Funchal packs an outsized number of attractions into a compact city wedged between mountains and the Atlantic. The cable car to Monte, the renowned botanical gardens, the Old Town’s painted doors, and the world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks are just the start. Most sights sit within a 30-minute walk of the city center, and Madeira’s excellent bus network makes the rest easy to reach. Here are the essential things to do in Funchal, with opening hours, ticket prices, and tips to avoid the crowds. For a complete overview, see our Funchal travel guide.
Things to Do in Funchal: Gardens and Views
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
The Monte Palace Tropical Garden sprawls across 70,000 square meters on a hillside above Funchal, with one of the world’s largest collections of cycads, a Japanese garden with koi ponds, and a mineral museum displaying gems from four continents. Entry costs €12.50 for adults, open daily 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Take the Funchal cable car up from Almirante Reis (round trip €22, one way €12) for the best approach: the 15-minute ride gives panoramic views over Funchal Bay and the terra-cotta rooftops of the Old Town. Alternatively, bus 20, 21, or 22 from the city center costs €2.20 and takes 25 minutes. Allow 3 to 4 hours to see the garden properly. The café near the central lake serves decent espresso and pastel de nata for under €5. Go early (9:30 AM) on weekdays to have the Japanese garden almost to yourself. For more on Funchal weather by month, see our Funchal weather by month guide.
Madeira Botanical Garden
The Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico da Madeira) sits in Quinta do Bom Sucesso, a former private estate about 3 km northeast of the city center. Opened in 1960, it holds more than 2,500 plant species across 8 hectares, with color-coded flower beds arranged in geometric patterns. Entry is €6 for adults, open daily 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM). Bus 31 or 31A from the city center takes 15 minutes. There’s also a second cable car from Monte to the Botanical Garden (€9 one way, €14 round trip) if you’re combining it with Monte Palace. The parrot park (Loro Parque) at the garden’s upper level houses macaws and cockatoos. For more on best time to visit Funchal, see our best time to visit Funchal guide.
Pico do Arieiro
At 1,818 meters (5,965 feet), Pico do Arieiro is Madeira’s third-highest peak and the most accessible. On clear days you’ll see the entire island and the neighboring Porto Santo. The road from Funchal takes 35 to 40 minutes by car. Parking is free but the lot fills by 9:00 AM on weekends. The sunrise hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (the highest peak at 1,862 m) is Madeira’s most famous trail: 7 km one way, taking 3 to 4 hours with steep stair sections and tunnels. Start at 6:30 AM to catch sunrise and beat the heat. Temperatures at the summit are typically 8 to 10°C cooler than Funchal; bring layers even in summer. There’s a snack bar at the parking lot selling coffee and sandwiches (€3 to €5). Check the live webcam at madeira-web.com before driving up: the peak is often above the clouds, but if fog has rolled in, you’ll see nothing. For more on events and festivals calendar, see our events and festivals calendar guide.
Things to Do in Funchal: Culture and History
Funchal Cathedral (Sé)
The Funchal Cathedral (Sé do Funchal) dates from 1514 and is one of the few buildings to survive the 16th century largely intact in Madeira. The ceiling is Madeiran cedar with inlaid ivory, and the altarpiece features intricate Gothic and Mudéjar (Moorish-influenced) woodwork. Entry is free, open Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It’s on Rua do Aljube in the city center, a 2-minute walk from the Sé bus stops. Mass times are posted at the entrance; visitors are welcome during services but asked to stay in the rear. Spend 20 to 30 minutes here. For more on Funchal neighborhoods guide, see our Funchal neighborhoods guide guide.
CR7 Museum
The CR7 Museum celebrates Cristiano Ronaldo, Madeira’s most famous son, with a collection of his trophies, Ballons d’Or, jerseys, and interactive exhibits. Located on Avenida Sá Carneiro near the port, entry costs €5. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Football fans typically spend 45 minutes to an hour here. The bronze statue of Ronaldo outside the museum (on the promenade, not at the museum entrance) is a photo stop whether or not you go inside. For more on where to stay in Funchal, see our where to stay in Funchal guide.
Mercado dos Lavradores
The Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ Market) is an Art Deco market hall in the Old Town, operating since 1940. The ground floor sells tropical fruit, vegetables, and flowers; the upper floor is the fish market with black scabbardfish and tuna landed that morning. Entry is free. Open Monday to Thursday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, closed Sundays. Go in the morning (before 10:00 AM) to see the fishmongers at full energy and the fruit sellers offering samples of passion fruit, custard apple, and Madeira banana. The fruit vendors can be pushy with samples; it’s fine to decline. For more on practical travel tips, see our practical travel tips guide.
Blandy’s Wine Lodge
Blandy’s Wine Lodge on Avenida Arriaga has been aging Madeira wine since 1811. The building is part of a former 17th-century Franciscan monastery. Guided tours run Monday to Friday at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM, Saturday at 11:00 AM. The standard tour costs €7.50 and includes two tastings; the premium tour (€12.50) includes five tastings of aged Madeira wines including a 10-year-old Malmsey. Tours last 45 minutes and explain the unique estufagem heating process that gives Madeira wine its character. The lodge is a 3-minute walk from the cathedral. The attached shop sells bottles from €12 for a 3-year-old to €200+ for vintage Madeira.
Things to Do in Funchal: Outdoor Activities
Monte Toboggan Ride
The Monte toboggan ride (Carros de Cesto) is a 2 km descent from Monte to Livramento in a wicker sled pushed and steered by two carreiros (drivers) wearing white cotton uniforms and straw boaters. It started in the 1850s as a downhill transport method for Monte residents and is now a pure tourist experience. The ride costs €30 for two people (€25 for one, €35 for three) and takes about 10 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h on the steeper sections. Operating hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, weather permitting (no rides in rain). The starting point is next to the Monte cable car station. The ride ends at Livramento, about 2 km from the city center; a taxi back costs about €7 to €10. Don’t wear light-colored clothes: the wicker can shed. The carreiros expect a tip of €5 to €10; it’s not official but it’s the established custom.
Levada Walks
Madeira’s levadas are irrigation channels built over centuries to carry water from the wet north to the dry south. The island has over 2,000 km of levada paths, many accessible from Funchal. The Levada dos Balcões is the easiest: a flat 3 km round trip from Ribeiro Frio (40-minute drive from Funchal) leading to a viewpoint over Ribeira da Metade valley. The Levada das 25 Fontes is Madeira’s most popular: 9 km round trip, 3 hours, leading to a waterfall-fed lagoon. It starts at Rabaçal (50-minute drive from Funchal). Both trails are free. Bring a flashlight for the tunnels on 25 Fontes. Wear decent shoes: the paths are often damp with moss. Rodoeste bus 6 goes to Ribeiro Frio but runs only twice daily; most visitors rent a car or join a guided walk (€25 to €40 per person from Funchal). Go on weekdays; weekends see local families and the narrow paths get congested.
Praia Formosa and Lido Swimming Complex
Funchal’s main beach is Praia Formosa, a pebble beach 3 km west of the center with black sand patches. It’s Madeira’s largest public beach and gets afternoon sun. The Lido Swimming Complex (€5.50 entry) has saltwater pools built into the lava rock with ladders into the ocean, a sunbathing terrace, and a café. Open daily 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (8:00 PM in summer). Bus 1 or 2 from the city center takes 10 minutes. For a sand beach, drive 30 minutes east to Machico’s golden sand beach (imported from Morocco) or take the ferry to Porto Santo (2.5 hours, €55 round trip with Porto Santo Line) for a 9 km stretch of sand. The sea at Praia Formosa can have strong currents; swim between the flags. Water shoes help on the pebbles. For more outdoor ideas and seasonal recommendations, see our guide to Funchal neighborhoods and the Funchal best time to visit breakdown.
