1. Madeira

2. Funchal

3. Cable Cars

4. The Botanical Garden

5. The Cathedral

6. Wicker toboggan

7. Farmer`s Market

8. Blandy`s

9. The top sights

10. More excursion tips for Madeira

11. Cruiseportguide Funchal

12. Funchal zon foot with audioguide

13. Book shore excursions

      13.1 Meine Landausflüge

      13.2 Get Your Guide

      13.3 Viator

Madeira is a green oasis in the middle of the Atlantic. While the Portuguese island enjoys spring-like weather all year round, it is also possible to experience all four seasons in a single day. The island has a population of approximately 260.000, with over 112.000 people living in the capital, Funchal.

Funchal is very easy to explore on foot and on your own, as there is so much to discover within the city. However, excursions into Madeira’s stunning landscape are also highly recommended. Since cruise ships in Funchal usually have very long port stays, you can easily combine an island tour with a stroll through the city.

During our visit to Funchal, we wanted to head up to Monte. In the past, Monte was the area where the upper class settled, and several stately manors (quintas) still bear witness to this history today. We took the cable car up to Monte, as the district is situated 700 meters above Funchal.

From our berth, the walk took us around the harbor basin to the edge of the city center. This walk takes a good 30 minutes. If that is too far for you, simply take the shuttle bus to the center of Funchal and walk the rest of the way. You can find ticket types and prices here.

Before exploring Monte, we headed to the Botanical Garden. To get there, you take the second cable car. This ride not only brings you to the garden but also offers a stunning view over Funchal. The Madeira Botanical Garden was opened in 1960 and is home to over 2,000 exotic plants, such as orchids, magnolias, and palm trees. The park is divided into five main sections; from indigenous plants and various tree species to a small bird park, nature lovers will find everything their heart desires here.

While the Sé is the main cathedral, the final resting place of the last Emperor of Austria, Karl I, is actually the pilgrimage church Nossa Senhora do Monte in the Monte district. He was forced into exile in Madeira in 1921 and lived there until his death in 1922. His casket is displayed in a side chapel there. Since his beatification by Pope John Paul II, that church has become a significant site of pilgrimage.

There are several ways to get back to Funchal from Monte. You can walk down, take the cable car, or opt for a thrilling ride in a wicker toboggan. The first toboggans were built around 1850 as a fast means of transport to Funchal. Every year, thousands of tourists seek the thrill of this high-speed ride through the narrow, winding streets.

The sleds glide on wooden runners and are pushed and steered by two men, known as Carreiros. They traditionally wear white linen clothes and, in cooler temperatures, a blue jacket. Their outfit is completed by the iconic straw hat and special rubber-soled shoes, which are used to brake the sled.

The ride covers two kilometers to the finish point in Livramento. The rapid descent takes about 10 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 48 km/h. While the drivers used to have to carry the heavy sleds back up the hill by hand, they are now transported back to the top by small trucks. We had a lot of fun on the toboggan ride—it’s an experience you shouldn't miss!

The Mercado dos Lavradores is located in the old town of Funchal. It was built in the 1930s, and the entrance area alone is absolutely beautiful, decorated with traditional tiles. The inner courtyard is surrounded by numerous market stalls offering Madeira’s local delicacies. Fruits and vegetables are also sold on the upper floor.

In the large fish hall, you will find everything the fishermen have caught in the waters around Madeira. However, you should try to visit the fish market in the morning—by the time we arrived at midday, the displays were already empty.

By chance, we passed by Blandy’s. The Blandy’s Wine Lodge produces Madeira wine, so we couldn't resist stopping in for a taste. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time for a full guided tour and tasting, but we still wanted to try it.

Sampling the wine is possible at any time without a prior reservation. For €6.50, we tried three wines of different ages—three, five, and seven years old. We found that the older they are, the better they taste! The unique thing about Madeira wine is that it retains its full flavor for a long time even after the bottle has been opened. Naturally, we decided to take a bottle home with us.

With our bottle of wine and many wonderful memories, we headed back to the harbor. We truly enjoyed Funchal and would love to come back again.

Madeira is an extremely popular travel destination. In addition to the cruise ships docking here, Funchal attracts many day-trippers and long-term holidaymakers. As a result, long queues can form at the top attractions, or tickets may only be available for specific time slots. For the following sights, we recommend booking skip-the-line tickets or fixed time slots in advance:

Madeira can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.

Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.

AOYO gives you the opportunity to explore Funchal on your own and at your own pace, without having to miss out on the in-depth knowledge of experienced tour guides. Your city tour with the audioguide includes 18 stations covering Funchal's most important sights.

All you need to do is download the AOYO app to your smartphone and enter your download code after purchasing the audioguide. From that point on, you can use the guide offline and with unlimited access.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

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