Things to do in Funchal: the best of the city in one guide
What to see and do in Funchal, Madeira’s capital: the old town, the market, Monte and the toboggan, gardens, museums, wine lodges and where to watch the sunset.
Funchal climbs from the harbour up the hills in a great amphitheatre of white houses and red roofs. The centre is compact and walkable, and the best things to do are within a short walk or cable car ride of each other.
The old town and the centre
- Zona Velha, the old town. Narrow streets of former fishermen’s houses, now full of restaurants and bars. Its painted doors, part of an art project that began in 2010, make Rua de Santa Maria an open-air gallery.
- The Sé cathedral. Built around 1500, simple outside, with a beautiful carved cedar ceiling inside.
- Avenida Arriaga and the Municipal Garden: the elegant main avenue, with the theatre and the old Blandy’s wine lodge.
- The Fortaleza de São Tiago, the yellow fort at the eastern end of the seafront.
- The marina and the seafront promenade, for an evening stroll.
The market
The Mercado dos Lavradores, the farmers’ market, is a 1940s building with blue tile panels, flower sellers in traditional dress, piles of exotic fruit and a lively fish hall. Go in the morning, ideally on a Friday or Saturday. Read our market guide, including how to avoid overpriced fruit tastings.
Monte
Take the cable car from the old town up to Monte, a hill village with grand old houses and the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, where the last Austrian emperor is buried. From there:
- walk through the Monte Palace garden,
- take the second cable car to the Botanical Garden,
- or come down on the famous toboggan. See Monte toboggan.
Gardens
Funchal is a garden city. The Monte Palace garden, the Botanical Garden and the Palheiro Gardens are the big three; the Municipal Garden and Santa Catarina Park in the centre are free. See Funchal’s gardens.
Museums
- CR7 Museum, near the marina, for football fans. See Cristiano Ronaldo in Madeira.
- Quinta das Cruzes, a manor house museum with gardens.
- Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas, a collector’s home full of tiles and art.
- Museum of Sacred Art, with Flemish paintings bought with sugar money in the 1500s.
Wine and poncha
Taste Madeira wine in one of the historic lodges, such as Blandy’s on Avenida Arriaga, and try poncha, the island’s rum, honey and lemon drink, in a small bar. See Madeira wine and poncha.
Swimming in the city
The Lido and Ponta Gorda complexes have seawater pools and sea access, and Praia Formosa is the city’s largest beach. See where to swim.
Sunset
Watch the sun go down from the Lido promenade, the Pontinha pier, or a rooftop bar in the centre. For the view over the whole city, go up to the Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint.
Getting around
The centre is walkable but hilly. Use the orange city buses for the hills, the cable car for Monte, and taxis in the evening. See buses.