Funchal Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Funchal featuring a coastal town and night scenes
The capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira is a beautiful city on the southern coast offering beaches, historic buildings and marine wildlife adventures. 

With houses built on the side of a hill, an attractive bay and a mountainous backdrop, Funchal has one of Portugal’s most beautiful settings. The coastal city is the capital of the island of Madeira and combines a modern beach resort with hundreds of years of history. Surf, tour ancient buildings and sail the ocean to see whales and dolphins.

The town is named for the bright yellow fennel (funcho in Portuguese) that grew here when the Portuguese settled the area in the early 15th century.

Funchal’s natural beauty isn’t confined to the coast and surrounding mountains. Spend a few hours in the sunken, rose and French gardens of Jardins de Palheiro. Stroll through Jardim Orquidea’s miniature jungle filled with varied orchid species. Enjoy thousands of blooms at the Madeira Botanical Gardens.

Explore the historic buildings of the old town area. Admire the stained-glass windows, baroque altars and gothic arches of the 16th-century Sé Cathedral. Amble along cobblestone streets lined by old buildings, some dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Visit the Museo Municipal for its natural history exhibits. Gaze at the collection of Turkish and North African decorative tiles at the Frederico de Freitas Museum.

Ride the cable car up to Monte, a small village 1,804 feet (550 metres) above sea level. When you want to come back down to Funchal, ride a toboggan. These resemble large wicker baskets and are pushed down the steep roads by drivers.

Walk along the promenade from the city centre to the Praia Formosa, a collection of beaches. Venture farther out to sea on a dolphin- and whale-watching trip or take a boat cruise along the coast.

As Madeira’s capital city, Funchal has good transportation links. Madeira Airport is 13 miles (21 kilometres) away. With Funchal’s mild subtropical climate, its beaches, gardens and historic sites can be enjoyed year-round.

Where to stay in Funchal

Default Image

Old Town Funchal

If you're spending some time in Old Town Funchal, Funchal-Monte Teleferico and Funchal Farmers Market are top sights worth seeing.

Old Town Funchal
Museum of Natural History which includes a city and street scenes

Sao Pedro

4.5/5(77 area reviews)

Sao Pedro is known for its colourful gardens, and you can plan a trip to Fortaleza do Pico and Holy Trinity Church while you're in town.

Sao Pedro
Default Image

Imaculado Coracao de Maria

Visitors to Imaculado Coracao de Maria like its gardens and seaside views, and Quinta Palmeira is a sight worth a stop.

Imaculado Coracao de Maria
Default Image

São Roque

Travellers like the restaurants in São Roque, and Funchal Ecological Park is a top attraction you might want to visit.

São Roque
Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel
Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel
5 out of 5
Largo Antonio Nobre, Funchal
The price is ₹12,596 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
₹12,596
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Funchal. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (991 reviews)
"The Pestana Carlton is in a great location for strolling down to the centre of Funchal or towards the Lido area in the other direction. There are restaurants in the hotel and also a good selection of bars and restaurants within a couple of hundred meters. The hotel is clean and the rooms light and ..."

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2024

Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel
Savoy Palace - The Leading Hotels of the World - Savoy Signature
Savoy Palace - The Leading Hotels of the World - Savoy Signature
5 out of 5
Avenida do Infante, 25, Funchal
The price is ₹30,293 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
₹30,293
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Funchal. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (345 reviews)
"Amazing hotel will be going back"

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2024

Savoy Palace - The Leading Hotels of the World - Savoy Signature
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
5 out of 5
Estrada Monumental 139, Funchal
The price is ₹51,518 per night from 5 Apr to 6 Apr
₹51,518
per night
5 Apr - 6 Apr
Stay at this beach hotel in Funchal. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. Popular attractions Barreiros Stadium and Madeira Casino are located nearby. ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (519 reviews)
"A wonderful property. Elegant and luxurious. Full of the charm of an older era but with every modern convenience and comfort of a true 5 star hotel of today. The management and staff were outstanding . Beautiful setting overlooking Funchal and the sea, surrounded by very pretty gardens. A perfect ..."

Reviewed on 2 Dec 2023

Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Florasol Residence Hotel
Florasol Residence Hotel
3 out of 5
Estrada Monumental 306, Funchal
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly aparthotel in Funchal. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast and a children's pool. Popular attractions Lido Bathing Complex and Ponta ...
8/10 Very Good! (144 reviews)
Florasol Hotel
"Clean, comfortable and excellent food. Good value"

Reviewed on 5 Mar 2024

Florasol Residence Hotel
Terrace Mar
Terrace Mar
3 out of 5
Travessa do Valente 7, Funchal
Stay at this 3-star spa aparthotel in Funchal. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace and room service. Popular attractions CR7 Museum and Funchal Farmers Market ...
9/10 Wonderful! (73 reviews)
Lovely hotel in Funchal
"The Terrace Mar was a great choice for iur four night stay in Funchal. It is located in a inice area,with plenty of restaurants and bars within a short walking distance. The airport bus stop is just around the corner, which was really convenient. We booked a junior suite,which was huge,with everything ..."

Reviewed on 26 Nov 2023

Terrace Mar
Pestana Ocean Bay Resort
Pestana Ocean Bay Resort
4 out of 5
Praia Formosa, Funchal
Stay at this 4-star beach aparthotel in Funchal. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and a marina. Popular attractions CR7 Museum and Funchal Farmers Market are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (191 reviews)
"Right on the boardwalk of Formosa beach. Love the access"

Reviewed on 16 Feb 2024

Pestana Ocean Bay Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Funchal

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
254
" "5 - Excellent 70.3601108033241%
4 - Good
97
" "4 - Good 26.869806094182824%
3 - Okay
9
" "3 - Okay 2.4930747922437675%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 0.2770083102493075%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
19 Mar 2020

Funchal is a very nice place to go but under current circumstances not a lot we could do about anything,felt sorry for people on island

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
14 Mar 2020

We like Funchal and Madeira very much and like to spend the winter months there.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
10 Mar 2020

Take the cable car up to Monte, and the toboggan down!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
1 Mar 2020

Try the back street cafes, better value and meet the locals.

5/5 - Excellent

Sally
29 Feb 2020

Want to live there!

4/5 - Good

Deep
27 Feb 2020

Beautiful place, we went on jeep safari to Westside, would love to visit again to see east and spend few days in porto santa. Plenty to do and visit, and weather is good even in early Feb.

Cities near Funchal