Funchal

The name Funchal (foon-SHAHL, /fũ.ˈʃaɫ/) comes from the abundance of fennel (funcho) found on the island. It was an important shipping centre during the 15th–17th centuries. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal.

The city centre is small enough to explore on foot. Orange city buses can take you around and up to Monte (lines 20, 21). Giro cards can be bought from the office for €2.20, which are pre-loaded with two journeys, and can be topped up with additional journeys for €1.50 each. A single ride costs €1.90 when bought from the bus driver. Most city buses start from the waterfront area. If you are lucky, you can acquire a bus timetable for the local and regional buses starting in Funchal at the tourist information office. Timetables and a map are also available.

• 🌍 Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro Park (Jardins do Palheiro), São Gonçalo, Palheiro (about 5 km from downtown), ☏ +351 291 793 044. M-F 09:00 - 16:30. The Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro Park is a typical example of a manor in British colonial style. While the manor is private and can't be visited, you can enjoy the public park. On first sight it looks like an English park, with old Platanes forming a long alley from the main gate to the gardens. But when you look closer you see all the tropical plants that build the basis, completed by hundreds of plants from all over the world, so all year round there are plants blooming. The main part of the park is formed by several gardens: a French Garden, a Sunken Garden, the Ladies Garden, a Rose Garden and some more. Opposite the main gate is a Tea House, which is connected to the golf course. They serve some good tea, cakes, pastries, snacks and small lunches. The way back to the main gate is formed by the Camellia Avenue, a flourish firework between end October and March.
  The park is at 500 m altitude. 09:00-11:30 the park is often crowded by bus tourists, so choose the afternoon for a more laid-back visit. Entrance fee €10.50. Public buses frequently connect Funchal with the park: line 36 or, if you have strong nerves, line 37 for a more spectacular ride. (updated Dec 2019)
• 🌍 Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico da Madeira), Caminho Meio Quinta do Bom Sucesso (about 3 km from downtown). The more than 2000 plants of these hillside gardens, plus the view of Funchal make this one of the major attractions of the whole island. The gardens also feature a collection of parakeets and parrots. 
• 🌍 Mercado Dos Lavradores (Peasants' Market), Rua Brigadeiro Oudinot, Down Town (Zona Velha). M-Th 07:00-16:00, F 07:00-20:00, Sa 07:00-15:00, closed on Sundays and holidays. This historic building, with an open patio, offers, on two levels, fresh fruits and vegetables from all over the island. On the lower level is a separate hall where fish vendors sell fresh-caught fish. Eat and buy local fruits like the small Madeiran mangos, bananas, philodendres and plenty kinds of maracujas. Taste the offers from vendors. But be careful, as some may try to rip you off and sell you over-ripe fruit, or some heavy mangos for the (expensive) price of light maracujas. There are also some nice pastelarias and coffee bars in and around the building. These are often crowded when it's raining, and when large cruise ships are on the pier. (updated Dec 2019)

• 🌍 Monte Palace Hotel Gardens. The gardens of this defunct hotel include a Chinese garden, artwork, a small lake, and a variety of flora and fauna. 
• 🌍 Santa Clara Convent (Convento de Santa Clara), Calçada de Santa Clara 15. Dating from the end of the 15th century, this convent, now a national monument, was founded by João Gonçalves da Câmara. The azulejo tiles are especially notable. 
• 🌍 São Lourenço Palace (Palácio de São Lourenço), Avenida Zarco, ☏ +351 291 202 530. Half fortress and half palace, this construction is a good example of mannerist architecture. Highlights include the Noble Salon (Salão Nobre), the Green Room (Sala Verde), the Audience Hall (Sala de Audiências), and the gardens. 
• 🌍 Sé Cathedral. The central point in Funchal, and its most-visited monument. Commissioned by the king Dom Manuel I through Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes, the cathedral was built between 1493 and 1517. The ceiling is made from local wood. 

• 🌍 Colegio Church (Igreja de São João Evangelista), Rua dos Ferreiros, 105. This Jesuit temple, completed in 1647, is a striking building with a stunning interior. Today it is part of Madeira University. 

• 🌍 IBTAM Museum (Núcleo Museológico do IBTAM), Rua do Visconde de Anadia. Museum of the Institute of Embroidery, Tapestry and Craftsmanship of Madeira. The exhibits give some idea of the tradition of embroidery in the island in the past centuries (updated Jun 2016)
• 🌍 São Tiago Fort. Built in 1614 to defend the city from pirate attack, the fort today houses a small contemporary art museum. (updated Jun 2016)

• Visit the fair/market, old port and gardens.
• 🌍 Madeira Casino (Casino da Madeira), Avenida do Infante, ☏ +351 291 140 424. Su-Th 15:00-03:00, M-F 16:00-04:00. The only casino on the island. The building's unusual shape was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Casino da Madeira offers table games such as Texas Hold 'em, blackjack, baccarat and American roulette (with 0 and 00) and slots. Outside of gambling there is the Palm bar, the Rio casual restaurant, the formal Bahlia restaurant and the Copacabana nightclub that hosts live musical performances (just like the Barry Manilow song). Note that the premises have dress code that forbids sandals, flip-flops and sports wear. Free parking and Wi-Fi for patrons. 
• 🌍 Palheiro Golf Course, Rua do Balacal 29. 
• 🌍 Funchal Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal), Almirante Reis. 09:30-17:45. View the city from above in a gondola. The upper station is at Monte, where you can visit the Monte Palace gardens and the church at Monte. Another cable car goes down from this point to the Botanical Gardens. Combination tickets for the ride and attractions are available. 
• Football: Funchal has two pro soccer teams:
  • 🌍 CS Marítimo (2 km west of the old town). They play in Primeira Liga, the game's top tier. Their home ground Estádio do Marítimo has capacity 11,000. (updated Jun 2021)
  • 🌍 CD Nacional (4 km northeast). They were relegated in 2021 and play in Liga2 the second tier. Their home ground Estádio da Madeira has capacity 5500. (updated Jun 2021)
• Madeira Paragliding (0 - 4200 Ft), Madeira Mountains. 10:00-20:00. Tandem Paragliding flights. 
• 🌍 Monte Toboggan, Caminho do Monte, Entrada 151, Porta 4, ☏ +351 291 783 919. M-Sa 09:00-18:00. Ride wooden toboggan down the mountain on a 2km roadway while being steered by men. €25 for 1 person, €30 for 2 people, €45 for 3 people. (updated Nov 2022)

Flowers & fruit (check with the airline/ship if they can be brought abroad).

The island is world-famous for its wines. Several stores offer varying selections.

Funchal has an abundance of good, if not necessarily cheap, eating places. Most places serve traditional Madeiran and Portuguese food, which is well-prepared and tasty, but not terribly exciting. One of the most typical dishes and served almost everywhere, is espada com banana (scabbard fish with banana). It is usually served with fresh salad and potatoes. A bit more expensive is bacalhau (dried, salted codfish), which is also served in many restaurants. One of the more common and best varieties is "bacalhau com natas" (codfish in cream sauce).

Not the party capital of the world: most bars are very quiet, except during a football match.

• 🌍 Bar Amazónia, Rua de São Filipe 19. A pleasant little bar. 
• 🌍 Café do Teatro, Avenida Arriaga (Ed. Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias), ☏ +351 924 437 951, grupocafedoteatro@gmail.com. M–Th 08:00–23:00, F 08:00–00:00, Sa 09:00–00:00, Su 09:00–23:00. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 FX Restaurant & Sports Bar, Rua das Fontes 1–9, Avenida do Mar, ☏ +351 291 618 358. Su–Th 10:00–01:00, F Sa & holiday eves 10:00–02:00. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 Palm Bar, Casino da Madiera, Avenida do Infante, ☏ +351 291 140 424, casino.madeira@pestana.com. Su–Th 15:00–03:00, F Sa & holiday eves 16:00–04:00. A casual bar that's part of the Casino da Madeira. 
• 🌍 Vespas, Avenida Sá Carneiro 60, ☏ +351 291 234 800, vespasclube@gmail.com. F Sa 23:00–08:00. Dance club very popular with young people. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 Hole in One Madeira, Estrada Monumental 238A (in the hotel district), ☏ +351 291 765 443. daily 11:00–02:00. If you require an Irish pub. (updated Apr 2021)

• Internet Access - There exist various free public Wi-Fi hotspots sponsored by the Madeiran government. One can find such locations by looking for blue and white boards with the Wi-Fi logo on them. A lot of bars and cafes offer Wi-Fi which is usually sponsored by an ISP called "Zon". These are usually password restricted but the owners are usually very friendly in providing them. One of the larger public squares called "Praca do Municipio", for instance, has free Wi-Fi. Other locations include Avenida Arriaga (2 x around the Golden Gate Café and the Cathedrale) and Praca de Colombo.
• Post Office - Stamps are rarely available at vendors selling postcards. There is a post office (CTT Correios) near the cathedral in the Avenida Zarco and the Rua Calouste Gulbekian, near the Casino. Postcards to EU countries are €0.72 (June 2015).

• Nivarte Barber/Hairdresser, Rua das Hortas 1, Unit 102 (Piso 1) (a very short walk from the center of Funchal, near the Carmo church; enter the nondescript building at the beginning of the street and go up one flight of steps), ☏ +351 958 747 709. Quality and inexpensive haircuts for both men and women. One of the barbers, Paolo Silva speaks English, and gives the best hot towel shave on the island. under €14 for men's haircut. (updated Apr 2016)

• Porto Santo — A wonderful quiet beach community, Porto Santo is a small island on the North-East of Madeira can be reached by either boat or plane. It is well worth a visit for it's nice small restaurants, it's long beach, and the Christopher Columbus house.
• Anywhere else on the island of Madeira — Numerous guided day-tours around the island offer pick-up from Funchal hotels. In addition, Rodoeste buses connect Funchal to points westward, and S.A.M. buses connect to points eastward.