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5 Best Things to Do in Funchal, Madeira

I’m always happy when someone wants to visit my city — Funchal, the capital of Madeira. As locals, we Madeirans love sharing our island and helping visitors discover the best places, beyond the typical tourist routes.

Funchal is a beautiful city, and although I might be biased, the more I travel, the more I appreciate the quality of life, nature, and culture this island offers. If you’re visiting Madeira for the first time, I challenge you to spend a few days in Funchal and you’ll quickly understand why so many people fall in love with it.

Here are 5  things to do in Funchal to help you experience the city like a local.

1. Explore Largo do Socorro & Funchal’s Historic Districts

Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is divided into three historic districts: Santa Maria (the Old Town), São Pedro, and Sé. Many streets in these areas are pedestrian-friendly, making them perfect for exploring on foot.

As you wander around, you’ll discover 19th-century manor houses (now turned into museums), traditional Madeiran pavements, viewpoints overlooking the sea, and charming houses filled with flower gardens.

Funchal, the capital of Madeira, has three historic districts: Santa Maria (renown as Old Town), São Pedro and Sé.

Santa Maria (Old Town)

São Pedro |This photo was courtesy of Budgettraveller

Sé Cathedral

Explore monuments such as the São Lourenço Palace or the Santa Clara Convent, the buzz of Rua da Carreira and the peace of Largo do Socorro.
In this square, lays the Barreirinha Bar Cafe, the perfect place to take a break and soak up the local lifestyle:

Barreirinha Bar Café

São Tiago Beach nearby Largo do Socorro

2. Taste Madeira Wine at Blandy’s Wine Lodge

Visiting Madeira without tasting Madeira wine is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. Madeira wine is one of the island’s most iconic products and a must-do experience in Funchal.

This is the perfect gift to celebrate life: a light fragrant flavour with a golden color.

There are wines for every kind of taste; dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet or sweet, as is the case of the wine of Malvasia, which offers a full-bodied and dark coloured wine. Madeira wine was chosen to celebrate the US Independence Declaration, on the July 4, 1776. An English Duke that faced with his death sentence in the XV century, asked to be drowned in a Madeira wine barrel, such was his devotion!

Do not miss the opportunity to understand the why behind these stories, and visit the Madeiran wine cellars, such as the Blandy’s Wine Lodge, which is one of my favourites. Enjoy and have a glass of Madeira wine. Cheers!

Blandy’s Wine Lodge

3. Relax at Formosa Beach

No trip to Funchal is complete without taking a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. One of my favorite beaches in Funchal is Formosa Beach, known for its black sand and pebbles and stunning views of Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs.

Formosa Beach

Sunrise in Formosa Beach

Limpets and beer at Formosa Beach

This is also a good spot to go for a walk to Camara de Lobos or watch sunset, while enjoying the local limpets washed down with the local beer.

 4. Drink  ‘Poncha’ at Mercearia do Bento

To experience local life in Funchal, stop by one of the traditional “mercearias“. These old grocery stores were once community meeting points and still preserve that authentic charm.

Mercearia do Bento

Some of these places are beautifuly stuck in time, loyal to itselves. Stop over at Tanoeiros Street 2, “Mercearia Bento” and sample the Poncha, the regional drink made with sugar cane brandy, bee honey and lemon.

5.Visit Palheiro Gardens

Madeira is often called “the garden island,” and Funchal is full of beautiful green spaces. While the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and Municipal Gardens are popular, Palheiro Gardens is one of the most impressive gardens near Funchal.

Palheiro Gardens

Be amazed with the colors of camellias and magnolias, visit the charming chapel of São João and taste the homemade cakes at the local teahouse.

Here’s hoping you spend a great time in my city. Enjoy! :)

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“Quer visitar o Funchal e está farto de ler as mesmas dicas de viagem em todos os guias? Entre uma poncha e uma sandes de carne de vinho e alhos na zona velha do Funchal, o Filipe Morato Gomes do blog Alma de Viajante desafiou-me a partilhar cinco sugestões para tornar a sua estadia no Funchal única e inesquecível.

“Se um amigo te visitar no Funchal, onde o levarias?” – leia aqui as minhas sugestões.[:]