Funchal, besides being Cristiano Ronaldo’s hometown, is the capital of Madeira. Most tourists stay in Funchal during their trip to Madeira because this is where most of the activities can be enjoyed. There is plenty of fun to be had both during the day and in the evening. Discover 8 things to do in Funchal in this article.
Content of this blog:
1. Monte Botanical Gardens
Walking along the promenade, you suddenly see a large cable car station. This is the cable car that takes you to the village of Monte, on top of the mountain. A return trip on the cable car costs 16 euros. You then do have a 15-20 minute ride with stunning views of the sea and the city of Funchal.
Once you reach the top, walk immediately to the left and cross the street. Here you will find the Monte Palace Tropcial Gardens. The entrance fee is 12.50 euros and is worth every euro. You will find so many beautiful flowers, plants, trees and views. There is also a lot of art incorporated into these gardens. There are many Chinese and Japanese nooks decorated where the color red predominates.
You can spend over an hour marveling at the flora and fauna of the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. When you are done wandering around here, there is a second park you can visit: Madeira Botanical Garden. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you want to visit the Madeira Botanical Garden, you have to buy another ticket for a cable car ride. The price of a return is 12.75 euros. You also need to buy another admission ticket because this is a different park than the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. The price for the admission ticket is 6 euros.
This means that should you want to visit both parks and do everything by cable car, you will spend a total of 47.25 euros. A very high amount, especially when you see what the other activities in Madeira cost. Some travelers will have this for it and others will find it way too much money. I would recommend visiting at least one of the parks because it is truly an experience. The park I would personally recommend the most is Monte Palace Tropical Gardens because there is a great view of the city, beautiful waterfalls and you can admire art.
2. Toboggan
When you have admired the botanical gardens and are ready to go back, you can choose to go back down not by cable car but by wooden sled. Wooden sled? You read it right! This so-called toboggan is driven by two strong men called “carreiros”. These big, strong men are dressed entirely in white, with a straw hat. This is one of the most fun things to do in Funchal.
As soon as you are in your wooden sled they pick up speed and jump on the back. Braking and steering are done with the heels of their feet. In fact, they wear boots whose soles are made of rubber car tires. That’s why, they have good grip and bring you safely down the mountain. In about 10 minutes you cover the 2 kilometers, reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour! Arriving at the end, you are slightly outside Funchal. You can walk back to downtown in 20 minutes. Should you prefer not to, there are also plenty of cabs to take you away.
You pay around 15 euros per person for this ride. So when there are 2 of you in a sled, you should count on a total price of 30 euros.
The toboggan originated in the late 19th century. Local farmers were looking for an easier way to transport the harvest from the high mountains to the lower town. Until then, they used horses and oxen to bring it down. This was very heavy for the animals AND only a few crops could be transported down at a time. Farmers then came up with the idea of using wooden sleds for this, the toboggan. Soon it was used not only for harvesting, but also for transporting people. Today it is a real tourist attraction which is fun to experience once. You can book your tickets beforehand through this website.
3. Praia Formosa
Funchal is located in the south of Madeira and is situated by the sea. Where in other places in Madeira there are many beaches, this is unfortunately not the case in Funchal. Slightly outside the center, however, there is one beach: Praia Formosa.
To get here you can walk 45-60 minutes towards the west from the center of Funchal. This is a nice walk past some nice places. Should you not feel like doing this, it is also possible to take the bus. When you are at the bus stop, you can ask at the kiosk how best to get to Praia Formosa because several buses pass by. The last option is to book a bolt to take you here.
Praia Formosa is not a beach as we know it. This is because it is a natural beach, which means it has black sand. Very special to see this. Note that this sand can get very hot. So don’t walk barefoot through the sand for long periods of time, your feet will burn.
Praia Formosa is a nice beach to spend a day relaxing. You’ll find a few small restaurants nearby, but it’s smart to bring plenty of your own food and drinks.
Tip: also read the 8 most beautiful beaches in Madeira.
4. Lido Pools
In case you are not a fan of the beach, there is a large pool complex in the west of Funchal: Lido Pools. This is the most popular swimming pool in Funchal. As a result, especially during the vacations, it is enormously crowded with tourists and locals with children. To secure a spot during this time, it is smart to arrive as early as possible. An entrance ticket, without sunbed and umbrella, costs 5.20 euros per person. It is a good thing to do in Funchal if you want to relax and cooldown.
5. Drinking ponchas
You haven’t been to Madeira if you haven’t had poncha. You can order this delicious, fruity alcoholic drink at any bar. The tastiest and freshest ponchas can be found in Rei da Poncha and in Funchal’s Old Town. There are countless different types and flavors of ponchas to be found: poncha with mint and tangarine are the most famous but I personally especially like the strawberry and kiwi. An evening of drinking ponchas with fun people is guaranteed to equal a very enjoyable evening. Id you like drinks, definitely add this to your list of things to do in Funchal.
6. Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal’s most famous market can be found near Funchal’s Old Town. A small, old commercial building hosts the Mercado dos Lavradores. Here you will find many different kinds of vegetables, fruits and fish. The fish can be found in a separate section. That’s smart given the heavy smell doesn’t make you very happy…
All the stalls displayed the same colorful fruits. Soon the salesmen walk up to you: if you want to taste some? It is wise to politely say no right away here. As soon as you taste something they make you taste more and try to foist all kinds of things on you. When you respond that you are not interested in buying something, they can become very unkind and angry. Therefore, try to avoid this by immediately saying no to tasting. The reason you don’t want to buy anything here is because the fruit can be over 8 times more expensive than if you buy it 3 blocks away from a stall on the street. 8 times more expensive!!! Even if you do not plan to buy anything, it is nice to have seen this market.
7. Calle de Santa Maria
A truly touristy street is Calle de Santa Maria. This street takes you from the center of Funchal to the Old Town. In this street you will find many cozy terraces, restaurants, stores and street art. You will find the most beautiful paintings on the old wooden doors and walls. During the day it is fun to walk through here and admire the street art but at night the neighborhood really comes alive. A bustling crowd of people, lots of live music and lots of ponchas make it one of the most sociable places in Funchal.
8. Santa Catarina Park
So, we are at the last item of things to do in Funchal. The Santa Catarina Park is a 10-minute walk from the center of Funchal. This park has many benches where families and friends gather on warm days. There is also a lot of picnicking and it is a shady area due to the many rare tree species. In the middle there is a beautiful pond around which you can sit.
Furthermore, from here you also have a nice view of Funchal’s marina. The Santa Catarina Park is a nice place to quietly enjoy the beautiful nature and wonderful weather of Madeira. Here you can also orient yourself well on the beautiful hikes in Madeira such as the hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (this is the most famous hike) but also Ponta de são lourenço and Levada do Caldeirão Verde are highly recommended.
Best accommodations in Funchal
If you are looking for a fine hostel in Funchal, the Jaca Hostel comes highly recommended. The dormitories are cozy and it is very social.
A great, centrally located hotel with pool is Hotel Madeira. Just looking for a nice little apartment? Then Olivia’s Place is really top notch. It is in a fine location and is beautifully furnished with everything you need.
