Funchal Travel & Vacation Guide

Madeira is known for its wine, and what better way to experience the local culture than by joining a wine tour? Learn about the transformation of grapes into Madeira wine, and taste a variety of local flavours. Take a tour in one of five languages and learn about wine production, barrel making and storage.

Ready to take a gamble? Casino da Madeira is not only a regular casino, but has restaurants, a fun zone and a nightclub. It's a wonderland for adults who want a night filled with entertainment. The gorgeous modernist building with gently sloping ridges, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is an attraction in itself.

Drift along crystal clear waters, and keep an eye out for dolphins and whales. VMT Madeira arranges all sorts of trips, including a sunset sailing, which gives you the most stunning view of the setting sun over the Atlantic Ocean.

This magnificent cathedral was built over 500 years ago, in the beautiful Gothic style. The cathedral has an impressive silver cross, donated by King Manuel himself in the 16th century, as well as sculptures and incredible oil paintings.

Located in Funchal's historic centre, this distinctive fort is an eye-popping yellow, in great contrast with the whitewashed surrounding neighbourhoods. Built in 1614 to protect the city from invading pirates, the fort has since been used for many purposes and has many points of interests for visitors of all ages.

With more than 41,000 specimens, including fish, maritime reptiles, plants and minerals, there is a lot to discover in this museum. Discover the beauty and mysteries of the natural world at the landmark Palace of Saint Peter.

Green Devil Safari offers a variety of tours taking you to the outskirts of the island to view the sunset, mountains, valleys and other offerings of the local landscape and nature. Full-day and half-day tours will work with any schedule.

What better way to discover Funchal from high above than by cable car. Experience the green slopes, mountains, and even the amphitheatre of Monte and Funchal. The ride starts in the Old Town and sweeps you away towards the entrance to Monte Palace Tropical Garden. You can get a round trip ticket or choose to trek back down to enjoy the lush vegetation and gorgeous views of the city and the ocean on the way down.

Live music, affordable drinks, delicious food and a great atmosphere. Bananas Pub is characterised by all of this, especially the bananas cocktail. It's a pub where the locals like to relax and dance the night away.

If you want to escape the sweaty clubs and get some fresh air, what's better than a rooftop bar? Böate Pub & Disco Club has one where you can lounge, relax or dance the night away. The bar also offers live singers who sing a wide variety repertoire. In the morning and early afternoon, the bar serves excellent American-style brunch.

Inside the Casino de Madeira you'll find one of the coolest bars on the island — the Copacabana Disco Bar. It's known for its popular DJs who spin the up-and-coming world hits for you. If you are looking for a good time, terrific drinks, and an amazing night with your friends, search no further and visit Copacabana. The crowd is usually very local.

In the centre of Funchal, you can find the Hole in One, a favourite for both locals and tourists. Whether you are looking for a beer, cocktail, or Madeira wine, you can find it here. The bar offers a variety of gin labels.

Prepare to be entertained with banger hits from the 70s to the 90s when you enter this space. Celebrate the night to genres ranging from rock and roll to pop and indie. There is a high-energy crowd which will make you feel 10 times more excited than you were before.

This bar doesn't simply serve rum: the staff are ready to explain how rum is made and answer questions you might have about the drink. Be sure to have a glass of Madeiran rum for the true experience of Funchal.

If you are down for theme parties in a tropical atmosphere, this is the place to go. Surrounded by papaya trees and cocktails all around, you will feel the vibe of the island. During the day, the beach club serves light meals.

Fan of sports, or just in the mood to watch a game? Moynihan's Bar has beer, drinks and loads of TVs where you can watch your favourite team win or lose. The bar also serves classic pub grub like fish and chips, and bangers and mash. Go on and get yourself a pint of Guinness!

If you want to buy something in Funchal that was definitely produced on the island, go for an item by the embroidery company Bordal. Craftswomen create the embroidered linens directly in the shop, where you can often see the women at work. They have over 40,000 drawings, which they use for patterns of their linens.

One of the most renowned art galleries of Madeira. The Caravel Art Center provides a platform for all kinds of art, such as sculptures, paintings and ceramics. It also organises music and dancing events.

If you want to escape the hot Portuguese sun but are still in the mood to shop, visit Forum Madeira. From clothing shops to a supermarket and a cinema, they have it all. If you go up to the roof, you will find a large garden and a stunning panorama of the Atlantic Ocean.

It has been described as one of the largest bookstores in Europe where you can buy Portuguese and English literature. Livraria Esperança provides you with an enormous variety of books in every genre and for any age group.

One of the main shopping attractions is the Mercados dos Lavradores, or the Farmers' Market, which first opened its doors in 1940. The facade, main entrance, as well as the walls of the fish market are adorned with traditional Azulejos depicting regional themes, executed by João Rodrigues. You can find local, exotic fruits and vegetables and spices that fill the building with a fragrant aroma. A trademark of Mercados dos Lavradores is the women who sell their products whilst wearing traditional and colourful Madeiran costumes.

This shop will fulfil all the wishes you've ever had pertaining to alcoholic beverages. Pérola dos Vinhos doesn't only sell alcohol, but also offers wine tastings in the designated tasting room. Besides the traditional Madeira wine, you can buy lots of other types of liquor as well.

Even though in comparison to some other malls Plaza Madeira is quite small, it makes up for the fact by offering a huge variety of shops. The modern shopping centre offers clothing, toy shops, a supermarket and much more.

The best place to feed your inner-chocoholic is UauCacau. They have dozens and dozens of different kinds of chocolates and flavours that you could possibly dream of. The favourite flavours of return customers are rose and black pepper, pistachio with caramel and salt, and dark chocolate with ginger.

Madeira is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, which means that temperatures are high all year round and never drop below 14 degrees. If you are a sun-worshipper, visit during July and August, when the temperature is around 25 degrees. If you are planning to do a lot of hiking and other physical activities, visit the island during April and May. Later, it could be too hot to enjoy hiking, and after the summer it can get quite rainy. In the spring you can see beautiful gardens at their best.

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Portugal, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

Madeira has one airport: Aeroporto da Madeira — also known as Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport or Funchal Airport, located 20 kilometres from the city centre. You can take the Aerobus shuttle, which departs from the Arrivals area to Formosa beach and the city centre. It stops near numerous hotels and can be used every day of the week. Usually, the Aerobus departs every 45 minutes; be sure to check the schedule for the exact routes and times. Tickets can be bought when entering the bus. You can also take a taxi. They are located in the Arrivals section on the ground floor. On weekdays, the prices of trips from the airport increase by 20% if it's between 9pm and 6am. Travelling with baggage comes at an extra fee.

The Horários do Funchal bus service is a collection of buses which will take you all over Funchal. There is also the Linha Eco, environmentally- and wheelchair-friendly mini buses. They haven't got specific stops, but you can hail them down and board anywhere in the capital. You can recognise them by their yellow colour. They operate from Monday to Friday, from 8am until 8pm, and Saturdays from 8am until 2pm. Tickets can be purchased on board.

Taxis in Funchal are yellow and easy to notice. Some of the reputable companies are Taxi-Madeira Miguel Pereira (+351 918 399 115), Madeira Travel Taxi (+351 917 462 001) and Daniel Madeira Taxis (+351 919 791 289). Bolt and Uber rideshare apps operate in Funchal, too.

220 V/50Hz with a Type F electrical plug with two round pins, same as in many countries in Continental Europe.

Prescription and non-prescription drugs are available from pharmacies (farmácia), but if you need regular medication it is better to take supplies with you. Pharmacies are usually open Mon–Fri (9am–1pm and 3pm–7pm). There are some pharmacies that are open beyond this schedule but in only some specific points. To find out which pharmacies are open all day, you can check the information posted in every pharmacy.

Country code: +351 Area code: (0)291