the tickets on the spot as well.
6. Visit Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Monte Palace Tropical Garden is another amazing garden you can visit in Funchal. Since it’s located just next to the upper station of Monte cable car, it’s probably the most visited garden in Funchal.
Featuring over 100,000 plant species with a separate section devoted solely to Madeira’s flora, it’s a garden that is well worth a few hours of your time. If you visit just one garden in Funchal, make it the Monte Palace Tropical Garden.
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is located at the Quinta Monte Palace – a beautiful mansion that in combination with a pond, a little waterfall, and various little structures makes it look like the gardens of some fairytale castle.
Practical information: The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is open daily. For practical information, see their website.
7. Visit Madeira Botanical Garden
Madeira is an island of flowers, and Funchal is the city of gardens. Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico) is the largest garden with the most varied collection of plants from all over the world.
The estate where the Botanical Garden is located dates from 1880 and used to be privately owned. What a garden for one family!
The Botanical Gardens are located high on the hill above Funchal with amazing views as an added bonus. Inside, you will find a big variety of different style gardens, including French and Japanese gardens. Kids loved the cute little Madeira houses and also a small natural history museum.
Practical information: The Botanical Garden is open daily and can be reached by a separate cable car line from Monte or by car.
8. See the Church of Our Lady of Monte
The Church of Our Lady of Monte (Igreja do Monte) is a little 18th-century church just a few steps away from Monte cable car top station and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. You’ll have to negotiate some very steep stairs, but it’s well worth it. On a clear day, you can see the town of Funchal, the beautiful coastline, and the mountains.
The exterior of the church doesn’t look very special, but the interior is very well decorated with beautiful paintings and statues. Worth visiting is the tomb of Charles I. He was the last emperor of Austria (and of the Habsburg dynasty) and spent the last years of his life in exile in Madeira.
I read somewhere that you can climb the steps to the roof of the church for beautiful views of Funchal, but the church was just closing when we visited, so I cannot confirm if that’s the case.
9. Take a Wicker Toboggan Sled Ride
Dating from the end of the 19th century, wickerwork is a very important industry in Madeira. Wicker is used for all kinds of objects like breadbaskets or chairs, but also for the world-famous Madeira wicker baskets.
Wicker basket sled ride down the steep streets of Monte is probably the most unique tourist attraction in Funchal. Toboggans are pushed and steered by two runners wearing traditional white costumes and straw hats and can seat two people (three if one of them is a child).
If you’re curious to try it, it’s a short but very unusual ride and one of the most distinctive experiences in Funchal.
Toboggan ride in the traditional wicker basket is an old Madeira tradition. In the past local residents used it as a means of transport to quickly get from the village of Monte high on the mountain to the town of Funchal, by the sea. Don’t ask me how they got their sleds back up to the village in those days; nowadays they load the sleds on a small truck that brings them (and the drivers) back to Monte.
The wicker toboggan sled ride in Funchal is an extremely popular and a really touristy attraction. Reviews from tourists are from ‘boring’ and ‘not worth the money’ to ‘the most thrilling ride’ and ‘experience of a lifetime’… So it’s really up to you to decide if you want to give it a try. One thing is for sure – it’s something truly unique that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Practical information: Tickets are sold on the spot (bring cash). Toboggan ride starts at The Church of Our Lady of Monte (Igreja do Monte). You’ll need to take a cable car to Monte first. The descent is about 2 km long, takes around 10 minutes, and ends in Livramento (so not all the way back to Funchal). From there, you’ll need a taxi, bus, or walk back to the cable car (uphill) or down to the city.
TIP: If you decide to take this sled ride, make sure you first visit all the points of interest in Monte, so that you don’t have to walk back up the hill afterwards.
Some organized excursions of Madeira island also come to Monte and offer the wicker toboggan experience as part of the tour. This is one of the best options – a 4-hour tour that visits the Nuns Valley, Monte, and includes a sleigh ride.
10. Taste Madeira Wine
No trip to Madeira would be complete without tasting some of Madeira’s famous sweet wine. There are several wine museums and cellars in Funchal, but the one that is most worth a visit is The Old Blandy Wine Lodge.
Located in the oldest area of Funchal, Blandy’s Wine Lodge is a place where you can not only learn about the making of the Madeira wine but also taste the various styles of Vinho Madeira. They have been making Madeira wine for over 200 years, so even if you have no interest in the wine itself, this place is well worth a visit.
TIP: Join the food and wine walking tour of Funchal. It’s a great way to explore the city and get to taste some traditional local food and drinks of Madeira.
11. Relax at Funchal Waterfront
Funchal has a beautiful waterfront area. It’s the place where cruise ships dock, boat trips depart, and it was also our first introduction to the city as we parked the car at the big parking garage nearby.
The waterfront area has been recently redone and features a new leisure area called Praca do Povo. It’s a wonderful place to stroll around, watch the boats, and just relax after a busy day of sightseeing. There is a small park and even a bathing area, right in the heart of Funchal.
We loved just hanging around here. It’s a big, wide promenade with lots of space for kids to run and nice areas for the adults to relax. There are several places where you can get a cup of coffee or lunch and it’s literally just a few minutes walk to Funchal Old Town.
TIP: There’s a large “Madeira” sign along the waterfront boardwalk that’s become a popular quick photo stop for visitors. Don’t miss it.
***All the places mentioned above are the ones that are most worth a visit in Funchal. Below you can find a small selection of other things to do in Funchal if you have more time.
12. Take Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Funchal Hop-on Hop-off bus is a great way to see the main attractions just outside Funchal city center.
You can book a 24-hour or a 48-hour ticket, but if you have more time in Funchal, consider a 5-day option. It costs just a tiny bit more and makes it possible to easily visit the picturesque village of Câmara de Lobos and the cliffs of Cabo Girão.
Here you can find more information and book your tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus.
13. Afternoon Tea at The Reid’s
Dating from 1890, Belmond Reid’s Palace is one of the most famous hotels in the world with past guests like Sisi (Austrian Empress), Winston Churchill, and Roger Moore to name just a few.
Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can go there for afternoon tea and enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views and superb service of a bygone era. It’s something special to do in Funchal and an affordable luxury experience, but you better book it in advance.
TIP: If you are looking for a really nice hotel to stay in Madeira, Belmond Reid’s Palace is one of the top luxury resorts with fantastic guest reviews. You can check the prices/availability here.
14. Madeira Story Centre
Madeira Story Centre is a modern museum showing the complete history of Madeira. From its volcanic origins to the history of Portuguese explorers and pirates, to the development of tourism and the most recent history of the island.
Practical information: This museum is located just next to the bottom station of the Monte cable car. Open daily; opening hours vary by season. See their website for more info.
15. Jesuits’ College of Funchal
Considered one of the most remarkable buildings of Madeira, the 16th-century Jesuit College of Funchal is also worth a short visit. Part of the buildings now house the University of Funchal.
The college has a wonderful interior with amazing sculptures and paintings, and can be visited from Monday to Saturday. For a small fee, you can climb the tower for views over Funchal.
Rumour has it that the student café has good coffee with delicious custard cakes (pastel de nata) at very low prices.
16. Madeira Film Experience
Madeira Film Experience is exactly what the name suggests. It’s a film that covers the 600 years of the history and culture of the island.
Practical information: The film takes just 30 minutes and is available in several languages. More information on their website.
17. Visit CR7 Museum
CR7 is a museum dedicated to Madeira’s most famous football player – Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a living legend here, and even Madeira’s airport has been named after him.
This isn’t a must-see for everyone, but it can be worth a short visit if you’re a fan. The museum is not so much about Ronaldo as a person, but rather focused on his achievements. It’s full of memorabilia, trophies, medals & life-size statues of Madeira’s all-time best football player.
If you just want to take a picture with the statue of your hero, you can do that outside as well – no need to go inside just for that. On the other hand, if you are a fan, you may want to consider this highly-rated Cristiano Ronaldo tour with a museum visit.
Practical information: The CR7 Museum is located at the waterfront and is normally open daily. You can find more info on the museum website.
18. Santa Clara Monastery
Convento de Santa Clara is a 15th-century working monastery just a bit up a steep hill from the center of Funchal.
The convent is open for limited hours and can only be visited on a guided tour led by one of the nuns. We didn’t get here on time, but the reviews online are really positive. People say it’s a true hidden gem of Funchal, well worth a visit.
19. Quinta das Cruzes
Museu Quinta das Cruzes, as well as the gardens, are nice to see if you are looking for more nice things to do in Funchal. The house has a collection of 17-18th century furniture and household items giving you a good idea of how wealthy people lived in Madeira several hundred years ago.
The adjacent gardens can be visited free of charge. They have a strange archeological collection of old gravestones, crosses, gargoyles and other finds coming from old churches and palaces from all over Madeira.
20. Palheiro Gardens
Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro is an English-style park a bit outside the city. Featuring over 3,000 plant species and traversed by avenues planted with camellias and exotic trees, it’s a wonderful garden to visit in Funchal.
These gardens are quite hard to get to without a car and would probably take you at least half a day to visit. So it’s not something I recommend if you have limited time. However, if you are in Madeira for a week or two, you should certainly consider going here.
Practical information: Open daily.
21. Venture Outside the City
In addition to Funchal attractions, I really recommend that you also visit the earlier-mentioned fishermen’s village of Câmara de Lobos and the cliffs of Cabo Girão. Both these places are very close to the city (see the hop-on-hop-off bus section above) and are really simple to visit.
If you have a few hours to spare in Funchal, I can also recommend a whale-watching trip – Madeira is a great place to see whales and dolphins.
LEARN MORE: Whale Watching in Madeira
TIP: If you don’t have a car in Madeira, I also suggest these two highly-rated and very popular organized day trips from Funchal: Best of the West of Madeira island and Madeira East Island Tour. These tours are an excellent introduction to Madeira for first-time visitors.
So, this is our selection of the best things to do in Funchal. There are, of course, many other places of interest that are worth a visit in the city.
However, remember that Madeira is much more than Funchal! So what you choose to see and do in Funchal will largely depend on how much time you have on the island.
If you are looking for more ideas on what to see and do in Madeira, make sure to check our guides to the best hikes of Madeira and the hidden gems of Madeira.
READ ALSO: Best Places to See & Things to Do in Madeira
Where to Stay in Funchal
There are lots of nice hotels in and around Funchal. Depending on what kind of holiday you’re looking for, you can choose from amazing seaside resorts to more simple hotels in the town center.
Here are some well-rated hotels in Funchal, grouped by budget and chosen for their location, comfort, and overall value:
- €€€€€€ Reid’s Palace. Classic luxury with great service, and a peaceful setting just outside the busy city center.
- €€€€€ Savoy Palace. Modern luxury, large rooms, and a central location close to the waterfront.
- €€€€ Hotel Porto Mare – PortoBay. A relaxed resort feel with gardens and pools, especially popular with couples and families.
- €€€ NEXT – by Savoy Signature. A contemporary, lively atmosphere and good value for a newer, design-focused hotel.
- €€ Florasol Residence Hotel. Spacious studios and apartments, good value, and a quieter location with easy access to the city.
You can also use the map below to compare hotels and short-term rentals in Funchal and quickly see what’s available for your dates.
If Madeira is part of a bigger trip to Portugal, you may want to check out our Portugal bucket list for more inspiration on where to go.
In addition, on our blog, you can find tons of guides and itineraries for a wide variety of other destinations in the country. You can find a complete selection of articles in our Portugal Travel Guide.
More tips for your trip to Portugal:
- Best Towns in Portugal
- Top Lisbon Sights & Attractions
- Portugal Itinerary: Lisbon to Porto
- One Day in Lisbon
- Portugal with Kids
- Top Places to See in Algarve
- Algarve Itinerary
- Best Beaches in Algarve
- Algarve Travel Tips
- Where to Stay in Algarve
- Benagil Cave
- What to See & Do in Lagos
- What to See & Do in Tavira
- What It’s Like to Visit Portugal in April
Travel inspiration for the Azores:
- Best Things to Do in Sao Miguel
- What to See & Do in Ponta Delgada
- Sete Cidades, Azores
- Furnas, Azores
- Where to Stay in Sao Miguel
TIP: Did you find this guide helpful? Bookmark this post for later, share it with your friends, and save it to Pinterest to inspire your next trip.
Thank you for this travel guide and suggestions on things to see and do. We are going to Funchal next week and really looking forward to it.
Glad to help, Dipty. Enjoy Madeira!
Thank you so much for all this fabulous information.
I am visiting Madeira today on a cruise and will certainly use this to structure my day.
Hope you had a great time in Funchal this weekend, Maxine.
Enjoy the rest of the cruise and check out our blog for many other destinations.
Happy travels!
Going with the family in July this year, so taking notes on all you have recommended. Big thank you in advance xx
Have a great time in Madeira, Jackie! Just be careful with the sun – you can get burned really quickly there in the summer.
@Jurga, don’t worry will pack factor 50 xx
Such a good guide. Going to Funchal soon and will take recommendations from the guide
Glad you found it useful, Cathy. Enjoy your trip!
Looking for a place to retire outside of the U.S. and am seriously considering Madeira. Can you tell me about residential property to purchase, health care options, taxes, etc.? Or, could you recommend where I might find this kind of information?
Hi Teri, Madeira is a Portuguese island, so you should look for information about Portugal in general – there should be plenty of info online. I’m not sure how easy it is for someone outside the EU to retire in Europe, but everything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Unfortunately, I can’t help you with any of this. But I would recommend to first travel to Madeira and spend a few months there before starting with any paperwork. It’s only when you’ve lived somewhere for a while that you get a good feeling of how it actually is. It’s never the same as simply visiting for a holiday.
Good luck!
Hello there, GREAT article and timing – heading to Madeira end of February. Unfortunately, i can’t take your article with me as I can’t print it??? How can i use this info if I can’t right click and print as I would normally.
tks
Hi Marina, due to constant copyright infringement cases, we recently disabled right-click on our website. It’s not an easy decision, but one we felt we were forced to take…
You can still print the articles – just as you would print any other website info, straight from the site itself (use Ctrl+P on your keyboard if you don’t know how to access the print page otherwise). But of course, it will not be very nicely formated and will probably result in lots of pages…
Alternatively, just bookmark this page, save it on your smartphone, and check it out when you’re in Funchal.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Great blog. How would Madeira be for a wheelchair user. Does Reid’s cater for wheelchairs. I know it’s hilly but could I get by with taxis
Gioni
Hi Gioni, unfortunately, it’s really hard for me to answer this. I think that downtown Funchal should generally be ok, but I really don’t know about how accessible specific attractions or restaurants are. You’d have to check these things online or contact them.
As for the rest of the island – there are just very few places that you could visit I think because most require walking on uneven terrain. I think you could go to Porto Moniz and maybe a few other towns. On the south coast, some towns have flat waterfront areas that should be doable with a wheelchair. But, once again, it’s hard for me to say for sure because I never really paid attention to how accessible everything actually is.
Sorry, I can’t help you more.
I’m going in December to Madeira to write about restaurants and interview chefs. Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Hi Richard, I’m afraid I can’t help you. Why don’t you look up a few good restaurants in Funchal, contact them, and maybe they’ll be able to put you in touch with some colleagues of them.
I deleted your email address because if I leave it here, you’re likely to get a huge amount of spam in your mailbox and I don’t want to be responsible for that. 🙂
Good luck and enjoy Madeira.
Great advice, thank you! We are following it to the letter here in Funchal in November. By the way it’s 26 degrees if anyone is interested! Perfect.
Sounds like a perfect weather. Enjoy Madeira!
No one has mentioned Funchal’s famous Flower Festival held every May. During the day there are parades and floats, and at night it’s like Mardi Gras.
Hi Nick, yes, I hear it’s amazing, just as New Year’s fireworks are also fantastic in Funchal, and many other events during the year… But that’s not what this article is about – we cover best things to do in Funchal that people can do any time they visit. If one wants to find local activities and special events, I would suggest checking the event calendar on the official website of Funchal tourism.
Thanks for the info! I’m stopping for only 9 hours while going by ship from Brazil to Spain, so might start with the on-off bus to get oriented.
I think it’s a good idea to take a hop-on-hop-off bus as it will get you to places that are a bit further away as well. Enjoy your trip!
Is there anyone who has been on holiday with a 4 yr old boy ? If so, can you give me any ideas and tips of how to entertain them .
Wanted to go and see dolphins but told he was under age!!!
Hi Catherine, there are definitely whale watching tours that take young kids, it depends on the boat I think (speedboats won’t allow very young children). Here is one where you can definitely book with a 4-year old (and he won’t have to pay).
There are also other fun boat tours in Funchal. Did you see the pirate boat? They also allow young kids.
Hope this helps.
Hi there
We have done a trip in March this year with 12 day cruise in Norway and did not see the lights
We are using the vouchers which the Hurtigruten offer in December around 25
What’s our chances of seeing it
Hi Peter, I guess it depends where you go. March is a very good time to see the Northern Lights, but you need to be in the north for that. Sorry to hear that you haven’t experienced that and hopefully more luck next time. December is just as good as any other winter month. Anywhere from mid-August to mid-April, you have a chance to see the auroras in Northern Norway. You can find lots of resources for your trip in our Norway travel guide.
And since you left this comment under the Funchal article and then sent me an email asking when the best time to visit Funchal is, I’ll answer it here. In general, Madeira really is a year-round destination. It never gets really cold or really hot there. If you want fewer crowds and somewhat more certainty about the weather, then I’d say try April-June or September-October. New Year is also amazing in Funchal – they have some of the biggest fireworks in the world. But the reality is that it’s an island and the weather can change any time, so you never know what you get.
Hope this helps.
So how far is town on foot if you do the toboggan ride and is it all down hill?
If I’m not mistaken, it’s about 2km to the Old Town and takes 40-50 minutes on foot. Yes, it’s downhill, but I’m not sure if there are sidewalks along the entire route.
Great article mentioning some of the things to do in Madeira.
I can also recommend 4×4 tour with an open top roof, its a great and fun experience, passing through unknown places avoiding the large tourist crowds.
Oh, I bet it is, Fernando. I just looked at the 4×4 tours in Madeira and there are so many that look amazing and have great customer ratings.
Unfortunately, we don’t allow business owners to advertise their services on our blog like this, so I deleted a link to your website. I think our readers can choose for themselves which company to go with. Thanks for your understanding.
Very good insight into madeira. Would point out that Zona Velha doesn’t start until the market and that the central area is classed as the city. With regard to the taxi pick up from the end of the toboggon ride it’s illegal for them to charge €25.00 for a journey that costs less than €10.00 and should be ‘on the clock.’. A similar example is the pick up for cruise ships where they try to charge €25.00 to the city whereas the set charge is€7.50
Thanks for this information, Peter. Unfortunately, it seems that in reality taxi’s don’t care about what’s legal and so many tourists report paying 25 EUR for this taxi ride from the end of the toboggan ride back to the old town… These things happen everywhere in the world and it’s only local authorities that can put an end to it. But it’s good that you share this here- let’s hope it will help our readers to stand their ground and require that taxis use the official meter. So thank you once again!
Wow, good read!! We have a one day stop during a cruise……you just made my planning so much easier.
Great blog. Thanks for sharing.
Senior Traveler from Canada
Glad you found this useful. Enjoy your time in Funchal!