MarketsFree
Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal centre
A tiled 1940s market hall with tropical fruit, flowers and a busy fish section.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
Monday–Saturday mornings; reduced Sunday hours
Funchal
Madeira’s hillside capital: old-town lanes, a lively market and a cable car up to lush gardens.
Overview
Why go to Funchal
Funchal climbs an amphitheatre of hills above the Atlantic, with a warm year-round climate, a colourful old town and a famous fresh-produce market. It is the perfect base for gardens, wine and levada walks.
- Where
- Madeira Islands, Portugal
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- Year-round; April–October is driest, and the New Year fireworks are famous.
- Approx. daily budget
- £55–110 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
Things to Do
See all 9 Top picks in Funchal
9 places with prices, timings and booking advice.
Viewpoints~£12
Funchal Cable Car to Monte
Zona Velha to Monte
A cable car sweeps above rooftops and gardens to the hillside village of Monte.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00
Must SeeFree
Funchal Cathedral (Sé)
Funchal centre
A 15th-century cathedral with a carved wooden ceiling and a mix of Gothic and Moorish details.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
Daily; hours vary around services
Hidden Gems~£12
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Monte
A terraced garden of exotic plants, Japanese ponds and Portuguese tiles above the city.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 9:30–18:00
Families~£25
Monte Toboggan Ride
Monte
A traditional wicker sledge ride down steep streets, steered by two runners.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00
Hidden GemsFree
Zona Velha Old Town
Zona Velha
Painted doors, small cafés and restaurants along the narrow Rua de Santa Maria.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
Bars and restaurants open evenings until late
Food & drink
What to eat and drink in Funchal
A few local favourites to look out for. Ask where locals go rather than following the menu with photos.
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Espada com banana
-
Madeira wine tasting
-
Lapas
Where to stay
All hotels Hotels in Funchal
Sample data. Sample hotels with indicative prices, not live rates or availability. A live hotel provider will be connected in a later version.
Sample listing
Quinta Jardim Funchal
Funchal centre, Funchal
A historic manor with gardens, a pool and views over the harbour.
£160–260per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Zona Velha Inn
Zona Velha, Funchal
A small inn among the old-town restaurants, with painted-door charm.
£60–95per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Lido Atlantic Hotel
Lido, Funchal
A seafront hotel with a large pool and easy access to the swimming promenade.
£90–145per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
A suggested Funchal itinerary
3 nights Couple
Funchal · Highlights
Funchal in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Funchal picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Mercado dos Lavradores, Funchal Cathedral (Sé), Blandy’s Wine Lodge, Funchal Cable Car to Monte
- Day 2 · Monte Toboggan Ride, Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Zona Velha Old Town
- Day 3 · Lido Promenade and Sea Swimming, Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint
Plan Funchal your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.