YOU COULD WIN A £1,500 GIFT CARD*
Plus sign up and we'll give you £20 off your next holiday
Enterhere
Holidays in Funchal
Perched amongst the hills on the coast of the ‘Garden Island’, Funchal is Madeira’s 500-year-old capital. You’ll find all sorts to explore, from the cobbled Old Town to the flower-scented gardens with views across the bay. Life here may be cosmopolitan, but more than a hint of tradition survives in restaurant menus, the costumes of market traders and the age-old customs, such as grape-picking during September’s Wine Harvest Festival.
16-23 °C
Funchal enjoys glorious sunshine throughout the year.
3 hours 40 minutes
The island’s airport is Madeira Airport (FNC), about 21km east of Funchal.
Featured Funchal holidays
Flame Tree Madeira
7 Nights, Room Only
Hotel highlights
- With a stay at Flame Tree Madeira in Funchal, you'll be minutes from Barreiros Stadium and close to Botanical Garden. This hostal is within close p...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£201
Imperatriz Aparthotel
7 Nights, Self Catering
Hotel highlights
- This apartment hotel is conveniently located in one of the most upmarket districts of Funchal. The complex is set adjacent to the famous Madeira Ca...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£231
Hotel Monte Carlo
7 Nights, Room Only
Hotel highlights
- With a stay at Hotel Monte Carlo, you'll be centrally located in Funchal, steps from Quinta das Cruzes Museum and Santa Clara Monastery. This hotel...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£236
Orquidea
7 Nights, Bed & Breakfast
Hotel highlights
- This hotel has a privileged location, offering the best of Madeira's capital city, Funchal, mountainous terrain and warm indigo waters, ensuring yo...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£243
Dorisol Mimosa Hotel
7 Nights, Bed & Breakfast
Hotel highlights
- The Dorisol Mimosa Hotel rests in a prime location overlooking the bay in the popular resort of Funchal, 2 km from the city centre and 500 m from t...
- Funchal Airport is 20 km from the Dorisol Mimosa Hotel.
- Local Tips: Edged by botanical gardens, the pedestrian promenade has lots of viewing points and seats to enjoy the stunning scenery. Be sure to vis...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£245
The most famous places to visit in Funchal are its gardens. Filled with flowers from around the world, such as orchids, birds of paradise and azaleas, they’re perfect for a romantic stroll or time to sit and daydream in the sunshine. There are several, but the Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro and Monte Palace Tropical Garden have the best views. You’ll feel on top of the world while you’re in Monte’s gardens, as it’s a very tranquil district on a hill above the rest of Funchal. Get back down to earth with a ride in one of the toboggan-like basket cars, travelling the 2km downhill in a swift ten minutes.
Named after the fennel (funcho) that grows in the area, this is a city with food close to its heart. Pork in wine and garlic (carne de vinho e alhos) is such a traditional dish that it’s served for Christmas dinner, perhaps with a glass of the fortified Madeira wine. For the fullest flavour of Madeira, the lively Mercado dos Lavradores (the farmers’ market) is one of the best places to go in Funchal. And when you need a sugar-fix, bite into a hearty slice of honey cake (bolo de mel) or sip a glass of the sweet poncha cocktail, made from sugar-cane brandy, fruit juice, sugar and honey.
Madeira’s known for its web of rural hiking routes, which aren’t just limited to the renowned levadas (irrigation channels). The scenery’s incredible, especially when the spring flowers are blooming, but the going can be tough so choose a guided tour to suit your ability level. A real must is the trail up Pico Ruivo in the Ribeiro Frio Forest Park (about 17km north of Funchal); you’ll have a view of the whole island from above the clouds. The array of fresh-air activities in Funchal itself includes golf at the par-72 Palheiro course and boat trips from the marina – go at sunset for a glowing view of the rocky coastline.
Recommended offers in Funchal
Imperatriz Aparthotel
7 Nights, Room Only
Hotel highlights
- This apartment hotel is conveniently located in one of the most upmarket districts of Funchal. The complex is set adjacent to the famous Madeira Ca...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£281
Gorgulho Aparthotel
7 Nights, Bed & Breakfast
Hotel highlights
- With a stay at Gorgulho Aparthotel in Funchal, you'll be close to Barreiros Stadium and Botanical Garden. This hotel is within close proximity of C...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£437
Terrace Mar
7 Nights, Room Only
Hotel highlights
- When you stay at Terrace Mar in Funchal, you'll be in a shopping district and close to Barreiros Stadium and Botanical Garden. This aparthotel is w...
What is included ?
- ATOL Protection
- Resort Service
£455
More About Funchal
| Overview | Things To Do | Weather |
| Currency | Photos | Useful Phrases |
| FAQ's |
FUNCHAL IS BEST FOR...
Nature lovers: The scenery’s simply lovely, whether you’re sitting in a flower-filled garden or standing at the top of a mountain.
Walkers: Madeira’s lush volcanic terrain is laced with hiking trails. Follow the levada routes when the spring flowers are blooming.
Culture fans: Take in a film festival or art exhibition, join the annual wine harvest and sample time-honoured local recipes.
FAST FACTS
Language: The language spoken in Funchal is Portuguese
Currency: The currency used in Funchal is the euro (€)
Local time: The time in Funchal is the same as GMT/UK time
Fly to: The island’s airport is Madeira Airport (FNC), about 21km east of Funchal.
Flight time from UK: Approximately 3 hours 40 minutes
Tourist Information: Further Funchal tourist information can be found at www.visitmadeira.pt
Visa & Health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to Funchal.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Temperature: 16-23 (°C)
The weather in Funchal is delightful all year round, with average highs of 18 (°C) even in January. For the coolest weather, come in the spring, when you can enjoy pleasant temperatures in the mid-teens. Summer temperatures are usually comfortable, typically hovering in the mid-20s throughout the season. The weather stays warm and bright throughout the autumn and winter, with up to 10 hours of sunshine a day.
GETTING AROUND
On foot: By far the best way to explore Funchal’s Old Town.
By open-top bus: You can hop on and off the Yellow Bus Sightseeing Tours at all the key spots. Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours and can be used on public transport.
By cable car: The journey up the hillside to the Monte district gives you incredible views and takes about 15 minutes. If you’re feeling brave, whizz back down through the streets in a traditional man-powered basket car.
By hire car: See more of Madeira with a self-drive tour, stopping for panoramic views and strolls through quaint villages.
EVENTS
Carnival: The city’s streets sparkle with lights and spirited parades for five jubilant days before Lent.
Spring blooms: Held after Easter, Funchal’s annual Festa da Flor welcomes spring with parades and a floral Wall of Hope (Muro da Esperança).
Film festivals: From the renown of the Madeira Film Festival to the silent short films of Mudas Fest, Madeira has a full calendar of events for movie-lovers.
Christmas and New Year: An incredible time to be in Funchal, festivities last right through December until Twelfth Night. The Night at the Market just before Christmas (centred around the Farmers’ Market) and the New Year’s Eve fireworks are major highlights.
here