How to spend one day in Funchal: what to see in Madeira’s capital

Make the most out of your time in Funchal: explore Madeira’s capital in one day, with the best things to do and see.

Madeira is one of the most interesting tourist destinations for anyone looking for beautiful nature, good weather, amazing views, and unique landscapes. With such a definition, when planning a trip to Madeira, you do not expect to visit many cities. Even less if you consider that the island has a population of just over 250.000 people, most of them distributed in the small villages on the island.

However, the capital of the island, Funchal, has just over 100.000 people and is the place where you will land when you get to Madeira. Thus, why not spend one day discovering the city before getting lost in its lush rainforests and inaccessible beaches? Or, another option, save the last day of your trip for Funchal, to be the closest possible to the airport, and already ditch your rental car.

No matter the decision you make, spend at least one day in Funchal. Looking for a list of the best things to do in one day in Funchal? Keep reading!

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How much time should I spend in Funchal?

This was one of the questions that I asked myself before getting to Madeira. The answer is that it depends. If you want to visit the main tourist spots in the city, 24 hours should be enough. I strongly recommend spending one night in Funchal. There are many reasons behind it, but they can be summarised into two main categories: weather and tourists. Sleeping in Funchal will let you enjoy the pleasant afternoon/evening temperatures, as well as discover the city in the early morning when most tourists are either sleeping or not in the city yet.

As an example, I landed in Funchal at midday, explored the old town in the afternoon and night, slept in the city, and spent half a day more visiting some other worthy tourist spots.

Planning your time there, though, is important as some of the items on this list have opening hours or are more enjoyable at a specific time of the day. Thus, for each tourist destination below, I have added a recommended visiting time and their opening hours (if applicable).

What to see in Funchal in one day

Its harbour and coastline

Madeira is a volcanic island, and Funchal is built on the side of a mountain, which makes it a very hilly place. Nonetheless, its harbour and coastline are worth visiting and exploring. There is a really beautiful promenade by its harbour, especially enjoyable at nighttime (or evening) when the city lights up and you can see the scattered distribution of buildings on the mountainside.

Best time to visit: afternoon, evening

Forte de São Tiago

This seventeenth-century building was built as a defensive fortress for Funchal’s harbour, and nowadays is interesting to visit both for the views from its viewpoints and for the building itself.

It is an interesting building to see from the outside, and it is quite close to the Cable Car that leads to the botanical gardens, and the Rua de Santa Maria. Its interior can be visited with a small entry fee.

Best time to visit: daytime. Opening hours: 9-3:30 (interior, the fortress is worth visiting outside open hours).

Rua de Santa Maria

One of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Madeira is Rua de Santa Maria. However, there are more reasons to visit this iconic street than an Instagram photo. What makes this street special and well-known is that most of the photos of the houses and restaurants located there are painted with colourful tones and different forms of street art.

This is quite a touristy street, and it means that many people gather there around lunch and dinner time. Unfortunately, this means that some of the artworks are not visible then, either because there are terraces or just lots of people around. However, the streets nearby also have very interesting paintings, some even better than the ones on the main street. Thus, no matter the time of day, it is worth visiting Rua de Santa Maria

Best time to visit: all day, especially early morning when fewer people are around.

Try the local food

Funchal and Madeira do have quite distinctive cuisines. Its location and climate make it a good place to grow some non-typically European products, especially fruits and vegetables. The absolute king of Madeira is its bananas. They are everywhere, and you should give them a chance. If you want to get them at a cheaper price, visit any of the local supermarkets instead of tourist-oriented markets.

However, there are many other typical foods and drinks on the island. Madeiran wine is also famous, and its typical drink, the so-called Poncha, is made out of sugar cane brandy, sugar, and lemon juice, though there are many alternative recipes.

Madeira, due to its location, has a great variety of fish products, and its markets and restaurants can prove that. Most restaurants in Funchal are pricier than the ones outside of the capital, but it is also worth trying some of the local specialities. I had a very pleasant dinner at this restaurant.

Sé Catedral do Funchal

Madeira is not well-known for its cathedral, but given that it is at the heart of the city, better to know something about it. It is one of the few structures that survive from the era when Madeira was colonised (15th century), and it was built with blocks made of volcanic rocks. However, most of its outside is painted white, which gives it an almost Greek vibe.

Best time to visit: during opening hours, official source available here.

Jardim Municipal do Funchal

One of the four gardens or parks that I suggest visiting in Funchal is the Jardim Municipal do Funchal. It is the less well-known of the ones listed here, and this is what makes it special. It is located at the heart of the city, and it is easy to even omit it, due to the constant rush of taxis and cars nearby.

You will most likely encounter it when going to the old town or towards the next spot on this list.

Best time to visit: all day.

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CR7 Museum

The most well-known person from Madeira is, without any doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo. One of the best football (soccer) players of all time was born and raised in Madeira and has its museum by the sea in Funchal.

If you like football and Cristiano Ronaldo, this is a must-visit spot. Otherwise, I would recommend a stroll to the area where the museum is located, as it is a very pleasant walk. Moreover, you can take a photo with the real-size Ronaldo statue located in front of the museum for free!

Best time to visit: all day. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm.

Santa Catarina Park

On your way back or to the CR7 Museum, you will be very close to Santa Catarina Park. Don’t miss it. I consider it one of the hidden gems of Funchal, and a non-touristy spot. Although it is well-known, it did not feel touristy at all. Its beautiful pond and views over the city make it a great place to take a break and relax.

Best time to visit: afternoon/evening. Opening hours: 6 am – 9 pm.

Mercado dos Lavradores

One of the top 3 places in Funchal to visit (in my opinion), and the best one for the street photographers out there. Madeira’s central market is one of the most colourful markets I have ever visited. The market is located in an old building and is divided into multiple areas distributed on two levels. The two main areas, though, are the fish market and the fruit market. Nonetheless, there are also meat stands and many cafés, and a few souvenir shops.

This is one of the reasons why I recommend spending a night in Funchal. The market opens early in the morning (7 am), and the experience of visiting it at that time vs later during the day is completely different.

For starters, it is when locals are around, and it is easier to interact with them, ask about their products and see them without hordes of tourists. Moreover, it is then that the fish is processed, thus more activity can be seen in the fish market section.

Best time to visit: early morning. Opening hours: 7 am – 7 pm.

Take the Cable Car and enjoy the views

Half of your time in Funchal should be dedicated to the old town (see the recommended itinerary below), and the other half of the time should be spent enjoying the fantastic views over the city, as well as the two most famous gardens in Madeira. To do so, you will need to go on the Cable Car that connects the old town with the upper side of the city.

The ride is one of the most beautiful ones in Madeira (where you will find cable cars everywhere), and a great way to see how the city was built on the mountainside.

It is quite a pricey ride, but there is a bundle where you can get the cable car ticket and the entrance to the two main gardens of Madeira, located near the end.

Best time to visit: morning or afternoon, plan half a day for the cable car and gardens. Opening hours: 9 am – 4:45 pm. Prices: round trip 18€ without entrance to gardens.

Take amazing photos

Funchal is a very photogenic city. Its colourful buildings and its characteristic hilly location make for cool street photos and breathtaking panoramas from its viewpoints.

Make sure to bring your camera with you and explore the best photography spots of the city with detailed tips on my dedicated Funchal photography guide.

Madeira Botanical Garden

Originally private, but now open to the general public (paid), this Botanical Garden is one of a kind. Just like the city itself, it is built on different terraces on the mountainside. For any flora lovers, it is heaven, especially in the blossoming seasons. This garden covers almost 80.000 square meters, and it can take from 1 hour to a whole day to visit (if you are very much into plants).

From there, there is a fantastic view over Funchal, with a very characteristic garden terrace at your feet.

Getting to the Botanical Garden is part of the experience. The truth is, you can get a car and drive there, but most tourists opt to take the cable car. The main Cable Car in Funchal will get you to the so-called Monte area. From there, there is a shorter one that connects it with the Botanical Garden. Make sure to ask for combined tickets, as they include both the cable cars and the botanical garden ticket.

Best time to visit: all day. Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm. Price: both cable cars + entrance botanical garden, 34€ adult. More info here.

Monte Palace Madeira

The second garden/park that can be visited in the Monte area of Madeira is the Monte Palace. Over 70.000 square meters that host a buzzing variety of plants, and with a confusing architectural style. Despite being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the gardens are decorated with oriental-inspired art and buildings. Torii gates in Madeira? Yes!

On the grounds of the garden grounds, there is also the central lake, with a beautiful waterfall, a museum with plenty of sculptures and minerals, and a large collection of tile panels, very characteristic of Portugal and Madeira.

Best time to visit: all day. Opening hours: gardens 9:30 am – 6 pm; museum 10 am – 16:30 pm. Price: 12€+.

Discover the toboggan ride, a Madeiran tradition

Once in the Monte area, you can choose to go back to the city centre by Cable Car, and enjoy the views, or take a more adventurous option, the toboggan ride. A very characteristic element of Funchal is the sledges that reach speeds up to 45km/h. In the past, they were used as a way to transport locals from the mountain area to the city centre quickly, and nowadays are a tourist attraction.

A ride costs around 35€ for a 2-person sledge. If you are not that into sledging down to the city centre, you can still wander around and see how others disappear on the steep Funchal streets.

Best time to visit: all day. Opening hours: 9 am to 6 pm Mon-Sat, 9 am to 1 pm Sun. Price: around 35€ for 2 pax ride.

One day in Funchal sample itinerary

This is a suggestion on how to mix all the previously listed locations in Funchal, based on my personal experience. If you are very much into the flora, I would extend the stay in the Monte area by a few hours. On the other hand, if you do not want to spend money, maybe skip the Monte area, although it has (in my opinion) the best views and attractions of Funchal.

As I suggested before, I recommend spending half a day exploring the old town and half a day in the Monte area. Thus, this itinerary is divided into two parts.

Part 1: Funchal old town

Exploring Funchal’s old town is very easy. All sites are within walking distance, and although the city has a good bus service, you should not need it at any point. A good option would be to go on a circular route, half of it by the seaside, and the other one crossing the old town. The two most distant points are Forte de São Tiago and the CR7 museum, separated by a 20-minute walk.

The proposed route starts at the CR7 Museum. From there, visit the Santa Patarina Park, and get to the old town, towards the Jardim Principal do Funchal and the Cathedral (Sé do Funchal). Once at the heart of the city, discover its narrow old town streets, and you will eventually find yourself outside the Mercado dos Lavradores.

However, skip it, and go to the Rua de Santa Maria with its beautiful painted doors. At the end of the street, you will be almost at Forte de São Tiago. From there, walk by the seaside and enjoy the views of the sunset over Funchal. Finish the first part of the one-day visit in Funchal by having a great meal at any typical Madeiran restaurant.

Part 2: Monte

The second part of the proposed route to visit Funchal could either be done before part 1 or on a different day. It takes around 5h to do it and focuses on the Monte area, although it starts in the heart of the capital of Madeira.

Getting up early is key for this day. Start by visiting the Mercado dos Lavradores. You can try some typical food there or just enjoy the fish and fruit market. After the early morning visit, head to the Funchal Cable Car and go all the way up to the top. Once there, though, continue to get the second cable car, the one that goes to the Madeira Botanical Garden. After the visit, take the Cable Car back and discover the Monte Palace Madeira. After the visit (and the wine tasting that comes with the ticket), it’s time to make a decision: take the cable car back or ride the sledge to the heart of the old town.

This is just a sample Itinerary for a day in Funchal. Adapt it to your own interests, schedule and needs. Got any questions? Schedule a call with me using the link below!

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