If you’re thinking about visiting Funchal, this article shows you what you can’t miss. Many visitors in Funchal are passengers of cruises and few of them have time to explore the real charming of the city.
Getting to Madeira has never been easier, from national flights to low-cost, and the airport is only 20km from Funchal.
- In Funchal you can enjoy the beauty of natural gardens, such as the Tropical Garden of Monte Palace, the Botanical Garden, the Quinta Magnolia Garden, the Emperor Gardens and the Palheiro Gardens. You also mustn’t forget passing through the Market and enjoying the traditional products;
- Visiting Monte using the cable car, and going back down using the basket carts are unique experiences which not only allow the contemplation of the beauty of the city, but also follow the tradition. It is heavily recommended descending using the iconic basket carts of Madeira. Equally, one should take a stroll in the old part of town and taste one of the traditional drinks, the “Poncha”;
- After visiting the historical landmarks of the city, you can visit the monuments, such as the “Palácio de São Lourenço”, the “Convento de Santa Clara”, the iconic “Igreja da Sé” church and the “Largo do Socorro”, a viewpoing with seaview;
- You can visit the wine cellars and taste the famous Madeira Wine, which has been awarded inumerous times due to their quality;
- The downtown can be easily visited by foot;
- “Esperança” is the oldest bookshop in town, founded in 1886, and was the first establishment in Madeira selling exclusively books;
- By the afternoon dive into the Barreirinha bathing complex (Next to the São Tiago stronghold) and enjoy a coffee in the nearby coffee shops;
- If you only intend on visiting the city you don’t need to rent a car, but if you wish to visit the rest of the island, it is recommended to rent one car. Travelling to the airport may also be done through the shuttle service which takes between 35 to 50 minutes. Activities, Rest, Services.