Funchal Attractions: Top 10 Highlights & Insider Tips

The Top 10 Sights in Funchal on a Map

To give you a first overview of where the attractions in Funchal are located, we’ve marked them on a map. Two days are ideal for sightseeing in Funchal.

You can easily explore the center of Funchal on foot. For neighborhoods a bit further out, it’s better to take the bus, the cable car, or a car. In general, we recommend doing a Madeira road trip by car.

Old Town of Funchal and Rua Santa Maria

What you need to know: Funchal’s Old Town, with its small, narrow alleyways, is incredibly charming and really surprised us. The highlight is Rua Santa Maria — a lovely lane lined with many restaurants that runs through the historic center.

Is Funchal’s Old Town worth it? Definitely! The Old Town is great for strolling and grabbing a bite to eat.

Book a walking tour through Funchal’s Old Town

Mercado dos Lavradores

What you need to know: The Mercado dos Lavradores sits at the start of Rua Santa Maria and serves as both a market hall and a farmers’ market. You can buy fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other local products here — or simply wander through and soak up the atmosphere.

Is the Mercado dos Lavradores worth it? Absolutely. We loved the atmosphere inside the market hall.

Our tip for the Mercado dos Lavradores: Make sure to try exotic fruits like passion fruit or pineapple banana. But watch out — vendors have a tendency to quote inflated prices.

Funchal Cable Car

What you need to know: The cable car is one of the top things to see in Madeira. The gondolas carry you 560 meters in elevation from the coast up the mountain — specifically to the Monte neighborhood, home to the Tropical Garden and the wicker toboggan ride.

Is the cable car worth it? Yes — the panorama from the gondolas is seriously fantastic.

Note: When cruise ships dock in Funchal, the lines can get very long. Your best bet is to go up first thing in the morning — or even better, on a different day.

Tropical Garden in Monte

What you need to know: The Tropical Garden is right next to the cable car station at the top in Monte. It’s a large, impressive park featuring a variety of plants, animals, and sculptures.

Is the Tropical Garden worth it? Yes. The entry fee is a bit steep, but the gardens and views are genuinely fantastic.

Our tip for the Tropical Garden: Instead of taking the cable car, you can also take the bus (lines 20, 21, 22) or drive up and visit the garden right when it opens.

Wicker Toboggan Ride

What you need to know: On the other side of the Monte upper station is the starting point for the traditional wicker toboggan ride. This unusual mode of transportation was the only way — aside from walking — to get down the mountain in the 19th century. Today, the Carrinhos de Cesto are a genuine tourist attraction in Funchal.

Is the wicker toboggan ride worth it? Yes! The ride is an absolute blast.

Admission price: 35 euros (for 2 people).

Our tip for the wicker toboggan ride: Avoid days when cruise ships are in port. You could end up waiting in line for up to two hours.

Botanical Garden

What you need to know: The Botanical Garden of Funchal is known for its colorful variety of plants and stunning views — it’s where we truly understood why Madeira is called the Island of Flowers. It’s located in Monte and is connected to the Tropical Garden by a cable car.

Is the Botanical Garden worth it? Yes, the vivid colors and views over Funchal are absolutely not to be missed. It’s also on the way to the Pico Ruivo hike — one of the most beautiful hikes on Madeira.

Our tip for the Botanical Garden: You can also take the bus (lines 29 & 30) or drive up and be there right when it opens at 9 AM.

Funchal Cathedral

What you need to know: The Funchal Cathedral, also known as the Sé Cathedral, stands in the city center and is the oldest church on Madeira. We found it rather unspectacular from the outside, but the interior is noticeably more impressive. Admission is free.

Is the Cathedral worth it? Yes, but only if you’re into churches.

Our tip for the Sé Catedral: The Ottavia Ice Cream Factory, very close to the cathedral, serves seriously delicious ice cream.

São Tiago Fortress

What you need to know: Walk all the way to the end of Rua Santa Maria and you’ll reach the São Tiago Fortress — hard to miss with its bright yellow facade. The structure was once used as a defense against pirate attacks; today you can walk through the building and up onto the towers.

Is the São Tiago Fortress worth it? It’s okay. If you’re short on time, you can skip it.

CR7 Museum

What you need to know: Funchal is the hometown of Cristiano Ronaldo, and down at the harbor there’s a museum dedicated to the soccer star. A statue of him stands at the entrance. It’s a real standout in Funchal, especially for younger fans.

Is the CR7 Museum worth it? Yes, for soccer fans and Cristiano Ronaldo fans.

Whale Watching

What you need to know: Since Madeira sits right in the middle of the Atlantic, there’s a great chance you’ll spot whales and dolphins on a boat tour — and that’s true all year round! Whale watching tours are a popular activity on Madeira, and most boat trips depart from the harbor in Funchal.

Is whale watching worth it? Yes! Just keep in mind there’s no guarantee you’ll spot whales.

Book a dolphin and whale watching tour by catamaran from Funchal

Beaches in Funchal and Our Swimming Tips

There are no sandy beaches in Funchal — only pebble beaches. Along the waterfront you’ll also find several bathing complexes with loungers and pools, which are a great alternative for swimming.

Also read our tips for the most beautiful beach hotels on Madeira

Praia Formosa

Praia Formosa is the largest beach in Funchal and one of the most popular beaches on Madeira. It stretches about 2 kilometers and is a pebble beach.

There’s a lovely beachside promenade that’s great for a stroll. That said, Praia Formosa isn’t ideal for swimming and sunbathing — the large stones are pretty uncomfortable, and the waves can often be strong.

Lido Bathing Complex

Better suited for swimming are the purpose-built bathing complexes, which are something of a local favorite on Madeira. Most of them are located near Praia Formosa.

We recommend the Complexo Balnear do Lido and the Complexo Balnear da Ponta Gorda. Both have large pools and plenty of space for sunbathing.

Restaurants and Bars in Funchal

Funchal is also a wonderful place to eat and drink well. Here are our restaurant recommendations for Funchal:

• Restaurante Alta Vista in Monte: Beautiful terrace with a great view — perfect for a coffee.
• ComTradições: Delicious restaurant on Rua Santa Maria.
• Rei da Poncha: A classic poncha bar.
• Ni Pio: Affordable and authentic espresso bar.
• Ottavia Ice Cream Factory: Best ice cream in Funchal.
• Kampo by Chef Júlio Pereira: Upscale restaurant with incredibly delicious dishes.

Hotel Tips in Funchal

Funchal is the best base for staying on Madeira if you want to take lots of day trips around the island. That’s why you’ll find a huge selection of hotels here.

Whether you prefer something slightly off the beaten path by the ocean or right in the heart of the old quarter — these are our hotel picks for Funchal:

If you’re after a special place to stay in Funchal, you’ll have a fantastic selection of beautiful hotels to choose from.

Also read our tips for boutique hotels in Funchal
Also read our hotel recommendations for Funchal

Frequently Asked Questions About Funchal