Funchal, the capital of Madeira, Portugal, is a colorful and exciting city with amazing tourist attractions. With various historic buildings, spectacular gardens, outdoor activities, vibrant streets, and impressive sights, Funchal vacation assures an unforgettable journey that suits your preferences.
Begin Funchal cultural tours by exploring the old town of Funchal, known as Zona Velha. Walk through this lively area packed with shops and restaurants and go around the cobblestoned streets, as the black-and-white stones have many patterns and historical symbols. Don’t skip the lush municipal garden filled with tropical plants and gigantic exotic trees. Hang out at the cafe here, which is a great spot for grabbing a drink. For a full exploration of the old town, be sure to walk along the seafront promenade up to the iconic Yellow Fort (São Tiago Fort), where you’ll find many narrow streets with beautiful street art on the doors of the houses.
When you are in the Old Town, you will pass by the 16th-century Funchal Cathedral (Sé Catedral de Funchal). Step inside the cathedral to come across the extraordinary style with wooden floors, wooden cedar ceilings, and ivory decorations inspired by Moorish architecture. Also, you will praise the creativity of the walls decorated with religious oil paintings, and at the end of the central nave, the way Gothic altarpiece is enhanced by gilt woodwork and typical Portuguese ‘azulejos’ tiles.
Enjoy Funchal adventure holidays by witnessing the amazing views at the Monte Palace Tropical Garden set on the hills of Monte Village. To get there, you can opt for a taxi or cable car, but it is recommended to opt for the cable car, where you will be treated to some magnificent views which you should not miss. Additionally, you’ll come across the multi-level gardens inside the Quinta Monte Palace, which is a beautiful mansion whose glorious gardens have a vast collection of exotic plant species from all over the world.
Wine lovers can go for a guided wine tour at The Old Blandy Wine Lodge to learn about the local wine-making process. Madeira is famous for its production of sweet, fortified wines and this tour will give you a wine-tasting experience at Blandy’s Wine Lodge with a walking tour of Funchal town. Here you can learn all about the fascinating history of wine on the island, from the pressing process to the economic impact of its export.
Get the most out of your Funchal family vacations at Madeira Botanical Garden, the most extensive botanical garden in Madeira, covering about eight hectares. At this green space, you will get to see a wide variety of trees and flowers, and different species of plants and cacti on display.
If you enjoy long walks by the waterfront, the Avenida do Mar is for you. It is the city’s long promenade, which runs along the Marina in Funchal, connecting the different corners of the city. The promenade is lined with tall palm trees and allows easy access to some of Funchal's top attractions while enjoying the awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean and massive ships and cruise liners arriving and departing from the Marina every day.
There are various things to enjoy along the promenade, like numerous artistic works, which include impressive sculptures, decorated gardens, lovely seating arrangements that are perfect for people-watching, food trucks, tuckshops, and bars. It’s also a center where famous Funchal festivities take place, such as the New Year’s Eve Festival, Carnival, and Atlantic Festival Fire Show, making it quite an exciting place in the town.
Madeira Funchal tour is incomplete without trying the local Madeiran cuisine at any of the nice restaurants. Some of the local delicacies you must try are Espada, scabbardfish often served with passion fruit sauce or fried banana, all locally produced, or the espetada (not to be confused with Espada!), which is barbequed meat on a skewer that is presented in an unusual way, with the skewer hanging from a hook on a little stand. Also, try Portuguese and Madeiran pastries such as pastel de nata, honey cake, and sonhos (Portuguese doughnuts).
Uncover the charm of Madeira Island with Funchal all-inclusive packages that can manage accommodation, transportation, and guided tours effortlessly and affordably. These tour packages offer lots of benefits and facilities that will make your Funchal holiday memorable.
