I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Madeira, particularly the time that I spent in the island’s largest city, Funcal. So here is my guide to what I suggest that you do if you find yourself in Funchal.
10 Things to do in Funchal, Madeira
>>> Explore the Old Town.
The streets of the Old Town are absolutely gorgeous. As you wander around you can also check out the art installation the Painted Doors Project that adorns the doors around the Old Town.
>>> Visit the Mercado dos Lavradores.
It’s a bustling market that sells fish, vegetables and fresh flowers. Whilst you are in the market, make sure to stop and try the fresh passion fruit, or maracuja. There turns out to be a lot of different varieties of passion fruit, unlike the singular one that you can find in UK supermarkets.
>>> Take the Monte Cable Car.
Funchal’s cable car will take you up over some gorgeous views of Funchal all the way up to the mountain town of Monte. I grew up in a city with a cable car so I absolutely adore riding in them
A brought trip costs 16€ and you can book ahead of time here.
>>> Visit the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
If you’ve taken the cable car, you’ll end up in Monte next to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. It’s consistently voted one of the best gardens in the world. I almost gave it a miss, but I am so glad that I made time for it in the end. It was genuinely one of my favourite afternoons of exploring during my time in Madeira.
To book tickets or to check opening times look at the official Monte Palace website.
>>> See Our Lady of Monte.
Igreja do Monte is an 18th-century church, on the site of 15th-century hermitage at the top of the mountain in Monte. This beautiful church is free to explore and I definitely recommend doing so. Inside is the tomb of Charles I of Austria, who lived out his years in exile after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914. Charles was the last Emperor of Austria and the last Habsburg-Lorraine monarch.
>>> Ride a wicker toboggan.
Once you’ve taken the cable car up to Monte and explored around, you might be wondering what an alternative way to get down the mountain is. And that’s where the toboggan come in. You’ll be met by men dressed in boaters and white suits offering to take you back down to Funchal at high speed. Then you’ll climb onto a kind of wicker sled with greased wooden runners and will be pushed down the Carro de Cesto road that winds up the hill.
The tradition goes back to the 1800s and you’ll descend for two hair-raising kilometres before arriving at Funchal’s Livramento suburb to continue your trip.
Touristy? Yes. But absolutely do it!
>>> Try a glass of Madeira wine.
You might have tried a fortified wine before, like a port. It ranges from dry to sweet and the biggest and oldest producer of Madeiran wine is Blandy’s. Personally, I am not a fan of Madeiran wine (or port). Even the driest is too sweet for my tastes, but I’m very glad that I tried it.
A 45-minute Blandys tour costs 10.50€ for a tour, including samples. Check opening times on the official Blandy’s website
>>> Explore the waterfront.
The waterfront in Funchal is gorgeous and absolutely worth spending some time wandering up and down. Luckily there are also lots of poncha bars on the waterfront to help quench your thirst.
>>> Drink a poncha.
Poncha is Madeira’s national drink and it is LETHAL. Poncha is said to be the staple diet of Madeira’s fishermen. It’s made with boozy sugar cane rum, honey, sugar, orange/lemon juice and other fruit juices. It comes in several flavours, including passion fruit, tangerine or orange. But the original lemon is the best in my opinion.
The best poncha in Madeira can be found at the Madeira Rum House, R. Portão de São Tiago 19C, 9060-250 Funchal, Portuga
>>> Visit Funchal Cathedral.
Funchal’s 16th-century cathedral once oversaw the world’s largest diocese – all of Portugal’s overseas territories from Madeira to Brazil to Angola – and its importance is reflected by the Manueline architectural style and artworks inside. Once your eyes have adjusted to the dim interior, look up at the ornate ceiling made of Madeiran cedar inlaid with shell, rope and white clay. The main altar dates from 1517 and features 12 Gothic panels depicting the Life of the Virgin and the Passion of Christ.
The Sé’s clock tower dominates Funchal’s skyline as it has for five centuries.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of things that you can do in Funchal. Have you ever been to Funchal?
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