Best Things To Do in Funchal, Portugal

Are you looking for what to do in Funchal?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Monte Palace Tropical Garden
  • Monte Cable Car
  • Cabo Girao  
  • Botanical Gardens Madeira
  • Ponta de Sao Lourenco
  • Madeira Story Centre      
  • Pico do Arieiro     
  • Santa Catarina Park
  • Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte     
  • Cathedral Se
  • Igreja de Sao Pedro        
  • Sacred Art Museum        
  • Mercado Dos Lavradores         
  • Santa Clara Monastery    

 OTHER ATTRACTIONS 

  • Igreja do Colegio Sao Joao Evangelista        
  • Sao Tiago Fort
  • Colegio dos Jesuitas do Funchal
  • Sao Lourenco Palace      
  • Pregetter's Orchid Garden
  • Jardim de Sao Francisco 
  • Quinta do Boa Vista
  • Frederico de Freitas Museum
  • Universo de Memorias Joao Carlos Abreu
  • Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos
  • Quinta Vigia
  • Jardins Do Palheiro
  • Quinta do Riacho 
  • Avenida do Mar    

Below we have a list of things to do in Funchal and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Funchal getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Funchal with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Funchal

Here is the list of things to do in Funchal and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Monte Cable Car

    View Point, Adventure, Cable Car

    Fly over winding streets and mazes of houses which look like tiny models on a living map. A gentle, silent ride exposing expanses of green, neat parks, ponds and lakes shimmering like mirrors are what you experience during a ride on the Monte cable Car ride. The view of wide green belt, tiny toy cars, spires of churches, will take your breath away. Patchwork of red, blue and green will amaze yo...Read more
  2. Monte Palace Tropical Garden

    Garden, Palace, Nature

    Immerse yourself in the wonder of Nature in the green kingdom of plants and shrubs knitted tightly like a strand in a massive web of life. The scent of Azaleas and Orchids drift through the air, stirring your senses. Ponds with stepping stones and bridges lie like a blue plate, pulsating with koi and carp. Every trail takes you down Mother Nature’s store of fascinating flowers and stunnin...Read more
  3. Botanical Garden Madeira

    Outdoors, Botanical Garden

    Surround your senses in a riot of colours. Feel the warmth of the tropics, smell the sweet fragrance of unusual flowers in full bloom, feast your eyes on alluring birds, and touch the soft grass and the earthy trees.Everywhere you look around the Botanical Garden in Madeira you feel ecstatic. Flowers dance and sway upon branches in clusters of colours. The energetic parakeets and parrots with t...Read more
  4. Cabo Girao

    Geological Formation, View Point, Nature

    Rags of cloud and mist clung to the cliff and as the sun erupted on the giant palisade, it shone with its sheer curtains of solid rock in which tiny bits of quartz winked like tiny gems in the sunlight. Stand on the skywalk and watch the mystery of the ocean unfold below. The waves of the turquoise ocean softly crashing against the mighty cliff, like fingers brushing each stone with a gentle ca...Read more
  5. Ponta De Sao Lourenco

    Outdoors, View Point, Nature

    Look down into the depth of the dark ocean from a hostile yet amazing landscape and feel the air swirl and eddy like the waters below. Alongthe entire rocky terrain feel the contrast of the choppy sea of the north and the calm south sea. The curious rock formations is a result of the volcanic origin of the island. Take a moment to appreciate the struggle by plants and animals to evolve and surv...Read more
  6. Pico Do Arieiro
    Sunset at Pico do Arieiro, one of Madeira island’s third highest peak, is a gateway to heaven. Passion will drive you up the levada pathway. Gaze down at the clouds which is like a fluffy white blanket gathering around the mountain peaks. As the sun sinks, threads of light mingles with the rolling cloud, colouring the heavens first orange, then red, then dark blue, and finally a chalky ma...Read more
  7. Igreja De Nossa Senhora Do Monte

    Religious Site, Cathedral

    In 1565 the wealthy families in Funchal created the parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte. It was a summer refuge for the nuveau riche. They constructed cottages along the hills. The mild climate attracted more settlers and finally in 1741 the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte was build. Nearly 2 centuries later, this became the final resting place for Charles 1 of Austria, the last emperor of the Au...Read more
  8. Santa Catarina Park

    Outdoors, Park, Entertainment, Play

    Sit under a tree or on the green verdant grass and look up at the swollen clouds lazily drifting across a perfect forget-me-not sky. Feel the sun shine while it pours over the exposed lake painting magnificent shimmery reflections of the trees on the water. Listen to melodious chorus of birds chirping, seemingly never repeating notes. Just relax and enjoy yourself in the Santa Catarina Park. Wi...Read more
  9. Mercado Dos Lavradores

    Outdoors, Entertainment, Flea Market, Market

    The hustle and bustle of people hollering out their special deals, customers haggling over prices, people gossiping in huddles, cacophony of sounds, all mixed like a perfect blended cocktail for the senses. The smell of baked bread, meat roasting on skewers mingling with the scent of freshly powered spices fill the air and draw you in. This is a reflection of the local culture and economy, this...Read more
  10. Cathedral Se Funchal

    4 (545 Votes)
    Cathedral Se Funchal

    Religious Site, Architecture , Cathedral

    In 1490s, Manuel I sent his architect to work on the design of the cathedral of Funchal.The church was built in Gothic style to appeal to the most powerful emotion whether springing from faith or from civic duty. This architecture created light, and air and became an awe-inspiring place of piety and worship. Lofty towers scaled new heights, allowing the worshippers to feel as if they had reache...Read more
  11. Santa Clare Monastery

    Religious Site, Outdoors, Historical Site, Monastery

    The monastery was built with a clear vision. A vision of the raw mixture of pain, sweat, prayer, learning, reflecting, editing and dreaming. The constant turmoil begins to subside as you start to meditate, seated in stillness, pray for blessing and empowerment and enlightenment. The monastery of Santa Clara is just not another building but is a sacred place, serving the purpose for which it was...Read more
  12. Sacred Art Museum

    3.5 (398 Votes)
    Sacred Art Museum

    Art Gallery, Exhibition , Specialty Museum

    Enter an era where artists portrayed robust, realistic and detailed perceptions of the world around him. Artistic vision either captured emotions from human subjects giving them perspective and proportions or everything painted had a spiritual presence. Paintings representing the ostentatious Baroque age, had classical deities, swirling from the air and bounding from the sea.The Sacred Art Muse...Read more
  13. Ireja De Sao Pedro

    Religious Site, Outdoors, Historical Site, Cathedral

    Get away from the hustle and bustle of busy life and step into a calm and serene church. Find solace from the beauty of the architecture. It is surrounded by an air of calm, very peaceful to sit and contemplate. Down the years this church, Ireja De Sao Pedro, suffered wear and tear but its exterior still proudly displays the facade and the original Romanesque apse. The apse or dome which is a s...Read more
  14. Laurisilva Of Madeira

    4.6 (113 Votes)
    Laurisilva Of Madeira

    Forest, Unesco Site

    This forest, is one of the most rich basin of flora and fauna. Making it easily to the UNESCO list, this area has now been titled as a World Heritage Site. It is a subtropical forest with high humidity and mild temperatures. With almost 90% of the area primarily covered by forests, you will get to spot exotic species of plants and animals. While this type of forest may be present in other part...Read more
  15. Levada Da Ribeira Da Janela
    Enjoy various activities at the recreational area of the Levada da Ribeira da Janela. It houses several natural trails where you can enjoy hiking. During hiking, enjoy the views of tropical forests, dingy tunnels and fantastic waterfalls of this site. The appearances of many flower plants would add an extra treat to your eyes. To enjoy the views of mountains you have to climb up to the cliffs. ...Read more