Is Funchal Worth Visiting?
The answer is yes, Funchal is the vibrant capital of Madeira with several historic monuments, an abundance of colorful and exotic flora is apparent in the parks and gardens, amazing viewpoints, and its nearby beaches and swimming pools.
History and Culture
If you are looking for a cultural experience in Funchal, visit one of the museums in the city. These magical portals will take you on a time travel journey to the past, to tell you about the stories of the city, check on the main ones!
Cruzes Museum
(Photo: VisitMadeira)
What is this museum about?
It's a museum that intersects with the history of the Funchal city directly? This building was the last residence of João Gonçalves Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira Island! This place represents more than 500 years of the island's history and it has Portuguese and foreign furniture, jewellery, ceramics and sculpture are part of the rich museum collection of this Madeiran Quinta.
Museum of Sacred Art
What is this museum about?
The Sacred Art Museum of Funchal is placed in ‘Episcopal square’ because it was implanted where it once was a palace where the bishops of Funchal lived, from sixteenth-century until the nineteenth century. It has one of the best collections we highlight are the Flemish paintings ordered from Bruges and Antwerp which arrived in Madeira, in the golden age of sugar production, Flemish panels, Portuguese painting, such as the Ecce Homo and the Ascension of Christ, jewellery, sculpture from the 15th to 19th centuries and an exhibition of religious costumes, silver objects and religious figures, collected in the churches of Madeira.
Natural History Museum of Funchal
What is this museum about?
This museum is the oldest museum in the Madeira Island and it has 41,000 varieties of animal species, including species of fish, birds, sea and land mammals, marine reptiles, insects, and other invertebrates, as well as marine fossils from Porto Santo. The Municipal Aquarium has 15 display tanks, where the most important elements of the coastal marine fauna of Madeira are represented.
IVBAM Museum Centre - Embroidery and Handicrafts Museum
(Photo: All about Portugal)
What is this museum about?
Madeira Wine Institute aims to preserve and guarantee the future of the regional art and to produce good wine ensuring the discipline with the production and commercialisation of Madeira Wine and, in general, to coordinate all viticultural activities in the Island.
Madeira Wine Company - “The Old Blandy Wine Lodges”
What is this museum about?
Madeira wine is very popular, so visit Blandy's Wine Lodge will give you the opportunity to explore 200 years of Madeira wine history with a tour and a taste of Madeira's wine.
Madeira Story Centre
What is this museum about?
Madeira Story Centre is a museum located in the Old Town of Funchal, where you will get to know the whole history of Madeira in an entertaining way.
This place illustrates the history and development of Madeira’s culture and you will feel part of it because you can interact with the exhibitions and feel the environments of different times through hearing and scent. This museum should be your starting point to visit Madeira because even if you’re not a "museum lover", Madeira Story Centre can be a great way to be part of the great things to do and see in Madeira.
Check all the museums here.
Beautiful views
Pico dos Barcelos
(Photo: Ricardo Pestana)
At 355 you can pause for coffee and have an ultimate view of Funchal. If you cast your eyes towards the ocean you’ll see the entire bay of Funchal framed by the Ponta do Garajau, and can make out the Desertas Islands in the distance.
Pico da Cruz
At the top of Pico da Cruz, we can enjoy magnificent views over the bay and amphitheatre of the city of Funchal. From here, we can contemplate the majority of the parish of São Martinho, from the coastline to the peak of the Church. To the East, we see the Garajau, in the municipality of Santa Cruz, and to the West, we can still observe the imposing promontory of Cabo Girão, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos.
Neves viewpoint
(Photo: INPortoBay)
With a privileged view over the bay of the city of Funchal, Miradouro das Neves is located on the eastern slope, at 283 meters of altitude and provides a spectacular landscape of all the urbanism that constitutes the city's amphitheater.
Ecological park of Funchal
At a height of 1,129 metres, between the parish of Monte and Poiso, this viewpoint is a great spot for looking out on the area surrounding Chão da Lagoa and Funchal bay, it has some tables and chairs you can enjoy to look at this view and have some snacks.
Plenty of Parks and gardens
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
(Photo: Tom Chapman)
What is this garden about?
It is more than a garden it's a museum. Tropical Garden has about 100,000 plant species, an abundant collection of exotic plants from all over the world. It has space with three galleries, two of sculptures and one that exposes a collection of minerals. This garden has a collection of cycads (encephalartos) which, because of their age, are considered living fossils. The gardens are even more enriched with ostentatious adornments such as lanterns and sculptures from different parts of the world, cultures, and eras. In addition to the beautiful and famous tile collection from the XV-XX centuries, entitled “The Adventure of the Portuguese in Japan”, forming the History of Portugal.
Botanical garden
What is this garden about?
The garden has a collection of a wide variety of plants and apart from being a beautiful place of leisure, it also serves as a Science and Culture Centre dedicated to research and conservation. Here you can find different types of plants: Indigenous and endemic plants, Succulents, Tropical/Cultivated/Aromatic/Medicinal, and also the Loiro Park gather some of the most exotic and rare birds.
Santa Catarina Park
(Photo: Carlos Abreu)
Palheiro Gardens
What is this garden about?
Also known as the Blandy Gardens these gardens are a paradise for camellia lovers. Between November and April, it is possible to appreciate the different varieties of camellias in bloom throughout the garden. There are also different trees including chestnut, cedar, beech, oak, eucalyptus, acacia, a Sequoia, California Redwood. Amongst the magnificent gardens, there is the Chapel of São João in Baroque style and with a very simple interior. On the border between the Gardens and the Golf Course, it is possible to take a break at the Tea House
Read all about the parks and Gardens here.
Gastronomy - Food and drinks
Madeira, it is known by its famous food of Espetada, Bolo do Caco, Picado and among other typical dishes, we have selected some of the traditional restaurants in Funchal where locals use to eat.
- A Parreira with folklore grup
- Cantinho do Norte
- Taberna Madeira
- Restaurante Casal da Penha
- Quinta estação
- Cá te Espero
- Taberna Ruel
Beaches and swimming pools, not far away
Gavina ou Gorgulho beach
A small, very rocky beach, its advantage is the location in the very center of the city. There is a concrete sunbathing platform by the beach and during the swimming seasons, users of the complex can take advantage of the diving board and a large platform for even more fun.
Also, here starts the activity to try diving.
Formosa Beach
(Photo: All About Portugal)
This beach is of historical importance to Madeira, and particularly to Funchal. In 1508 it was the port of entry used by the French corsairs who destroyed and sacked the Madeiran capital. A large beach located in western Funchal, precisely between Funchal and Camara de Lobos, near the most popular hotel street Estrada Monumental. It is mainly a pebble beach, partly covered with black sand.
Bathing Complex of Ponta Gorda
The Ponta Gorda Complex is located in one of the most charming areas of the city, near to the seaside promenade it has two saltwater pools - one for adults and another with recreational equipment for children, access to the sea, sand courts for playing sports, and a children’s playground.
Bathing Complex of Lido
(Photo: Diário de Noticías)
A walk along Lido Promenade takes you to the Doca do Cavacas, easily identifiable by a unique fishing boat of the same name. Its natural pools, although small in size, offer extraordinary views.
Bathing Complex of Barreirinha
Located east of Fort São Tiago, close to Soccorso's Church, the Barreirinha Beach is a popular spot for baths. It is now a pleasant place, inviting and safe with easy access to the sea, a swimming pool for children, solariums, surveillance, and own spaces for recreational and sporting activities.
The water quality is Blue Flag certified.
Natural swimming pools Dova do Cavacas
(Photo: Classic Collection Holidays)
With a small but delightful area for sunbathing, Doca do Cavacas has direct access to the sea as well as fantastic volcanic pools. From here you can spot the Cabo Girão headland.
Daytrips from Funchal
From Funchal departs the main tour to see all Madeira, check which ones below