Funchal is Madeira's main city, 110,000 residents. Most tourists land here. The city is compact, you can cover the center in half a day, the other 4-5 key activities take the rest. Day route.
9:00 — Breakfast in Old Town
Funchal's Old Town (Zona Velha) — pedestrian streets with painted doors. Breakfast at cafés like Tapassol, Riso, or O Tasco. Coffee €1.50, pastry €2-3. Bolo do Caco (bread) — local classic.
10:00 — Mercado dos Lavradores
Funchal's main market in a beautiful 1940 building. Note: upstairs fruit sellers can «push» high prices on tourists. Go straight to the lower floor — the fish market, where you see Tuna and Espada (scabbardfish). Locals shop there. Free entry, fruit from €3 a box.
11:00 — Cable car to Monte
The Teleferico do Funchal cable car (€18 one-way, €25 round trip) — 15 min climb from Old Town up 560 m. Views over city and bay. At the top — Monte Palace garden (€15) with Eastern architecture.
12:30 — Basket sled descent
The main «local» activity: Carros de Cesto — descent in wicker baskets for 2 passengers steered by two «pilots» in white. €30 for two. Start at Monte → ~2 km down → end at Livramento, taxi/bus back. Adrenaline + cultural. Once in a lifetime.
13:30 — Lunch
- O Lagar — espetada (skewered meat over coals), €15-20
- Restaurante Santa Maria — local seafood, €25-35
- Belo Sol — simple and good, €15-20
15:00 — Cabo Girão
20 min from Funchal by car/taxi. One of Europe's highest sea cliffs — 580 m. Glass-floored skywalk right over the drop. Free. Dramatic ocean and vineyard terrace views.
17:00 — Sé Cathedral + center
Funchal's 1514 cathedral. Colonial Portugal atmosphere. Free. Around — Avenida Arriaga with banana trees, central square.
18:30 — Madeira wine tasting
Madeira wine — the island's main product. Several wine cellars offer tastings:
- Blandy's Wine Lodge — most famous, €18 for tasting + tour
- Henriques & Henriques — less touristy, €12
- D'Oliveiras — oldest (1820), €15
Madeira comes in 4 types: Sercial (dry), Verdelho, Bual, Malvasia (sweet). Try all.
20:00 — Dinner
Romantic dinner in Old Town:
- Armazém do Sal — fine dining, €60-90 per person
- O Tasco — tradition, €25-40
- Mar Avenida — modern Portuguese, €40-60
Order espada com banana (scabbardfish with banana) — local classic.
Where to stay
- Old Town — atmospheric, everything within walking distance
- Lido — hotel district, closer to ocean, cheaper
- Cliff Bay (5*): €300+/night
- Quinta da Casa Branca (4*): €180-220
- Center hotels (3*): €80-130
- Airbnb apartments: €60-120
Transport
- Funchal is compact — walk everywhere in center
- Aerobus from airport: €5
- Bolt/taxi within city: €5-10 per trip
- Car rental only needed for levadas/Cabo Girão/island tour
Tips
- Cards accepted everywhere, cash barely needed
- Wi-Fi free in most cafés
- Tips 5-10%, not mandatory
- Don't try to do Funchal + a levada in one day — it'll be rushed
2-3 days?
If you have time — add a day for levadas (see best Madeira levadas) + a day for Pico do Arieiro → Pico Ruivo trek. Then Funchal is relaxed and you fit island nature too.
Related: best levadas.