Discover the best Funchal photography spots and explore Madeira’s capital with this complete guide!
Funchal is the capital of Madeira, a small Portuguese island located between the Canary Islands and the Açores Islands. Unlike other places, Madeira is not well known for its capital, but for the natural beauty of the island. Waterfalls, hikes, viewpoints, beaches…
Some people choose Funchal as their base to discover Madeira. Others spend a couple of days exploring the city. No matter what you do, don’t miss it. With a population of slightly over 100.000 people, Funchal is a beautiful city that deserves some attention, especially from a photographic point of view. The city is built (like many other Madeiran villages) on the slope of the mountain. This is quite a common thing in Madeira due to the volcanic origin of the island. Thus, it is not the easiest city to move around in. However, it is easy to get amazing views both from viewpoints and from sea level. These are the best Funchal photography spots.
In this Funchal photography spots guide, you will find a list of photography areas with first-hand information on the best moment to visit them, prices (when applicable), and tips to take amazing photos. Moreover, you will also find a few Funchal photography-related FAQs to ensure you can make the most out of your visit to Madeira.
Funchal photography guide: FAQs
Where to stay in Funchal for photography?
Funchal is not a big city. It’s the capital city of the island of Madeira, but its population is just shy of 100.000 inhabitants. However, although it’s not big, it’s super hilly. If you are planning on spending some time in Funchal (check the next section for info on the optimal length of stay), make sure to find a place close to the city centre.
Ideally, something in the area between Parque de Santa Catarina and Forte de SĂŁo Tiago. This way, you will be within walking distance of most of the Funchal photography spots, and it will be easier to explore the city.
How many days are needed to visit and photograph Funchal?
You do not need a lot of time in Funchal. The city itself is interesting, but the real beauty of Madeira is outside of it. The hikes, landscapes,… You’ll get a glimpse of it below, but my honest recommendation is to use Funchal as the gateway to Madeira, and spend one night at the beginning and/or at the end of your trip there.
2 days are enough to visit the city. If you are not into photography, even less time is needed. However, some of the Funchal photography spots listed in this guide require waking up early or waiting for sunset. Thus, the optimal time to visit and photograph Funchal is 2 days, which can be distributed at the beginning and at the end of your trip.
How to move around Funchal?
As I already mentioned before, Funchal is not that big. However, the main problem is how hilly it is. If you take my advice and stay near the city centre, moving around Funchal will be easy, as everything will be reachable on foot.
Nonetheless, if for some reason you can’t stay near the old town, you have 4 options: walk uphill and downhill, take a taxi, use the local bus system, or rent a car. Renting a car is a must in Madeira, you will need it to move around the island and get to the best hikes, viewpoints,… However, parking it in Funchal can be a bit difficult.
Make sure to factor everything into your calculations when looking for accommodation. It could be that a more central accommodation is more expensive, but that also allows you to rent a car for a shorter period of time.
How expensive is Funchal?
Madeira is not that cheap (anymore). Being an island, almost all goods need to make it there either via ship or plane. Thus, the overall prices of Madeira and Funchal are a bit more expensive than those of mainland Portugal, which is known for being a relatively budget destination within Europe.
Most of your budget will be spent on accommodation, as the best spots in Funchal are expensive and get booked quickly. Outside of the capital city, it’s possible to get more reasonable accommodations if you have a car. Overall, Funchal is more expensive than Lisbon or Porto, but not more than cities like Barcelona or Madrid.
Funchal photography spots: a complete list
Farmer’s market
Markets are where things happen, and Funchal is not an exception. Colourful fruits, fresh fish, locals, and lots of cool photos to take. I had an amazing time photographing the Farmer’s market. In my opinion, it is one of the best photography spots in Funchal.
To get the best possible photos, get up early and visit it before the tourists arrive. Wander and get lost in the different areas, and don’t miss the fish area, where the fishmongers deal with enormous tunas.
There are lots of possible photos to take in the Farmer’s market. The abovementioned tuna and fish section, the piles of exotic fruits, the classical Madeiran bananas, and the 8 am vibe, with locals hanging out at the cafĂ©s. Do not miss it!
It is quite interesting to see how the market changes from the early morning when the locals visit it to midday when the visitors are mostly tourists.
Madeira Botanical Garden
There are two gardens in Madeira, the botanical garden and the Monte Palace garden. Both of them made it to this list. The Madeira botanical garden is a 35.000 square meter area with over 2.500 exotic plants, distributed in different areas, and built on the mountainside.
It can be accessed by cable car or by car. I recommend taking the cable car (from the Monte Palace garden), especially for the views over the city. It can be a bit expensive, but there is a ticket that includes both the cable car and the entrance to the gardens. Don’t focus only on the flowers, but also on the views.
Monte Palace Madeira (garden)
The Monte Palace garden was my second favourite Funchal photography spot (after the Farmer’s market). Just like the botanical garden, a cable car goes from the city of Funchal to the garden. This is one of the main attractions of the city, and it is easy to understand why, as it is completely worth it.
This garden has a strong oriental (Japanese) influence, and a quite impressive tile collection (very typical in Portugal, especially in Porto). Unlike the botanical garden, this feels more like a circuit, without the space to get lost. However, it is extremely photogenic, and it is possible to get good photos in almost every corner.
Note that it can be pretty crowded. Try to include the human factor in the photos, or have a lot of patience.
Just outside the Monte Palace, there is the Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora do Monte, an interesting church that is also worth photographing.
Toboggan Run
If you are visiting any of the two gardens mentioned above, make sure to also check the toboggan run. This is exactly what the name promises. A steep road that goes from the seaside of Funchal to the Monte Palace garden and that can be descended riding a sledge, “driven” by locals.
This world-famous tradition, now a tourist attraction, is without any doubt one of the must-photograph things in Madeira, mostly because of how unusual it is. If you want to descend using the cable car or the sledges is up to you!
Rua de Santa Maria
One of the areas of Funchal that has gotten more attention lately is Rua de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Street). Its characteristic painted doors are perfect for street photography. However, the street is full of restaurants and bars, and some of them obstruct the view of the doors. Nonetheless, the painted doors are not only on Santa Maria Street. The nearby alleys and small streets that lead to Rua de Santa Maria also have painted doors.
The street itself is very interesting. During the evening, it gets quite crowded, and both locals and tourists enjoy the last hours of the day in its bars and restaurants.
Forte de SĂŁo Tiago
Funchal is more than its gardens. Its tropical vibe is also reflected in its architecture, and one of the best places to see it is in Forte de SĂŁo Tiago. This yellow fortress is located at the end of the Rua de Santa Maria, just by the sea. With a beach at its feet and a fantastic view over Funchal and the eastern coast of the island, it deserves to be photographed.
I actually preferred to photograph the fortress rather than the view from the fortress. Mixed with the white chapel that stands behind it, the sea, and the people swimming during the summer months, it creates a unique photo, one that I had not seen before from Funchal.
Funchal Cathedral
Funchal is not well known for its cathedral. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see it, as it is one of the main elements of the city. The structure is mainly white with stonework corners. This makes it different from most classical European cathedrals, and it is what made me include it in this article.
Near the cathedral, there are some interesting buildings. Pay special attention to the inner gardens, although be careful not to get into private property. Next to the cathedral, there is the Jardim Municipal do Funchal, another interesting place to photograph, although not as much as the gardens mentioned above, and the last spot on this list, the Santa Catarina Park.
Parque de Santa Catarina
This was a great surprise. After walking through the city of Funchal, getting lost in its streets, and reaching the Cristiano Ronaldo museum (more about that in my Funchal city guide), I found myself in Santa Catarina Park. A beautiful pond, with great views over the city. Despite being very close to one of its main roads, it was a nice place to have a break.
Families hang out there, children feed the birds, and couples find it a quiet spot to spend the afternoon/evening.
Photography-wise, it is one of the largest gardens of Funchal, with many flowers, and unlike the Botanical Garden and the Monte Palace Garden, you will not need a cable car to get there.
These are the best Funchal photography spots. Despite being such a small city, it has a lot to offer to photographers and visitors. It is true that it lacks the natural beauty of other areas of the island, but it is a must-see in Madeira. If you have any questions, schedule a call with me using the link below!
