Funchal is a fun city.
Need proof?
You can’t spell Funchal without fun, so there you have it.
Fun-what? Lemme tell you more.
Funchal is the capital and largest city on the island of Madeira, Portugal. It’s a really cool city to explore, and almost everyone visiting Madeira for a holiday chooses to base themselves in Funchal. There are many things to do in Funchal, and it’s less than an hour from some of the island’s most beautiful hikes, lookouts, and beaches, making day trips very easy.
So here is our handy guide to Funchal to help you plan your perfect Madeira trip. We’ll cover the best attractions to the best restaurants, top Madeira wineries, the most comfortable accommodations, and even tips on navigating the city without a car.
Vamos, let’s get going!
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A Brief History of Madeira & Funchal
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal between Europe and North America in the mid-Atlantic. Four islands, Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas, and Selvagens, make up the archipelago of what we all know as Madeira. Only Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited, with Funchal on Madeira as the capital.
The archipelago wasn’t discovered by explorers until early in the 15th century when Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira put it on the map. The island was uninhabited until 1420, when Portuguese settlers began colonizing Madeira. Over the next few centuries, the island would be used for growing wheat, sugarcane, and eventually wine.
Just like you can’t mention Funchal without fun, you can’t speak of Madeira without mentioning its wine. Madeira’s unique fortified wine is famous all around the world, and one thing you MUST DO in Funchal is to visit a tasting room!
In recent years, Madeira has developed a strong tourism industry, and those in the know come to visit this far-off corner of Europe for the island’s natural beauty, fantastic hiking, mild climate, and, of course, wine.
Funchal Attractions & Things to Do
Honestly, most of your time in Madeira will not be spent in Funchal. There is so much to see outside of the city, and those are the places you will probably come to Maderia to see.
As stunning as the Madeira hikes are, most people don’t want to hike 10 miles every single day. Even mountain goats can do with some cultural sightseeing (and fine food and wine), so you should dedicate at least one day of your Madeira travel itinerary to exploring Funchal.
Here are the best ways to make the most of your time in Funchal.
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Get to the cable car early and ride it up to Monte. There, you can walk through a beautiful tropical garden that showcases an impressive array of exotic plants and flowers from around the world, visit the Monte Palace Museum, and see Igreja do Monte Church.
This gets really busy, and if you don’t get to the cable car before 10:00 a.m., expect to wait over an hour before it’s your turn. The cable car station is conveniently located near the Almirante Reis Car Park. (location)
Ride the Wicker Toboggans
After exploring the gardens, get in line for the top Funchal attraction. A ride on the Monte Toboggan back down the mountain to Funchal is an essential Madeira experience and is by far the most unique way to get around Madiera. Yes, this is where the fun fits into Funchal.
It costs €15-25 per person, and you basically slide down the steep streets of Monte in a wicker basket sledge guided by two traditionally dressed drivers. The ride is thrilling, to say the least, and you’ll reach speeds up to 30 km/h.
Taste Madeira Wine at D’Oliveriras
Another must-do in Funchal is to try local Madeira Wine. You can always pick up a bottle from a local grocery store, but for the full experience, you should try to visit one of the authentic Madeira wineries.
Those unfamiliar with Madeira wine will find this fortified wine unique thanks to its thick, syrupy consistency, which tends to be stronger than regular wine.
The best wine lodge to visit is D’Oliveiras. It is one of the city’s most renowned wine lodges, and here, you can enjoy free tastings and learn about the unique production process of this fortified wine, which has been a staple of the island’s economy since the 17th century.
The wine comes in four varieties, from dry to sweet, and you can taste wine from different harvests dating back to the late 1900s.
Explore the Mercado dos Lavradores
The bustling Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ Market) is housed in a beautiful, historic building in the heart of Funchal. Like any good market, the market is a festival of colours and flavours, with vendors selling fresh produce, exotic fruits, local meats, flowers, and fish.
It’s an excellent place to experience the local culture, taste street food, and pick up souvenirs.
One of our favourite parts was seeing all the different kinds of chilli peppers available. Portugal is known for its spicy peri peri, and these are the peppers used to make it.
Funchal Fact: Portugal’s famous peri-peri actually originates from Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony for over 400 years.
The market is open daily, but it’s best visited in the morning when it’s most lively.
Visit the CR7 Museum
If you’re a football fan, visiting the CR7 Museum is one of the coolest things to do in Funchal.
Dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo (who was born and raised in Madeira), the museum showcases his impressive collection of trophies, medals, and memorabilia from his football career.
The museum isn’t that big, so you only need 1-2 hours to see everything. It’s also right by the harbour (location), making it really easy to get to from anywhere in Funchal.
Day Trip to Câmara de Lobos & Cabo Girāo Skywalk
If you have some extra time, Funchal is close to a few half-day trips, and you don’t need a guided tour. Most of the places are accessible with your own rental car or with public transportation.
Cabo Girão Skywalk and Câmara de Lobos are each just 20 minutes west of Funchal and are easy to pair together.
The skywalk is the highest sea cliff in Europe, standing at 580 meters. Câmara de Lobos is one of Portugal’s most beautiful seaside towns with a picturesque harbour and many fantastic seafood restaurants.
Where to Eat & Drink in Funchal
Madeira offers a unique cuisine that is definitely Portuguese but with a lot of North African influence. Like most islands, Seafood is a staple in many dishes on a remote island. But there are also local meat dishes, and two of the most popular foods in Madeira are espada (skewered meat) and Bolo do caco (boiled pork in a flatbread, typically served with garlic butter).
But it’s not all about the food. Madeira wine is incredibly popular, and another local drink, Poncha, can be found in most restaurants and bars around town.
Casa do Bolo do Caco
If you’re looking for a great place to get Bolo Do Caco in Funchal, the best place to try is Casa do Bolo do Caco. This local eatery is famous for its traditional Madeiran bread, Bolo do Caco, but they also have Carne Vinha d’Alhos, our favourite grab-and-go sandwich in Madeira.
It has a lovely setting and a cheap meal if you’re on a budget in Madeira.
O Viola
O Viola , just outside the city, in the hills between Funchal and Câmara de Lobos, is a drool-worthy spot you must visit in Madeira. They serve meat dishes, but their signature is espetada.
Locals often recommend the restaurant. While it’s a little more expensive than other meat restaurants in Madeira, it’s the best meat on the island and well worth the effort to get there!
Santa Antonio
Restaurante Santo António is another super popular place to eat up in the hills above Câmara de Lobos.
You can easily get a taxi here (or drive yourself), and it’s another spot that’s really famous for its meat. They have espetada, traditional Madeiran bread, and delicious sides.
The food is exceptional, but we will warn you that it’s a bit more expensive than most places to eat around Funchal.
Uva Restaurant
If you’re looking for fine dining in Funchal, then Uva Restaurant is the place to go.
It’s located on the rooftop of La Vie shopping mall, but it offers guests a 360° view of Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean.
The restaurant specializes in French creative cuisine with fresh local ingredients. The presentation and flavours are exquisite, providing a romantic fine dining experience.
Blandy’s Wine Lodge
Blandy’s Wine Lodge is one of the most famous wine lodges in Funchal. While we had a better experience at D’Oliveiras, a top winery, Blandy’s has much more to offer tourists, including several exhibits dedicated to Madeira wine tours.
The Lodge features a museum where guests can learn about the production process of Madeira wine, from grape to bottle. The complex is also impressive, with Canteiro ageing rooms, artefact exhibits, and tasting rooms.
During a visit, guests can choose from various tasting options, including horizontal tastings (different styles of wine of the same age) and vertical tastings (same style of wine of different ages).
Venda Velha
Venda Velha, on Rua de Santa Maria in Funchal’s Old Town (location), is a small bar that has always been known to have some of the city’s best Poncha.
The fruity drink is made with fresh fruit and sugar cane brandy and has been a staple in Madeira’s culture since the early 20th century.
Historically, vendas were places where locals gathered to socialize, gossip, read newspapers, and buy regional products. Venda Velha seeks to keep that tradition going, and it truly feels like stepping back in time.
Where to Stay in Funchal
Anyone visiting Madeira should stay at a hotel or villa in or around Funchal for a few days. Most main attractions on the island are less than 90 minutes from town (most are less than an hour). Staying in Funchal ensures you’ll have plenty of nightlife options and places to grab dinner between seeing the island.
Quinta Jardins do Lago: This hotel is set on an 18th-century estate with botanical gardens and a large pool. It is about a 15-minute walk to Funchal. The hotel also provides free private parking for all guests.
Endemic Concept: This is a cosy, affordable villa in the city with free parking and an EV charging station. The apartment features a beautiful city view and a spacious kitchen suitable for families, perfect for self-catering.
Three House Hotel: For a multi-bedroom apartment with free parking, a water filling station, complimentary laundry services, and croissants delivered to your door each morning. This is a great option for small groups or families staying in Funchal.
Getting Around Funchal
For the ultimate Madeira trip, I would tell anyone to rent a car in Madeira. It’s pretty easy to drive around the island, and public transportation is only good in and around the cities. The freedom of having your own wheels will show you places those on the bus will miss out on.
But we’re only talking about Funchal, so here’s what you need to know!
Public Buses: Funchal’s public bus system is really efficient. The main bus operator, Horários do Funchal, runs several routes connecting the main areas within the city, its suburbs, and even a few surrounding cities like Caniço, Machico, and the Madiera Airport.
You can easily use Google Maps to find the right bus stops and routes. Depending on the distance, tickets cost between €2 and €3.
Taxis in Funchal are typical yellow cabs with blue stripes that are easy to spot. There are taxi stands everywhere within the city, or you can flag one down on the street, so you won’t have any trouble hailing one.
The base fare is around €3-5, with an additional charge of €0.47-0.56 per kilometre. The variance depends on the time of day and day of the week. You can also pre-book a taxi with BOLT, which operates similarly to Uber.
Guided Tours in Funchal & Madeira
If you prefer someone to show you around, there are old-town walking tours that take you all around the city to learn about the culture and history of Madeira. These tours often include pickup and drop-off services if you’re staying outside the city.
It’s also popular for people to take day tours to the surrounding areas of Madeira, like;
- Caldeirão Verde Waterfall Hike
- Porto Moniz Natural Pools
- Dolphin and Whale Watching
- Pico Do Arieiro
- Rabaçal Valley Levadas
Final Thoughts: Is Funchal Fun?
We’ve said so already – there is no Funchal without fun. It’s such an exciting city, full of great food and fascinating culture, and the stunning island of Madeira beckons just beyond.
Whether you’re spending most of your time at the local farmer’s markets, wine tasting, or travelling up into the hills of Monte for the day, you can’t really go wrong with a day or two in Funchal.
From the best places to eat, where to stay, how to get around, and the best things to add to your itinerary, I hope this has helped you feel more prepared for your trip to Funchal.