Madeira

1. Câmara de Lobos

    1.1 Kapelle Nossa Senhora dos Conceição

2. Gabo Girão

3. Ribera Brava

4. Porto Moniz

5. Poncha

6. Rua Santa Maria

7. The top sights

8. More excursion tips for Funchal

9. Funchal on foot with Audioguide entdecken

10. Cruiseportguide Funchal

11. Book shore excursions

      11.1 Meine Landausflüge

      11.2 Get Your Guide 

      11.3 Viator

Madeira is a green oasis in the middle of the Atlantic. On this Portuguese island, it is springtime all year round, though it is also possible to experience all four seasons in a single day. The island has 250,000 inhabitants, with a good 100,000 living in the capital, Funchal. Funchal is very easy to explore on foot on your own, and there is plenty to discover. However, excursions into Madeira's beautiful landscape are also highly recommended. Since cruise ships usually have very long layovers in Funchal, it is easy to combine a tour of the island with a stroll through the city.

On Madeira, we booked an excursion through Manuel Tours. Manuel offers German-speaking tours in comfortable limousines, covering either the west and central parts or the eastern part of the island. We decided on the center and the west. The price-performance ratio is truly excellent, and we were able to decide everything individually.

Câmara de Lobos is located 5 km south of Funchal and is one of the oldest fishing villages in Madeira. The name of the village means 'Cave of the Monk Seals,' which lived here in large numbers when the area was first discovered. Today, they are rarely spotted along this stretch of coast.

The colorful fishing boats in the harbor are characteristic of the village, and fishing families still live in the narrow streets today. In the early evening, you can watch the fishermen preparing to head out to sea; this is where most of the Espadas—Madeira’s fish specialty—are caught. Câmara de Lobos is also the home of Poncha, a popular Madeiran drink made from fresh lemon juice, honey, and sugar cane brandy.

The village gained fame when the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill immortalized it in several of his paintings. Today, there is a small commemorative plaque at the spot he always visited when he painted. Above the village lies Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, the most important cultivation area for Madeira wine.

The chapel Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Câmara de Lobos is one of the oldest and most spiritually significant buildings in Madeira. Originally erected in the 15th century, it is closely linked to the island's identity. As the patron saint of fishermen, Mary plays a central role here as a 'refuge' from the dangers of the sea.

The chapel's simple exterior stands in stark contrast to its magnificent interior, which is adorned with elaborate azulejos (tiles) and gilded woodcarvings. For the fishing community, it is a place of hope and penance, where the faithful have prayed for protection and forgiveness for centuries. This deep devotion makes it a living monument of faith.

Cabo Girão means 'Cape of Return' and is a sea cliff in the south of Madeira. At nearly 600 meters, it is one of the highest sea cliffs in the European Union.

Below the cliff lie terraced fields that could previously only be reached by boat. Since August 2003, a cable car has been in operation, making the farmers' work much easier.

The Skywalk on Madeira is modeled after the Grand Canyon platform; from here, you have a fantastic view of the sea cliff below

For those who enjoy staying active, Baja Bikes is a great choice. Here, you can book guided city tours with local guides.

The journey continued to Ribeira Brava. This small town is located about 15 km from Funchal. A must-see is the Church of São Bento; it was built in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest churches in Madeira.

Even from the main road, you have a great view of the church and its beautiful square. The church tower is decorated with blue and white tiles and is a real eye-catcher. Inside the church, there are numerous works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries.

We took a short stroll through the town and had a coffee at the beach before continuing our journey over the mountains to Porto Moniz.

Porto Moniz, named after the Portuguese nobleman Francisco Moniz, is located in the northwest of Madeira. While the town was formerly known for whaling and fishing, it now thrives on agriculture, tourism, and viticulture.

Porto Moniz boasts a beautiful harbor and what is likely the island's only helipad. The town is famous for its natural volcanic swimming pools, which are fed with seawater by the Atlantic. Just off the coast lies the small rocky island of Ilhéu mole, featuring a small lighthouse.

The 18th-century fortress, Forte São João Baptista, now houses an aquarium with 70 different species, all of which are native to the waters around Madeira.

In Porto Moniz, there are many restaurants and bars that invite you to linger. We were particularly impressed by the powerful surf here in Porto Moniz.

For lunch, we stopped at Vila Baleia, where we ordered the meat skewers so typical of Madeira. The restaurant has a simple decor, the service is very friendly, and the food was good. The portions were so large that we could easily have shared a single dish.

Poncha is the traditional drink of Madeira and a must-try for every visitor. Originally created by fishermen in Câmara de Lobos to keep warm and ward off illness, it has become a symbol of the island’s culture.

The classic version, known as 'Poncha Regional', is made from three simple ingredients: Aguardente de Cana (local sugar cane brandy), fresh lemon juice, and honey. These are mixed using a special wooden tool called a Caralhão (or 'Pau da Poncha'). Today, you can also find many fruity variations made with passion fruit, orange, or tangerine. It is a powerful but refreshing drink that truly captures the spirit of Madeira.

For those who enjoy staying active, Baja Bikes is a great choice. Here, you can book guided city tours with local guides.

Die Rua Santa Maria war schon ein bisschen in die Jahre gekommen, woraufhin 2011 Maler begannen 200 Türen mit Gemälden zu verschönern. Daraufhin begannen Künstler und Galeristen sich in dieser Gasse niederzulassen.  Nachdem auch Restaurants dazu kamen, folgten bald auch die Touristen. Heute ist die kleine Gasse eine der Attraktionen in Funchal und erfreut sich größer Beliebtheit. Hier haben wir dann auch zu Abend gegessen, bevor es hieß, alle Mann an Bord.

Madeira is a very popular travel destination. Not only do cruise ships dock here, but there are also many day-trippers in Funchal and holidaymakers staying on the island. As a result, long queues can form at the top sights, or tickets may only be available with fixed time slots. For the following attractions, it is therefore worth booking a fast-track ticket or a fixed time slot in advance:

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

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.

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

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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