Top places to visit in Funchal

• Monte Palace Tropical Garden

  Nature · about 2 h · entry €15 (≈ ₹1,600)

  Terraced hillside garden with koi lakes, tiled panels and oriental features above Funchal.

• Monte Toboggan Run (Carros de Cesto)

  Activity · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Wicker basket sledges steered by carreiros down the steep streets from Monte to Livramento.

• Funchal Cathedral (Sé)

  Church · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Late 15th-century cathedral with a Mudéjar cedar-wood ceiling, in the city centre.

• Mercado dos Lavradores

  Market · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bustling 1940s market hall for tropical fruit, flowers, espada fish and scabbardfish.

• Rua de Santa Maria (Painted Doors)

  Heritage · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Old-town lane where dozens of doors were turned into artworks under the "Art of Open Doors" project.

• Jardim Botânico da Madeira

  Nature · about 1.5 h · entry €7 (≈ ₹750)

  Hillside botanical garden with geometric flowerbeds, endemic flora and bay views.

• Nossa Senhora do Monte Church

  Church · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Twin-towered pilgrimage church above Funchal; burial place of the last Habsburg emperor.

• Pico do Arieiro

  Viewpoint · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Madeira's third-highest peak (1818m), a road-accessible viewpoint and trailhead above the clouds.

• Cabo Girão Skywalk

  Viewpoint · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Glass-floored platform on one of Europe's highest sea cliffs (~580m), just west of Funchal.

• Funchal Cable Car (Teleférico)

  Viewpoint · about 0.5 h · entry €18 (≈ ₹1,920)

  Cable car rising from the old-town seafront to Monte with panoramic bay views.

• Forte de São Tiago

  Fort · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  17th-century yellow seafront fortress at the edge of the old town.

Things to do

• Levada Walk Guided Hike (Madeira) Adventure · 5 h · from EUR 45 per person
• Monte Cable Car & Toboggan Combo Sightseeing · 2 h · from EUR 45 per person
• Madeira 4x4 Island Tour Day Trip · 8 h · from EUR 60 per person
• Dolphin & Whale Watching (Madeira) Wildlife · 3 h · from EUR 40 per person
• Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hike Adventure · 5 h · from EUR 55 per person

Day trips and tours

• Madeira West 4x4 & Levada 8 h · from EUR 60

Where to stay in Funchal

• Sé / City Centre about EUR 110 per night

  Central Funchal near the cathedral, market and old town.

• Lido / Hotel Zone about EUR 140 per night

  Seaside promenade west of centre with the big resort hotels and lidos.

Hotels

• Belmond Reid's Palace 5-star · EUR 350 to EUR 900 per night
• Castanheiro Boutique Hotel 4-star · EUR 130 to EUR 260 per night
• Funchal Design Hostel 2-star · EUR 24 to EUR 80 per night
• Hotel do Carmo 3-star · EUR 65 to EUR 120 per night

Where to eat

• O Tapassol Madeiran, Portuguese, Seafood · about EUR 24 per person
• Restaurante Gavião Novo Madeiran, Seafood · about EUR 22 per person
• Kampo by Júlio Pereira Madeiran, Contemporary · about EUR 32 per person
• Il Gallo d'Oro Fine Dining, Portuguese · about EUR 190 per person

Getting to Funchal

Airport: Funchal (FNC)

How visitors arrive in Funchal

• Flight to Madeira Airport By air from Lisbon · common

  Madeira's airport lies to the north-east of Funchal and receives flights from Lisbon and other Portuguese cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• S.A.M. public bus via the airport unconfirmed

  S.A.M. runs lines 53 (Funchal to Faial) and 113 (Funchal to Canical) that call at the airport. Buy tickets from the driver. Check timetables carefully as they can be confusing. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from Madeira Airport

  Taxis are plentiful on Madeira and the Bolt ride-hail app also works on the island. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• The airport sits in Santa Cruz municipality, northeast of Funchal, so allow for the road transfer rather than expecting a city-edge airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Orange city buses serve the centre and climb to Monte, with most routes starting from the waterfront.

  Horários do Funchal buses

• Cable Car

  A cable car runs from the old town in central Funchal up to the Monte district, with views over the city from above.

  Madeira Cable Car tickets

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Overpriced unmetered taxis

  Funchal airport and cruise port

  Some drivers quote inflated flat fares to tourists for airport and island trips.

  How to avoid it: Agree the fare or insist on the meter before departing; use official ranks.

Best time to visit Funchal

• Jan 20°C
• Feb 20°C
• Mar 21°C
• Apr 21°C
• May 22°C
• Jun 24°C
• Jul 25°C
• Aug 27°C
• Sep 27°C
• Oct 25°C
• Nov 23°C
• Dec 21°C

More in Portugal

• Porto
• Sintra
• Lagos
• Coimbra
• Faro
• Óbidos

Frequently asked questions about Funchal

What are the main places to visit in Funchal?

Places covered in our Funchal guide include Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Monte Toboggan Run (Carros de Cesto), Funchal Cathedral (Sé), Mercado dos Lavradores, Rua de Santa Maria (Painted Doors).

Where should I stay in Funchal?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Funchal: Sé / City Centre, Lido / Hotel Zone.

How do I get around Funchal?

Ways to get around Funchal covered in our guide: City bus, Cable car, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Funchal?

Scams reported to us for Funchal include Overpriced unmetered taxis. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Funchal?

Average daytime highs in Funchal run from 20°C in Feb to 27°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Funchal?

The nearest airport to Funchal has the code FNC.